Cyclamen persicum Indoor Care; Watering, Light, Soil, Propagation, Problems & Solutions

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Cyclamen persicum thrives in bright indirect light, cool temperatures, humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Cyclamen persicum commonly called Florist's Cyclamen or Persian Cyclamen is among favored flowering plants, and features beautiful flowers and decorative foliage but will not last very long under room conditions.

However, with proper care, Cyclamen will bloom indoors for several months; usually in winter to early spring. Florist's Cyclamens are cool climate plants which go dormant in summer.

The leaves are heart-shaped, fleshy and smooth-textured. The upper leaf surface has a green-silvery marbled color and the underside may be pale-green or reddish.

Persian Cyclamens are low-growing, compact plants for the limited spaces like a window sill, hanging basket, tabletop, desktop or plant shelf.

Botanical name: Cyclamen persicum
Family: Primulaceae

Origin

Cyclamen persicum is native to North Africa across West Asia to Southeast Europe.

Size

Cyclamens are herbaceous perennial plants which grow from a tuber to a height of about 1 ft. It is among well-liked plants for an office desk for pleasant aesthetics to promote productivity.

Flowers

Cyclamen Plants bloom from winter to spring. The flower are usually white to pink with a band of deep-pink at the base. The flower stalk is a long upright stem that rises above the leaves.

Is Cyclamen persicum toxic?

Yes. All parts of Cyclamen persicum are toxic to both humans and pets. They contain saponins which if ingested can cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.

How to Care for Cyclamen persicum Indoors

To care for Cyclamen persicum indoors, provide bright indirect light, temperatures of 10-18⁰C, humidity of 70-80% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Florist's Cyclamen requires regular pruning to keep it tidy as well as encourage flowering. Repotting is only necessary when pot-bound as it blooms best when root-bound. A rest period is also needed to encourage flowering. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

How to water Cyclamen indoors?

Cyclamen grow from a corm (a bulb-like structure), which is very susceptible to rot if it sits in water. The golden rule is; keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy.

To minimize fungal leaf diseases, water from the bottom. This method prevents water from pooling on the crown and corm, which is a leading cause of rot and plant death.

Place the pot in a saucer of water for 20–30 minutes, allowing the soil to absorb moisture from below. Then remove the pot and allow any excess water to drain away completely.

Always check the top 1-2 inches of soil before watering. If it feels dry to the touch, it is time to water. If it still feels moist, wait another day or two.

Water Cyclamen liberally in the growing season until water drips through the drainage hole. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf fall. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.

Significantly, cut down on watering in the dormant season, (spring and summer, when leaves begin to yellow and die), to keep the soil barely moist. At this time growth is minimal, thus the plant does not need much water.

Use room temperature water as consistently watering with cold water will result in stunted growth and leaf loss. Only use chlorine-free water to prevent browning of leaf edges.

Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent sogginess which can lead to rotting and eventual plant death.

Light Requirements

Do Cyclamen like sun or shade

Cyclamen grows best in bright indirect light (filtered light) in winter when the plant is in active growth phase; position it near a bright, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching of the leaves

If the light is too low, it will not bloom and will become leggy with pale leaves. Therefore, if the natural lighting is not adequate, supplement it with full spectrum grow lights for 10–12 hours per day.

Give the pot a 90⁰ turn monthly, to ensure the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent lopsided growth.

In summer, when the plant goes into dormancy, move it to a cool, dark, well-aerated spot to promote later blooming.

Temperature & Humidity

Cyclamen persicum prefers temperatures of 10-18⁰C during the day and 5-10⁰ during the night. These cool conditions mimic its natural Mediterranean habitat.

Keep it away from hot drafts like central heating, radiators, heat vents, fireplaces and others as they can cause the plant to enter dormancy early or die back entirely.

Cyclamen prospers in a humidity of 70-80%. Group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity. Do not wash or mist the leaves and maintain good air circulation to prevent fungal infestations.

Fertilizer

Feed Cyclamen persicum with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength, every 2-3 weeks in the active growing and blooming season (fall through early spring) to boost flowering.

Stop feeding when the plant enters the dormancy phase in late spring. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers as they promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Cyclamen should be slightly acidic with a pH of 6.0–6.5, rich in organic matter, and free-draining, to prevent sogginess while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 2 parts organic potting mix and 1 part perlite (for drainage) is ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Keep Cyclamen persicum pot-bound to promote flowering as it blooms best when pot-bound. Repot during the dormant period only when the soil becomes compacted. Repotting every 2 years should be adequate for this plant.

