How to Plant Cyclamen Bulbs

Rows and rows of blooming cyclamens.

Cyclamen is a group of flowering bulbs that consists of about 20 species. These cheerful plants are probably best known as a favored Christmas holiday potted plant, yet cyclamens are originally from regions in the Mediterranean, Africa and areas in the Middle East, where they are found growing in woodland habitats and alpine meadows. Unlike many flowering plants, cyclamens prefer being grown in cool temperatures and will usually perish if exposed to extreme temperatures. The best time to plant cyclamen bulbs is during their summer dormant season.

Things You'll Need

• Cyclamen bulbs
• Rototiller
• Soil amendment
• Fertilizer
• Sand
• Trowel
• Gravel or grit

Instructions

1. Locate a suitable planting site in your garden for the cyclamen bulbs. An ideal location is where they will be protected from direct sun, such as at the base of tall trees that will provide dappled shade or along the east side of a structure, as suggested by Hume Seeds.

2. Till the soil in the area you selected for planting the cyclamen bulbs to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. You can do this using a rototiller to save time, a spade or garden fork. Remove all garden litter as you till the soil, such as rotting vegetation, sticks, rocks or roots.

3. Lay out over the soil in the planting bed a 3- to 4-inch layer of well-aged manure, compost or peat moss. Measure out approximately 1/4 cup of a 12-4-8 (or similar) granular fertilizer for every 12 square feet of planting bed. If the soil in the planting bed is heavy or clay-like, you can also mix in a 1- to 2-inch layer of coarse sand to improve the drainage of the soil. Work the materials into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.

4. Smooth and level out the soil in the planting bed using a metal rake. Moisten down the planting bed using a fine spray of water to help settle the soil. Plan on preparing the planting bed about 10 to 14 days before you plant the cyclamen bulbs.

5. Dig out planting holes for each of the cyclamen bulbs that are no deeper than approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches, depending on the size of the cyclamen bulbs you are planting. Keep each planting hole about 4 to 6 inches apart for smaller-sized varieties, and about 8 to 10 inches apart for larger varieties.

6. Plant one cyclamen bulb in each of the previously created planting holes. Make sure you plant each bulb with the concave side facing upward.

7. Sprinkle a very shallow layer, about 1 inch, of either the topsoil and organic matter mixture or a 1-inch layer of grit or gravel over each of the cyclamen bulbs, as suggested by cyclamen.org. Ideally, each bulb should be planted so it is only about half buried in the soil; otherwise, the bulbs can rot.

8. Water the planting bed using a steady, light stream of water, then refrain from watering again until the cyclamen bulbs have sprouted. This will vary, depending on what time of year you planted the bulbs and weather conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the bulbs have sprouted and are growing, plan on watering the cyclamens about one to two times weekly. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat in between watering.

References

• The University of Minnesota: Growing Cyclamens
• Weidner's.com: Information on Cyclamens
• Hume Seeds: Planting Cyclamen Bulbs
• Cyclamen.org: Growing Cyclamens