Cyclamen: location, care and diseases

The cyclamen is a popular ornamental plant for the home and the bed. For a lush bloom, however, there are a few things to consider.

Cyclamen or cyclamen (cyclamen) delight us both in the garden and in a cool spot in the house with their characteristic after flowers hanging below, the petals of which rise almost like the delicate wings of a colorful butterfly protrude. Depending on the species, the flowers begin to flutter through our field of vision in winter or summer, nestled on a nest of heart-shaped leaves. But so that this aesthetic spectacle is presented to you year after year, a lot of sensitivity is required in the care of the primula plants (Primulaceae) because cyclamen are real divas, especially when watering.

Cyclamen: origin and properties

Most species of this perennial flowering plant come from the Mediterranean region. Only one species has actually advanced to the Alps, the European cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens) – the German name is also derived from this. Depending on the species, the plants with the characteristic upward-pointing petals flower in winter and spring or in summer and autumn. Thanks to diligent breeders, the flower colors now range from white to pink to purple. The cyclamen can also come up with warm orange and red tones as well as multicolored flowers. Tubers are formed as outlasting organs. These serve as an energy reserve for the plant, which grows between 15 and 35 cm.

Cyclamen: Various species

There are around 22 different types of cyclamen. They have different distribution areas, different flowering times and differ in terms of leaves and flower color. Common types are:

• The ivy-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)
• The room cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
• The European cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens)
• The early spring cyclamen (Cyclamen coum)
• The curly-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen repandum)

Everything you need to know about these cyclamen species you'll find here.

Cyclamen: As a perennial or for the apartment?

Whether perennial or living room depends on the species. The room cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is, as the name suggests, the choice for the pot in the living area. The species comes from Asia Minor, but was already introduced in the 17th century. century to Europe. It is not hardy here and therefore belongs in the house - at least in winter. Other species such as the ivy-leaved cyclamen or the European cyclamen survive our winter ones Temperatures without problems and can be planted out in the garden, where they will have the most beautiful colors year after year bloom.

Cyclamen in the garden: The right location

Hardy cyclamen feel at home in the garden. If you give them a nice spot in the shade to semi-shade and embed their tubers in humus-rich, moist soil, they will spread all by themselves and form nice, dense clumps. Once you have found the ideal place for your cyclamen, proceed as follows when planting the tuber:

• Planting time: early summer or autumn
• water the tuber
• remove weeds
• Planting hole: 5 - 7 cm deep
• Planting distance: 10 cm
• Mix the excavated soil with compost
• Place the underside of the tuber in the planting hole
• Cover with soil and water well

Cyclamen that are cultivated early are usually planted out after flowering when the leaves are withering. However, the potted plants can also wander into the bed during flowering. Flowering time depends on the species.

Cyclamen in the house and in the pot

Cyclamen bring color into the house when everything is dreary and dark outside. That is why they are popular houseplants. But the heating air, which offers us pleasant warmth in winter, is not well tolerated by the plants. If you want to create a feel-good atmosphere for the early bloomers, choose the location and the pot according to the following criteria:

• Location: Bright but no direct sun
• Temperature: 12-15°C
• Soil: Well-drained potting soil
• Pot with drainage hole

If you don't buy early cyclamen in a pot, but plant tubers, let about a third of the tuber stick out of the ground when planting. In summer, your cyclamen will look forward to a shady spot on the balcony or terrace. In winter, however, the plants should be in a sheltered, frost-free place.

Water and fertilize cyclamen properly

Proper care of the cyclamen is the guarantee that the plants will not get sick, because incorrect watering in particular makes the graceful flowering plants susceptible to fungal infestation.

Water cyclamen

Cyclamen need a lot of water, especially during the flowering period, and the tuber must never dry out completely. However, waterlogging is absolutely not tolerated. That's why you need a little instinct and the right technique to find the golden mean. The pot is poured from below or with the immersion method. The tuber must not get wet at the top. When pouring from below, the coaster is emptied again after half an hour. The upper parts of the plant are not sprayed with water. The bed is watered after longer periods of drought. But even after it has rained, you should check whether the soil under the large leaves has gotten wet at all. The general rule is: It is poured when the upper layer of soil has dried out. More about the right technique and the ideal time at Watering cyclamen you'll find here.

Fertilize cyclamen

When fertilizing cyclamen, the right timing is required so that you can maximize the flowering period with the nutrient supply. For this purpose, liquid fertilizer is added to the irrigation water during the growth phase. And at the following intervals:

• Pot: Every 2 – 4 weeks
• Bed: Every 2 – 3 months

It is best to use an organic fertilizer. This was not processed industrially and is therefore more environmentally friendly and resource-saving. The plants also benefit, because the nutrients are available over the long term and soil life is improved. Our Plantura Organic flower & balcony fertilizer is a purely organic organic liquid fertilizer that is simply administered via the irrigation water. Immediately after flowering, no fertilizer is used for a period of eight weeks. Because the tubers need a certain rest period. As an alternative to regular fertilization, the bed can be mulched with compost once in the fall.

Repot or transplant cyclamen

Repotting or transplanting is not absolutely necessary, but of course feasible if desired. Relocate your plant six to eight weeks after the end of the flowering period. At this point, the first new shoots should have formed. Then the implementation is as follows:

• dig up the tuber
• Water the tuber and remove the soil
• Remove injured and dead roots
• Divide bulb (if necessary).
• Plant tubers as described above

Remember to leave a potted cyclamen bulb about one-third above the ground. When repotting, the new pot should be about 5 cm larger than the old one.

Cyclamen: Common diseases and yellow leaves

If cared for properly, cyclamen stay healthy. If diseases occur, it was most likely incorrectly watered. Here you will find a list of the most common diseases:

gray mold

• Characteristics: Gray, mold-like coating on the leaves
• Reason: location too warm, soil too moist
• Countermeasure: repot, adjust location and watering

blight

• Characteristics: tuber fault
• Reason: Too moist soil, withered leaves
• Countermeasure: None, therefore preventive measures are essential

Cyclamen wilt

• Characteristics: wilting and yellowing symptoms, brownish or reddish necrosis within the tuber
• Reason: poor substrate quality, soil pH too low, stress
• Countermeasure: None, therefore preventive measures are essential

There are also pests that love to attack your cyclamen.

vine weevil

• Characteristics: feeding spots on the leaves
• Countermeasure: Collect at night, rinse roots and repot

cyclamen mite

• Characteristics: damage to the tips of the shoots, misshapen leaves and flowers (adults); Feeding on tuber and roots (larva)
• Countermeasures: Rinse roots and repot

If the leaves of your cyclamen turn yellow, this is usually not due to a disease, but to incorrect care. Most of the time, water is not poured properly here. How and how often you Water cyclamen should, you will find out in this article.