Keeping Cyclamen After Blooms Fade
What to do with a cyclamen after flowering? Often, florist’s cyclamen is considered a seasonal gift. It can be difficult to get a cyclamen to rebloom, so the plant is frequently discarded after it has lost its beauty. Although keeping cyclamens after blooms fade is a bit of a challenge, it’s definitely possible. Proper light and temperature are the keys to caring for cyclamen after flowering.
How to Treat Cyclamen After Blooming
It’s normal for cyclamen to lose its leaves and go dormant after flowering. The plant requires a period of dormancy during the summer, so the tuberous root has time to re-energize for the coming blooming season. Here are the steps:
Gradually cut back on watering when the leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow. Use scissors to remove all remaining dead and dying foliage. Place the tuber in a container with the top half of the tuber sitting above the surface of the soil. Put the container in a cool, shady room, away from bright or direct light. Be sure the plant isn’t exposed to frost. Withhold water and fertilizer during the dormant period – generally six to eight weeks. Watering during dormancy will rot the tuber. As soon as you see new growth, sometime between September and December, move the cyclamen into bright sunlight and water the plant thoroughly. Keep the cyclamen in a cool room with daytime temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees F. (16-18 C.), and nighttime temps at about 50 degrees F. (10 C.). Feed the plant monthly, using a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. Watch for the cyclamen to rebloom in midwinter, as long as conditions are just right.
