Cyclamen: brilliant winter color and interesting foliage

Cyclamen is undoubtedly one of the most popular winter flowering potted plants and its charm is obvious. This plant attracts your eye at many different levels. Firstly the striking foliage is patterned in a wintry silver and green. Not only are the leaves stunning and picture perfect, they are all compact, forming a tight little mound of beauty. The flowers are displayed proudly on tall stalks that rise above the foliage. Cyclamen flowers are actually swept back and look like graceful dancers of pink, magenta, purple, salmon, white and red blooms.

Our Cyclamen are Gerten Grown right here in Inver Grove Heights. I always place my Cyclamen in a north facing window, where they like it to be cool without a lot of direct light. Oh yes, perfect for a Minnesota winter.

A couple of tips for success:

• 50-55 degrees F. is perfect
• Bright light without being direct is ideal.
• Keep moist without being wet, employ the bottom method of watering allowing to completely drain.
• After flowering reduce watering and stop feeding.
• If your cyclamen is in a decorative sleeve, undress your cyclamen for a couple of days a week to allow the roots to 'breathe'.

Sometimes you may see the flowers collapse and turn into a rotten thing. Over watering, usually from above, is the cause. Never let water stand on the crown!

If treated with care your cyclamen will last for months and months. They also make a wonderful hostess gift and will bring winter joy and warmth to all.