My guess would be too hot and too sunny for cyclamen.And then you probably overwatered it. You need to read more about the culture of cyclamens if you insist on growing them.

I would never ever bring a cyclamen home for the reasons of mites. Cyclamen mites feed on cyclamens for million years - and plants developed resistance - so they tolerate these mites and do not collapse. AVs get poisoned by the mite saliva when the pests feed - and they get distorted and look awful and eventuallsy collapse and die.

You do not know if you get the infection or not. You can wait and watch your violets - they either develop symptoms - then you need to spray them - or not. I would get rid of cyclamen plant right now - and next time if you acquire it - keep it at work, do not bring it home.

Do not stress yourself -it is doable to get rid of the pests. Just extra work you do not need.

I,

I believe these mites were named after the Cyclamen plant because they were first found on it or are exceedingly fond of this plant. I would not panic just yet about your violets but I would isolate the ones near the cyclamen from your other plants. I must say that I have raised many cyclamen over the years and have never seen a mite on any of them. I have seen many on African violets however, and these couldn't have come from cyclamens because I didn't have any at the time. So a cyclamen plant doesn't equal mites everywhere. Just keep an eye on the center of your violets because if mites attack they will feed there causing twisted leaves and stunted growth.

Your cyclamen probably had problems because they are cool growing plants and can't take hot sun. Letting it get too dry and then watering heavily could cause rot to set in.

Thanks for the replies. I wil keep an eye on my African Violets and have moved the pot of dirt left from the cycamen out. The cyclamen has a sentimental value to me and that was why I was so excited to bring one home to try it. My Mom had sent me one a couple of years ago for my 5Oth birthday as she had received one at the hospital when I was born. I lost my Mom a couple of years ago so when I saw this one it made me think of her. It was pretty while it lasted, ( the first one lasted about a year but was kind of leggy looking!)I just hope I didn't bring bugs in to my poor African violets. For the first time ever I have finally gotten some leaves to root, grow and even bloom!

Sorry for your loss.

My understanding is that cyclamens require cooler temperature and outside they are grown in a shade. And the plants we can buy - are actually forced from corms in a greenhouse with the conditions significantly different from our house - so they go through the shock in our houses.

As Terrilou said - you can have a cyclamen without mites. I would probably spray the one with a miticide if I bring one home or start with a corm - easier to dunk in Clorax to kill the pests.

My suggestion - find a beautiful print of a cyclamen - and frame it! No danger this way.

Happy growing and blooming

Irina