Geranium Seeds: Latest Prices and a Detailed Guide to Growing

Geranium, also known as zonal geranium, fish geranium and pelargonium, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Pelargonium in the family Geraniaceae. Young plants are fleshy and herbaceous, while older plants become semi-woody. It originates from southern Africa and is now widely cultivated around the world. It is highly adaptable, with bright flower colors and a long blooming period, and is suitable for indoor display, flower bed arrangements and more. Now let's take a look at geranium seed prices and growing methods!

How much does a gram of geranium seeds cost?

Geranium seeds are very small, usually about 200 seeds per gram, and the price is generally around 10 to 15 yuan per gram, though prices vary depending on seed quality and variety. In production, geraniums are commonly propagated by sowing and by cuttings, but seedlings grown from seed can be selected to breed excellent intermediate-type varieties, so sowing is often used when improving varieties.

How to sow geranium seeds

1. Sowing time: Geraniums can be sown in spring or autumn, and indoor pot sowing in spring is best. The optimum germination temperature is 20 to 25°C. The seeds are not large, so do not cover them too deeply after sowing. They germinate in about 14 to 21 days, and seeds sown in autumn will bloom in the summer of the following year.

2. Sowing method: For the geranium sowing medium, mix peat moss, vermiculite and perlite in an 8:1:1 ratio. Before sowing, water the medium thoroughly, then sow the seeds evenly into a seedling tray and cover with vermiculite to a thickness about 3 times the diameter of the seeds.

3. After-sowing care: After sowing geraniums, disinfect the sowing box with chlorothalonil, set up a low arch and cover it with plastic film. The temperature should preferably be 20 to 23°C and the humidity kept above 95%. After about a week, when the seedlings have sprouted evenly, open the plastic film and spray foliar fertilizer once every 10 days.

How to grow geraniums

1. Soil: Geraniums are highly adaptable and can grow in all kinds of soil, but they grow best in sandy loam rich in humus. Mixing some sand into soil bought at a flower and bird market is better for geranium growth.

2. Temperature: Geraniums like warm, humid conditions and plenty of sunlight. The most suitable growing temperature is 10 to 20°C. In winter, place them in an environment no lower than zero degrees, and in summer move them to a shaded spot.

3. Water: Geraniums are plants that do not like too much water. During growing, never overwater; watering once every two to three days is enough, but each watering should be sufficient.

4. Fertilizing: Giving geraniums too much fertilizer at once can cause dehydration, which can be relieved by watering more frequently afterward. However, not fertilizing them for a long time will also cause a lack of nutrients. This mainly depends on soil quality, the flowers and the size of the pot.

5. Light: Geraniums need plenty of sunlight during the growing period, and sufficient sunlight helps them bloom. Give them plenty of sun in spring and autumn, and pay attention to temperature in summer; when the temperature is too high, avoid exposing geraniums to light.

6. Pests and diseases: Geraniums with poor ventilation and excessive moisture are prone to leaf spot and flower blight. Immediately remove diseased flowers and leaves and spray an appropriate amount of Bordeaux mixture for control. Pests include red spider mites and whiteflies, which can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.

7. Pruning: Proper pruning of geraniums can encourage more blooming. Usually the plant should be pinched back several times to promote more branching and flower bud formation. After flowering, promptly cut off spent flowers and remove overly dense and weak branches, but heavy pruning is not advisable in winter.

8. Repotting: Geraniums grow quickly and need repotting once a year, in early spring. When repotting, remove old roots and old soil, and in late April move them outdoors to a sunny spot for care.

Points to note with geraniums

1. Overwatering geraniums, exposure to rain, or long-term water accumulation in the pot causes root rot, yellow leaf edges or leggy growth, all of which affect flowering.

2. Overfertilizing geraniums, especially with too much nitrogen fertilizer, easily causes leggy branches and leaves, with no flowers or few flowers and poor flower quality.

3. Insufficient or no fertilizing of geraniums affects normal plant growth and flowering. In early spring or early autumn, apply an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

4. If the indoor temperature in winter is above 20°C, geranium branches and leaves easily become leggy and affect flowering the following year, but if the temperature is below 0°C, they are prone to cold damage.

5. If geraniums are exposed to direct sunlight in summer, the leaf edges are prone to sunscald, resulting in poor growth or the dropping of flowers and leaves.

6. If geraniums are pinched and pruned too heavily, with few leaves for a long time, the growing period will be delayed and the number of flower buds and flowers will be reduced.

7. When geraniums are kept indoors in winter and spring, long-term insufficient light easily causes the plants to become leggy and fail to bloom.