7 Cyclamen summer growing tips to protect your crop
Looking ahead is essential for a successful Cyclamen persicum crop. Especially when summer brings high temperatures and intense radiation. From May onward, conditions can shift rapidly. Young plants in the greenhouse are vulnerable, so it’s important to act in time to protect them.
In this article you can find 7 practical tips to manage Cyclamen cultivation during summer challenges:
1. Apply shading on time
Reduce heat buildup and light intensity by applying shading (chalk) to greenhouse roofs. This helps to stabilize the climate inside. Experienced growers in warm areas like Italy, often combine chalk with shading cloth for a darker and cooler environment. This helps to protect young Cyclamen persicum plants.
2. Ventilate
Let the heat escape. Make sure your ventilation system is in optimal condition. Open roof vents and run fans to keep air moving. Don’t forget insect netting at windows to prevent pests from entering. Proper airflow protects both plant health and climate balance.
3. Water on time on warm days
The first weeks after transplanting Cyclamen are critical. Too much radiation and heat can lead to malformed leaves or growth issues. Water early in the morning to cool the plants. This also supports photosynthesis throughout the day which encourages steady, healthy development of your Cyclamen persicum crop. We created also a helpful document to lower temperatures during extreme warm days.
4. Monitor water quality
As temperatures rise, disease pressure in your water increases. Make sure your water is disinfected. Check regularly for pH, EC and potential pathogens. Consider root-zone treatments and if necessary, use biological stimulants or protective products. This supports a strong root system and resilient plants.
5. Align fertilization with watering
More water can also mean more EC input. Evaluate the total EC which the crop weekly receives:
- Example in winter: 2 watering containing EC 2.5 → total EC = 5
- Example in summer: 5x watering containing EC 1.0 → also total EC = 5
Be aware of accumulation. High EC can cause growth distortions, sometimes mistaken for disease. Regularly measure EC and pH to adjust your schedule. Especially during extremely warm periods, frequent irrigation with lower EC is preferred.
6. Use heat tolerant Cyclamen
Schoneveld Breeding developed Super Serie Cyclamen which perform exceptionally well, also with temperatures above 30°C (86°F). Available in mini, midi and large Cyclamen persicum varieties. High temperatures can cause significant stress for Cyclamen persicum, affecting their growth and performance. Our heat tolerant series are tested in extreme conditions in countries like (South) Italy
7. Prepare for pest pressure
Pest pressure rises in warm conditions. Work with your crop protection advisor to create a solid IPM (Integrated Pest Management) plan. Use sticky traps to monitor insect levels and scout your Cyclamen persicum crops weekly. Based on your findings, apply biological control agents or targeted protection when needed.
Questions?
Do you have questions to optimize your Cyclamen crop? Contact Growing support and receive tailored made support.