Cyclamen

[ceejay123]

I probably know the answer to this but need confirmation!

I have just paid a visit to our local "Focus" store and found that they had Cyclamen at 3 for a fiver!!
This is cheap as they are indoor types and coming to the end of their season
,
What I want to know is that if I brought a few home and kept them indoors till early summer can I then plant them outside to become the hardy types for next winter???
I think I can what do the experts think, please.
Chris

[Palustris]

If these are Cyclamen persicum and it is almost certain they are, then they are tender. You could grow them until frost danger is past, then plant them out in the garden, but you would have to bring them in for the winter.
If you want Cyclamen in the garden then look out for C. hederifolium for September on flowering and C. coum for January flowering. these are the two hardiest and most easily available speices.

[Whoever]

I have often tried to plant my indoor cyclamen outside after they have finished flowering without great success, even though I have planted them under the protection of shrubs. I occasionally get the odd flower but performance is not at all reliable. The cyclamen you see growing outdoors in natural surroundings are a more hardy wild type and generally have more suble and delicate colours than the rather vibrant indoor varieties you buy in garden centres.

[ceejay123]

Many thanks to each of you. I'm much more clear on the way forward now.
Chris

[SlackAlice]

Just to upset the applecart!

Whenever I get an indoor cyclamen and it comes to the end of its flowering session I put it outside close to the house. In the spring I plant them outside under a bush to get shade from the summer sun. In the winter I end up with a lovely display covering about a square yard.

Admittedly, they do not all survive and the flowers are not as big but its still a free display!!

I do live in South Essex and the milder weather does help.