Reasons for Yellowing Leaves and Leaf Drop in Geraniums and How to Fix Them

Geraniums have a very long blooming period and a strong ability to adapt to the environment, so they are now distributed all over the world. The plants are small and delicate with graceful forms, making them very suitable for pot cultivation, which is why they are so popular among flower and plant enthusiasts. But how can you grow a pot of geraniums well? Geraniums often develop yellowing leaves or even drop their leaves, so how should this be solved?

What to Do When Geranium Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Abrupt environmental changes cause geranium leaves to turn yellow: The geranium needs time to adapt to a new environment, so you only need to pinch off the large yellowing leaves and dried-up flower buds. The rest will adjust on its own.

2. Overwatering causes geranium leaves to turn yellow (water yellowing): This requires immediately reducing watering, loosening the potting soil, and placing the plant in a ventilated, dry spot to speed up water evaporation. Alternatively, place the pot on a stack of newspapers or dry peat so the newspapers and peat can absorb the excess water from the pot as quickly as possible. In particularly severe cases, the entire root ball can be removed from the pot and placed in dry peat or a soil mound so the water drains out quickly, and once the drooping branches and leaves recover, replant it in the pot.

3. Long-term lack of water causes geranium leaves to turn yellow (drought yellowing): In this case, you need to adjust your watering method and water the geranium using the principle of alternating dry and wet.

4. Scorching sun causes geranium leaves to turn yellow (sunscorch yellowing): In summer, it is best to place it in a shaded spot.

5. Dry air causes geranium leaves to turn yellow: Move it to a ventilated spot.

6. Insufficient sunlight causes geranium leaves to turn yellow (light-deficiency yellowing): Because yellowing leaves also hope to recover their vitality as soon as possible, they absorb the nutrients the plant has stored, consuming more nutrients than they produce. So we do not need to worry too much; simply remove the yellow leaves promptly.

Causes of Leaf Drop in Geraniums and Solutions

1. Natural shedding. During growth, old leaves age, turn yellow, and shed naturally, while new leaves remain green. The plant has no other problems, and the number of shed leaves is not large.

2. Overly hot weather. In an overly hot environment, the chlorophyll in geraniums is destroyed, the leaves turn yellow en masse, and many drop off. In severe cases, new leaves turn white or yellow and fail to grow. At this time the leaves become thicker and smaller, reducing the amount of light received. At this point, move the geranium to a shaded spot and reduce its exposure to sunlight; the plant will look rather bare. It can recover on its own once the weather turns cool.

3. Overly cold weather. Excessive cold can freeze and damage the leaves; after the cells die, the leaves turn yellow and drop.

4. Intermittent drought. If you often wait until the soil is too dry before watering, the old leaves will turn yellow and drop in order to reduce water loss. Once the weather cools and you resume a regular watering schedule, the plant can return to normal.

How to Grow Geraniums So They Bloom More

1. Fertilize reasonably; sufficient nutrients lay the foundation for geraniums to bloom. Blooming consumes a large amount of nutrients, so when growing geraniums you need to apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; this way they bloom more and the colors are vivid.

2. Prune promptly. During the seedling stage of geraniums, you should start pinching the growing tips so the plant will grow many branches, which will increase the number of flowers.

3. Ensure suitable light. Generally, you can give geraniums 5 hours of light per day, which can promote blooming.

Notes on Growing Geraniums

1. Geraniums come in different varieties, and plant heights also differ. For home cultivation, you should choose small plants; in addition, growth regulators may be needed.

2. When the plant grows to 12 cm or 15 cm, spray it with chlormequat, once a week for 2 consecutive times. Ensure 14 to 18 hours of light per day; this can effectively control the height of the geranium and provide high-quality potted flowers.

3. Pay special attention to watering; too much can cause the plant to die, and high temperature with high humidity makes the roots prone to rot. Of course, the blooming time can also be controlled. The peak blooming period is generally from April to June, but if the temperature is raised appropriately in winter, it can bloom continuously from September in autumn to June of the following year.

As a perennial succulent evergreen shrub in the Geraniaceae family, the geranium has high ornamental value. When growing geraniums, in addition to daily watering, you should also pay close attention to the plant's growth condition and pest and disease problems, and detect and solve them in time, so that geraniums can grow better and produce more flowers.