Question
Thank you very much for your timely response!  I have another question about temperature.  I live in an apartment where we do not control the temperature ourselves.  My radiator runs along the outside wall; right under the window!  I read that cyclamen also do not like drafts, so I thought opening the window to make it cooler would be a bad idea.  

Also, what does "corm" mean?  

Thank you so much!

Erica












-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I was recently given a beautiful purple cyclamen plant from Lund's marketplace that needs help.  It came in a pot that is 4 inches in diameter and about 5 inches in height.  I have not repotted it.  It looked beautiful for the first week and a half but now it is quickly going downhill.  I was told not to overwater it; that its better for it to dry out between waterings.  Then my aunt told me to water it each week from the bottom, which I tried.  The flowers are wilting and now 80% of the leaves are yellowing.  I keep it in the kitchen; 20 feet away from the windows, but I wondered if it might need more sunlight.  So I placed it in the Minnesota sunlight for an hour but it is not doing any better.  Should I repot it?  How often should I water it?  Does it need to be watered from the bottom?  Is it a good idea to cut off the yellowing leaves and the wilting flowers?  Should I place it near a north window to get a little bit of sunlight?  Does it ever need direct sunlight?

Thank you very much for any help you can provide me!  I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Answer -
Hi Erica,

Cyclamen are tricky plants.

In general, cyclamen bloom during the cooler months and tend to go into semi-dormancy during the warmer months. This is the opposite of most other flowering plants. However, given the right conditions cyclamen will bloom off-and-on all year long.

Cyclamen prefers lots of bright indirect light. Right in an unshaded north window would be great. A few hours of direct sun is OK. In any case, it should not be more than 5 or 6 feet from a sunny window.

Do not repot it because it root system is small and it needs to be potbound to bloom. Water it thoroughly, then wait until the top two inches of soil is dry before watering thoroughly again. It will wilt if it gets too dry so avoid letting it get that dry.

Cyclamen like cool temps as low as 45 degrees and try to keep it below 75 degrees at all times. 55 degrees is the preferred temperature for flower production. If the temps become warmer than 70 degrees, it will go into dormancy and develop lots of yellow leaves. If that happens, reduce water (give it just enough water to keep it from completely drying out) and light until cooler temps return. Yellow leaves and wilted flowers should be removed for aesthetic reasons.

Spider mites can be a problem so be vigilant and treat them promptly if they appear. Fertilize your cyclamen regularly when it is growing vigorously.

Some experts advise against top watering in order to avoid getting the corm wet. I always top water and have not had a problem with this. Bottom watering runs the risk of keeping the soil too moist for too long and this is not a plant that tolerates "wet feet."

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me an AllExperts rating and nomination.  

Answer
Hi Erica,

It is hard to guage cold drafts. It really depends on the outside temperature and just how strong the wind is blowing through the open window. Cyclamen are quite cold tolerant, but a draft coming through in sub-freezing weather would probably damage it. In general, if temps are above freezing, the Cyclamen will probably be OK if the window is open just a bit. You might consider cracking open the window a bit during the day when it is not so cold and closing it at night.

A corm is a hard, bulb-like structure that is just below the surface of the soil. The roots grow out of the bottom of it and the leaf stems grow out of its top.

Will Creed