Troubleshooting
Eastern Cyclamen problems — and how to fix them
Eastern Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Crown and tuber rot
Excessive soil moisture at the crown, especially in summer, causes bacterial and fungal rot; ensure sharp drainage and plant the tuber at or near the soil surface with its growing tip just barely covered or exposed.
Vine weevil grub damage
Vine weevil larvae (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) tunnel into the flat tuber, causing sudden collapse of an otherwise healthy plant; apply a biological control nematode (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in September or treat with a licensed insecticide drench.
Prevent eastern cyclamen problems before they start
Most eastern cyclamen issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Eastern Cyclamen problems — FAQ
Why is my eastern cyclamen crown and tuber rot?
Excessive soil moisture at the crown, especially in summer, causes bacterial and fungal rot; ensure sharp drainage and plant the tuber at or near the soil surface with its growing tip just barely covered or exposed.
Why is my eastern cyclamen vine weevil grub damage?
Vine weevil larvae (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) tunnel into the flat tuber, causing sudden collapse of an otherwise healthy plant; apply a biological control nematode (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in September or treat with a licensed insecticide drench.