Caring for geranium flowers at home. How to care for geraniums at home in a pot so that they bloom

Pelargonium, or, as everyone is used to calling it, geranium, can be found in almost every home.
This plant is valued for its ease of care and ease of propagation. There are a huge number of types of pelargonium. Sometimes, to add sophistication to a flower, housewives grow several types of geraniums in one pot at once - when they bloom, multi-colored bouquets are obtained. The flowers of this plant are quite large in size and have a rich color. Caring for geraniums at home is very simple and does not require much time. But even such an unpretentious and hardy plant requires that it be properly cared for.

This article contains basic information on how to properly care for geraniums so that they delight you with their beauty all year round.

• 1 We provide growing conditions
• 2 Care
  • 2.1 Video “Geranium. Care and reproduction"

We provide growing conditions

Before purchasing a flower, it is worth understanding how to care for geraniums. An individual approach is very important when growing any home plant. Very often, what suits one flower can harm another. First of all, you need to figure out what care is suitable for geraniums at home.

The plant loves good lighting and, unlike other flowers, is not at all afraid of direct sunlight. But it is recommended to remove geraniums from direct rays at the peak of sun activity (noon) to avoid getting burns. The first sign by which you can determine that there is not enough light is that the leaves lose their rich color and become dull; in this case, you can forget about flowering. It is best to place a pot of pelargonium on a southern, sunny windowsill. If you place geranium outside in the summer, then choose a closed place for it, as it really does not like wind and drafts.

Geranium loves warmth; it will be ideal if the temperature falls in the range of +18-+20 degrees. In winter, it is possible to slightly lower the temperature, but make sure that it does not fall below +10 degrees. All flower growers claim that it is not at all demanding on air humidity. It tolerates both dry and wet equally well. It is also not worth spraying the leaves of pelargonium, it will only cause harm. Just keep an eye on the soil moisture and that will be enough.

It is not often necessary to replant, it can be once every 2-3 years, it all depends on the activity of the growth of the root system. The rules for transplanting pelargonium are simple. Initially, you must choose a suitable pot for the flower. In this case, the principle “the larger the pot, the better the plant feels in it” does not work. The geranium roots will grow until they completely fill the container you have chosen, but there will be no flowers on it. In small containers, geranium feels most comfortable, blooms very intensely, and the flowers look very healthy and strong. Therefore, it is better to choose a medium-sized pot. The ideal diameter would be 12-15 cm and height 12 cm. You can place several plant bushes in one flowerpot at once. Then you will not need to worry that the roots may rot due to an incorrect watering schedule, and the pelargonium itself will bloom with beautiful and bright flowers.

The choice of pot material should be taken very carefully. The variety is huge, both in material and price. But experts advise not to skimp on this and choose a pot made from natural materials. A baked clay pot works well. A more economical option is plastic pots. They can also be used, but in this case you need to care for geraniums more carefully, especially carefully monitor watering, since the soil dries out much more slowly in them, and this can lead to rotting of the roots.

At different times, home geraniums require different care. From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, when watering, you need to add a little phosphorus-based fertilizer to the water; it has a beneficial effect on flowering.

Please note that the fertilizer must contain a minimum percentage of nitrogen, otherwise the pelargonium may stop blooming. In the warm season, experts advise, if possible, to take geraniums outside for the whole day. The flower requires good lighting. Sometimes, after being in the sun, geranium leaves change their shade slightly and become slightly pink; There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a natural reaction to the sun’s rays. The plant is suitable for slight fluctuations in air temperature - this even promotes the growth of geraniums.

In order for geraniums to delight you with their beauty all year round, proper care in winter is very important. The plant can be safely removed from the windowsills and placed in a dark place, as far as possible from heating devices. The main thing is that the air temperature is not below 12 degrees. There is no need to fertilize the soil in winter. Geraniums almost always shed their flowers in the winter; this is normal. If the plant successfully survived the winter and the geranium was properly cared for, then from March until August the flower will bloom intensively.

A very important role in the question “How to care for geraniums?” the choice of soil plays a role. It is best to purchase a ready-made substrate in a specialized store; it will initially contain all the useful substances for your pet. But if this is not possible, then you can cook it yourself. The main thing is that the mixture contains enough nutritional inclusions. A mixture of peat, sand and garden soil is very suitable. When replanting a flower, do not forget to place good drainage, for example, from expanded clay, at the bottom of the pot. It prevents root rot well. A couple of times a month, the soil in the pot needs to be loosened so that fresh air can reach the roots. Remember that properly selected soil is the main component in caring for geraniums.

Care

As already mentioned, caring for geraniums is very simple and does not require a lot of time. You just need to know a few rules of proper care, and if you follow them, the plant will delight you all year round. Pelargonium is a drought-loving plant. It is more comfortable with drought than with excessive humidity, which causes the roots to rot. But if you allow the soil to dry out too much, the flowers may disappear. If the room is warm, then watering can be done every day, but make sure that the top layer of soil dries well. If it does not have time to dry out, reduce watering to 2-3 times a week. Signs of overwatering will become immediately visible: limp, lifeless leaves that sometimes become moldy. If you do not pay attention to this in time, you may lose your geranium.

At the beginning of spring, care for geraniums should be more thorough than at other times of the year. At this time, the plant wakes up after wintering and the pruning procedure is very important. To do this, remove dead leaves and leave no more than 5 buds on each shoot. If new shoots grow from leaf axils and not from the root, then they need to be removed. Pruning should only be done in spring. If you decide to do this procedure in winter, this may have a detrimental effect on your flower. If you missed time in the spring, and pruning is necessary, then you can do it in early autumn. Remember that pruning helps give your plant a beautiful appearance, and in return it will delight you with even more abundant flowering.

You should never forget about such an aspect of care as feeding your flower. Geranium is very fond of various mineral and organic supplements. When geranium is in the active flowering stage, it is necessary to add fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium to the water. Thanks to such additives, your flower will always look healthy and well-groomed. Iodine water (1 drop of iodine per 1 liter of water) can also be considered a very good supplement.

If you properly care for geraniums, they, in turn, will delight your eyes with beautiful flowers and your sense of smell with a pleasant smell.

Video “Geranium. Care and reproduction"

This video briefly examines the different types of pelargoniums and provides general tips on propagation and care.

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Geranium was very popular among flower growers in different countries. But over time, the popularity of the plant decreased. Now geranium has again begun to win the hearts of millions of gardeners. Geranium is an unpretentious crop to care for. Even a novice gardener can cope with growing this plant.

Caring for geraniums is simple and does not require special knowledge. The number of varieties and varieties can satisfy the desires and demands of even the most sophisticated flower lovers. Geranium can also be grown in apartment conditions, on the balcony, veranda and even in the garden.

Geranium or pelargonium?

Geranium is also called pelargonium.. Indeed, the cultures are similar in appearance. And both plants belong to the same family - Geraniaceae. However, an experienced specialist will confidently say that these plants have differences. In addition, the two cultures cannot be crossed, since genetically they have nothing in common.

Pelargonium and geranium can be distinguished by the following description:

• Temperature. Geranium is a plant native to the North. This is noticeable in its frost resistance. Geranium is easy to grow outdoors and does not need to be moved to a house or greenhouse during cold times of the year. Pelargonium, on the contrary, needs warm climatic conditions, since it is a native of the South, its homeland is South Africa. It is important to pay attention to this when leaving.
• Colors. Geranium flowers come in a variety of colors. The only exception is scarlet. Pelargonium can have flowers of all colors, excluding blue and light blue.
• The difference is in the structure of the flower. A geranium flower has up to 8 petals; pelargonium has a whole corolla of flowers. All flowers differ in shape: the first flowers are larger, and the rest are smaller.

Geranium can be grown both at home and in the garden, depending on which variety you choose.

Summer residents often use this crop to grow along alleys, in flower beds, and to decorate verandas. Pelargonium flaunts on window sills or closed balconies. Both types are easy to care for and maintain.

Types and varieties

The plant is characterized by a huge variety of species and varieties. The collection of geranium varieties includes up to 400 species. As a rule, they distinguish two groups: bush and hanging.

If even earlier it was pleasant to consider geranium as a “grandmother’s flower,” now, thanks to the work of breeders, various species have appeared that are very different from each other in the colors and shapes of flowers and leaves. Below is a description of popular varieties.

Ampelnaya

This effective variety of culture will decorate any room, veranda, staircase. Grown in floor planters and hanging baskets. The branches are drooping and curly, their length can reach one meter. The flowers are located at the ends of the stems. The inflorescences are shaped like brushes.

Among the ampelous geraniums, ivy-leaved or ivy-shaped ones are distinguished. This variety is called climbing because of the structure of the shoots.

Features of ampelous geranium:

Angel is a type of ampelous geranium. However, unlike ivy-leaved geranium, the vines of angel geranium are not so long. The shape of the flowers is very similar to that of the viola, which is popularly known as the pansy. Most varieties are low growing. Angel flower colors: white, pink and purple with numerous veins and strokes.

Fragrant

This variety of geranium, as the name implies, is especially distinguished strong aroma. Moreover, all varieties of this plant have different odors. This variety is called fragrant, aromatic. A particularly strong aroma is felt when you touch the plant.

However visually scented geranium is not so impressive, like most other varieties. The flowers have standard colors, they do not bloom so luxuriantly and densely, and the leaves are very large and uneven.

A variety of fragrant geranium - lemon - has oblong, lush leaves of bright green color. The dissected leaves give it a very unusual appearance. Lemon geranium can reach 1.5 meters in height or higher. As the name suggests, the plant has a fresh and delicate lemon aroma. Lemon geranium is also called non-flowering because of its rather rare flowering.

Zonal

This species is also called bordered. This is what geranium is called for brown border on dark green leaves. Therefore, zonal geranium can be recognized immediately. This is the most popular variety; so many varieties of zonal geranium have been bred that it is impossible to count them.

There is a huge variety of flower colors. In addition, there are simple, semi-double and double flowers. Even the color of the leaves of the varieties can be different - in some the border is clearly visible, in others it is almost invisible.

This species has dwarf varieties, whose height does not exceed 25 cm. For example, the “Nano” variety mixture is a striking example of a dwarf zonal geranium.

