How to Grow Cyclamen in Pots and Containers
The shape and delicacy of cyclamen blooms add fluttering beauty to any garden or home. In this article, garden expert Allison Young guides you on growing cyclamen in pots and containers.
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A former boss once compared cyclamen blooms to butterflies perched on their stems. And it’s true: their shape and delicacy add a fluttering beauty to any garden or home. While certain cyclamen varieties can be planted directly in the garden, they also make wonderful indoor or outdoor plants grown in pots or containers.
If you’re prone to the winter doldrums, this flower might be the perfect addition to your houseplant collection. They start blooming in autumn and can last until the spring. What better way to brighten up the cold, dark season?
Let’s dive into this fascinating plant and how to ensure your cyclamen grows (and thrives) in pots and containers.
Getting Started
If you’re new to this perennial flower, its butterfly-like blooms grow from a dense cluster of dark green leaves that are often heart-shaped or round. Cyclamen is the plant’s genus (with 23 species within that genus), but it’s also how most people refer to the ornamental perennial.
The plants you likely encounter at your garden center are C. persicum, also referred to as florists’ cyclamen. Common names include sowbread and swinebread, because the tubers are tasty snacks for foraging pigs. That might be why ancient Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, dubbed them “earth’s truffle”.
Even though there are only 23 species of this genus, there are seemingly endless variations of C. persicum. Walk into a garden center and you’ll likely see the blooms in myriad shades of red, pink, white, and purple. Some have ruffled petals while others have unique variegation on its leaves.
If you’re curious to see the possible variations, the Cyclamen Society offers diagrams of the different forms these fascinating flowers take.
Step 1: Choose Your Pot
Once you’ve selected a cyclamen variety, use its color and size to determine what pot or container to use. Terracotta is a classic option. Its porousness allows for the plant to dry out properly. If you’re looking for a different style, there are plenty of glazed, plastic, and even concrete options that can capture the aesthetic you’re after.
As with most potted plants, find a pot that drains well. Many nurseries, flower shops, or craft stores will sell striking or beautiful containers, but if there’s no drainage hole, you’re making it harder for your plant to thrive and your ability to care for it. With that said, there is an exception to proper drainage: creating a terrarium.
This alternative gives you a chance to flex your creative muscles and provide ample humidity to your cyclamen, something it really loves. It can be challenging, but with the right tools and your keen observation skills, you can create an eye-catching display. Intrigued by creating your own terrarium? Read this guide to learn more!
Once you find a pot or container that fits your style, make sure it fits your cyclamen. Aim to find a pot that’s one to two inches larger than its black, plastic nursery pot or slightly larger than its root ball. Then you’re ready for the next step.
Step 2: Gather Other Materials
Quality soil, a sunny windowsill, and a water source are the key materials you’ll need, but let’s break down all that makes potting more efficient and enjoyable.
Potting Soil
Cyclamens thrive in loamy soil with slight acidity. Loamy soil, or loam, refers to a smooth fertile type of soil that’s made up of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. It’s rich in nutrients but also drains well so your plants don’t become water-logged. Loam is the ideal soil type for most house plants, and most bags of potting mix will have the right consistency. Read the label carefully when stocking up.
If you’re doubtful the soil is good for your cyclamen, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) suggests you grab a handful of damp (not soaking) soil. If the soil holds its general shape but crumbles slightly you likely have loam in your hands.
Trowel or Other Gardening Tools
Some gardeners prefer a trowel or spade when scooping soil into your pot. Others opt for their gloved hands to fill the pot. The choice is yours!
Clippers
Most gardeners have a tool that they rely on for many tasks, whether it’s a well-worn pair of gloves or their prized hori hori. Clippers are versatile: use them to snip dead or broken leaves, slice through tough dirt balls to break up soil, or even tear open your bag of potting soil. Whatever that go-to tool is for you, keep it nearby.
