How do I care for an indoor cyclamen?
Q How should I look after my indoor cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)? Sue Mann (via email)
A It is relatively straightforward to keep cyclamen going as pot plants. In April or early May they start producing fewer flowers, and the leaves go yellow. Stop feeding and reduce the amount of water – you can stop when all the leaves have died away.
Once the corm is completely dormant put it, in its pot, somewhere cool and keep it dry until mid to late summer when few new leaves start to appear. Repot it – I use multi-purpose compost, but a 50:50 mix of John Innes No2 and multipurpose would be fine.
Leave the top half of the corm exposed and don’t use too big a pot as cyclamen like being slightly pot-bound.
Place the plant in a light but cool spot and start watering as required. You can leave them outside until mid-October.
I start feeding when the plants are coming into flower and they are well rooted. Use a balanced feed, and deadhead spent flowers regularly.