overwatering and Cyclamen
Quick answer
If overwatering is what's going on with your Cyclamen, the most likely cause is: Florist cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is killed most often by too much water combined with direct sunlight and excessive heat; saturated compost at the crown allows the fungal infection called crown rot to soften and blacken the base of the stems, so the whole plant collapses even though the owner thought they were watering carefully.
Start here:
- 1. Repot a gift cyclamen out of its plastic nursery container immediately into a clay pot, since cyclamen roots prefer clay, and keep the pot slightly cramped rather than over-sized.
- 2. Water from below by standing the pot in a saucer of tepid water for about 30 minutes, then drain the excess, so the leaves and crown stay dry and cannot rot.
Why overwatering happens to Cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum
Florist cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is killed most often by too much water combined with direct sunlight and excessive heat; saturated compost at the crown allows the fungal infection called crown rot to soften and blacken the base of the stems, so the whole plant collapses even though the owner thought they were watering carefully.
How to correct overwatering on Cyclamen
- 1
Repot a gift cyclamen out of its plastic nursery container immediately into a clay pot, since cyclamen roots prefer clay, and keep the pot slightly cramped rather than over-sized.
- 2
Water from below by standing the pot in a saucer of tepid water for about 30 minutes, then drain the excess, so the leaves and crown stay dry and cannot rot.
- 3
Keep the plant in a cool room around 10 to 15 degrees C with indirect light, and at the first sign of collapse check the crown and remove any soft, dark, rotten tissue before repotting into fresh compost.
Keep overwatering from repeating on this Cyclamen
Allow the compost to dry out slightly between waterings, keep cyclamen out of direct sun and away from radiators, and grow them cool so the soil stays drier and the crown never sits in soggy compost.