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Cyclamen Diseases: Identification & Prevention

First: Rule Out Normal Dormancy

Summer yellowing/drop = normal. Diseases strike during winter growth.

Major Diseases

Bacterial soft rot / Fusarium wilt: Rapid yellowing/death. No cure. Discard. Prevent: buy clean corms, sterile media, disinfect reused pots.
Botrytis blight: Tan leaf spots, water-soaked petals → tan spots, gray fuzz. Maybe salvageable: isolate, fan for airflow. Contagious.
Leaf spot: Round yellow/gray/brown spots with black dots. Isolate. Avoid wetting leaves/crown; water from bottom.
Thielaviopsis root rot: Stunted, black/shriveled roots. Discard.
Viruses: Deformed leaves/flowers, streaks/rings. Discard immediately.

If Trying to Save

Isolate. Wear dedicated apron. Disinfect tools/hands before touching healthy plants. But replacement is often wiser—cyclamen are inexpensive and hard to rebloom.

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