Valentine's day is just around the corner, and one of the potted flowering plants that is readily available at this time of year is the florist's cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum. This winter flowering tuberous houseplant has a mounded habit with pretty mottled heart-shaped leaves. Flower stems rise above the foliage, and the petals of the flowers gracefully curve backwards. Flower petals vary from single to double to frilled and can be found in shades of white, pink, red, lavender and purple. The plants themselves range in size from a miniature 6 inches to the more standard 10 inch plants.
As a native to areas around the Mediterranean that have cool, moist winters, this plant has very specific requirements for growth and flowering. It must have cool temperatures of 60-65 degrees during the day and prefers temperatures down to 50 or slightly below at night, so try to place it in the coolest part of the house! It likes bright indirect sunlight, and it must have moist though not wet soil. One of the biggest mistakes people make is either placing their plant too close to heating vents or overwatering it. Water when the soil at the surface feels dry, and don't let it sit in a saucer of water or inside a foil covering. Watering from below or along the edges of the pot is most beneficial since water on the foliage or tuber can promote crown or root rot. Removing dead flowers by cutting or pinching the stem close to the crown will help prolong bloom time. Purchasing plants that are mostly in the bud stage will give you a longer bloom period as well. Some extensions suggest fertilizing with half strength houseplant fertilizer every few weeks. If you give it the conditions it likes, cyclamen can remain lovely for several months. They are generally not troubled by pests though they can be affected by aphids, mealy bugs, thrips or mites, so look for signs of these on any plant before you purchase it. Like a number of other houseplants, cyclamen plants are moderately toxic to dogs and cats, especially if they ingest large amounts of the tubers and roots.
In the wild, cyclamen undergoes a dormant period during the hot, dry Mediterranean summer months. Its leaves will yellow and fall off at this time. It's not easy to get cyclamen plants to undergo this dormant state and then rebloom, so many people just discard them when the leaves start to fall. However, if you want to try, there are instructions at this site:http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/indoor/flowering/hgic1564.html
There are many other species of cyclamen besides C. persicum. For example, one hardy cyclamen species, C.coum , is a spring flowering bulb hardy from zones 5-9. It's flowers and leaves are very similar to C. persicum, and its bloom time is early spring. Here is a growing guide to this species: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene5622.html
In light of the weary winter weather we've had and in honor of Valentine's Day, treat yourself to a cyclamen plant. Its colorful flowers will bring a promise of spring into the house!