Cyclamen Care After Flowering: How To Treat Cyclamen After Blooming

Potted Bloomed Cyclamen
florists cyclamen
(Image credit: Vladimir1965)

Although there are more than 20 species of cyclamen, florist’s cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is the most familiar, typically given as gifts to brighten up the indoor environment during late winter’s gloom. This little charmer is especially popular around Christmas and Valentine’s Day, but what about caring for cyclamen after flowering? If you’ve been wondering how to treat cyclamen after blooming, read on to learn how to do just that!

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.
Mary H. Dyer
Writer

A Credentialed Garden Writer, Mary H. Dyer was with Gardening Know How in the very beginning, publishing articles as early as 2007.