Cyclamen Society Advises On Some Common Difficulties And Ways To Fix Them
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From TREVOR WILTSHIRE
Trevor Wiltshire is the Registrar of The Cyclamen Society. He has previously worked at the RHS Wisley site, as the Alpine Garden Society Cornwall Group Secretary and as former Executive Committee Member of Cornwall Garden Society.
IN THIS GUIDE
Cyclamens can be relatively easy and trouble-free plants to grow, especially outdoors hardy varieties.
Trevor Wiltshire from The Cyclamen Society explains that “there are very few problems growing them outdoors provided the correct situation is provided for them, some species tolerate and like shade, some are happy in full sun, they do not tolerate very wet soils.
“They prefer free-draining soils. Some like growing in raised beds or even in rammed earth stone walls (Cornish hedges).”
However, as with any plant, whether you are growing hardy cyclamens outdoors, or tender types indoors, there are certain problems and issues you can encounter, especially if you haven’t been able to provide the conditions mentioned above.
Some of the common problems and issues that you encounter include:
- Yellowing leaves
- Poor flowering or non-flowering
- Collapsed or wilted plants
- Grey fuzzy appearance on leaves or stems
- Cyclamen mite
We’ll take a look at each of these problems and talk through the causes for each one below:
1) Cyclamen Leaves Turning Yellow
If Cyclamen leaves are turning yellow, it is important to note that this is not necessarily a problem.
As a part of their natural life cycle, cyclamens die back to the ground.
When the cyclamens do this will depend on which type you are growing.
Hardy types tend to die back in autumn, while tender types usually go dormant in spring.
If cyclamen leaves turn yellow when they are not meant to be entering their dormant period, then this is usually due to:
- A problem with temperatures.
- Too much or too little water.
This problem is more common with indoor-grown cyclamen than it is with types grown outdoors.
Indoor cyclamen should be placed indoors from September, until they enter dormancy in spring, in a bright spot with indirect light, at temperatures between 10-15°C.
Often, yellowing leaves are a sign that the cyclamen was grown in a location too warm for it indoors.
Yellow leaves may also be a sign of under-watering, or of watering too much.
Water only when the medium begins to dry out, and make sure excess water can drain away freely.
2) Cyclamen Not Flowering
If cyclamen fails to flower, this is usually, with tender types, due to high temperatures, which can send the plant into dormancy too early.
Make sure that you are not growing these indoors in too warm a position.
Remember, tender cyclamen will stop flowering and enter a period of dormancy in spring.
They should be placed into a cool spot and then brought back indoors when growth resumes in around September.
Cyclamen growing outdoors may not flower because they are not yet mature enough to do so, or there may be an issue with too little sunlight or poor drainage.
Remember, cyclamen need a partially shaded though not deeply shaded position, with a free-draining, yet moist and fertile soil or growing medium.
3) Collapsed Cyclamen
If a Cyclamen completely droops or collapses, this is often due to overwatering, or waterlogged conditions.
In very damp conditions, the crown can rot and turn mushy and brown.
It is important to ensure good drainage, to water the soil and to try and avoid splashing water onto the stems and leaves.
Cyclamen which are tender may also collapse due to exposure to cold.
Remember that while there are hardier types, some cyclamen cannot withstand cold temperatures and frost.
Sometimes, complete collapse can also be a sign of a pest infestation.
Vine weevil larvae can eat the roots of these plants, as Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly explains:
“Vine weevil larvae are the biggest problem I have with plants grown in pots and they have a particular liking for Cyclamen.
“Typically, there are no symptoms until the plant suddenly collapses as the larvae munch through the tuber.
“The larvae are most active from autumn into winter, just when Cyclamen come into flower.
“Check when planting for signs of vine weevil in the roots or treat the pot with a vine weevil predating nematode in early autumn when the compost is still warm enough for them to be active.”
4) Grey Fuzzy Appearance On Foliage
If you spot a grey fuzzy mould on your plants, this is a sign of fungal infection.1Botrytis cinerea. (n.d.). Cyclamen.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.cyclamen.com/en/professional/diseases/8/20
One common fungal issue is Botrytis cinerea – also known as cyclamen grey mould.2Control of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in container-grown ornamentals: heated glasshouse crops. (n.d.). Horticultural Development Council. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://projectblue.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/Horticulture/Legacy/Ornamentals%20factsheets/n24y02.pdf
Remove any infected leaves or flowers as soon as you can to prevent their spread.
And to avoid repeat problems with a fungal infection, ensure that there is adequate drainage, make sure you do not overwater, make sure excess water can drain away, and ideally water from below, so water is not splashed onto the foliage.
5) Cyclamen Mite
Not a lot of plants have their own special type of mite.
These guys are one of the worst pests cyclamens can get, and they cause damage to every part of the plant.
Prevention includes using a fertiliser that’s not too high in nitrogen or potassium: these elements can create an environment conducive to the mites.
Regular inspection of your plants is another way to nip problems in the bud; you can remove mites manually and destroy them.
If you find yourself with a full infestation, it’s time to investigate predatory insects (which don’t damage the plant) or pesticide sprays.
Again, this warrants further research in the case of an infestation.
Most problems encountered with cyclamens are due to the plants being grown in the wrong locations or some problems with the environmental conditions which have been provided.
So, make sure you understand the needs and growing requirements of the particular cyclamen that you have chosen to grow.
If you do so, you should not encounter many problems.