Rosebudnaya is a variety of zonal geranium, it also has another name - rose-shaped. Based on the name, we can conclude that the flowers of this geranium resemble roses. Densely double, with a huge number of petals - that’s all about the flowers of this culture. The inflorescences sit like delicate and lush roses at the ends of the shoots. The colors of rosebud geranium are numerous: from pale pink to deep red.

Royal

This terry variety of culture looks very impressive. It is distinguished by large inflorescences, the diameter of which can reach 7 cm. During the flowering period it is abundant covered with bright caps of inflorescences. The colors of the flowers are very different, in addition, there are flowers of two colors - with numerous strokes and veins.

In the West, a variety of this plant is called “Martha Washington geranium” - in honor of the wife of the first president of the United States of America.

Among the people, the culture received other names, for example, “royal”, “noble”, “English” or “domestic”.

Caring for this species is difficult:

• Does not tolerate pruning;
• Can only grow at home;
• Does not tolerate low temperatures.

Tulip-shaped

This variety has significant differences from other types of geranium:

• The flowers of this culture are similar in their external structure to tulips at the blooming stage. The flower itself is small - the diameter does not exceed 1 cm.
• The inflorescences look lush, since the inflorescences consist of a large number of flowers - up to 50!
• The height of this species reaches 70 cm.
• The colors of tulip geranium flowers are also very different: the flowers can be soft pink or deep burgundy.

Succulent

This geranium is unlike others. It is almost impossible to find this variety on the windowsills of amateur flower growers and in flower shops.

The plant is different thick, curved stems, small leaves and inconspicuous flowers.

Some types of succulent geraniums boast larger flower sizes. For example, angular succulent geranium is distinguished by large, lilac-colored flowers, up to 7 cm in diameter.

Garden geranium

As the name implies, such geraniums are grown in garden plots. This is possible thanks to their endurance to different weather conditions.

Among the most popular varieties are:

• Blood red. Closer to the beginning of the autumn period, the leaves acquire a rich red tint. Colors: pale pink, carmine, purple or bright red.
• Gorgeous- This is a compact bush no more than half a meter high. The flowers are simple, lilac or bluish in color. This is the most popular variety of garden geranium.
• Large rhizomatous- a perennial crop with erect stems no more than 40 cm high. Simple flowers have a variety of colors: purple with a pinkish tint, bright red or pinkish.

Blood red

Large rhizomatous

Gorgeous

A striking difference between garden geranium and indoor geranium is the structure of the leaf, as well as endurance and the ability to winter in outdoor conditions. Indoor species do not tolerate frost.

Home care

Caring for geraniums does not require any special skills. Even a beginner can cope with growing this crop. However, it is necessary to follow certain rules of care in order for the plant to delight with its lush and abundant flowering.

Temperature

The plant feels great when kept at room temperature. In summer, it is recommended to maintain the temperature at 25°C, and in winter, you should not lower the temperature below 15°C. When caring for royal geraniums, you should remember that they do not tolerate temperatures below 20°C. Protect geraniums from drafts.

Lighting

The more light, the better for the culture - one of the main rules for care. Geranium is not afraid of direct sunlight. Lack of lighting can cause the leaves to turn pale and flowering to be less abundant.

In winter, it is also important to maintain the light regime using lighting devices. Lack of light in winter will cause the foliage to turn pale.

Air humidity

The plant does not need high air humidity.

You cannot spray the crop, as this can greatly harm the plant.

Thus, when spraying, be careful not to allow drops of water to fall on the geranium.

Watering

When caring, do not forget about watering. Geranium responds well to regular watering. In summer, it is recommended to water the plant daily. However, it is important to ensure that moisture does not stagnate. This is fraught with rotting of the root system.

Pot and soil

It is not recommended to choose a pot that is too spacious, since geranium does not like space. It is advisable to make a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. You can use regular sand or small pebbles as drainage.

Priming required for geranium moderately fertile. The intensity of flowering depends on the nutritional content of the soil. Can be purchased universal soil mixture in a specialty store. Experienced gardeners prefer to prepare the soil themselves.

To prepare the soil you will need:

• Turf land;
• Deciduous soil;
• Humus;
• Sand.

All components are taken in the ratio 1:1:1.5:0.5.

Feeding and fertilizers

In the spring-summer period it is necessary to apply fertilizing. Usually used as fertilizer complex mineral fertilizers, which contain potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Closer to flowering, the application of nitrogen needs to be reduced, since its excess can negatively affect flowering.

Geranium also responds well to feeding with iodine. Iodine perfectly stimulates flowering. Among the purchased ones, you can choose granular, stick, or liquid fertilizers.

Among them, the most commonly used are:

1. "Zircon";
2. "Kemira Lux";
3. "Master";
4. "Plantofol".

Zircon

Kemira Lux

Master

Plantafol

Trimming and pinching

Care includes pruning, which is required to form the crown of the bush and stimulate flowering. In autumn it's time to prune the plant.. Typically, shoots growing from leaf axils are cut off, leaving stems with 7 leaves. In the case of geranium growth during the winter period, in early spring you can prune the plant again, leaving a few buds.

If you are caring for royal geraniums, remember that you cannot prune them.

How to prune geraniums correctly:

1. Trim the stem above the leaf node;
2. Shoots are cut above the leaf;
3. Shoots growing in the center of the bush must be removed;
4. Shoots growing from the root need to be pinched;
5. It is recommended to treat the cut areas with crushed charcoal;
6. After pruning, it is recommended to feed the crop with mineral fertilizer.

Video: How to shape and pinch geraniums (pelargonium)

Features of care throughout the year

Care rules for different seasons:

• in autumn It is necessary to prune the geranium, and then you need to prepare the crop for the upcoming wintering. To do this, gradually reduce watering and fertilizing.
• In winter time The plant is practically not watered and not fed at all. The room temperature must be at least 15°C. It is better to keep geraniums away from radiators and heating appliances.
• in spring it is necessary to resume watering and begin applying fertilizers, including nitrogen, since nitrogen promotes the growth of green mass. Closer to the beginning of flowering, the amount of nitrogen fertilizers is reduced and the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers increases.
• In summer Geraniums need to be watered frequently and regularly. The temperature should be kept at 25°C. Geraniums should receive maximum sunlight.

Why doesn’t indoor geranium bloom and what to do?

Geranium begins to bloom towards the end of spring and ends in mid-autumn. Some gardeners enjoy the crop with its flowers even in winter, however, there is no need to force it to bloom in winter.

What can I do to make geraniums bloom more often?

• Firstly, you need to choose a container that is not too spacious for planting. When the root system feels too spacious, the plant grows more green mass, which negatively affects flowering. A good option would be to plant several bushes in one pot.
• Secondly, it is necessary to provide the plant with more sunlight. Closer to flowering, it is necessary to feed the geranium with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, and reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers to a minimum. Iodine has a very good effect on flowering.

The same applies to autumn pruning of shoots. The exception is the royal geranium. If geranium does not bloom for a long time, it is recommended to transplant it to a garden plot.. In winter, it is recommended to provide the plant with rest - lower the temperature, reduce watering and eliminate the application of fertilizers.

Reasons for not flowering:

1. Lack of sunlight;
2. Improper care throughout the year;
3. Incorrect wintering;
4. Too spacious pot;
5. Incorrectly selected soil;
6. Waterlogging of the soil;
7. Rare application of fertilizers.

Transfer

Geranium does not like transplants. That's why It is necessary to replant the plant only in the following situations:

1. The root system became crowded in the pot;
2. The plant begins to wither due to excess;
3. Geranium hardly grows;
4. Exposure of roots.

Transplantation, like planting a plant carried out in early spring. But this can be done in the middle of winter, but the culture will take root much more slowly.

Under no circumstances should the plant be replanted at the flowering stage.

How to properly replant geraniums:

1. Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the new container. Small pebbles, expanded clay, and broken bricks are suitable.
2. Moisten the soil and carefully remove the plant, being careful not to damage the roots.
3. If there are diseased or damaged roots, they must be trimmed.
4. Place the plant in a new container and cover it with soil.
5. Place the geranium in a place protected from sunlight for several days.
6. Fertilizing can only be done two weeks after transplantation.

Reproduction

Indoor geranium can be propagated in the following ways: cuttings, seeds or dividing the bush. By dividing the bush, the plant can be propagated during the transplant process. It is enough to divide the root system into parts, being careful not to damage the roots.

Propagation by cuttings

It is best to propagate geraniums from cuttings in the spring. For propagation, freshly cut cuttings no more than 7 cm long with a couple of leaves.

How to propagate geranium by cuttings:

In order for the cutting to take root, it is necessary create a temperature of about 21°C.

Propagation by seeds

To propagate by seeds you need:

1. Sow the seeds in a moist, loose substrate.
2. Sprinkle the same substrate or sand on top. The thickness of the top layer is no more than 2.5 cm.
3. Moisten the crops by spraying from a spray bottle.
4. Cover containers with crops with glass or plastic film, which must be removed periodically for moisture and ventilation.
5. After germination, the glass must be removed and the crops placed in a bright place.
6. When a couple of leaves appear, the seedlings must be planted in separate containers.

Diseases and pests

Causes of the disease: improper care, unfavorable conditions, and so on.

Geranium is susceptible to the following diseases:

• Gray rot occurs as a result of waterlogging of the soil. It must be controlled with fungicides. It is recommended to transplant the diseased plant into a new pot, removing the damaged parts.
• Root rot also develops due to excess moisture. It is impossible to fight her.
• Blackleg- the most common disease of geraniums. This disease cannot be treated, and diseased specimens must be destroyed.
• Powdery mildew manifests itself in the form of plaque on the upper side of the leaf blade. Controlling it requires the use of fungicides and colloidal sulfur.

The following pests are common:

• Whitefly.

Insecticidal preparations and soap solution will help in pest control.

