Cyclamen
This is a genuinely different plant to manage from the hardy garden Cyclamen despite being the same genus — it's a cool-room gift plant, not hardy outdoors in a UK winter, and the single most damaging mistake is watering it like an ordinary houseplant, from the top: always water from below or around the pot rim to keep the tuber dry.
Care
Avoid direct sun and warm rooms; a cool windowsill below 18°C prolongs flowering significantly.
Water from below (stand the pot in water for 20-30 minutes then drain) or carefully around the pot rim — never pour water over the tuber or leaves; this is the single most important care rule for this group_key.
Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost.
Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves by pulling the whole stalk with a slight twist from the base, not cutting — this reduces the risk of rot at the wound.
Feed with a dilute high-potash feed every couple of weeks while it is in leaf and flower, which for this plant is the winter. Stop entirely as the leaves yellow in spring: it is going dormant and feeding then causes the tuber to rot.
Not a home job — these are raised from seed under controlled conditions and a bought plant will not divide. Keeping the tuber dry and dormant through summer and restarting it in autumn is the realistic way to have it again next year.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- JanuaryWater from below only, keeping the compost just moist, not wet. how ›
- AprilAs flowering finishes and leaves yellow, the plant enters dormancy — most people discard it at this point (it's a florist's gift plant, not usually kept long-term), though it can be kept cool and dry and then started again later if wanted.
- NovemberEnjoy winter flowering in a cool room.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryWater from below only, keeping the compost just moist, not wet. how ›
- AprilAs flowering finishes and leaves yellow, the plant enters dormancy — most people discard it at this point (it's a florist's gift plant, not usually kept long-term), though it can be kept cool and dry and then started again later if wanted.
- NovemberEnjoy winter flowering in a cool room.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryWater from below only, keeping the compost just moist, not wet. how ›
- AprilAs flowering finishes and leaves yellow, the plant enters dormancy — most people discard it at this point (it's a florist's gift plant, not usually kept long-term), though it can be kept cool and dry and then started again later if wanted.
- NovemberEnjoy winter flowering in a cool room.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryWater from below only, keeping the compost just moist, not wet. how ›
- AprilAs flowering finishes and leaves yellow, the plant enters dormancy — most people discard it at this point (it's a florist's gift plant, not usually kept long-term), though it can be kept cool and dry and then started again later if wanted.
- NovemberEnjoy winter flowering in a cool room.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Yellowing leaves, a mushy tuber base, the plant collapsing.
What to do. Always water from below or around the rim of the pot — never pour water over the crown.
How to spot it. Sudden wilting or leaf drop after being placed somewhere warm.
What to do. This is a cool-room plant — central heating and radiators kill it fast; keep below 18°C, away from radiators.
How to spot it. On dead flowers and leaves left in place.
What to do. Remove promptly by twisting and pulling out spent stalks.
Questions
Cyclamen: is it hardy?
H1c: Tender, needs above 5°C. It survives above 5 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Sold and grown exclusively in pots as an indoor gift plant.
Cyclamen: when do you prune it?
Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves by pulling the whole stalk with a slight twist from the base, not cutting — this reduces the risk of rot at the wound.
Cyclamen: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in November–March.
When do you feed it?
Feed with a dilute high-potash feed every couple of weeks while it is in leaf and flower, which for this plant is the winter. Stop entirely as the leaves yellow in spring: it is going dormant and feeding then causes the tuber to rot. Feeding months, UK: November–March.