Temperature
50–68°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Florist’s cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum
Florist’s cyclamen wants bright indirect light and water every 4 to 9 days, once the top inch is dry. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Light
Bright indirect
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A north or east window in a cool room. It is a winter grower and sulks anywhere above about 68F.
Water
Every 4–9 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the top inch is dry, not on a schedule.
Humidity
40% and up
Wants 60%. Struggles in dry winter air.
Difficulty
Demanding
Scores 4 of 5: Scores 4 of 5: it wants cool nights most homes do not have, and water poured into the crown rots the tuber. It is not dying when it yellows in spring, it is going dormant.
Habit
Rosette
Grows to 6–12 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — poison severity low
Contains terpenoid saponins. Reported signs include vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhoea.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says 2 sources concur
- ASPCA — genus-level entry: Cyclamen spp
- Toxic to cats and dogs · terpenoid saponins
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Triterpenoid saponins
DISPLAY — in-content responsive
Light
Bright indirect light. A north or east window in a cool room. It is a winter grower and sulks anywhere above about 68F.
Water
Every 4 to 9 days in a 6-inch pot, when the top inch is dry.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | bottom water |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the top inch is dry |
Soil and potting
Two parts potting soil, one part perlite.
Repot roughly every 2 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. The individual diagnosis pages are not built yet.
- Yellow leaves page not written yet
- Drooping page not written yet
- Root rot page not written yet
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-11.
Propagation
Division in soil. Roots in 28 to 70 days.
| Preferred method | division |
|---|---|
| Medium | soil |
| Time to root | 28–70 days |
| Node required | No |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Cyclamen spp Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Cyclamen persicum Checked 2026-09-11.
- Wikidata entity Q150055 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Cyclamen persicum Accepted name; family Primulaceae. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Cyclamen persicum Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Photograph: Hanay, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02