The Cyclamen is a genus of bulbous plants that has its origin in the forests of the Mediterranean area. They are highly appreciated in gardening as a winter cycle plant, since many of their species bloom precisely during the coldest months. It is not a particularly demanding plant when it comes to care, but with proper care, it can flower for up to 4 months.
In this article, we offer you a simple guide on the care of cyclamen, Alpine violet or Persian violet , if you follow them you will see that your plants will bear flowers perfectly for several months.
Characteristics of cyclamen or Persian violets
The cyclamen genus has more than 20 different species, but all of them are perennial herbaceous, with fleshy leaves with long petioles and flowers of very striking colors and a characteristic and pleasant perfume.
The cyclamen species, which is also called Persian violet , grow and are cultivated in specific geographical areas, with what, for example, in the Iberian Peninsula only grows the Cyclamen balearicum , which is found in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, while the Cyclamen coum is cultivated in the eastern and southern parts of the Black Sea, and Cyclamen persicum comes from western Asia Minor.
It should also be mentioned that the tuber or bulb of the cyclamen is a poisonous plant for humans and most pets. Nothing happens to be in contact with the plant, but if we have small children or pets it is important to avoid that they can eat or put any of its parts in their mouth, especially the mentioned tuber or bulb. If your pet vomits or suffers from diarrhea, he may have eaten a cyclamen plant.
Cyclamen or cyclamen colors
The flowers of Cyclamen have a variety of colors according to their species and hybridization, can be found in the following shades:
Cyclamen care – basic guide
Follow these tips on the care of cyclamen or Persian violet and you will see that they grow well and stay in your pots or flower beds:
Temperature and light
Since cyclamen is a plant, as we have already said, of cool climates and environments or with cold climates , its worst enemy is usually excess sun and heat. If you plant your cyclamen in the garden, do it in an area that does not receive direct sunlight, but has good lighting. If, on the other hand, you have it in an indoor pot, place it in a room with a lot of natural light, but again where the sun’s rays do not hit it directly. If possible, find a space or room where the temperature is as cool as possible, away from heat sources, since if the temperature rises above 16 degrees, it is very likely that the cyclamen will lose its flowers. The plant will also appreciate being in a well-ventilated place .
Irrigation of cyclamen
Watering the cyclamen also requires following some basic guidelines to avoid damaging the plant. Watering it from above is highly discouraged, as the flowers and leaves could be attacked by fungi due to humidity. In the same way, since it is a bulb, it is not advisable for the bulb itself to come into contact with water.
For all this, it is recommended with the cyclamen an irrigation by capillarity or immersion , which consists of placing the base of the pot on a plate or container with water for about fifteen minutes, allowing the plant to absorb the water it needs and then withdrawing it to Dry on another plate with gravel or some other draining material. This must be repeated when we notice that the substrate is dry again, which can be approximately every week, although it varies a lot depending on the conditions of the area. One last tip when it comes to watering is to always water your cyclamen with warm water, thus avoiding a thermal shock to the plant that will cause it to lose its flowers sooner.
Compost and pruning
You can help your cyclamen with some liquid compost , but do this only when the plant is beginning to develop flower buds. Lastly, always prune any flowers or stems that begin to wilt or go bad.
My cyclamen has fallen flowers, what happens to it and what do I do?
If you see some fallen flowers on your cyclamen, do not be alarmed: as long as they