The Christmas cyclamen are a member of the Primrose family, and are generally winter and spring flowering plants that spend part of the year in growth, and part of the year dormant in which there is no living foliage. Most blooms are either white, pink, red or lavender and appear to hang upside down over their heart-shaped mottled green/gray foliage. Christmas cyclamen prove to be quite a lovely addition to have in your home during the holidays when given the proper care.

Light~Cyclamen prefer bright indirect light. An east window will provide adequate light for your plant to stay healthy.

Temperature~Cyclamen prefer cool temperatures. Ideal daytime temperatures are 60 to 65 degrees F with night temperatures around 50 degrees F.

Humidity~High humidity during the winter months is crucial. To maintain humidity, fill a large plate, shallow pan or tray with water. Set the cyclamen on an inverted dish, just out of the water. Pebbles could be placed in the plate, pan or tray with the pot setting on the pebbles.

Water~Cyclamen prefer to be kept moist. Water at the soil level but keep moisture away from the area on the tuber where the leaf and the flower stems grow. If that gets wet then the plant may rot. Most are planted in peat moss soil that dries quickly. Plants can wilt quickly. One signal to watch for is the leaves, which are normally firm and erect, with almost crunchy feeling if you brush through them with your hand. When the plant needs water, the leaves feel softer.

Fertilizer~Feed you cyclamen about twice a month with a complete liquid fertilizer to keep it healthy.