Cyclamen are popular winter-blooming plants, but whether they return each year depends entirely on the specific variety and the care it receives. These plants are perennials, not annuals, and have evolved a unique survival strategy. Understanding the natural life cycle of the cyclamen is the first step toward successfully coaxing it to return with fresh foliage and blooms.
Distinguishing Hardy and Florist Cyclamen
The longevity confusion stems from the difference between the two main types sold: the florist’s cyclamen and the hardy cyclamen. The florist’s cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, is the variety most often purchased during the winter holidays. This tender perennial is not frost-tolerant and is typically grown indoors, often treated as a short-lived houseplant and discarded after blooming.
Hardy cyclamen, such as Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen coum, are true perennials that thrive outdoors in specific garden zones. C. hederifolium is particularly tough, tolerating temperatures well below freezing. These species reliably return each year, blooming in autumn or late winter, with foliage often remaining fresh throughout the cold months. The florist variety, C. persicum, can also be revived, but this requires understanding its natural rhythm.
The Cyclamen Dormancy Cycle
The mechanism allowing cyclamen to return is summer dormancy, a survival strategy adapted from their native Mediterranean habitat. These regions have mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, driving the plant’s inverted growth cycle. When the weather warms in late spring, the leaves naturally yellow and die back, signaling the plant is entering its necessary resting phase.
During dormancy, the plant’s energy is stored in a specialized underground structure called a corm. This corm is a swollen, tuberous stem that functions as a reservoir for starches and nutrients, sustaining the plant through the summer months. The plant conserves moisture and energy underground until cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in autumn signal the time for regrowth and the initiation of the next flowering cycle.
Practical Care for Revival
Successfully reviving a florist’s cyclamen requires actively managing this dormancy period to prevent the corm from rotting or shriveling. The process begins in late spring when the leaves yellow and blooming finishes. Immediately cease fertilization and gradually reduce watering frequency.
The goal during summer is to keep the corm cool, dry, and protected from excessive heat and light. Once all foliage has withered, move the dry pot to a storage location like a basement or a sheltered spot outdoors. The ideal storage temperature is a cool range, around 50°F to 60°F.
While the corm must be kept dry to prevent rot, it should not desiccate completely. A light sprinkle of water once a month is enough to maintain the corm’s plumpness. When late August or early September arrives, it is time to encourage the plant to wake up.
Re-Awakening the Corm
To re-awaken the cyclamen, inspect the corm and consider repotting it in fresh, well-draining soil. Ensure the top half of the corm remains exposed above the soil line. Move the pot to a bright location receiving indirect sunlight, where temperatures are cool (50°F to 65°F). Begin watering the soil lightly around the edges of the pot. Once new leaves sprout, resume a regular watering schedule and begin feeding the plant with a diluted liquid fertilizer to support the coming season’s blooms.