Use a pot 1 size larger that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging. Make sure the top of the corm sits at or just above the soil surface; burying it completely can cause rotting. Check out these self-watering pots on Amazon.

After repotting place the plant in a shaded place and keep it dry. Resume watering after 6-8 weeks to encourage new growth.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Cyclamen persicum is easy. Remove spent blooms and any side shoots to encourage development of more flowers.

Get rid of dead leaves to keep the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations.

Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

How to Care for Cyclamen persicum after flowering

1. After flowering is over and the foliage turns yellow, cutback the stems.


2. Place the plant in a cool, dark, well-aerated place and maintain the soil barely moist for about 6-8 weeks. Withhold feeding during this period.


3. As soon as new growth emerges, move the plant to a bright spot and water thoroughly.


4. Keep it cool at temperatures of 16-18⁰C and cooler night temperatures of 5-10⁰.


5. Begin monthly feeding with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. The plant should start blooming in about 2-3 months.

Cyclamen persicum Propagation

Cyclamen persicum is propagated by dividing the corm (tuber) or by germinating seeds.

1. Propagating Cyclamen persicum by corm division

This method is less reliable than seed propagation and is generally not recommended for beginners. It carries significant risk; any damage to the corm can lead to rot and plant death. Select a large, healthy, multi-crowned corm (tuber).

1. When flowering is over and the foliage has started to yellow, cutback the foliage, dig up the corms and brush off the soil.


2. With a sharp sterilized knife, divide the corm into sections and ensure each section has a growing point (nub or eye) from which the foliage will grow.


3. Dust the cut surfaces with powdered sulphur or activated charcoal to reduce the risk of infection.


4. Allow the sections to air-dry for a day before potting.


5. Place the sections in moist, well-draining soil with the nub sticking above the soil surface.


6. Maintain the soil moist but do not wet the nubs as it can lead to rotting.


7. Allow enough time for the nubs to develop into new plants after which you can begin routine care.

2. Growing Cyclamen persicum from seeds

Cyclamen persicum seeds do not last very long therefore ensure the seeds are very fresh. The seeds are best sown in late summer or early fall so that the seedlings can develop through the cooler months.

1. Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 12–24 hours before sowing to soften the seed coat and improve germination rates.


2. Fill small seed trays or pots with a moist, well-draining seed-starting mix.


3. Spread the seeds on moist soil and cover the seeds lightly with soil.


4. Cover the tray with a black plastic bag or place it in a dark spot.
5. Maintain the temperature at about 12-15⁰C. The seeds should germinate in 4-6 weeks.


6. Once seedlings emerge and show their first true leaves, move them to bright indirect light and remove the cover.


7. Prick out seedlings into individual small pots once they are large enough to handle. Continue to grow them in cool conditions.


8. Seedlings will develop small corms in the first season. Expect first blooms in 12–18 months after sowing, typically in the plant's second fall or winter.

Cyclamen persicum Problems & Remedies

Cyclamen persicum common problems are yellowing leaves, short flowering period, plant dying, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Yellowing leaves

Why do Cyclamen leaves turn yellow?

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on your Cyclamen are too little light, soggy soil, inconsistent watering, temperature stress, dry air, direct sunlight or aging.

How to fix it

Too little light: Position the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.

Soggy soil: Use fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, AC units, hot surfaces, windy doors, drafty windows among others.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together to increase humidity.

Direct sunlight: Move the plant to a shaded place or shield it from direct sunshine with a light curtain.

Aging: This is a natural process. As the lower leaves mature, they turn yellow, brown and eventually die.

Short flowering period

Cyclamen short flowering period is caused by too much warmth, inconsistent watering, insufficient light or dry air.

How to fix it

Too much warmth: Move the plant to a cooler place to maintain temperatures of 10-18⁰C.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Do not water on a schedule.

Insufficient light: Place the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Dry air: To raise the humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together.

Plant dying

Cyclamen persicum is dying due to crown and stem-rot which is promoted by wetting of the crown during watering. It presents with a soft, rotten crown.

How to fix it

1. Discard the affected plant as it will not recover.


2. Avoid wetting the crown of leaves in future; water from the bottom instead.


3. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.

Pests

Common pests of Cyclamen are aphids and cyclamen mites which attack the growing points, thereby causing twisted and stunted leaves.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the rest of the plants.


2. Treat the plant with a horticultural oil as per the manufacturer's instructions.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Keep the plant well pruned and raise humidity to discourage the pest infestations.

Diseases

Cyclamen persicum is prone to botrytis disease which presents as yellowing leaves with brown patches and is brought about by soggy soil coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.


2. Treat the plant with a systemic fungicide as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
3. Maintain good air circulation to discourage the disease.


4. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

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