Table: reasons for changes in the appearance of a flower

Appearance changes	Reason and what to do?
The leaves are turning yellow	Cause: Cramped pot, improper care in the autumn-winter period What to do: Transplant into a larger pot, arrange care as described above
Leaves are drying	Cause: Lack of moisture What to do: Make watering more frequent and regular
Leaves curl and curl	Cause: Lack of light, improper watering What to do: Improve light conditions and ensure regular watering
The leaves are withering	Cause: Leaf spot What to do: Control with fungicidal drugs
The leaves are getting smaller	Cause: Lack of light What to do: Move the geranium to a brighter place
The leaves are brightening	Cause: Excessive direct sunlight What to do: Shade the plant from the midday sun
Spots on leaves	Cause: Powdery mildew or aphids What to do: Control with fungicides or insecticides
Leaves turn red and white	Cause: The plant suffers from the cold

Useful properties and contraindications

In addition to its beautiful appearance, the flower is known for its medicinal qualities.

Geranium has the following healing properties:

• Antiseptic;
• Diuretic;
• Pain reliever;
• Decongestant;
• Bactericidal;
• Hemostatic;
• Antidiabetic.

Geranium is indicated for the treatment of diseases:

• Liver and gastrointestinal tract;
• Runny nose;
• Colds;
• Stomach, gastritis.

Previously, it was believed that the culture had magical properties, expelling evil spirits from the house.

The plant also has contraindications that should be taken into account in order not to harm yourself.

• Small children;
• Pregnant women;
• Elderly;
• Suffering from stomach ulcers.

Frequently asked questions for beginning gardeners

1. A green “stick” grows from the center - what is it? The so-called green “stick” growing from the center of the flower is a pollinated flower.

Pelargonium is a genus of plants in the Geranium family. It grows naturally in South Africa. This genus includes about 250 species. The smell of pelargonium is very specific; it cannot be confused with anything else. Essential oils contained in the leaves of the plant create a natural barrier to bacteria and viruses.

ATTENTION: Many people believe that pelargonium and geranium are the same thing, but this is not true. Geranium, or cranebird, is also a representative of the genus of the Geranium family.

Geranium, growing in the wild. In Russia, it is not customary for flower growers to distinguish between these types of plants, considering the words “geranium” and “pelargonium” to be synonymous. Geranium is used in folk medicine: for insomnia, depression, rheumatism, heart disease.

If home flowers are attacked by aphids, it is advised to place a pot of pelargonium next to them, which expels pests.

Periods of growth and rest

From December to February, pelargonium enters a dormant phase, so its growth and flowering slow down. It is for this reason that there is no need to feed the plant during this period. She needs to be allowed to get stronger and gain strength before the new growing season (read about how to feed geraniums for lush flowering, and from here you will learn how to properly use iodine with hydrogen peroxide to feed a flower). Until about January, pelargonium will delight its owners with bright, beautiful flowers. Its vegetative period begins from mid-spring until autumn.

How to care at home?

In winter, gardeners should pay attention to the following conditions for keeping pelargonium.

In the cold season, geraniums should be kept in a cooler room than in summer.. If you cannot ensure this, then you can place the pot on the northern windowsill, making sure that the leaves of the plant do not touch the glass. Ideally, the temperature should not exceed 10-15 degrees above zero.

If it is much higher, then there may be a risk of dropping the newly formed buds. The temperature of geraniums can be lowered to 4 degrees.

Protect the flower from drafts.

Lighting

Since geraniums are of South African origin, they love bright light.. If the flower is located on northern windows, then it needs to be provided with additional lighting. If this is not done, then the pelargonium will not bloom, and its leaves will become small. The duration of daylight should be at least 12 hours.

To create additional lighting, you need to use a lamp marked “phyto”, placing it at a height of 10 centimeters from the top of the flower.

IMPORTANT: There is no need to be afraid of direct sunlight: the flower tolerates it calmly.

Watering

Pelargonium loves regular watering. In winter, it is permissible to water it once a week. You need to ensure that the soil in the pot is always evenly moist. Stagnation of water at the roots of geranium leads to the death of the flower!

To adjust the watering system, select a suitable drainage system and light soil for the plant (you can find out what the composition of the soil for indoor geranium should be and whether a universal soil is suitable). Expanded clay and perlite can be used as drainage.

If you do not prune regularly, the plant will stretch out and stop blooming beautifully.. It must be taken into account that unpruned pelargonium is predisposed to various diseases. When pruning, use only sterile instruments (scissors or knife). Remove all shoots growing from the axils, leaving only 6-7 leaves on the stem. This procedure is carried out in the fall or at the very beginning of winter.

It is better not to prune geraniums from December to January. Dried flower stalks and leaves should always be trimmed, even in the cold season. They are easily detached without harm to the plant, even without scissors. Several times during the cold season.

Miniature geranium varieties do not require pruning. You can find out how to prune geraniums).

Watch a video about proper pruning of geraniums:

Rules for storing in the basement

Some geranium lovers plant it in the garden all summer long (we talked about how to care for geraniums in the open ground in). Before the winter cold, they are faced with the problem of how to preserve garden geraniums. There are several ways to store geraniums:

1. Bunches of pelargonium are suspended in the basement at a constant temperature of 2 to 7 degrees above zero. Some gardeners wrap plants in newspaper or place them in paper bags instead of hanging them. In this case, you need to make sure that the bags are open for ventilation. Plant roots are periodically moistened. This method is called “dry storage”.
2. Geraniums are planted in pots, before which the roots and stems are cut by two-thirds(you can find out how to choose and what kind of pot is needed for geraniums, and from here you will learn how to replant geraniums at home). Store the prepared plant in the basement at a constant temperature of up to 10 degrees, the room should be twilight. Pelargonium planted in this way is watered infrequently, only when the soil becomes dry. This method of storing geraniums is called “canning”.

ADVICE: The humidity in the basement should be at least 80%.

How to welcome spring?

Closer to spring, when the temperature outside reaches 2 degrees above zero, you can take pots of pelargonium to the balcony. You need to start with half an hour, gradually increasing the time the geranium stays on the balcony. In this way you can help pelargonium bloom constantly.

If the geranium was stored in the basement, then before taking it outside, you need to soak the bunches in water with fertilizer, then plant them in a pot. Geraniums in a pot should stay indoors for about a week. Only after the last frost is pelargonium planted in the garden flower garden..

Thus, geraniums should be placed in a cool room in winter, provided with additional lighting and monitored soil moisture. You also need to break off dried leaves and flower stalks from time to time. If you follow all these simple rules, pelargonium will delight you with its aroma immediately after leaving the resting phase.

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The houseplant pelargonium (popularly called home or indoor geranium) belongs to the Geranium family. This family includes 5 genera and 800 plant species. Geranium is the most numerous genus, and pelargonium is the most popular species of the Geraniaceae family. Therefore, when they talk about caring for geraniums at home, they most often mean pelargonium. We will help you understand the similarities and differences between these plants.

Their main similarity is that both plants belong to the Geraniaceae family. And they are similar in appearance. The shape of the seed pod resembles the elongated beak of a crane in both species. Their erect stems and leaves covered with small glandular hairs, arranged oppositely or alternately, are also similar. Both plants have a characteristic specific smell, bright appearance, and are medicinal. They are unpretentious, resilient, love good lighting, and are easy to grow and propagate.

What is the difference between pelargonium and geranium

No one has been able to cross these plants with each other and get seeds - they have different genetic characteristics. Pelargonium is a newcomer from the African savannas, and geranium comes from the northern hemisphere. Therefore, heat-loving pelargonium prefers warm apartment window sills, and geranium blooms in gardens and meadows until frost. In central Russia, geranium, meadow and forest, is found everywhere and calmly endures winter without shelter. Only in the Far Eastern and northern regions does it not grow - the climatic conditions there are too harsh for it. Geranium flowers have 5 or, less commonly, 8 petals. Geranium flowers are regular in shape. The domestic geranium, pelargonium, has five-petalled flowers of irregular shape: the upper two petals are separated from the lower three and are slightly larger than them. Geranium flowers are usually solitary, but sometimes collected in inflorescences. Geraniums have ten developed fertile stamens. Pelargonium flowers are collected in spectacular umbrella inflorescences. Pelargonium has no more than seven fertile stamens. The rest are underdeveloped. Geranium flowers are painted in a wide variety of shades, often blue-violet. Only scarlet color is never found in geraniums. Pelargonium, on the contrary, does not have blue flowers. They are usually white, red and soft pink. Geranium can be found in every garden - summer residents love it very much. Popular varieties of geranium: Magnificent, Georgian, Oxford. It blooms from early summer until frost. And pelargonium pleases with its flowering at home almost all year round. In summer, it can be taken out onto the balcony or even into the garden. But with the onset of cold weather, pelargonium is returned to the house on a warm windowsill.

The most favorite varieties of pelargonium

Fragrant is a lush bush with small leaves and bright flowers. Gives off a pleasant aroma of lemon or mint. Less common is fragrant pelargonium with the scent of nutmeg, orange or apple. However, the flowers are inconspicuous, and the leaves are rough and flat. Essential oils and aromatic substances for cooking are isolated from them. The leaves themselves are not used for food!

Royal is a unique bush with a short stem, large flowers and jagged leaves without a zonal pattern. It blooms with very beautiful flowers, but not for long. This group of pelargoniums was bred in the 60s of the last century.

Angel is a hybrid of the curly variety, part of the royal pelargonium group. Similar to the royal one, but smaller, more compact, with small leaves and flowers similar to pansies.

Ampelous or ivy-leaved - this pelargonium has thin stems and an ampelous growth pattern. Its leaves are similar to ivy, and its flowers are simple, double, and even in the form of rosettes.

Zonal - this bush has a developed, upright growing stem and dark circles on the leaves that divide the leaf plate into multi-colored zones. Flowers can be simple or double. They are not large, collected in inflorescences-umbrellas of white, red or pale pink. Many people call this pelargonium geranium.

The features of caring for geraniums and pelargonium differ no more than caring for a garden plant from caring for a houseplant.

We will look at growing indoor geraniums - pelargonium. How long the external attractiveness of the plant will remain depends only on the care of its owner, and the lush and bright inflorescences of pelargonium will decorate the interior of your apartment. When kept at home, decorative varieties of pelargonium retain their spectacular appearance for at least five years. But there were cases when pelargonium lived and bloomed for ten or more years with good owners. We will introduce you to simple conditions under which your pet will delight you with its beauty for a long time and improve your health.

