How to grow and care for potted geraniums
Geraniums are potted flowers with excellent ornamental value, and the following points should be noted in their cultivation and management.
Use the best possible substrate, for example 55% to 70% peat, 20% to 25% perlite, 5% to 10% vermiculite, 5% to 10% expanded clay pellets; mixing in these proportions is fairly ideal. Since geraniums are divided into trailing and upright varieties, there will be slight differences in cultivation and management. For example, the suitable pH for the trailing series is between 5.5 and 5.8, while for ordinary varieties the pH is 6.0 to 6.3. The growing substrate should be tested before planting, and tested once a week after planting. If the pH needs adjusting, acidic or alkaline fertilizers can be used.
Water and fertilizer management: before cultivation, the substrate can be soaked with a nitrogen fertilizer solution at a concentration of 400 mg/kg, which promotes rapid growth after planting. Fertilizer can also be applied together with the first watering, with a nitrogen concentration of 300 mg/kg. Watering is best done in the early morning, and can be done when the soil is slightly dry. Note, however, that excessive dryness will cause yellow leaves.
Temperature: from 4 weeks to 6 weeks after planting, the ideal temperature is around 21°C; this temperature promotes rooting, accelerates growth and encourages shoot extension.
Light: geraniums are long-day flowers, and their growth and flowering are related to accumulated light. The more light, the greater the growth and the earlier the flowering. Within two weeks after planting, the light intensity should be maintained at 27,000 to 32,000 lux, after which it can be gradually increased to 38,000 to 49,000 lux.
Pests and diseases: gray mold and true mildew are the main diseases of geraniums. Prevention work must come first: keep the growing environment well ventilated, promptly clean up dried branches and leaves, maintain a relatively high night temperature indoors, and schedule irrigation in the early morning as far as possible. For fungal diseases, the likelihood of occurrence can be reduced by using coarse peat substrate and by not letting the plants go short of water.
Trailing geraniums are prone to edema. When the plant absorbs a large amount of water and cannot evaporate it through the leaf surface in time, this disease easily occurs. It can be prevented by several methods, such as ensuring the plant does not dry out when temperatures are high; ensuring sufficient air circulation with relative humidity below 75%; providing shade to avoid sudden strong light; and regularly supplementing with calcium nitrate fertilizer.
The main insect pest of geraniums is thrips, and many chemical agents can control thrips.
Introduction to geraniums:
Geranium, also known as zonal geranium, is native to South Africa and is a perennial herbaceous flower. Its leaves are palmate with long petioles, mostly serrated along the margins, and the leaf surface has fairly deep ring-shaped markings. The corolla usually has five petals, and the inflorescence is umbel-shaped, borne at the tip of an upright peduncle. Because the flowers cluster densely like a ball, it is also called "foreign hydrangea." Flower colors vary greatly: red, white, pink and purple. The flowering period begins in early winter and lasts until early summer of the following year. As a potted plant it is suitable for indoor and outdoor decoration; it can also be used as a flower for spring flower beds.
How to grow geraniums as a potted plant at home
Because of its brilliant colors, the geranium is increasingly loved by people all over the world. In China, it can be seen everywhere in parks and street flower beds; when traveling abroad, geraniums are often placed in front of homes. Looking at these blooming flowers, how I wish they would also bloom in my own home, so I could admire the beauty of the geranium and its special fragrance every day. In fact, growing them at home is not difficult. Come and see the geraniums I grow.
Key points of this article
Geraniums and sandy soil
Geraniums like semi-dry soil and cannot tolerate waterlogging. If it rains for several days in a row, they should be moved indoors, otherwise the roots will rot. Do not water every day; water thoroughly when dry. In summer, if there is too much water and then stuffy heat, the roots will rot.
For growing geraniums, choose breathable flower pots, and choose leaf mold and sandy soil for the soil, so that water does not easily accumulate in the pot. This is convenient for the growth of geraniums. Especially in summer, it is best to use breathable flower pots. There must be sufficient light.
Geraniums do not need heavy fertilizer. Usually, watering with a little rice-washing water and bean dregs water is enough. Do not apply too much nitrogen fertilizer, as too much will make the leaves grow a lot, even to the point of growing only leaves without flowering. Before flowering, water with a little phosphorus fertilizer such as the water in a milk bottle to promote larger and more vivid blooms.
