Not to deceive you with the title of this post.....the miracle isn't that my cyclamen are blooming but rather that I finally realized the importance of splurging a little on some cheerful blooms during the winter months!
And potted cyclamen now for sale everywhere certainly fit the bill!
On my visits to The Netherlands, I took note of the lovely Dutch tradition of filling their homes with flowers— in the winter blooming hyacinths and orchids, and in the summer beautiful arrangements of cut flowers. On each of my two visits I made a mental note to try and make flowers a greater part of my life, and at long last I took a small step in that direction by purchasing a small pot of blooming cyclamen! Of course now I'm dreaming of a few more pots, since cyclamen here come in three colors, which I do think would add even more cheer, and who can't use a little cheer during the cold winter months?
Here in Israel, cyclamen bloom in the wild, and so there is a particular affection for this flower, as it marks the heart of winter! I was told in the floral shop to keep the plant outdoors, as it loves cold, but that if I want to enjoy it indoors, I should place ice cubes in the pot, got that? And of course a little winter sun is okay, like on my windowsill here, but direct sun all day wouldn't be recommended, and in any case your plant will show you that it's unhappy!
When purchasing your cyclamen do try to find a plant that has some buds waiting underneath the blooms, so you'll be able to enjoy the flowers for a few months, hopefully!
If your cyclamen gets yellow leaves and dies back, simply remove the bulb and set aside in a paper bag or in a bag of moss until next fall, when you can plant it again in moist soil, and try to get another year of blooms, possibly successful, possibly not. If the plant does not die back, so make sure to place it in total shade during the summer months and water as needed.
And now, I'm making a mental note to myself to be sure to take a walk in the woods with the kids sometime soon to see these beauties blooming in the wild, here in light pink, and generally peeking out from between the rocks.....an amazing sight!
