Cyclamen Growing Tips

The following information has been compiled from our experience growing Cyclamen in Central California. Your growing conditions and techniques may vary.

Soil:
Use a nutrient rich sterile peat-based mixture.

Placement:
Keep the top half of the corm flush with the top of the soil. If planted too low in media, rot may occur. If planted too high, the corm may dry out and roots fail to establish. Never plant the corm deeper than in previous plantings.

Temperature:
Week 1-7: After potting 65-68 degrees F night temperature to promote root development.
Week 7 onward: Maintain 62-65 degrees F night temperature with 5-10 degrees F higher day temperature. To keep greenhouse cool, fan pad cooling is suggested. If that is not available then venting, evaporative cooling and shading are suggested.

Water:
Keep potting mix evenly moist. Excessive moisture results in weak growth and promotes diseases. Keep foliage dry. Water by tubes, ebb and flow or flood troughs.

Fertilization:
Begin fertilizing 8 weeks after sowing. Use 100 ppm N in a well balanced soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Nitrogen in the nitrate form will lead to firmer plant growth; where as nitrogen in the ammonium form promotes lush growth. Provide constant feeding after potting. gradually increase to 200 ppm N and alternate feeding with a more potassium enriched fertilizer 3-5 weeks after potting. The optimum ratio between nitrogen and potassium should be 1:2. Increasing phosphorus levels toward the end of the growing period will improve flower quality and shelf - life.

Light:
Shade plants during spring and summer to prevent leaf scald. Shading also keeps the growing area cooler. For reference, growers in the Midwest use 30% shade, California 50% shade. Provide full light during darker seasons.

Spacing:
After potting, space pot to pot. When leaves begin to touch provide spacing as follows:
6" Pot: 15" x 15"
5" Pot: 12" x 12"
4" Pot: 10" x 10"
Spacing allows more light to penetrate the crown , thus leading to increased flowering.

Scheduling:
The crop time depends on the season and the variety and can range from 6-12 months.