Cyclamen persicum

Autumn-Spring · Indoors

Water houseplant

Don't splash the corm with water. Water regularly in growth while keeping corm dry. Reduce watering after the flowers fade until the leaves die. Give the corm an occasional drop of water in the dormant period. Recommence watering from late summer

Autumn-Winter · Planting

Care after flowering

Remove dead foliage when the flowers have finished and leave the pot in cool position until late summer. Then watering can be recommenced.

Spring-Autumn · Indoors

Feed with low nitrogen feed

Use a houseplant fertiliser that has low nitrogen content. Apply this several times while the plant is in active growth, reduce feeding and then stop feeding when the plant begins to fade, or winter starts.

Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), choose one where nitrogen has a low value.

Winter · Outdoors

Water sparingly during dormancy

In its dormant period give very little water, keeping the soil barely moist. Dormancy is likely to be during the winter and the plant recommences growth in early to mid spring.

When a plant enters dormancy the leaves fade, go yellow and then brown. Eventually the whole plant may 'disappear' or unadorned stems may remain.

Winter-Spring · Planting

Repot during dormancy

Repot while the plant is dormant, moving it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Some of the old compost can be shaken away, but don't disturb the roots too much.

Make sure that the roots are spread out, and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and ensure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.

Compost · Planting

Loam based houseplant compost for repotting

Buy container or house plant compost that is loam based if possible (i.e. is based on John Innes compost number 2 or 3. This contains more fertiliser and is better suited to established plants.

John Innes no. 1 has the lowest level of fertiliser and is used for seedlings and young plants, so is generally used where plants will be 'potted on' after a number of weeks.

Indoor temperature · Planting

10C minimum temperature

This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.

Indoor plant · Planting

Position in a bright spot, no direct sun

Give this a bright position away from the direct sun, especially direct sun at the height of the day. (Direct sunshine is too hot and can burn the leaves.) Move the plant to a brighter position in the room during winter and early spring.