by Connie Oswald Stofko
If you’re looking for a blooming flower in winter, especially for Valentine’s Day, check out cyclamen.
Some attentive gardeners may find cyclamen tricky to care for, but that’s because cyclamen don’t need much care.
“They don’t want to be overloved,” said Mark Yadon, vice president of Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville.
Cyclamen like it a little on the dry side, so you shouldn’t overwater them, he said. They also like to dry out between waterings.
If you’re not sure how much to water, err on the side of dry. If they wilt, give them a little water and they’ll bounce right back, he said.
Refraining from watering may be difficult for gardeners who like to dote on their plants. However, a little doting will keep them flowering. You need to deadhead them (remove the dead flowers) to keep them blooming.
Cyclamen like a bright but cool space, Yadon said. You need only a mild fertilizer.
They should continue to bloom until it gets very warm in spring or early summer. After that you can enjoy their foliage. Some people have had success getting the plant to rebloom the following fall.
Cyclamen come in standard and miniature sizes. The flowers are pink, purple, red and white.
I am a fan of this houseplant.
Looks like I “overloved” my cyclamen. When it began to look sad I suspected I had overdone the love and found it’s impossible to reverse overwatering. My poor cyclamen didn’t have enough time to dry out before it conked out.