QUESTION:
How long should my cyclamen live, and what should I do to keep it growing or am I wasting my time?
ANSWER:
We once ran a quiz on 2GB radio and the oldest cyclamen recorded was 11 years old, which is quite impressive. Cyclamen thrive with bright, indirect light and regular feeding. Place your plant about 30cm from a north-facing window to encourage strong seasonal flowering. Feed from below using a diluted fertiliser, such as Neutrog’s Strike Back, applied to the saucer rather than directly to the soil. The key to long-term success is following the cyclamen’s seasonal cycle. After flowering finishes in spring, stop watering and allow the soil to dry out so the corm (bulb) can enter dormancy. In January, before any new growth appears, remove the corm from the pot, clear away the old potting mix and roots and repot it into a clean container with fresh mix. Cover about two-thirds of the corm, leaving the top exposed. Resume feeding via the saucer and wait for the next season of flowers.
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