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The cyclamen has been a popular ornamental plant since the middle of the 19th century, which is often kept in living rooms due to its size and flowering time. It blooms from September to April, counteracting the dreary gray of winter. They are easy to care for, but attach great importance to the location and the water additions, otherwise there may be problems with the tuber, which is reflected in the hanging flowers of the houseplant.
location
The location for the room cyclamen must be well chosen so that it can grow easily and form the picturesque flowers. The botanical name "Cyclamen persicum" and the synonym "Persian cyclamen" suggest that it comes from either the Iranian or the Alpine region. However, the cyclamen comes from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean and therefore needs a different location than the European cyclamen (bot. Cyclamen purpurascens). You should avoid too much sun and heat with this species, as that would only stress them out. The location should be as follows:
light requirement
Regarding the amount of light, it is important to ensure that the plant is not exposed to full sun. Despite its name, the "violet" does not tolerate full sun and even the sun can sometimes be a bit too much. It does best in a bright spot in the living room that is not in direct sunlight. South-facing window sills should be avoided. Even north-facing windows are possible, as long as enough light enters the room.
Particularly good locations are:
- light-flooded stairwells
- cool rooms, such as bedrooms or guest rooms
- unheated conservatories that do not heat up
temperature
The temperature of the location of the room cyclamen should not be too high. 12°C to 16°C are ideal, although temperatures of up to 18°C are also possible. From temperatures of 20°C they drop their heads, lose their leaves and die faster. They fade very quickly if it's too warm, although the actual flowering period lasts for several months. For this reason, avoid excessive temperatures and especially heating air throughout the year, as this dries out and has a negative effect on the vitality of the tuber.
air
Indoor cyclamen prefer circulating air that is not too warm. The air in the room should not stand too long, not heat up and be fresh so that the plant feels comfortable. The advantage: they are hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C, which makes airing easier in winter. But it shouldn't be too draughty.
A major benefit of the species is the ability to move them outdoors over the summer. Theoretically, you can put the bulbs in the garden, on the balcony or terrace throughout the summer, as long as they don't get too much sun and dry out quickly. The primula family prefers partial shade and can therefore spend time outdoors until the first night frosts appear in the year. Of course you can keep the flower indoors, but the fresh air is pleasant for Cyclamen persicum, as it does not tolerate stagnant air.
Room cyclamen watering
Correct watering of the Cyclamen persicum is important for the vitality of the plant, because incorrect watering has a strong effect on the formation of flowers, shoots and leaves. Especially over the summer months, watering has to be done differently, since the primrose plant does not have any flowers at this time and is preparing for the next flowering period. In addition, care must be taken when watering the tuber, as it quickly begins to rot if used incorrectly.
Casting is done in the following way:
- it is always cast indirectly
- that is, you pour the water into the saucer or saucer
- never water the shoots, flowers, leaves or bulbs directly
- This leads to unsightly water stains or rotting of the tuber
- use only lime-free water
- this should not be too cold
- Water should remain in the coaster for about 30 minutes
- discard the excess water after this period
Optimize water addition
Watering is only necessary if the substrate has dried on a finger test
You can increase the effectiveness of the water additions by optimizing the planter. The Persian cyclamen loves high humidity. However, since the parts of the plant themselves only tolerate a small amount of water, the spray bottle and the humidifier are not really suitable for the houseplant. However, one of the following methods works well for this purpose:
1. Expanded clay/ perlite
Place the pot in a planter that is only slightly larger. Now fill the gaps with expanded clay or perlite. Moisten the materials well beforehand. The granules store moisture after watering and ensure that your Cyclamen persicum does not dry out too quickly. In addition, expanded clay and perlite humidify the air in the immediate vicinity of the plant, which is ideal for indoor cyclamen. You can get a liter of expanded clay for about €1.20, perlite for about 25 cents.
expanded clay
2. Pebbles
Fill the coaster with pebbles and water. The pebbles humidify the air. The pebbles store the water and release moisture into the air at regular intervals, which meets the requirements of the cyclamen. With this method, it doesn't matter the size of the coaster or planter, as long as you spread a layer of pebbles. After watering, however, you should remove the stones if you pour away the excess water. Then place the pebbles back on the coaster.
reduce watering
There is less watering from May to mid-August. It is completely set as soon as the Persian cyclamen loses its leaves, because from this time on it is preparing for the new shoot. The tuber has stored enough moisture at this time and would start to rot due to further water additions. When the leaves start to sprout again in autumn, you can start watering again.
tip: When adding water, be careful not to touch the cyclamen directly. Like all cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum is highly toxic and the tuber in particular can cause a slight tingling or rash if it comes into contact with the skin.