Growing Florist Cyclamen: Winter Blooms for Indoors

Florist cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) brighten winter windowsills with heart-shaped leaves and blooms in rose, red, and white. A favorite since 17th-century Europe, modern hybrids offer single, double, fringed, and crested forms—but care basics remain unchanged.

Ideal Conditions

• Light: Bright indirect. East/west window ideal; south with sheer curtain or set back.
• Water: Evenly moist—never bone dry, never soggy. Water at pot rim to avoid tuber rot. Saucer must not hold water.
• Temperature: 60–65°F day, slightly cooler nights. Above 70°F causes bud drop/failure.
• Humidity: High. Bathroom or kitchen windows excel (steam + easy watering).

Bloom Cycle & Reblooming

Buy in bloom with visible buds for 4+ weeks of flowers. Then: leaves yellow, curl, drop—this is dormancy, not death. The tuber rests.

To rebloom:

1. Move to shade for a few weeks; keep soil barely moist.
2. Return to bright indirect light.
3. Feed weekly/biweekly with balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10).
4. With luck, new growth and buds appear.

Pest Management

Aphids, thrips, mealybugs, spider mites occasionally appear. Isolate new plants. Treat with insecticidal soap per label.

Pet Safety

Toxic to cats and dogs (terpenoid saponins cause vomiting, diarrhea, salivation). Tubers are most dangerous. Keep plants inaccessible. Contact vet if ingested.

Long-Term Care

With attention to cool temps, careful watering, and summer rest, cyclamen live for years. Their speckled foliage alone earns a spot in the indoor garden—blooms are a glorious bonus.

Originally published February 2008. Resources: Clemson Extension, ASPCA, AVSA.org, DG African Violet/Gesneriad forum.