Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Purple Cyclamen bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Purple cyclamen, European cyclamen, Sowbread (Cyclamen purpurascens).

More about purple cyclamen

About Purple Cyclamen

Cyclamen purpurascens · also called Purple cyclamen, European cyclamen · flowering

Native to central Europe from the Alps east through the Balkans, Cyclamen purpurascens is one of the hardiest and most fragrant cyclamen species, producing sweetly scented rosy-pink to purple flowers from midsummer through autumn. Unlike most cyclamen it remains evergreen, retaining its attractive silver-marbled, heart-shaped leaves year-round. The single most important care fact is to keep it relatively dry in summer — excess moisture during dormancy will rot the tuber. All parts of the plant are toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Botrytis (grey mould): Humid, stagnant air encourages Botrytis cinerea on flowers and leaves, producing fluffy grey mould. Improve air circulation, remove dead flowers and foliage promptly, and avoid wetting leaves when watering.

The reasons purple cyclamen isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming purple cyclamen traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding purple cyclamen a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get purple cyclamen to flower

Maximise sun. Give purple cyclamen the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for purple cyclamen and get the feeding right with the purple cyclamen fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Purple Cyclamen flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full purple cyclamen care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Purple Cyclamen blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my purple cyclamen flower?

Purple Cyclamen blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make purple cyclamen bloom?

Give purple cyclamen the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does purple cyclamen normally bloom?