Why Cyclamen Flowers Fade as They Bloom and Rot at the Roots, and How to Fix It

Cyclamen blooms around the Spring Festival, and its bright red color suits the festive season perfectly. So let's find out: why do cyclamen flowers fade as they bloom? What should you do if cyclamen roots rot?

Why cyclamen flowers fade as they bloom:

I. Reasons cyclamen colors fade

1. Not enough nutrients

Actually, this is a normal phenomenon in cyclamen. The vast majority of cyclamen sold at flower markets are given professional fertilizer and watered with softened water before they go on sale, so the flowers grown this way are especially vivid. After you bring them home, the environment changes, especially the fertilizer and water, so the cyclamen's nutrition falls short, and the flower color grows paler and paler.

2. Insufficient light

Insufficient light can also cause cyclamen flower colors to fade. Cyclamen likes light but fears strong light; insufficient light easily makes the flower color fade, while too strong light easily scorches the leaves. It really is a bundle of contradictions.

II. Solutions for faded cyclamen color

1. Apply professional fertilizer

Flowers need a process of adjustment to grow. It's like a person who lives a life of luxury every day suddenly becoming a beggar, how could they bear it? I suggest cyclamen lovers water their plants with purified water or boiled water that has been left to cool for a day, and apply cyclamen professional fertilizer once every half month. Remember to use the professional fertilizer first; once the plant has gradually adapted, you can slowly add a bit of general-purpose fertilizer.

2. Weak light is enough

Insufficient light is one of the reasons cyclamen colors turn dull, but many flower lovers can't control the light level well, shading too much or even exposing the plant to full sun too much. I have a trick: when cyclamen is blooming, from 11:00 to 14:00, pay attention to shading during these three hours; the rest of the time, just place it on the balcony.

What to do if cyclamen roots rot:

I. Reasons cyclamen roots rot

The main reasons include low temperature and bacterial infection, etc. The most common cause is the high temperature and stuffiness of summer, poor ventilation, or excessive water accumulation.

1. Overwatering

Overwatering during the growth period makes the potting soil water-saturated, leaving the roots suffocating for a long time. Their absorption capacity declines, the soil lacks oxygen, bacteria become active and produce many harmful gases, which leads to tuber rot.

2. Improper potting and fertilizing

Cyclamen is a bulbous plant, and the normal growth of its roots affects the health of the whole plant. If the tuber is planted too deep when potting, or fertilizer covers its top when fertilizing, rot is easily caused.

II. How to handle cyclamen root rot

1. How to prevent cyclamen root rot

To avoid cyclamen root rot, when watering you must not pour water directly over the top, because water will collect in the center of the tuber. The correct method is to gently lift the leaves and slowly water along the edge of the pot. Also, follow the principle of not watering until the soil is dry. The same goes for fertilizing; moreover, fertilizer must not be too concentrated, or it will burn the roots. In summer, pay attention to keeping cyclamen cool and preventing heat stress.

2. How to handle cyclamen root rot

If the bulb part of the cyclamen has already rotted, use a sharp blade to cut away the rotten part, apply plant ash to the wound, let the wound dry in the shade, and replant it in soil that drains and breathes well. It will gradually recover over about a month, and during this time water as little as possible. If most of it has rotted, there is no value in trying to save it, and it is best to discard it.

Alright, friends, you all understand clearly now, right? You know

What to Do When Cyclamen Leaves Turn Yellow; Why Cyclamen Flowers Fade as They Bloom

When we grow flowers and plants, we often run into all kinds of problems. For example, when growing cyclamen, the cyclamen leaves turn yellow. Another example: the cyclamen finally blooms, but the flowers fade as they bloom. So if you run into these situations, what would you do? Below, I'll explain what to do when cyclamen leaves turn yellow and what to do when cyclamen flowers fade as they bloom.

What to do when cyclamen leaves turn yellow

Cyclamen yellow leaves, part one

Symptoms: The cyclamen's flower stems rot, and the leaves turn yellow.

Cause: Too much water.

Solution: Stop watering, and wait until the cyclamen leaves are no longer yellow and the soil is dry before watering again. Also, water from the bottom; only water when the potting soil is dry, and make sure the water temperature is close to room temperature.

Cyclamen yellow leaves, part two

Symptoms: Cyclamen leaves curl and turn yellow.

Cause: Lack of nutrients; fertilizer needs to be applied promptly.

Solution: You can buy special fertilizer at a flower shop. But do not give the plant too many nutrients. Normally you can bury a small amount of cooked soybeans, cooked peanuts, bean cake, spoiled steamed buns, etc. in the pot, so you don't need to worry about the cyclamen lacking nutrients.

Cyclamen yellow leaves, part three

Symptoms: Too much water makes the leaves yellow; too little water makes the newly grown flower buds wither.

Cause: Dormancy

Solution: A well-cared-for cyclamen can bloom twice a year, mainly in spring and autumn. Cyclamen likes partial shade, so do not place it in direct sunlight. Summer temperatures are high, so cyclamen will go dormant. During dormancy, water as little as possible; just keep the soil moist, to prevent the roots from rotting due to too much moisture.

When planting, it is best to leave one third of the flower's round tuber exposed above the soil surface. When watering, pour the water directly into the pot, and try not to get water on the leaves. This is because cyclamen leaves are round with a concave center, which easily holds water. If not handled well, after the water evaporates it leaves water-stain marks; over time, the leaf surface cannot breathe well, and the leaves easily dry out and turn yellow, affecting their ornamental value.