Geraniums do not need special care; their maintenance is rather rough-and-ready. However, when summer temperatures are too high, pay attention to shading. If they are in breathable flower pots, they will get through more easily. As summer approaches, place them in a shady spot and do not move them, so they do not struggle to adapt to large temperature differences. In winter, just place them indoors.
Every spring or autumn, you can cut off the new branches of the geranium, leave them for a day, then insert them into a flower pot and water them; that makes a new pot of geraniums. Leave just two or three leaves; too many leaves will exhaust the nutrients. This affects the growth of the geranium.
Once yellow leaves are found, remove them promptly. After the flowers finish blooming, promptly cut off the spent branches. This ensures the opening of later flowers. The flowers can bloom from spring all the way to late autumn. The flowering period is very long.
Geraniums have a peculiar fragrance. With good control of fertilizer and water management, they are generally not prone to insect pests. Its unique fragrance is used in essential oils and aromatics. Perhaps precisely because it is easy to care for and has a peculiar fragrance, it is now deeply loved by people.
Notes
The geranium's fragrance is peculiar; if placed indoors, be cautious if placing many of them.
An introduction to potted geranium growing techniques - come and learn
Geranium, also known as zonal geranium, is native to South Africa and is a perennial herbaceous flower. Its flowering period begins in early winter and lasts until early summer of the following year. As a potted plant it is suitable for indoor and outdoor decoration; it can also be used as a flower for spring flower beds. Below we will look at an introduction to potted geranium growing techniques.
How to grow potted geraniums?
Potted geranium growing method 1. Soil selection: for geraniums, you can choose a mixed growing medium of 4 parts leaf mold, 3 parts garden soil (or peat soil), 2 parts river sand (or perlite), and 1 part organic fertilizer. You can also use a mixture of fine sandy soil, leaf mold, perlite and organic fertilizer. Geraniums require relatively loose, breathable soil. You can repot them every autumn, or loosen the soil promptly.
Potted geranium growing method 2. Fertilization method: during the growth period, apply liquid fertilizer once every 10 to 15 days to geraniums, and in the vigorous spring and autumn seasons, apply liquid fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days; before budding, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and after budding, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, with a concentration of 0.1% to 0.2% being suitable. In winter, keep them indoors for care; because the temperature is relatively high, growth basically does not stop, so fertilizer can be applied appropriately. In summer, with high temperatures, the plant is in a semi-dormant state and fertilization should be stopped. It is best to fertilize in the evening and water the next morning.
Potted geranium growing method 3. Watering method: water geraniums appropriately, preferring dry over wet. In the peak growing seasons of spring and autumn, provide sufficient water to keep the potting soil often moist, but not waterlogged; on cloudy or rainy days, generally do not water and do not fertilize. The plant can be allowed to receive some rainwater appropriately, but avoid excessive rainwater irrigation. Otherwise, it easily causes root rot.
Potted geranium growing method 4. Temperature requirements: geraniums like warmth, dislike high temperatures, and fear cold. The suitable growing temperature for geraniums is 15 to 25°C. In winter, indoors should maintain a temperature of 10°C; below 3°C they are prone to cold damage, though some varieties can tolerate a low temperature of 0°C. In summer, once the temperature exceeds 35°C, they enter a semi-dormant state. Keep them as ventilated as possible and avoid a stuffy environment, which is not good for dormancy.
Potted geranium growing method 5. Light requirements: geraniums are not afraid of strong light, but need shading at midday in summer. In sunlight, geraniums grow robustly, with deep green leaves, short internodes and a beautiful plant shape. When grown at home, they should be placed in a spot with direct sunlight in all three seasons of autumn, winter and spring. When flowering, they can be moved indoors for appreciation and care, receiving appropriate light, but avoiding direct strong light, so as to prevent the petals from scorching.
Potted geranium growing method 6. Pest and disease control: when geraniums have poor ventilation and are too humid, they are prone to leaf spot disease and flower blight. When found, pay attention to ventilation, immediately remove the diseased flowers and leaves to prevent infection, and spray with equal-strength Bordeaux mixture for control. The main insect pests are red spider mites and whiteflies, which damage leaves and flowering branches, and can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
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