Hi all! My cycleman is dying. I've had it about seven days and it is an inside plant (obviously, since I live in the snow region). The leaves are turning yellow one by one and becoming limp and soft. This seems like an overwatering problem but I've only watered it once, when it was very, very dry. I've picked the dead leaves and flowers off of it and there are new leaf and flower buds coming up (but the mature leaves are still turning yellow). It started with a single leaf turning yellow which I guess could be a part of the normal plant cycle but the next day there were two and now there are about seven, with more each day. If it keeps going at this rate the plant will be dead within a week. I had a cycleman last year that I loved but it died - and before it died the same thing happened. What am I doing wrong?? Is there something specific to cyclemans that I am not aware of? What does a cycleman need to survive and thrive? Both of these have been gifts (from two different greenhouses) and I just cannot stand to see another one bite the dust. My other plants are happy and green. Thanks in advance for any help with this!
Put in a cool spot. Keep evenly moist, the initial yellowing was probably due to letting it get too dry before watering.
Hi Parkhurstohana, From Barry Glick's site: Hardy Cyclamen or EASTER IN THE GARDEN ALL YEAR ROUND, WELL ALMOST.... By Barry Glick "Most gardeners in the US are quite familiar with the florists Cyclamen which are hybrids of C. persicum. These are popular Easter plants and even though they are quite perennial, nobody seems to want to take the time and effort to keep them alive once they have finished blooming. This is a pity, as there really are some gorgeous cultivars in commerce today. You don't have to be a botanist to follow a few simple steps necessary to succeed at growing them as permanent houseplants. First of all change the soil from the peaty florists mix to a gritty mix with better drainage. Then all you have to do is keep them relatively dry after they go dormant. When you see new growth in the Autumn, start watering again and fertilize with a houseplant fertilizer about every 6-8 weeks The word Cyclamen is derived from the Greek word kyklamenos which means "circle form". I'm not sure whether this refers to the circle at the tip of the flower or to the round shape of the tuber from which sprouts forth this unusual plant. Cyclamen have been a popular cultivated plant since Platos time, several hundred years B.C. The genus Cyclamen resides in the Primulaceae family. This same family is home to about 20-30 genera such as Primula (Primroses), Dodecatheon (Shooting Stars) and Lysimachia (Loosestrife). There are currently thought to be 19 species of Cyclamen, their range extending from France, East to the Caucasus Mountains. Turkey and Greece seem to have the largest populations and diversity." Newt
