How Does Cyclamen Get Through Winter? Detailed Winter Care Methods
Cyclamen is a widely cultivated ornamental flower that can be grown in the ground or in pots, and when planting it, you need to pay attention to its winter survival. So how does cyclamen get through winter? How should it be cared for normally?
1. How does cyclamen get through winter?
Cyclamen is relatively cold-tolerant, so in warmer regions in winter it can survive the winter naturally. But in the north or in regions with severe winter cold, it needs to be moved to a warm indoor spot, and the frequency and amount of watering should be reduced, fertilizing should be stopped, and light should be ensured, so that it can safely get through winter.
2. How should cyclamen normally be cared for?
1. Soil
Cyclamen grows best in a cool environment and in fertile sandy loam rich in humus, and the soil must also be loose and airy. A mix blended from peat, leaf mold, and the like can be used, which both improves drainage and increases fertilizer retention.
2. Temperature
It is relatively cold-tolerant and can withstand low temperatures of 0°C without freezing. Autumn to spring of the following year is its growing season, it is semi-dormant in summer, and the suitable growing temperature in winter is between 12-16°C; when promoting flowering it should not exceed 18-22°C; above 0°C the plant will enter dormancy, and above 35°C the plant is prone to rot and death; in winter it can tolerate low temperatures, but below 5°C growth is slow, flower color is dull, and it blooms little.
3. Watering
Cyclamen needs to be watered according to conditions. When watering, do not pour it on the leaves; just pour it directly on the potting soil. During high summer temperatures, watering can be skipped, and the potting soil should be kept dry. When watering, do not water too much, but it should be sufficient; there must not be excess water running out, as too much water easily causes root rot.
4. Fertilizing
Cyclamen should be fertilized regularly, once a month is enough.
5. Pest and disease control
Root-knot nematode disease, gray mold, viral disease, cotton aphids, green peach aphids, and others are the main pests and diseases harming cyclamen, and flower growers should pay attention to controlling them.
Generally speaking, in winter, taking measures such as keeping cyclamen warm and protecting it from cold will allow it to safely overwinter.