Among decorative flowering house flowers, there are very few representatives as attractive and, at the same time, unpretentious to care for as pelargonium. Now you can see for yourself.

Content temperature

All year round, pelargonium feels great at normal room temperature. It does not require greenhouse maintenance, is quite tolerant of high summer temperatures and in winter it will be comfortable on a cool windowsill, only its leaves should not touch the cold glass.

Lighting

Pelargonium loves well-lit places both for growing in a pot and for keeping it in the garden in a flowerbed during the summer. On the windowsill, on the hottest summer days, it is advisable to cover its leaves from the scorching sun. During the rest of the year, she is only glad to have sunlight, since with its lack, the leaves and flowers become smaller and become brittle. On the balcony, if it is located on the south side of the apartment, pelargonium will bloom all summer. On northern windows in winter, pelargonium may not have enough natural light. Its shoots will begin to stretch out, and the decorative effect will be lost. In this case, you will have to resort to additional lighting using a fluorescent lamp or phyto lamp.

Air humidity

Pelargonium does not like too humid indoor air. Does not tolerate spraying of leaves and flowers. Ventilate your room more often. In the warm season, place flowers on balconies and verandas in the fresh air.

Watering

In the summer, pelargonium needs to be watered daily, but little by little. The water should be at room temperature and settled. Avoid over-moistening the soil and getting water on leaves and flowers. Drain excess water from trays. Do not water until the top layer of the substrate has dried. This will protect your beauty from rotting roots and death of the plant. In winter, pelargonium is watered less often, a couple of times a week.

The soil

The soil for pelargoniums should be fertile and loose with an acidity pH of 7 or slightly less. For home maintenance in pots, you can purchase a special soil mixture for flowering geraniums or pelargoniums. You can prepare the soil yourself from a mixture of garden soil, sand and peat in equal quantities. Before use, disinfect the substrate - calcine or steam it. And don't forget to put a good drainage layer of expanded clay or pebbles on the bottom of the pot. To ensure good access of oxygen to the roots of pelargonium, the soil must be loosened both in the pot and in the garden.

Pot

Young pelargonium likes the pot to be small, either 10 cm wide or 10 cm long. Accordingly, an adult beauty will bloom better when its root system entwines the entire earthen lump in the flower container. You can plant two plants at the same time in one pot - with different, contrasting colors of flowers, for example, with white and red petals. It will be very beautiful.

Feeding and fertilizers for pelargonium

Pelargonium needs to be fed from time to time. Especially when she sits in a small pot. It does not tolerate organic fertilizers, especially fresh ones, so feed them with mineral fertilizers. There are special fertilizers for flowering ornamental plants on sale. Apply them during the growing season and flowering, spring and summer, once every 2 weeks. There is no need to feed pelargonium in autumn and winter. A good feed for pelargoniums is iodine water: 1 liter. Add 1 drop of iodine to settled water and stir. Water the damp (after the main watering) soil near the walls of the pot so as not to accidentally burn the roots. Geranium will immediately respond with vigorous and luxurious flowering.

Transplanting pelargoniums

If the root system of pelargonium does not fit in the pot, its roots peek out from the drainage holes, and the plant withers soon after watering, it’s time to transplant the geranium into another pot. Take a pot 3 - 4 cm larger than it was, preferably a clay one. Pour boiling water over it to avoid fungal or viral diseases of its previous tenants. As with any plants, replanting pelargonium is stressful. Therefore, try to transplant the plant into a new pot carefully, along with the soil, without damaging its root system. And carry out this procedure no more often than once every two to three years. You can only add fresh nutrient soil to the flower pot from time to time.

If you have a large pot, plant two or three pelargonium bushes in it at once. In cramped conditions, but not in any offense - together they will bloom better!

Pruning home geraniums

During summer flowering, do not prune pelargonium. Just cut off the faded umbrella inflorescences so that they do not absorb moisture and nutrients. In the fall, it happens that pelargonium turns into a voluminous, shapeless bush, completely devoid of attractiveness. When flowering stops, home geraniums need to be pruned. Moreover, the more you prune it, the more shoots will appear next spring, the richer and denser its crown will be, the more abundantly and longer the pelargonium will bloom next year. You should not be afraid of deep pruning, because on the bare stem there are plenty of dormant buds that will begin to grow even in winter.

Zonal pelargoniums especially need pruning; they are the ones most often found on flower shelves and window sills of amateur gardeners. Royal varieties have slightly different agricultural technology, so such plants are formed more accurately and only in the second year after planting. Pelargonium is not pruned in winter. In winter, the plant's defenses and metabolic processes are weakened. Cuttings cut at this time do not take root.

After winter, pelargonium usually loses its attractiveness and decorativeness. Depending on the care and where it is kept, some branches are stretched out, others are exposed. At the beginning of spring, under no circumstances in winter, you need to put its crown in order - do pruning. Do not allow the bush to grow too much - try to give the crown a beautiful appearance. It is better to cut out large old stems, leaving only young shoots. If the shoot has six or more leaves, it needs to be pinched at the top so that the bush becomes more luxuriant. For the same purpose, when growing pelargonium from cuttings, after 8–10 leaves, the growing point is removed. When growing from seeds, this is done a little earlier, after 6-8 leaves. Shoots that grow from the upper axils of the leaves are removed, leaving only shoots growing closer to the root. Keep in mind that pinching and pruning the plant delays flowering for some time. Do these procedures in early spring.

Reproduction of indoor pelargonium

Homemade geranium, i.e. Pelargonium is propagated by seeds and vegetatively.

Cuttings

This is the easiest and fastest way - using cuttings. In addition, the characteristics of the mother plant are completely preserved, and the first flowering already occurs in the first summer after rooting. Cut cuttings from the tops of an adult plant, 7-10 cm long, with four to five leaves. Make a cut under the bud diagonally. Tear off the bottom pair of leaves. Let the cuttings lie in the air for two to three hours so that the cuts dry out and become covered with a film. Sprinkle them with crushed activated carbon and plant them in a prepared, slightly damp substrate. Don't cover it with anything. Place the pots in a well-lit place, but not in the sun! Do not water for 24 hours. The next day, start watering very carefully, drop by drop, to prevent the shoots from rotting. In a month, good roots should appear. Young pelargonium can be transplanted into a permanent pot and cared for like other plants. To make the bush grow lush, pinch at the growing point at the top.

Sometimes the cuttings are placed in a glass of standing warm water. With this method, rotting of cuttings occurs more often. We recommend adding an activated carbon tablet to the water. And reserve a larger number of cuttings for rooting at once, in case they die.

If your pelargonium has grown too tall over the winter, leave only part of the trunk with the lower young rosettes in the pot, and cut off the rest and use it for propagation. We have already described above how to root the tops of shoots. Cut the middle of the trunk into pieces so that each has several buds. Roots will grow from the lower buds, and shoots with leaves will come from the upper ones. Root parts of an adult healthy trunk cut into a piece in the same way: dry it, treat the cut with crushed coal, it wouldn’t hurt to dip it in Kornevin powder, then plant it in the ground. Do not flood young plantings - they need to breathe. In early spring, the survival rate of cuttings is almost 100%.

Propagation by seeds

It is believed that pelargonium grown from seeds grows more luxuriantly and blooms much better than those grown from cuttings. May be. But this method is more complex and time-consuming. Buy seeds from special, trusted stores. Sowing time is January or February. Place the seeds on a slightly damp surface of the substrate in a container and close the lid. You can use another container, then cover it with film or glass. Place in a warm, dark place. The temperature should be between 20 - 25 degrees. In a week or two the first shoots should appear. Move the container or other container with the seedlings to a bright place. Open the container lid slightly to ventilate the greenhouse and remove any condensation that has accumulated there. When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, they need to be picked. It is advisable to reduce the further temperature to 16 - 18 degrees. After a couple of months, the grown pelargoniums can be planted in small pots and you can begin to care for them like adult plants.

Dividing the bush

Sometimes an adult plant is propagated by dividing the bush into two approximately equal parts. To do this, remove the plant from the pot. Shake the soil from the roots. Carefully straighten and distribute the root system into two parts. Using a sharp, clean knife, divide the bush into two parts. The sections must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or activated carbon. Each part of pelargonium is planted in its own pot according to all the rules for successful planting. Healthy, strong plants will quickly restore their shape and bloom the same summer.

Home geraniums do not have a pronounced dormant period. It does not shed its leaves, but drinks less water and rarely blooms. During this period, it is advisable to water it less. Once every 10 days is enough. And don't feed it. You will begin to fertilize in the spring with complex fertilizers containing nitrogen, and in the summer with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. But, just a little. It is also advisable to reduce the temperature to 20 degrees. during the day. Below 12 deg. It’s better not to lower the temperature at all, even at night. It’s good to place the flower pot on a cold windowsill - the coolness from the window glass will be enough for a calm winter life for home pelargonium.

Diseases

Blackleg

If the base of the stem turns black, it begins to rot - your pelargonium has become infected with a disease that is terrible for indoor flowers -. Most likely, you allowed the soil to become waterlogged and the plant’s root system to become overcooled. We are sorry, but pelargonium cannot be saved. The bush must be destroyed along with the soil. The pot can be disinfected and used again.

Gray mold

Gray mold appeared on the leaves of pelargonium in the form of plaque or cobwebs. There are dark spots on the stems. This happens with excessive watering when the soil does not dry out well. Roots suffer without air. You most likely have heavy soil or poor drainage. Therefore, pelargonium developed a disease - gray mold. It is caused by fungi and is therefore treated with antifungal drugs - fungicides.

Leaf rust

Small yellow-red spots appeared on the leaves of the pelargonium, which eventually turned into stripes. The leaves turned yellow, dried out and fell off. This is a fungal disease. It appeared from high humidity in the room, uneven and irregular watering. But perhaps the fungi came to you from contaminated soil. Remove leaves and shoots affected by rust. Spray the flower 2 - 3 times with a break of 10 days with fungicides such as oksikhom, Abiga Peak and others.

Biological products, such as phytosporin, do not treat rust!

