Try these fantastic tips to Keep Your Cyclamen Blooming All Winter Long without a miss in the cooler months!
Apply these specially tailored tips to your cyclamen plant, and it’ll thank you by blooming all winter long. Don’t worry; these tips are simple to understand and implement and will make your plant healthier and bloom better.
How to Keep Your Cyclamen Blooming All Winter Long
Cyclamen usually blooms from fall to early winter, September to November, and December for about 6-10 weeks. However, if you follow these tips and care for it the right way, you can get its pretty flowers for a bit longer and its blooming season for a few more weeks as well.
1. Deadheading is Must
When talking about encouraging the flowering of any plant, deadheading should be at the top of the list.
If you see any faded blooms on your cyclamen, it is best to deadhead them by gently pinching them off with your fingers or using sharp scissors. These flowers grow on the top of long stems, and you should pull the flower off entirely from the crown.
This process also reduces the risk of fungal infections, which thrive in decaying organic matter. In addition to that, deadheading will also help them direct their energy to produce more buds for continuous blooms.
2. Maintain Balance in Lighting
Improper light for the cyclamen means too much direct light or shade. It needs bright, indirect light. Remember that too much direct light will scorch the leaves and blooms of your plant, and you won’t see it blooming much during winter.
Look for a window around your house that is east-facing and keep it there. While east-facing windows are ideal, south-facing windows can also work well as long as the plant is protected from direct sunlight. Sheer curtains or blinds are great to filter the light.
Cyclamen leaves grow upright to protect their blooms from excess sunlight, and diffused daylight will prevent leaf curling and protect the blooms. If you can’t find the right spot, using some grow lights for the perfect blooming is better.
Exposure to direct morning sun will not harm your plant as long as it is just for one or two hours, but avoid prolonged, direct sun at all costs.
3. Follow a Watering Schedule
The easiest trick to water your cyclamen is to water only when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. If you water too much, the waterlogging will trigger root rot and affect the blooming. Wet foliage and flowers can also harm the plant as they lead to various issues that restrict the blooming cycle.
Also, it is better to use room temperature water, as cold water can shock the roots and reduce flower production. When you water this plant, target the roots to benefit the plant.
The crown and leaves of this plant are quite sensitive; if you water over these parts, it can lead to crown rot. To avoid such issues, try bottom watering when the top soil becomes dry.
NOTE: The blooming cycle of cyclamen will end in early January, and you will see the color of leaves fading. This is the start of the dormant phase and a signal to reduce watering.
4. Maintain Humidity
Proper humidity is critical to a thriving and blooming cyclamen plant. The plant loves humidity that mimics its natural habitat, so it is best to maintain at least a 50-60% humidity level. The moist soil and humidity ensure that this plant continues to bloom.
Keep it away from radiators, heating vents, drafts, and dry air so the flowers don’t fade prematurely. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water or use a humidifier to maintain proper humidity levels. Grouping plants together is also a great idea to improve humidity around plants.
5. Stable Conditions During Blooming
Cyclamen doesn’t like fluctuating temperatures or watering schedules during the blooming period. A more stable environment means healthy blooms that will last throughout the winter. Proper lighting is also essential, as mentioned.
It is better not to switch locations during the blooming period so your plant keeps blooming during winter. If you bring your cyclamen home from a colder environment before the flowering period, acclimate it gradually to your indoor temperatures. Keep it near a window for a few days before moving it someplace else.
Pro Tip: Good air circulation helps prevent fungal diseases and promotes healthy growth, so you should avoid placing your cyclamen in stuffy or crowded areas.
6. Avoid Warmer Temperatures
Cyclamen is a winter bloomer, and warm temperatures are not good for its blooming process. It is best to give it 60-65 F (15-19 C) during the day and 40-50 F (4-10 C) during the night. If the indoor temperature of your house is usually at 70 F (21 C) or more, it is hot for the plant, and it won’t develop flower buds or it may stop blooming soon.
The warm temperature leads to a dormancy period for this plant, ending the flowering season.
Pro Tip: Avoid placing the plant near a radiator; the warm air can shorten the blooming period. So, keep it under cool conditions.
7. Rotate the Pot
If you keep your cyclamen plant in one position for a long time, it will grow toward the source of light. This often results in uneven blooming and shape, and to overcome this, many gardeners deploy the technique of pot rotation for even light exposure.
It is a very simple technique that involves rotating the pot every couple of weeks. This encourages thriving and uniform growth and blooming points across the entire plant. It also prevents leggy stems.
8. Mimic a Cool Night Cycle
To keep cyclamens blooming for as long as possible, you need two key things–cool nights and regular deadheading. Cyclamens grow best in cool temperatures, preferring night temperatures as low as 40 F (4 C). They can also tolerate down to 23 F (-5 C) for a while, but the flowers will freeze.
A cooling period will promote better blooming by signaling a prolonged autumn and mild winter environment. While trying this technique, protect your plant from frost and extreme temperature drops.
