GREENGOLD GARDEN CONCEPTS
CARE AND MAINTENANCE NOTES

CYCLAMEN

 APPEARANCE:

Cyclamen persicum, is an herbaceous corm, with basal, long-petioled foliage. The foliage may be shaped from broad to rounded, or kidney, or heart shaped. It may be blotched, patterned, lobed, or marbled on the upper surface. Sometime the margins of the leaves are toothed. Flowers are distinctively carried on long stems, and may be pink, brilliant red, or white, or any shade in between.

CONDITIONS: Cyclamen do not like warmth. The old adage was that you "put the cyclamen out at night with the cat". If kept indoors it should be in a well lit room free from heating. Alternatively, it can be kept outside on a well lit balcony or verandah out of the sun. Although nowadays people are exhorted to bring their cats in at night, it is still a good idea to put the cyclamen out - maybe under a tree or a pergola, or on the veranda.

SOIL: A peat based potting mix, such as Amgrow Pot and Peat is suitable, or even pure peat moss.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE: Do not water your cyclamen from the top of the pot. Wetting of the corm and flower and leaf stems encourages fungal rot. Water from the bottom, by sitting your cyclamen in a saucer or bowl of water for 10 - 15 minutes, and then removing it and letting the surplus water drain. Never let your cyclamen sit in a saucer of water permanently - this will cause a yellowing of the leaves, rotting of the stems, and eventual death of the plant. Fertilize with fish emulsion, or osmocote slow release fertilizer. Cyclamen are dormant in summer, so after flowering finishes, and the leaves have dried off, keep the corms dry - do not water during the summer dormancy. Repot in autumn, and you should get another season flowering. Otherwise, plant in the garden in the shade.