Powdery mildew

Mealy spots appeared on the leaves of pelargonium and on its flowers. They are easy to remove, but they appear again and again, enlarge, become gray, dense, and then turn brown. The leaves dry up, the flowers fall off. The plant stops developing. Your room may have very high humidity and heat. You may have overfed your pelargonium with nitrogen fertilizers. Instead of blooming more profusely, the flower became sick. Regularly ventilate the room, do not spray the plants, do not feed them with fertilizers containing nitrogen additives. Spray the flower with a solution of water with milk and iodine or fungicides such as topaz or oxych.

Other problems with home geraniums

Other problems of home geranium, why the leaves turn yellow and what to do in this case:

• If your pelargonium leaves turn yellow and dry, especially the lower ones, there is not enough moisture in the soil. Increase watering, after which always loosen the soil. Remove yellowed leaves by hand, do not use scissors.
• If the leaves at the top of the bush become wet and loose, you are watering your flowers too often and abundantly. Adjust watering and drain excess water from the pan. Water when the top layer of soil is slightly dry.
• If the leaves of the pelargonium turn red and it suddenly stops blooming, it is most likely a cold snap and the plant froze. Move it to a warm place and everything will be fine.
• If a pink tan from sunlight appears on the leaves of flowering pelargonium, this is a normal phenomenon, common for summer growing in flower beds.
• If the leaves of the pelargonium begin to fly off and the lower part of the trunk is exposed, the pot is probably in a dark place. The plant does not have enough lighting. Move it to a sunny windowsill, and the bush will grow again and begin to bloom.
• If pelargonium is actively growing, does not get sick, there are no pests, but does not bloom, then the reason most likely lies in the air temperature surrounding the flower being too high. Pelargonium is thermophilic, but it is difficult for it to be constantly in 30-degree heat. Pelargonium refuses to bloom indoors at high temperatures. Take it out into the fresh air - onto a balcony or veranda - we are sure it will bloom there.
• Another reason for failure to flower may be too large a pot or too much nitrogen fertilizer in the soil. Pelargonium fattens, increases the mass of green leaves to the detriment of flowering. Remove the bush from the pot, carefully shake off the soil, and inspect the root system. Now select a pot according to the size of the plant’s root system. Do not forget about good drainage, loose soil in which you will plant your flower again. Water moderately but regularly. Place in a well-lit place. After some time, pelargonium will definitely bloom.

Pests

Since ancient times, people have been treated with indoor plants, specially growing those that were most suitable for them for medicinal purposes. Pelargonium has many magical properties. Flower pots with geraniums often decorated the window sills in our grandmothers' bedrooms and kitchens. The aroma of pelargonium has been proven to help relieve headaches and stress. At the same time, ants and flies do not like their smell. Decoctions of the leaves are used to treat gastrointestinal tract and nervous disorders in people. They are drunk during insomnia. In addition, they treat joint pain, conjunctivitis, hypertension and much more. But there are also contraindications - consult your doctor before prescribing this or that treatment for yourself.

Since ancient times, pelargonium (before everyone called it geranium) has been grown in every family. It was believed that she protected the house from damage and the evil eye, protected the family from conflicts and quarrels, and contributed to the material well-being of its owners. Where flowering geraniums grow, love and harmony live there! Who knows?! But just because this abundantly flowering plant is so attractive and completely unpretentious - it’s worth having it at home!

Geranium (Latin name Geranium) is known as pelargonium. This is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant belonging to the family and genus Geranium. The genus includes about 400 species of geranium. They have settled across many continents and are found in all climate zones of the world, even on such remote islands as Madagascar and New Zealand. Some representatives of the species can be found in high mountain areas. The most beautiful representatives of the family are the genus Pelargonium. It is distributed only in the tropical zone and became the progenitor of indoor geraniums.

Geranium has long been loved by our grandmothers and takes its place of honor on window sills and balconies. In Soviet times, this plant was considered a bourgeois plant. They just called it “crane bird”. The name of the plant is translated from Greek as “crane”. It is called similarly in England and the USA. In Germany the plant is known as "stork nose", a name given to it for the shape of the capsule that forms after flowering. In Bulgaria, due to its medicinal properties, geranium is called “health resort”.

Geranium extract has:

• antiseptic;
• antiviral;
• tanning and other properties.

To preserve the decorative appearance of the bush and lush, long-lasting flowering, you need to know how to prune geraniums. In this article we will describe in detail how to properly grow geraniums at home.

Garden geranium is a large group of cultivated geranium species, the ancestors of which were meadow geranium and forest geranium. They grow up to 60-80 centimeters in height. The entire stem is covered with fluff or glandular fibers. The leaf blade is strongly dissected, most often five-lobed. Leaves on long petioles are located near the basal rosette.

Flowers are single or paired, raised on a peduncle. Consist of five separate petals. The color of the corolla is blue, violet and lilac. Hybrid varieties, such as blood-red geranium, have carmine-red bud color and beautiful carved foliage, which turns red with the onset of cold weather. Himalayan geranium gave rise to varieties with double buds, colored bright blue, blue, and sometimes lilac, for example, like the Plenum variety. The root system is represented by rhizomes lying close to the surface of the earth. In some species it reaches 1.5 centimeters in diameter and 10 cm in length.

Indoor geranium is the popular name for pelargonium. This geranium is native to the Cape region of South Africa. In the wild, these small plants can tolerate short periods of drought and rainy seasons. Breeders developed indoor geraniums from this unpretentious plant.

Pelargonium grandiflora is the most popular variety among lovers of indoor floriculture. Low varieties (up to 50 cm) are compactly located on window sills. The leaves are green, sometimes with a brown border, often entire, and have a wavy edge.

In fragrant geraniums, the leaf blade is openwork and strongly dissected. All leaves on long petioles are alternately located throughout the stem, covered with villi. Stems are erect.

There are also ampelous varieties. The root system is fibrous. Flowers of various colors are collected in a lush umbrella inflorescence. Hybrids not only have a variety of pleasant aroma, but also beautiful complex buds, similar to small peonies, roses or tulips.

Red geranium is the most favorite variety of pelargonium among our grandmothers. It is endowed with mystical and healing properties. These are zonal species that require formation. By properly pruning the bush, lush umbrellas of double and simple flowers are formed. On long inflorescences they will rise above the dense mass of greenery. The leaves are on long stalks, green, in some varieties dark purple with a green edge. The edge of the leaf is wavy. With the exception of hanging varieties, the stem is erect. Among some varieties there are stems without glandular fibers, with almost smooth shiny leaves. Ampelous varieties of red pelargonium are an excellent decoration for balconies or hanging flowerpots.

History and interesting facts

The Cape region of South Africa is rich in plant species, most of which have long been grown as domestic plants. This area is home to the geranium plant. Together with the discoverers from South Africa, the flower came to Great Britain, where it was so popular that it was sketched in paintings, and ladies decorated their dresses with it. Cultivated geranium came to Russia only at the end of the 17th century.

Geranium quickly took root in homes. Its beneficial properties are difficult to underestimate. For example, the air in the room where this flower grows is enriched with phytoncides.

Essential oil obtained from geranium:

• relieves migraines;
• helps fight depression;
• promotes human mental activity;
• helps cope with asthma attacks, but can cause an allergic reaction.

In folk medicine, geranium juice is used for:

• sore throat;
• runny nose;
• otitis.

Having geranium in the house is useful not only from a medical point of view, but also from an esoteric one.

Due to such popularity, geranium has given rise to many signs and superstitions. Unmarried girls carried dried white geranium flowers with them to find true love. The essential oils of the plant protected against evil forces and the evil eye. It is believed that the flower is able to positively influence the financial side of its owner.

People have endowed different colors of geranium with different magical properties:

• white geranium can attract the attention of the opposite sex. Helps women get pregnant and bear a healthy child. In houses with white geraniums there are no frequent quarrels and scandals;
• Red geranium promotes strong feelings in young families and couples who have been married for a long time. Red geranium has the ability to preserve the youth of its owner. Young girls, if this flower grows at home, get married successfully;
• pink geranium helps to find understanding in difficult relationships and find love. For girls who have been waiting for a marriage proposal for a long time, it helps to bring the wedding date closer.

Very often the question arises whether there is a difference between pelargonium and geranium, and what is the correct name for it. Pelargonium (Latin name Pelargonium) is a beautiful representative of the Geranium family. Pelargonium is found only in South Africa. The plant is light-loving and drought-resistant. Cultivated on Reunion Island for its essential oils.

Flowers of various colors are collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. After flowering, a fruit-box with dry sepals is formed. The opening of the box begins from the bottom to the top. Stems are straight or creeping. From species with creeping stems, cultivated hanging varieties for vertical gardening were obtained. The leaf shape is simple, palmate, and in some species palmately dissected. Grow as a houseplant or take it outside in the summer.

Geranium and its many species are found everywhere in the wild. They are frost-resistant and suitable for growing in gardens. Flowers solitary or paired. The stem is erect, the leaves near the basal rosette are petiolate, and the leaves on the stem are sessile. The leaf blade is heavily dissected.

Types and varieties

Geranium is a perennial garden plant suitable for areas with any conditions. There are varieties for open sunny lawns and, conversely, those that prefer the translucent shade of trees. Due to their wide distribution in various natural zones, geranium varieties (Himalayan geranium or large-rhizome geranium) have been developed that can tolerate frosts down to -35 degrees. These species are native to the mountain slopes of the Himalayas, Alps and Balkans, which makes them not only frost-resistant, but also adapted to poor soils.

Long selection has made it possible to obtain varieties of double geraniums colored in dark purple, almost black and carmine colors. In addition to flowers, the bush is decorated with greenery, which in autumn turns red like the blood-red varieties of geranium.

This family has not only decorative properties. This variety of geranium, bog geranium, is attractive for its content of sucrose, glucose, catechins, triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins and vitamin C. This species has long been used by our ancestors for treatment. The flower grows everywhere on the edges and meadows of the European part of Russia.

A huge number of varieties for indoor floriculture have been obtained from wild pelargonium from the coast of South Africa. Among geraniums for home growing, the most popular is Pelargonium grandiflora. The unusual shape of the flower consists of two upper and three lower petals, overlapping each other, making the flower look like a violet. With proper care, lush inflorescences reach 15 centimeters in diameter. This type is described in more detail later in this article.

