Cyclamen brings color to the winter months
Some folks just cannot handle a dark and dreary winter. That’s a good reason why we find cyclamen flooding the nursery these days. They are one of the most popular winter flowers. And for good reason. They bloom in bright hues of white, pink, salmon, pink, red and lavender. The foliage is hard to resist, too. Leaves are delightfully heart-shaped and colored with attractive patterns of silver variegation.
Whether grown indoors or out, cyclamen are fairly easy to grow. Outdoor cyclamen like cool, frost-sheltered places that receive some sun. They only need watering when the top inch of soil dries out, which is usually about once a week during the cool season.
Indoor cyclamen needs a bit different treatment. They like a cool, bright place, not too much direct sun. Since it is warm and dry indoors during the winter, they will need to be monitored for watering. Only water when the top inch of soil dries out, but never let them get to a wilting stage. Wilted cyclamen bounce back, but will lose vigor sooner.
Cyclamen bloom dependably from now through early spring. A light, liquid feeding of all-purpose fertilizer will keep plants robust. As spring approaches, plants begin to bloom sparsely and foliage thins. This means it is time to allow plants to go dormant. Quit watering and let the tuber, from which foliage and flower sprout, dry. Like a daffodil or dahlia, dormant tubers can be stored in a cool dark place until next autumn. Then it is time to replant and enjoy the winter show once again.