Many years ago, my friend, Leslie, gave me a gorgeous cyclamen for Valentine’s Day. I was between relationships and probably feeling sorry for myself. It was a sweet gesture and a stunning specimen of a plant.
Brilliant Fuchsia
The cyclamen sat on my coffee table for many weeks, producing bloom after bloom. Then, with little warning, the leaves began to drop. I’m not one to give up easily on plants, so I tried the usual things: more water, then less water, different light. Nothing. Eventually I was out of ideas. I upended the contents of the pot into the small strip of dirt near my apartment door. Imagine my surprise a year later when the cyclamen “came back to life.” Turns out cyclamens are tubers, also known as corms. The plant had simply gone dormant.
Cyclamen corm with emerging heart-shaped leaves
Cyclamens remain one of my favorite winter plants. I planted three in colorful pots on the deck last winter so I could watch them bloom from my kitchen window. When spring rolled around, I transplanted them to larger pots and paired them with spring annuals.
As my potted darlings closed up shop in the late spring, I scooped them out of the soil and moved them to the lower garden. I found a small patch of dirt under some tall grass next to the Magnolia tree. They would be in good company and would stay cool all summer long.
It was a sweet surprise to see them back in bloom this week, refreshed from the recent rains and ready to flourish.
Shaded by the grass
What’s blooming in your garden?
Cyclamen Care. I especially like the beautiful drawing at the end of this link.
Halloween Countdown
Collector Pumpkin
Gardening Nirvana 
Cyclamen are so beautiful, I love the bright pink ones. I’m working on getting some in our garden, hubby sadly isn’t a fan 😦
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Not a fan! How can that be?
Maybe you can have a small plot all to yourself, and he can plant his favorites in another.
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I suspect they’re not ‘showy’ enough for him. Of course you’re right, there is no reason why I can’t have a little plot of my own, good idea 🙂
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🙂
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I am wanting to start some Cyclamens growing in our wood – can you use those that are sold for indoor plants or is there a special variety for outdoors?
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I’ve read that their are indeed two varieties, but I think the outdoor ones do better outside and the indoor ones only tolerate the inside. I’ve even read that to keep them happy, you should put them outside at night. They really need the cold air to thrive.
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PS The ones you see in stores now are usually green house forced. After a full year, they seem to revert to the natural cycle.
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We have cyclamen popping up all over the place… the diggers came in to put in new drains and must have unearthed old corms. So amongst the ditch water and rubble I have little dots of loveliness 🙂
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What a great story, PJ! How fun. They’ve just been waiting to pop up in your wonderful garden.
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No wonder I’ve had no luck with these beauties, I’ve been doing most everything wrong. I love that they come in white, as not too many house plants do. I have force white Hyacinths in the past as I love the smell. Maybe with any luck and tips at your link, I’ll do ok. I think they’re so dainty. Did you find they turn toward the sun? I’d come home to find the lot all on one side of the pot.
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Oh how interesting. I’ll have to watch for that. Just like sunflowers.
It was really interesting to read what is the opposite advice for most houseplants: take them outside at night!
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It wouldn’t want to be outside tonight…brrrr. Jim and I went out for supper in a busy busy part of town. We had to park really far away. The place is so fab though, we’ll take you there when you get to town. I had a bowl of borsch (beet soup) and a super yummy tomatoe salad and two glasses of wine LOL…I figure with such a light meal I deserved it…that’s my problem, I’m always treating myself.
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I love that you treat yourself and that you are enjoying your life. Walking to supper on a brisk night with the man you love to enjoy a meal…it all sounds good to me.
I know, I know. We want to be thin and well fed. It’s a paradox to be sure.
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Darn paradox’s… sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, be dammed the weather 🙂
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