From my perspective as a cyclamen plant, the dropping of my flowers and leaves is not a sign of failure or death. It is a vital, genetically programmed phase of my life cycle known as dormancy. In my native Mediterranean habitat, I bloom during the cool, mild winter. When the heat and dryness of summer arrive, my above-ground growth dies back to conserve energy and water. My life force retreats into my tuber, a swollen underground stem that serves as a storage organ for water and nutrients. This dormancy is a strategic rest period, allowing me to survive harsh conditions and gather strength for my next growth cycle. Your job is not to fight this process but to support me through it.
As my blossoms fade, please deadhead them by gently twisting the stalk at the base and pulling it away from the tuber. This prevents me from wasting precious energy on seed production. Do the same for yellowing leaves. Importantly, begin to reduce watering gradually. My need for water diminishes significantly as I prepare for dormancy. Soggy soil around my tuber during this time is the greatest threat to my survival, as it will almost certainly cause me to rot. Allow the soil to become much drier between waterings, but do not let my tuber desiccate and shrivel completely.
Once all my leaves have yellowed and dropped, I have entered full dormancy. You have two options for where to keep me. The first is to leave me in my pot. Move my pot to a cool, dark, and dry place such as a basement or a garage where temperatures ideally stay between 50-65°F (10-18°C). Do not fertilize me at all during this time. Water me very sparingly, perhaps just a slight sprinkle once a month, only enough to prevent the tuber from completely drying out and shrinking. The goal is to keep the soil barely moist. The second option is to unpot me, gently brush the soil from my tuber, and store me in a paper bag filled with slightly moist peat moss or vermiculite in the same cool, dark conditions.
After two to three months of rest, usually in late summer or early autumn, I will signal that I am ready to grow again. You will notice tiny new growth buds emerging from the top surface of my tuber. This is your cue to bring me back into the light and resume regular care. Repot me in fresh, well-draining potting mix if necessary, ensuring the top half of my tuber remains above the soil line. Begin watering me thoroughly, allowing excess water to drain away, and wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before watering again. Once new leaves are actively growing, you can begin feeding me with a half-strength, balanced fertilizer to support the development of a new set of flower buds.
