Poinsettias are often the Christmas flower of choice, but your garden center has another holiday flower you need to try. It’s called the cyclamen.
The cyclamen offers the potential to really add color to holiday decorations, especially on a covered porch.
Cyclamen absolutely love humid environments andtemperatures ranging from 40 to 45 degrees, which is the climate we have most nights around Christmas. And our porches, here in the south, offer added protection from wind, rain and cold.
Just think what this means. That pot near the front door can now be filled with cyclamen and greenery for the holidays. Or you can cluster several by the front door. Another great idea is to use them in large hanging baskets or perhaps in tall ornate urns. And cyclamen are colorful.
They’re available in pink as well as violet and the traditional Christmas colors of red and white. Care for the cyclamen by keeping them evenly moist but never soggy. When you water it’s to your advantage to use a small can with a spout so you can place the water around the edge of the container. Do not water the crown or the center of the plant directly.
I hope you’ll try cyclamen in your home. It offers a lot of holiday decorating opportunities. I’m Norman Winter for Southern Gardening.