Norrland

Pelargonium norrland

Pelargonium Norrland is a representative of zonal species. Obtained through selection, it is a very resistant variety that lives well both in the garden and at home. The flowers are double, deep pink, forming dense inflorescences. The plant is large, with thick shoots, so it needs shaping. Pruning is carried out in early spring before flowers appear. You can pinch the bush or trim old shoots in the fall.

It is better to choose a place for planting in the garden in translucent shade. Direct sunlight, as well as a very dark place, will have a bad effect on the decorative qualities of the bush.

Maintenance in winter should take place at above-zero temperatures (+10…+12 degrees). In summer, at a temperature of +18...+25 degrees, the plant is taken out into the open air. For planting, you need to purchase ready-made soil or compose it yourself from 2 parts of leaf soil, 2 parts of peat soil and 1 part of coarse sand. For good development and flowering of pelargonium, the pot should be small.

In summer, the plant needs abundant watering. To avoid waterlogging, drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot. The plant does not need spraying. They are fed twice a month with mineral fertilizers; in winter there is no such need. After transplanting into new soil, the plant is not fed for two months, since fresh soil contains all the necessary nutrients.

It is better to replant pelargonium in the spring, before flowering begins. Pelargonium Norrland is susceptible to fungal diseases such as gray rot, and can also be damaged by insect pests (mealybug, whitefly).

Lemon

Lemon geranium

Lemon geranium belongs to the group of fragrant geraniums. The ancestor of these varieties was brought from the Cape of Good Hope. Botanists became interested in this species and developed varieties with the smell of chocolate, cinnamon, apple, eucalyptus, strawberry and rose. Lemon geranium has a pleasant bright aroma. The leaves are dark or light green, with a strongly dissected leaf blade. The entire plant is covered with scent glands in the form of hairs.

The flowers are inconspicuous, white-red or white-violet. This does not at all affect the popularity of the flower, as it has medicinal properties. Crane grass is used to treat infertility, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Used in cosmetology for oily skin and against hair loss.

Growing a plant at home is not at all difficult. Pelargonium is not afraid of bright sunlight; it is not afraid of burns on the leaves. Minimal watering is required, only after the soil in the pot is completely dry. Regular pruning and shaping of the crown in the spring gives the bush a nice appearance. If you do not flood the plant, it is rarely exposed to diseases and pests.

Martha

Pelargonium martha

Pelargonium Martha is a miniature representative of pelargoniums with a beautiful, densely double inflorescence. The flowers are white, with a gentle light green tint at the beginning of flowering and milky white at the end.

Its small height, about 20 centimeters, makes it an ideal indoor plant. It practically does not grow over the summer, and the thick, rich greenery does not fall off in the winter. It is better to choose an eastern or western window for a room for pelargonium. Bright sun will shorten the flowering period. Water regularly, but little by little. Does not require bush formation. Responsive to mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.

Terry

Terry geranium

Terry geranium is a group of hybrids united by beautiful lush flowering multi-petal buds. There are 22 varieties in total. The color of the buds is very diverse. Flowering plants are often compared to roses. The leaf blade is green, whole, with a wavy edge. Among terry pelargoniums there are also hanging varieties. Usually these are small plants with long flowering, the buds of which do not fall off, but dry on the peduncle unchanged.

At home, a window without bright sun is suitable for her. To maintain lush flowering and the decorative appearance of the bush, terry geranium must be shaped. This variety is perfect for growing indoors, but in the summer they feel better outdoors.

Reproduction is vegetative. All domestic varieties are hybrid, as a result of which propagation by seeds will not produce results and the young plant will not inherit all the maternal characteristics. Soil for planting can be purchased in stores. Cuttings take root easily and begin to bloom in the first year.

Ashy

Ash geranium

Ash geranium is a wonderful garden species that winters in the middle zone. It got its name from the silvery-ashy color of the leaves. Flowers of lilac shades with dark purple veins. It begins to bloom at the end of June. For planting, choose partial shade or a sunny corner. Any soil will do, as long as it is well-drained. During the growing season, it is necessary to feed and pick off dried buds and branches once a month in order to maintain decorativeness and prolong flowering.

Natural habitat: Europe and the Caucasus. On mountain slopes with poor soil it forms bushes 15 centimeters high. Ideal for alpine slides and rock gardens. Based on the wild species, the variety Ballerina was bred.

Roberta

Geranium Roberta

Robert's geranium is an annual herbaceous plant with medicinal properties. Distributed throughout Russia and neighboring countries. Prefers wet meadows, swampy banks of rivers and lakes, rocky slopes. The stem grows up to 1.5 m, is covered with brown fibers and is highly branched. The leaves are dark green, palmately divided, with long petioles, densely covering the shoot.

The flowers are simple, consisting of five purple petals with white veins. Flowering begins in June and ends in September.

The green part of the plant contains flavonoids, essential oils and vitamin C. The root is rich in tannins. For its medicinal properties, the plant was previously called God's grace; it was used for fever, gout, and bleeding. Before use, you should consult your doctor, as decoctions may cause allergies or stomach upset.

Bolotnaya

Swamp geranium

Swamp geranium is widespread in Europe. She prefers wetlands located in damp forests and meadows, as well as in floodplains. This is a perennial herbaceous plant with a closely lying root system, sometimes reaching the surface. The leaves located near the root rosette quickly die and change color, becoming reddish-brown. The height of the plant is about 30 cm, sometimes reaching 70 centimeters. The stem is erect, heavily pubescent. The leaf blade is five-parted, dark green in color, covered with villi. Unlike the leaves on the root rosette with cuttings, the leaves on the stem are sessile with three lobes.

The flowers are up to 3 cm in diameter and purple in color. The petals are entire, ovoid in shape with a wedge-shaped base. After flowering, an elongated fruit is formed, covered with villi with dark brown seeds.

Due to the presence of tannins, catechins, sucrose, glucose, as well as resorcinol and pyrogallol in the plant, it is often used in folk medicine. Mostly the green part of the plant is collected during flowering. Dried and used as decoctions.

Grandiflora

Pelargonium grandiflora

Pelargonium grandiflora also has a more common name - royal pelargonium. It gained great popularity thanks to its beautiful flowers. Outwardly, they resemble pansies and grow up to 5-7 cm in diameter. The inflorescence forms a lush umbrella, petals with veins and dashes, painted in different colors.

Royal geranium has earned special love due to its aroma. Through selection, varieties have been developed that can bloom for 4 months. The flower is densely covered with greenery, grows up to 50 cm in height, while remaining compact and attractive. The leaf blade is green, whole, and has a wavy edge with denticles.

Pelargonium grandiflora does not like drafts or direct sunlight. Additional lighting in winter will contribute to successful flowering. For keeping in winter, a temperature of 12 - 17° is suitable. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum; the soil should be completely dry. In summer, it needs regular and abundant watering. In summer, the plant needs additional fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.

Pruning of the plant is carried out in the fall. It is better to extend the procedure over 2-3 months, gradually removing the shoots. In winter, thin weak shoots are pinched. In March, this process is stopped so as not to damage the developing peduncles. Transplantation is done after flowering. The pot should be 1.5-2 cm larger than the previous one.

It will not be possible to propagate a plant by seeds while preserving its species characteristics. The most convenient way is propagation by cuttings. They are obtained during pruning of the plant. Young cuttings are dried for 2 hours and planted in a moist mixture of peat and sand.

Lack of light leads to elongated shoots and pale leaves. Excessive watering, especially in winter, provokes the appearance of root rot. A plant that is left outside for the summer may be attacked by insect pests. To combat them it is necessary to use special insecticides.

Himalayan

Himalayan geranium is a perennial garden plant. This is a very frost-resistant species, capable of wintering at temperatures of -30°. The variety gained the ability to adapt to poor soils thanks to its natural habitat. It grows wild on the slopes of the Himalayas, Tibet and the Alps. In the garden it can grow up to 60 cm.

The leaf blade is unevenly dissected into five lobes, up to 10 cm in diameter. Indigo-colored flowers, with a pleasant aroma and dark veins, about 5 cm in diameter. The inflorescence is corymbose, two on the peduncle. The calyx is lanceolate with three dark veins.

The wild species gave rise to many garden varieties that can thrive in open sunny areas and in partial shade. Selection has made it possible to develop terry varieties based on it, for example Geranium himalayense Plenum.

Lake

Pelargonium lake

Pelargonium Lake is a representative of double varieties and has bright orange flowers. Peduncles are long. The petals are colored unevenly, lighter closer to the edge, creating an iridescent effect and adding volume to the already dense inflorescence. As with all zonal varieties, crown formation is required in autumn and spring.

The variety is valued not only for its beautiful flowering, but also for the decorative color of its leaves. A dark brown stripe runs along the edge of the leaf. When there is insufficient light, the plant becomes very elongated, exposing the stem. In winter, water rarely; the temperature in the room is maintained not exceeding 17°. In summer it is better to take it out into the fresh air.

Peony-shaped

Peony geranium

Peony geraniums are representatives of domestic terry varieties. Each flower is up to 5 cm in diameter. The inflorescence size is up to 15 centimeters. The plant is low, densely covered with leaves. The leaf blade is round in shape with an uneven edge. In winter, peony geraniums are kept at room temperature. In the summer, it is better to take it out onto the balcony or street, away from drafts. The room is suitable with an east or west window. The bright sun of a southern window can cause damage and leave burns on the tender leaves of the plant.

Any soil is suitable for replanting, preferably with neutral acidity. You can make it yourself or purchase it at a specialty store. The soil composition should include humus, peat and sand. The peat content should be minimal, since its ability to accumulate moisture can lead to the death of the plant. A prerequisite for good maintenance is the presence of a drainage layer of at least 1-2 cm. During the growing season and active growth, fertilizing is necessary. Mineral fertilizers must contain phosphorus and potassium.

