Geranium Winter Care Methods and Maintenance Tips

Geraniums like warmth and fear cold, so in winter special attention should be paid to cold and frost protection. When growing geraniums in northern regions, the potted plants should be moved indoors when Frost's Descent arrives, placed by a sunny window so they receive sufficient light. If light is insufficient, the plants are prone to leggy growth, which affects flower bud formation, and even

Flower buds that have already formed may also wither due to lack of light. If in the south, the potted plants should also be moved to a wind-sheltered, warm, sunny spot after the Start of Winter, which makes it easier for the potted flowers to get more sun and also helps them avoid wind and cold. Indoor temperatures should be maintained at 15°C to 20°C during the day, and no lower than 10°C at night. In an environment where the temperature is too low, the plants grow weakly, which is not conducive to flower bud differentiation, resulting in fewer flowers or even no flowers, but an environment above 25°C is also unfavorable for their growth and flowering. Geraniums like dry conditions and fear moisture, so daily watering should be moderate. In winter, do not water every day; even in dry weather, generally water once every five to seven days, keeping the potting soil slightly dry with just a hint of moisture. Overwatering can cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off, thereby affecting flowering and even causing root rot and death. However, frequently spraying the leaves with clean water and keeping the leaf surface clean is beneficial for photosynthesis. If you want geraniums to bloom continuously, sufficient nutrients need to be supplied. Generally, a dilute liquid fertilizer should be applied about once every 10 days. It can be made by mixing bean cake, hoof pieces, and fishy water, then adding water after fermentation before use. Compound chemical fertilizer sold at @#@204@#@ can also be used, using only 3 to 5 pieces each time. Geraniums branch a lot. To encourage more flowering, the plants should be pinched back multiple times to promote more branching and more flower buds. After the flowers fade, promptly cut off the spent flowers and prune overly dense or thin, weak branches to avoid consuming nutrients. However, in the depths of winter, heavy pruning is not advisable.