Saucer
Whether it’s a matching saucer for your pot or you prefer an eclectic look using an old teacup saucer, find something that can catch the water that drains through your pot. Make sure it’s in proportion with your container so that it doesn’t overflow every time you water your cyclamen.
If you create a terrarium, you don’t need a saucer, but you might want some other natural elements to accompany your plant.
Moss and Stones
Natural elements intersect at form and function. Use sheet moss to cover the dirt around your cyclamen for a lush, polished look. It also helps retain moisture between waterings.
In the same way, river stones create visual interest to your potted cyclamen, whether it’s in a pot or terrarium. If you need to give your potted cyclamen more humidity, lay the stones in a saucer or tray of water.
Watering Can
Though not vital to giving your plants a drink, a watering can with a narrow spout gives you greater control on how much water and where—details that make caring for your cyclamen much easier.
Grow Light
If you have an eastern-facing or southern-facing window in your home you probably won’t need a grow light, but for those living in dense urban areas or with lots of trees shading your home, a grow light makes for an excellent supplement to the natural light your cyclamen needs to flower.
And if you’re ready to invest in a grow light for your indoor garden, this video breaks down the options and spares you the overwhelm when looking for the best fit.
Fertilizer
Look for a low-nitrogen fertilizer and remember less is more. While it blooms, fertilize the plant about every two weeks with a low nitrogen formula (wait a couple weeks after you first pot your cyclamen). Any more than that and your plant becomes more susceptible to disease.
Step 3: Prepare the Pot
With your cyclamen, pot or container, and your other materials gathered, it’s time to get your hands dirty! Fill the pot roughly one-third full of soil. Because your pot has a drainage hole, there’s no need to line the bottom with rocks.
Step 4: Transplant
Remove the plant from its nursery pot by squeezing the black plastic to help loosen it up. You can either push the plant out of the pot from the bottom or gently pull it out. If your plant is especially stubborn, cut the plastic nursery pot open.
Once freed, break up the dirt ball surrounding the roots and knock off the old dirt. Cyclamens grow from a tuber, so stay mindful not to cut or break apart its growth structure. Set the plant in your new pot so that it’s upright and the roots won’t be cramped or crushed. Then you’re ready to fill the rest of your container with soil. Leave about an inch below the rim of your pot, making sure that the roots feel sturdy in their new home without packing the soil too tightly.
Step 5: Water
Once potted, give your cyclamen a drink. As you care for your plant, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. They like being moist, not soggy. Also, avoid watering the center of the plant. This is where the tuber lies, and saturating it can cause root rot.
To establish a watering schedule, keep an eye on the leaves. They should stay firm and upright, but if they begin to droop or feel flimsy, you have a thirsty cyclamen on your hands. If the leaves turn yellow and seem mushy or damp, it could mean you’ve overwatered.
Step 6: Finishing Touches
Make sure that you’ve placed the saucer under your cyclamen to catch any water. Spread out any moss or stones if you want those finishing touches. If any stems bent or broke during potting, trim them and wipe away any dirt on your container. Now it’s time to find its ideal place in your home.
Step 7: Location, Location, Location
Lighting is a key consideration when choosing a place for your plant. Cyclamens growing in containers and pots prefer bright indirect light, making those east-facing windows in your home great options. The University of Wisconsin-Madison recommends southern exposure if you live in a colder climate. If there is a lot of direct sun, shield the light with another plant, or with a light diffusing translucent curtain.
Another thing to keep in mind is its humidity, so avoid heaters and air vents where the hot air can dry out the plant quickly.
Final Thoughts
With these steps, you can pot your cyclamen in a variety of containers and enjoy their delicate beauty indoors all winter long. The fascinating blooms even last as cut stems for about four days, so share their butterfly beauty and cheer with someone who needs extra color during the cold months.
If you feel inspired, there’s a deep dive on other varieties of cyclamens for you to read here. Happy planting and enjoy butterfly blooms in your home!