The flower is rarely replanted, only when the root system tightly occupies the entire pot. Independent propagation by seeds is impossible, since all varieties are hybrids. The desired seeds can be purchased in specialized stores. The optimal form of propagation is by cuttings. To do this in the spring, during pruning, several cuttings are saved and left to dry in the open air for 2 hours. Leaves from the bottom of the cutting are removed. After planting the cuttings, the soil is compacted and watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Peony varieties are susceptible to infection with gray mold, and insect pests love to feast on the sap of the plant. Most often, cyclamen and spider mites, aphids and whiteflies can be found on geraniums. The flower must be regularly inspected and sprayed with insecticides in a timely manner.

In addition to insects, the condition of pelargonium can be affected by cold air and high humidity. In these cases, the stem turns red or black at the base. If there is no flowering, the reason may be excessive feeding. This problem can be solved by stopping feeding. The lack of flowering can be affected by a lack of light: the plant becomes very elongated, the foliage becomes light green.

Gorgeous

Geranium is magnificent

Superb geranium is a wonderful species to grow in the garden. It forms clumps 60 cm high and grows quickly. The flowers are beautiful, deep blue, with dark veins. Large, widely spread flowers were obtained by crossing Georgian and flat-petaled geraniums. Geranium blooms from mid-July to late autumn.

The stem is erect, densely covered with green leaves. Each leaf is divided into five blades with a carved edge. The root system is fibrous. The plant is unpretentious, but in the garden it is better to choose well-lit places. In autumn, the leaves change color to orange-red. Magnificent geranium has been grown in gardens for more than 100 years. It is an indispensable element of landscape design.

Seeds are not formed, the plant is sterile, propagation is carried out by cuttings or dividing the bush.

Large rhizomatous

Geranium macrorhizome or Balkan

Large-rhizome or Balkan geranium has a pleasant smell and the ability to maintain the green color of foliage even under snow. It easily tolerates severe frosts. Delicate purple flowers bloom for about a month. Hybrid varieties may bloom longer and the flowers are often purple and white. In autumn, the leaves of the Spessart subspecies acquire a brick-golden color. The leaves consist of six distinct lobes with a serrated edge. The rhizome is thick (1.5 cm), lies close to the surface. Prefers well-drained soils without stagnant water. Does not need shelter for the winter. It is attacked by aphids and whiteflies. During periods of stagnation of water, it is affected by root rot.

Lesnaya

Geranium forest

Forest geranium is widespread throughout Russia. Most often found in meadows and edges of deciduous forests. The perennial herbaceous plant can tolerate low temperatures. The plant grows in height from 50 to 80 cm. The leaves, attached to the basal rosette on long cuttings, are pinnately dissected. The leaves on the upper part of the trunk are sessile. Stipules are lanceolate, brown. The flower consists of 5 separate petals, colored purple. There are no more than 2-3 flowers on one peduncle. Flowering lasts about a month, from mid-June or early July.

Aboveground shoots are used as medicinal raw materials. It has astringent, disinfectant and tanning properties. Geranium decoction helps with gout, rheumatism, and treats diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Before use, you should consult your doctor.

Lugovaya

Meadow geranium or meadow cranebird

Meadow geranium or meadow crane grass is a herbaceous perennial frost-resistant plant. The habitat of the species is the temperate latitudes of Eurasia. This species is often found in villages, growing along fences. Loves moderately moist edges and steppe slopes. The root system is represented by a thick root up to 10 cm long. The stems are often single, covered with small fibers. The height of the plant varies from 30 to 80 cm. The leaf blade is green and densely pubescent. The leaves at the root rosette are on long petioles (10-20 cm). The leaf plate itself is from 6 to 12 cm, divided into 5 blades. The leaves on the stem are sessile and consist of three lobes.

During flowering, the flower opens wide and consists of five lilac-blue or purple petals. Flowering is short-lived, about 1 month. In September, in place of the flower, a fruit is formed, similar to the beak of a crane, with a large number of seeds covered with specks. The length of the box is up to 3 cm. Geranium prefers well-lit places, but can also grow in partial shade.

Crane grass has medicinal properties. During flowering, the green part of the plant is harvested. Closer to autumn, the rhizome is dug up and dried. Meadow geranium is a good honey plant, the best among all varieties of geranium. In ancient times, this species was used to produce green dye. Based on this variety, breeders have bred a large number of others capable of wintering without shelter.

Blood red

Blood red geranium

Blood red geranium is a low-growing variety of outdoor geranium. The height of the flower rarely exceeds 50 cm. The leaf blade is deeply dissected, each lobe is lanceolate. In summer, the leaves are green, but with the onset of cold weather they become bright red. The flowers cover the entire bush with abundant blooms. The size when opened is from 3 to 5 cm. They are painted in carmine red, pink and pale pink. Unlike previous species, the flowers on the peduncle do not rise above the leaves, but are in the same plane with them. Flowering begins in June and July and ends in September.

How to care for geraniums at home?

Caring for geraniums at home is not at all difficult. Like all indoor plants, it requires lighting, watering and replanting. Timely pruning and crown formation will ensure lush flowering. Pelargonium is perfect for a novice gardener. How to care for geraniums is described in detail in the article below.

Watering and humidity

Geranium domestica originated from a region with a very warm climate. Long dry seasons and well-drained soil prevented even heavy rains from sharply increasing soil moisture.

The question arises: how to water geraniums so as not to harm them? To successfully grow at home, varietal pelargoniums must be provided with good drainage and moderate watering. The lump of soil in the pot must dry completely before the next watering. Water for watering geraniums must first be filtered and allowed to settle. If geranium leaves turn yellow, this may be a sign of insufficient watering. There is no need to spray the plant, this can harm its velvety leaves.

Lighting and air temperature

Despite the fact that geranium is unpretentious, it still requires care. It does not need additional lighting, but on northern windows the flower will stretch out and the flowering period will be shortened. In summer, it is recommended to take the plant outside: the ideal temperature is +25…+27 degrees. In winter, the plant does not lose its decorative effect, the leaves do not fall off. The optimal temperature for winter maintenance ranges from 15 to 18 degrees.

Care for geraniums in winter

Care for geraniums in winter is insignificant. A window is perfect for keeping it. By controlling temperature changes, you can achieve abundant flowering. Watering is reduced, it is enough to water once every ten days. The plant does not need fertilizing with mineral fertilizers during this period. Only very fast-growing zonal varieties are pinched in winter. Most species, when at rest, do not develop green mass.

Soil mixture

Stores sell ready-made soil for geraniums, or you can choose a universal one for flowering plants. To create your own soil, you need to mix equal parts humus, turf soil, sand and a little peat. The ability of peat to accumulate moisture can lead to waterlogging and death of the flower.

Fertilizer and feeding

Most often, beginning flower growers wonder how to feed geraniums. A flower can grow in one pot for several years. During this time, the soil is depleted, washed away and loses nutritional value, leaving only the function of holding roots. For abundant flowering, you need to feed the geranium with something.

Like all decorative flowering plants, pelargonium is responsive to the phosphorus content in the fertilizer during the period of bud formation and flowering. In early spring, before flowering begins, flowers can be fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizer. Throughout the summer, organic fertilizers will have a positive effect.

Please note that the more often you water, the more often you will have to feed the flower. You can also feed with improvised substances. For example, one of the proven effective fertilizers is sugar. A tablespoon of sugar is diluted in a liter of water and the plant is watered no more than once a month. You can add yeast to water with sugar and leave it to react for an hour, then pour this mixture over the flowers. Such liquid cannot be stored, nor can it be used in dry form. You can add drunken tea or coffee to the soil to loosen it, but it must be taken into account that this increases the acidity of the soil.

Pruning and forming a bush of indoor geraniums in the fall

When to prune geraniums? The most frequently asked question from flower growers. Geraniums must be pruned for the winter not only to obtain lush flowering, but also for the purpose of reproduction. At home, pruning geraniums will preserve the decorative appearance of the bush and prevent the trunk from becoming too long and “balding.”

How to properly prune geraniums in the fall - step-by-step instructions:

1. Tool preparation. For pruning, use a sharp, disinfected knife. You can use a blade or a paper cutter.
2. The cut is made obliquely - from the center to the outside of the plant, 1/3 or 2/3 of the entire height of the plant.
3. In autumn, geraniums are pruned to obtain young shoots. To do this, the cutting must contain at least 3 internodes and leaves.
4. To make the bush thicker in the spring, the cut is made above the leaf node.
5. To reduce the density of the bush, the cut is made under the leaf node.
6. The cut area is treated with crushed coal or cinnamon powder.
7. After pruning, feed the plant.

Pruning, pinching and crown formation in spring

In spring, pelargonium does not need heavy pruning. You can get a small “cosmetic haircut”. Spring formation begins in February, but no later than March. At this time, pruning of geraniums is carried out so that at least three buds are preserved on the bottom of the trunk.

Basics of proper crown formation

How to prune geraniums correctly so as not to harm the bush and not lose flowers? When forming bushes, you can only maintain its genetic shape; pruning will not work to change the ampelous appearance to a zonal one or vice versa. The inside of the bush needs to be thinned out first, this will allow better air circulation and avoid the appearance of rot and insects.

To form stamped pelargoniums, a support is used, since the flower trunk is very fragile. Leaves and branches are trimmed at the bottom of the trunk. Large bushes are almost never pruned; their regeneration processes are slowed down. The flower will spend a lot of time and effort restoring its greenery, which means flowering may stop.

Step-by-step instructions for spring pruning:

1. Geranium pruning in spring is carried out no later than March.
2. Use a sharp blade or a previously disinfected knife.
3. Only weak and very elongated shoots are cut off.
4. After pruning, be sure to feed the plant with nitrogen-containing fertilizer.

Why and how to pinch geraniums

Geraniums are pruned in spring to form a beautiful plant shape. Maximum pruning carried out in the fall produces new branches, on which lush flowering is formed. If the bush grows quickly in winter, pinch it with clean, dry fingers.

Mistakes when pruning geraniums at home

Spring pruning of geraniums is the most dangerous. A plant that is pruned too much may not bloom or may bloom very late. To avoid this, it is better to either limit yourself to autumn pruning or leave at least 2-3 leaf buds.

Diseases and pests

Diseases of geranium are not terrible; it is a fairly strong plant. Like all flowers, if improperly cared for and over-watered, they can suffer from gray mold and rot. If you put pelargonium outside very early, cold nights and heavy watering will lead to powdery mildew. Being constantly at home, the likelihood of becoming infected with aphids and whiteflies is not so high for geraniums. Each gardener must make his own choice whether to place pelargonium outdoors or not. Despite the illnesses, keeping geraniums in the fresh air will have a very good effect on development.

