Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Florist's Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Persian Cyclamen, Indoor Cyclamen, Pot Cyclamen.
More about florist's cyclamen
About Florist's Cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum · also called Persian Cyclamen, Indoor Cyclamen · flowering
Florist's Cyclamen is a cool-season flowering houseplant prized for its swept-back blooms in pink, red, white, and purple. It thrives in bright indirect light and cool temperatures (10-18°C). Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Toxic to pets — all parts contain triterpenoid saponins; seek veterinary care if ingested.
Growth habit: Low-growing tuberous perennial with a central corm
Watch for — Vine weevil: Larvae feed on the corm. Check roots at repotting; treat with biological nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) in autumn.
What fertiliser florist's cyclamen actually wants — and why
Florist's Cyclamen is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for florist's cyclamen: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed florist's cyclamen, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For florist's cyclamen:
Feed every 2-4 weeks during active growth (autumn through spring) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength. Do not feed during summer dormancy. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when florist's cyclamen is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for florist's cyclamen
Half strength is the safe default for florist's cyclamen — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water florist's cyclamen first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the florist's cyclamen watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding florist's cyclamen
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for florist's cyclamen:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding florist's cyclamen
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full florist's cyclamen care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of florist's cyclamen with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for florist's cyclamen
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising florist's cyclamen — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does florist's cyclamen need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Florist's Cyclamen is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed florist's cyclamen?
Feed every 2-4 weeks during active growth (autumn through spring) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength. Do not feed during summer dormancy. Feed every 2-4 weeks during active growth (autumn through spring) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength. Do not feed during summer dormancy. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for florist's cyclamen?
Half strength is the safe default for florist's cyclamen — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding florist's cyclamen look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding florist's cyclamen year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of florist's cyclamen?
Flush the pot of florist's cyclamen with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Florist's Cyclamen care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water florist's cyclamen — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise stiff goldenrod
- How to fertilise showy goldenrod
- How to fertilise gray goldenrod
- All 11687 fertilising guides in the Growli library