Colorful blooms even in the colder months? Cyclamen is the answer. But there’s a little-known rule that really makes a difference.
The cyclamen has a special talent: it knows how to bring life even when everything around it seems dull. A vase on the windowsill, a corner of the balcony or a winter garden… it doesn’t take much to make it shine. However, there is a detail that many ignore, one golden rule which can make the difference between a wilted cyclamen after a week and one still in bloom at Christmas. And no, it has nothing to do with water or fertilizer. We often become fond of that colorful plant bought at the market or in the garden. You choose carefully, you put it in the “most beautiful” place in the house… and then? After a few days the signs begin: soft leaves, falling flowers, dull colour. It’s not bad luck. It’s just a question of the wrong environment. A bit like letting a polar bear sleep under the duvet.
We need a fair, stable climate that respects its rhythms. The cyclamen is like an elegant guest: if you put it near the radiator, if you shout at it with too much light or flood it with water, it gets offended. But if you learn to listen to it, it gives you weeks of wonder.
The truth about cyclamen: it lasts longer than you think
It is not a fragile plant, far from it. In nature it grows among the rocks, under the trees, where the sun arrives filtered and the earth remains fresh. Yet, at home, she transforms into a capricious diva. Why? Because the conditions are too different from what he is used to. The light? Yes, but never direct. The heat? No thank you. Cyclamen hates too high temperatures. Its limit is clear: no higher than 16°C. Once that threshold is crossed, he begins to suffer. But who keeps their house at 16 degrees today? Very few. Here’s the thing. A strategic corner is needed: unheated entrance, windowsill away from radiators, a room closed to heat.
It’s a common mistake: you buy it lush and after three days it looks like another plant. But it’s not his fault. He’s just trying to tell you, “In here, it’s too hot for me.” You understand that, right?
The most common mistakes and how to avoid them
Temperatures aside, there are a series of small oversights that add up. And they become lethal for our poor cyclamen. Like watering. Too much, too often, done badly. The simple rule? Never pour water on the leaves. It’s like taking a shower with your coat on.
The safest method is that of the saucer: let the water absorb from below, then empty the residue. This way the roots quench their thirst without risk. And pay attention to the quality of the water: tap water often contains too much limestone. Better to use distilled or rain waterat room temperature.
And the terrain? Just any supermarket bag of soil will not do. You need a light, well-draining substrate, perhaps with a touch of sand or perlite. If too compact, the roots will suffocate. And in a few days the plant dies.
Then there is the natural cycle of the plant. When flowering ends, it goes into rest. She’s not dead, she’s just sleeping. In that period, treatment stopped. No water, no fertilizer, just cleaning and patience. It will resume in September, and it will be stronger.
- Avoid radiators: direct heat is a silent enemy
- Water only from below and in small doses
- No direct light: bright shade is better
- Porous, draining, never compact soil
- Use non-calcareous, lukewarm water
- Respect the vegetative rest: do not force it
How to obtain long-lasting and abundant flowering of cyclamen
Seeing it flourish for months is not a miracle, but the result of constant small precautions. And it’s worth doing them, because cyclamen knows how to surprise. Its bright colors, between white, pink and purple, can light up even the grayest day. Flowering can last up to five months, but only if you learn to “read” it. It needs cleaning: dried flowers and yellowed leaves must be removed carefully, cutting them at the base. No tears. This stimulates new buds.
Every two weeks, green light for flowering fertilizer, possibly rich in potassium. However, be careful with those that are too nitrogenous: they grow many leaves but few flowers. A bit like a plant in the gym that only trains muscles, but forgets about stretching.
What if one day you find it sagging? Don’t despair. Maybe he just took a breath or drank too much. Clean up, change position, give it time. The cyclamen is slow but stubborn: if it finds the right environment again, it recovers. And it often comes back more beautiful than before. In the end, gaining confidence becomes almost a game. He asks for little, but he must be listened to. And when you do, it doesn’t disappoint. A bit like those old friends you only see in winter, but who come back to your house every time with a smile.
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