To combat insects, insecticides such as “Fitoverm”, “Fufa-Nova”, “Aktara” and “Aktelik” are suitable. Fighting rot is more difficult. The affected area must be removed with a sterile sharp knife and the entire plant must be treated with Horus, Switch, and Fitosporin.

Flower growers who feed the plant with tea and coffee are faced with the problem of the appearance of small midges. They do not harm the flower, but rather cause inconvenience to the owner of the flower, and are a consequence of waterlogging of the soil and a high content of organic matter.

Medicinal properties and contraindications of geranium

In this article we have already talked about the medicinal properties of geranium. The most common source of raw materials is meadow geranium. In summer, during flowering, the green part of the plant is harvested. It is cut at a height of 15-20 centimeters and dried at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees in special cabinets or a well-ventilated room. The sun's rays should not reach the raw materials. The roots are collected in the autumn: they are cleaned, washed in cool water and dried.

Geranium decoction and extract are used for the following diseases:

• uterine bleeding,
• diarrhea,
• hemorrhoidal bleeding,
• dysentery,
• enterocolitis,
• nervous excitability,
• epilepsy,
• insomnia,
• fever,
• stomatitis,
• eczema,
• purulent inflammation

The properties of geranium essential oils have found wide application. They are used for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and treatment of the consequences of colds. They will help cope with spasms that cause headaches, menstrual pain, cramps, and also normalize blood pressure. Treat herpes, fungus and eczema. Cosmetology treats acne and pimples. Soothe and moisturize the skin, removing flaking. They are part of anti-aging and anti-cellulite oil mixtures. To strengthen hair, the oil is mixed with water and apple cider vinegar. The resulting conditioner is not stored, used immediately.

When mixed with olive oil, geranium essential oils are used to remove kidney stones, reduce sugar, remove helminths, and also for stomach ulcers.

The healing properties of geranium are perfectly preserved by the oil. To obtain 100% natural oil, you need to chop 4 tablespoons of leaves and pour a glass of refined sunflower oil. Infuse in the dark and cool for 5 days, then 1.5 months in the sun. Strain the mixture and store in the refrigerator in a dark bottle.

Transplantation and propagation

Further in this article, methods for propagating geraniums by cuttings and seeds and possible difficulties with cuttings are described in detail. Let's look at how to replant geraniums at home, what kind of pot and soil will suit it.

Propagation by seeds

Geranium seeds have good germination. Propagating geraniums by seeds will produce a large number of young and healthy plants. It is not difficult to obtain seeds yourself, but most varieties are hybrids, which means their seeds will not bear all the characteristics of the mother plant. It is better to use seeds from a trusted store. There are also seeds that take more than two months to germinate (such as ivy-leaved geranium).

How to plant geraniums to get good plants?

The seeds are covered with a thick shell. For faster germination, they need to be rubbed with fine sandpaper. Soil for planting can be purchased at a flower shop. Purchased soil is enriched with minerals and nutrients, but not every soil is suitable for geraniums. Under the wrong conditions, geranium from seeds may appear two weeks later; the bushes will have thick stems and poor flowering.

It is better to make the soil yourself. Its composition should include peat, river sand and turf soil, in a ratio of parts 1: 1: 2. The finished mixture is disinfected by treating it with a solution of potassium permanganate and then calcining it in the oven. A shallow pot or container is suitable for seeds. The container is filled with soil, moistened and left for a day. The seeds are planted to a depth of one centimeter and sprinkled with soil. The finished containers are moistened with a spray bottle and covered with film. It is necessary to leave a hole for ventilation. When the first shoots appear, the film is completely removed. There is little soil, so it dries out quickly. It is necessary to water regularly, but little by little.

Young shoots require a lot of light; the best place for them is on the windowsill. The soil is periodically loosened and when the first leaves appear, they are planted in separate pots. Disposable plastic cups will do. After the appearance of the fifth true leaf, the seedlings are pinched to form a more branched bush.

Propagation by cuttings

At home, geranium can be propagated by cuttings throughout the year. The best results are achieved from cuttings cut in the spring. The rate of root formation also depends on the variety of geranium. So, zonal and ivy-leaved varieties will give roots in 2 weeks; royal and fragrant pelargoniums will need from 4 to 6 weeks for this. In winter, it will take twice as long to germinate roots. Weak young cuttings tend to stretch when there is insufficient light in winter. It is better to use lighting and pinch out in the spring.

How to propagate geraniums from cuttings at home?

If you want to get beautiful lush flowering this year, you need to start cuttings no later than March. At this time, the active process of growth and movement of sap throughout the plant begins. Autumn cuttings cut in September and October will also take root well, but will not begin to bloom until June.

For successful rooting, the cuttings should not be less than 2.5 centimeters for low-growing varieties and 5 centimeters for tall ones. It must contain leaves and 2-3 internodes with leaves removed. Flowers and buds must be removed; this will delay root formation in seedlings. Cuttings are carried out with a sterile knife (can be boiled or wiped with alcohol). The cut must be treated with Kornevin or charcoal. After cutting, the resulting cuttings are left in the shade until the cut dries. Plastic cups with holes or specially purchased containers are suitable for planting.

The soil should be very loose, it’s good if 1/3 of it consists of sand and vermiculite. It is necessary to place fine drainage at the bottom of the cup. The soil should be disinfected by spilling boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate. After treatment with boiling water, the soil should cool down. The cuttings are deepened into the soil by 2 centimeters and taken to a dark place for 5 days. After 5 days, the tray with seedlings is taken out to the window. Water through a tray, maintaining a temperature of +14...+16 degrees. If individual plants begin to turn yellow and wither, they must be placed under jars. Geranium cuttings can be considered successful if new leaves appear.

You can get roots by leaving the cuttings to germinate in water. To do this, cut the stalk, leave it to weather, and then place it in a glass with water and activated carbon. After the roots appear, they are transplanted to a permanent place in a small pot or glass.

There are species that take a long time to form roots. In this case, a circular cut is made on the branch of the mother plant through a bud. At the site of the cut, gum grows and small tubercles form on it; these are the rudiments of the roots.

Transplanting home geraniums

Geranium incanum Johnson's Blue

In this chapter we will look at how to replant geraniums without harming the plant. Geranium can grow in one pot for a very long time, up to 10 years. A sign of a necessary transplant will be roots protruding from the hole in the pot. The new pot should be 1-2 centimeters larger than the previous one. A pot that is too large can cause the flower to die or delay flowering until the plant's roots have taken over the entire space. The first pot should not exceed a width of 10-14 centimeters and a depth of 10-12 centimeters. It is necessary to have drainage holes and a layer of expanded clay.

The pot can be made of any material. If you like to water, an unglazed ceramic pot will suit you. The lump of earth in it quickly dries out and becomes saturated with air. You can also plant it in a plastic pot, providing the pelargonium with a good layer of drainage and moderate watering.

Any soil that is neutral in acidity is suitable for the flower. It is better to further enrich universal and store-bought soils with perlite, sand or vermiculite. The soil should be loose and moderately nutritious. It should not contain moisture-retaining components such as sphagnum.

It is very important to choose the right time of year to transplant. Flowers transplanted in spring (February-April) tolerate stress best. During autumn replanting, the flower takes longer to recover. It is not advisable to replant it during flowering and in winter. During the flowering period, due to transplantation, pelargonium may shed its flowers and will not produce new buds this season. In winter, being at rest, the flower will not take root and may die.

A plant purchased in a store is most likely in a flowering state, so do not rush to replant it, wait until the pelargonium drops its flowers. A plant without flowers must be quarantined for two to four weeks. During this time, the flower adapts to indoor conditions. Make sure there are no pests on it.

Stages of transplanting a flower purchased in a store:

• The pot is 1-2.5 centimeters larger than the transport pot.
• Place drainage and a layer of soil at the bottom of the pot.
• Moisten the soil.
• Place pelargonium in a pot with a lump of old soil.
• Add fresh soil around the edges and on top.
• Water and compact the soil.

How to plant geraniums?

Very often, a flower that grows for a long time in one pot produces babies, forming a lush bush, making it difficult for the geranium to form and thickening it too much. To provide nutrients to each new plant, they must be planted. In spring, water the bush abundantly, remove it from the pot and carefully shake off the soil, separating the roots. The resulting young plants are planted in separate pots.

If you place pelargonium in a flowerbed for the summer, it is not advisable to remove it from the pot. There is less chance of soil insect infestation in the pot. In addition, replanting in the spring, as well as in the fall, when the plant returns home, is extra stress for it.

Possible difficulties

Why does geranium turn yellow?

There may be several reasons for yellowing leaves. We'll look at them a little later in this chapter. The leaves may turn red around the edges, and then entirely. This happens with flowers located on the street. Too cold air at night will lead to the destruction of chlorophyll and reddening of the leaf blades. This is how the plant prepares for winter.

Why doesn't geranium bloom - how to make it bloom at home?

Flowering can be affected by too frequent watering. During excessive waterlogging, the buds fall off or do not form at all. When kept very hot, especially in winter, flower buds do not form. Another reason for the lack of flowers may be lack of lighting. Too much pruning in the spring can also stop flowering.

To get lush and long-lasting flowering, you need to prune the bush in a timely manner. In winter, keep it in a cool room with good lighting, extend daylight hours in the spring with artificial lighting if there is not enough natural light.

Too frequent use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers can also cause geraniums to stop flowering. This manifests itself in the lush greenery and lack of flowers.

Why do the leaves dry out and the geranium turn yellow?

The reason may be in the natural development of zonal species, when the plant becomes old and becomes very elongated. If the leaf begins to turn yellow at the edges, this is a sign of a lack of fertilizer in the soil. Whitish or yellow spots indicate the appearance of aphids. If the entire plant is weakened and the leaves turn yellow, this indicates the presence of whiteflies. Root rot can also cause the entire flower to turn yellow. To solve these problems, it is necessary to inspect the plant and eliminate all options that are unsuitable for development.