Don’t toss out your cyclamen after it’s done flowering, you can keep it for many years to come, as long as you know what to do with them.
In this detailed guide I’ll tell you all you need to know about saving cyclamen after blooming, and give you tons of tips for the best aftercare success.
Cyclamen is a popularly gifted winter plant that blooms around the holidays, but what do you do with it when it’s done flowering?
Instead of throwing it away, use the tips in this guide to learn what to do with your cyclamen after flowering.
It includes everything you need to know about the best aftercare, like deadheading spent flowers, watering, and much more.
Can You Keep Cyclamen After Flowering?
Yes! They’re often discarded but it’s actually possible to keep a cyclamen after flowering.
By taking the proper steps during and after blooming you can save the bulb instead of throwing it away. It can come back larger with new growth and blooms in subsequent years.
What To Do With Cyclamen After Flowering
The reason that many people end up tossing them out is that a cyclamen will naturally begin to die back shortly after it’s done flowering.
It’s nothing to worry about, and trying to stop it can actually interrupt the necessary natural cycle that allows it to survive and bloom another year.
But it is important to understand how to treat it during this time so it will survive the transition, and you can keep it afterward.
How To Keep Cyclamen After Flowering
You can read all about giving them the proper care in this guide, but the following tips will help you learn the specific steps to take after your cyclamen is done flowering.
1. Deadhead The Blooms As They Fade
Remove the spent flowers as soon as they fade to keep your cyclamen healthy and neat.
Doing this will encourage more blooms and also prevent seed formation, which will help the bulb conserve energy.
Use sharp sterile micro snips to cut all the way at the base of the stem, or simply twist and pull them off.
Make sure the stem of each one is completely removed. Any remaining bits can rot and damage the bulb.
2. Do Not Fertilize
You should avoid fertilizing during or directly after the blooming period because cyclamen need to rest.
Feeding at the wrong time can stimulate them and interrupt their natural dormancy cycle. Without the rest, the bulb will ultimately die, so hold off on fertilizer completely.
3. Reduce Watering
Gradually reduce the amount of water you give them when the flowers begin fading. You want it to stay on the drier side.
A moisture gauge makes that easy to check, it should be in the 2-4 range.
As soon as the leaves begin to wilt and fade you should stop watering completely. Any moisture from that point on can cause the bulb to rot.
4. Cut Back The Foliage
As the leaves start to wither after flowering, you can remove them to keep your cyclamen looking nice.
Leave any green ones alone however. Those should stay on as long as possible to help build up energy reserves for the next year.
Once everything has died, cut all of the foliage down to the soil level.
Related Post: Why Do Cyclamen Leaves Turn Yellow & How To Fix It
5. Put It In Dark
After you’ve removed all of the dead leaves and flowers, your cyclamen will need to go through a rest period to bloom again.
Keep it somewhere dark, dry, and cool. You can learn all about how to get it through dormancy here.
FAQs
Here I’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions about what to do with a cyclamen after flowering. If yours isn’t on the list, please add it to the comment section below.
Should I cut off dead cyclamen flowers?
It’s optional, but you can cut off dead cyclamen flowers as needed. It helps encourage a longer bloom time, and keeps it looking neat.
Do you cut back cyclamen after it blooms?
You can cut back your cyclamen after it blooms or as the flowers fade, and remove all of the foliage once it has wilted and died.
Should I cut the leaves off my cyclamen when it’s finished flowering?
You should only cut the leaves off of your cyclamen if they’re dead. Don’t cut off the green ones, as they’re necessary for the bulb to build up enough energy to survive until next year.
With these tips in hand you’ll now know exactly what to do with a cyclamen after flowering. Follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be able to keep it instead of tossing it out.
If you want to learn all there is to know about maintaining healthy indoor plants, then you need my Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you everything you need to know about how to keep every plant in your home thriving. Download your copy now!
More About Houseplant Care
- What To Do With An Amaryllis After It Blooms
- What To Do With Christmas Cactus After Blooming
- What To Do With Thanksgiving Cactus After Blooming
- How To Get Your Thanksgiving Cactus To Bloom Again
- When, How Often, and How Long Do Bromeliad Flowers Bloom
- How To Get Your Amaryllis To Rebloom
- Growing Plants Indoors – The Ultimate Guide
Share your tips for what to do with cyclamen after flowering in the comments section below.
Joan says
Can I lift and store my cyclamen bulbs till nest season….if so.. what’s the best way to store them.. some are in the garden and some in pots.. I’m in N Z ..thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can lift your cyclamen bulbs or keep them right in their pots. Here’s more information about how to care for cyclamen during dormancy with tips on storing them.
Betsy Morris says
Can I pull up and somehow save my cyclamen that are planted in the front landscaping? I live in San Antonio, Texas.
Amy Andrychowicz says
The best time to transplant cyclamen is while they are dormant in the summer. But if yours are suffering or dormant now, then yes, I would lift them and transplant them or pot them up.
Harriet K says
I fertilized my 5 year old cyclamen last year, before I read your article. This year’s leaves are curling and there’s less flower production. Any suggestions to return it to it’s former glory?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear your cyclamen leaves are curling! Unfortunately, that’s usually a sign that they have mites. The best way to treat it is to use a neem oil spray, or use it as a systemic. Be sure to test it on a leaf first to make sure it doesn’t cause damage before spraying the whole plant. You can’t see the mites, they’re very tiny, so keep treating it every few weeks until you see healthy new leaves and flowers. Good luck!
Jeanett says
After blooming (indoors in northern NJ) & leaves dying I put in dark place & barely dry. It started growing leaves again so I put back on window in January. After 5 leaves, they are wilting. Should I let them die off then put back in closet? It seems it’s growing season got mixed up
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I would let the new leaves die and keep your cyclamen in the closet. It’s not uncommon for them to grow a few leaves or even anohter flower after you remove all of the foliage/flowers, but it doesn’t mean they’re coming out of dormancy yet. It’s just their last hoorah after flowering, lol! Here’s an article all about cyclamen dormancy that you might find helpful.