It is best to wipe them with a soft cloth. When watering, follow the rule of watering only when dry and then watering thoroughly. You also cannot water every day, because cyclamen has a round tuber with a water-storing function, and too much water easily causes bud drop and yellowing leaves. In spring, when the weather is dry, water once every three days; in autumn, watering about once every five days is enough.

Cyclamen yellow leaves, part four

Symptoms: The cyclamen leaves curl up

Causes and solutions:

(1) Light: Cyclamen likes light but fears strong light, so it cannot be exposed to full sun; a little sunlight each day is enough. Cyclamen should be placed in a spot with plenty of light, such as a window or balcony, and the position of the pot should be changed often. Plenty of light makes the flowers more vivid and the leaves glossier. Although cyclamen belongs to the primrose family and is fairly shade-tolerant, long periods of insufficient light easily make its leaves turn yellow.

(2) Water: Watering should be properly controlled; too much water causes root rot. You can wait until the flowers and leaves are slightly wilted before watering. You can water by soaking the bottom of the pot in water; do not spray too much water on the leaf surface.

(3) Ventilation: Cyclamen likes ventilation. Smoke, dust and stale air make the petals dry up and fall off, but you should not place it directly in a draft either.

(4) Temperature: A room temperature above 5°C allows cyclamen to grow normally. A lower room temperature can keep cyclamen blooming for a longer period, but the flowers come out slowly. A higher room temperature makes flowers come out quickly, but the blooming period is short.

(5) Humidity: Humidity should be kept at 60%-70%. Too little humidity makes the flowers smaller, while too much humidity causes gray mold and other fungal diseases on the petals and leaves. Never spray water on the petals, or the petals will rot.

(6) Fertilizer: Fertilize twice a month; you can use imported or domestic compound fertilizer, 5-8 granules each time, placed 2 cm deep in the growing medium.

Cyclamen yellow leaves, part five

Cause: Cyclamen leaves turning yellow is mainly caused by poor air permeability of the potting soil and the potting soil being too dry.

Solution: When the temperature is 15-25°C, you can repot the cyclamen into soil with better air permeability.

What to do when cyclamen flowers fade as they bloom

Cause one: Improper watering

Cyclamen does not like too much water; too much water causes root rot. But cyclamen cannot lack water either, otherwise the leaves will wilt and droop; when it lacks water, just water it a little. To prevent cyclamen from lacking water, some people not only pour excessive water at once when watering, but also keep water in the saucer under the pot, which is bad for the cyclamen's growth. Standing water in the saucer will instead cause cyclamen root rot.

Solution: At a temperature of 17°C-18°C, watering the cyclamen once every 3 days is enough; wait until the soil is completely dry before watering. In addition, be careful not to spray water on the cyclamen's leaves and flowers.

Cause two: Not enough fertilizer

The main reason cyclamen flowers fade as they bloom is related to insufficient light and insufficient fertilizer. It should be specially pointed out that most cyclamen sold at flower markets nowadays are given professional fertilizer and watered with softened water before going on sale, so the flowers grown this way are especially vivid, which makes them hard to care for well.

Solution: I suggest cyclamen lovers, after buying a cyclamen, water it with purified water or boiled water that has been left to cool for a day, and apply professional fertilizer once every half month.

Cause three: Dormancy period

Cyclamen tends to go dormant every summer. Around June, after the cyclamen flowers fade, the leaves turn yellow and drop. What should you do when cyclamen leaves turn yellow?

Solution: At this point you can take the flower bulb out of the pot and put it in a plastic bag, then place it in the refrigerator, but the temperature should not be below 0°C. After the start of autumn, take the bulb out, remove the old roots and dead leaves, and replant it in the pot. When new leaves begin to sprout, gradually resume normal water and fertilizer management.

What to do if cyclamen roots rot

Reasons cyclamen roots rot

The main reasons include low temperature and bacterial infection, etc. The most common cause is the high temperature and stuffiness of summer, poor ventilation, or excessive water accumulation.

Overwatering

Overwatering during the growth period makes the potting soil water-saturated, leaving the roots suffocating for a long time. Their absorption capacity declines, the soil lacks oxygen, bacteria become active and produce many harmful gases, which leads to tuber rot.

Improper potting and fertilizing

Cyclamen is a bulbous plant, and the normal growth of its roots affects the health of the whole plant. If the tuber is planted too deep when potting, or fertilizer covers its top when fertilizing, rot is easily caused.

How to handle cyclamen root rot

How to prevent cyclamen root rot

To avoid cyclamen root rot, when watering you must not pour water directly over the top, because water will collect in the center of the tuber. The correct method is to gently lift the leaves and slowly water along the edge of the pot. Also, follow the principle of not watering until the soil is dry. The same goes for fertilizing; moreover, fertilizer must not be too concentrated, or it will burn the roots. In summer, pay attention to keeping cyclamen cool and preventing heat stress.

How to handle cyclamen root rot

If the bulb part of the cyclamen has already rotted, use a sharp blade to cut away the rotten part, apply plant ash to the wound, let the wound dry in the shade, and replant it in soil that drains and breathes well. It will gradually recover over about a month, and during this time water as little as possible. If most of it has rotted, there is no value in trying to save it, and it is best to discard it.