How to grow geranium from cuttings at home?

Young geranium bushes look more attractive, bloom better and take up little space on the window. Reproduction will rejuvenate old geraniums, leaving several buds on old stems. Young cuttings, obtained in early spring, in the summer will thank with abundant flowering in a group planting or in separate cups.

Ways to propagate geraniums at home

Geranium creates its own cranes - flowers only on the upper part of the shoot. The stalk has grown, is bare, and there is an unsightly bare stalk, if it is not cut off annually. The cut shoots can be rooted and there is a great opportunity to update the bush, at the same time performing the propagation of geraniums by cuttings at home.

Available to the amateur:

• cuttings of the tops and stem middle parts of the plant;
• division of roots;
• seed reproduction method.

Most often, the method of cuttings is used, when more than a dozen new plants can be obtained from one adult plant. The resulting cuttings are germinated in various ways. Geranium, when propagated by cuttings, quickly enters into flowering, retains the properties of a mother plant.

Root division is carried out when a healthy bush becomes cramped in a pot. When transplanting, it is cut so that living ground kidneys remain on all divisions. Such reproduction, weakened by hunger and diseases, the bush will not withstand.

Geranium from seeds at home is bred if there are no prepared cuttings or to obtain a plant of a new variety. Getting seedlings from seeds is not difficult. But at the time of flowering, young bushes enter much later.

How to propagate geranium by cuttings at home

Before the mother plant gives birth to new offspring, it must be prepared. Some hobbyists recommend propagating the plant in the fall, after the flowering has stopped. However, most believe that young plants develop most successfully during February cuttings from a mother bush prepared in winter.

Geranium propagation is carried out by cutting off cuttings with a sharp, clean knife under a leaf. In this case, the top should have 2-3 or more healthy leaves after exposing the petiole. If the stem allows, then cuttings can be cut from the lower bare trunks, but there should be dormant buds from where a new plant will begin to grow.

How does geranium multiply, if it is stubborn, the cuttings do not take root? There is a radical way with a full guarantee of survival. On the bare trunk, circular cuts must be made throughout the stem two weeks before the branch separates from the mother plant. The incisions are made through the kidney. In places of injuries, gum floats, in it the rudiments of roots are tubercles. Delenki take root, grow quickly.

The cuttings need to be dried for several hours, then the sections should be treated with activated carbon or Kornevin. This stimulation promotes the rapid formation of horse rudiments.

In spring, geranium breeding can be carried out at different times. If the plant takes root in March, there will be a full flowering bush in the summer. Late propagation of geraniums by cuttings in the spring will postpone flowering until the next season.

For rooting to be successful, it is necessary to germinate the cutting in a special environment. Requirements for the substrate are sterility and air permeability. The composition of the soil includes a universal soil with the addition of a third of vermiculite and sand. The earth is spilled with boiling water or hot potassium permanganate. Expanded clay or pieces of polystyrene are placed in the container on a perforated bottom, soil is poured on top.

The cuttings are deepened into the ground by 2 cm, kept in the dark for 3-4 days, then exposed to a cool window shaded from the sun. Watering moderately, through the pallet, so as not to wet the cuttings. The plant is covered with a jar only if the leaf turns yellow and the stalk withers. The tugor will recover in a few days. The main danger at this time is excessive soil moisture.

Expelling the roots when propagating geraniums by cuttings in water is much easier. The whole process takes place before our eyes. The pre-dried cutting with the bottom leaves removed is placed in a jar of water and activated carbon. The roots will appear within two weeks. When they grow, rooting is carried out in the usual composition of the soil to a permanent place.

What you need to consider when grafting geraniums at home:

1. All operations for the separation of cuttings and their preparation are carried out under sterile conditions. The knife, scissors and all utensils must be clean.
2. You need to water the new plants with warm water, so that the water does not get on the plant.
3. Only wilted plants need to be covered.
4. Rooting is carried out at a temperature of 15 degrees.
5. Geranium breeding takes all year round, but the process is most efficient in spring.
6. Planting young plants in groups at a distance of 15-17 cm for fast flowering.

New plants take root in different ways, depending on the variety. Zonal and ivy varieties take root quickly. A month is required for the survival of royal varieties, fragrant, will show the first leaves in a month and a half. Royal geraniums will bloom only next year, like angelic ones.

How to propagate geranium from seeds at home

Seed propagation of geraniums is less common. If you collect seeds from your plants, you can get a bush that will be different from the parents. More often new varieties are obtained from seeds during breeding. But it is not difficult to grow geraniums from seeds at home, only it will take more time to develop a full-fledged bush.

Seeds will sprout faster if scarified. The purchased seeds may have been processed. Own, you need to wipe with sandpaper, destroying the upper dense layer of the shell. After that, the seeds are soaked in a stimulant for three hours.

For the seed method, for greater efficiency, it is necessary to take into account:

• optimal time for sowing seeds;
• dependence of soil temperature and germination time;
• seedling substrate;
• picking and caring for plants.

The soil for sowing should be light and sifted, as the seeds are small. The substrate is made up of turf, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1 parts. It is imperative to disinfect the substrate by any available means. The composition is moderately moistened, leveled.The seeds are laid out at a distance of 5 cm, and sprinkled with sand 0.5 cm thick.

After sowing, the container is covered and placed in a warm, dark place. As soon as the seeds hatch, place the pot in a bright place in a cool place. While the seeds are sprouting, the glass is removed, water drops are removed from it, the soil is ventilated.

The optimum temperature for seed germination is 20-22 degrees. The cotyledons, if the temperature is not lowered, will stretch out and may fall. At this time, the appearance of a black leg should not be allowed. Water with pinkish water with potassium permanganate, without wetting the seedlings. It is important to moisturize the substrate in moderation, avoiding stagnation of water in the ground.

Two weeks after germination, the plants dive, after 45 days the plants are planted in a permanent place. Since geraniums multiply from seeds for a long time, they need to be sown starting in December. True, the earlier the seedlings sprout, the more care and illumination will be required. But seedlings from seeds will bloom early.

You should also not delay picking plants. The root system, expanding, will intertwine, and the pick will take place with a delay in development.

Seedlings can be cut into separate cups with a diameter of 10 cm or into a common container for flowers at a distance of 15-17 cm.

When the sixth leaf appears on the plants, the bushes need to be pinched. to form, so that geranium from seeds at home pleases with abundant flowering of cranes. However, it must be remembered that fragrant geranium has its own development cycle; at home, the plant behaves differently. Longer development takes place in capricious royal geraniums.

Root propagation of pelargonium from sprouts

If pelargonium sprouts from the root, new bushes can be obtained from them. To do this, the bush is removed from the ground, shaken off and the root system is divided so that the young rudiments of the leaves have roots for nutrition. It is important that the bores are small, otherwise the roots will intertwine and it will be impossible to separate them. The soil should be of normal composition, the bowl is small, no more than 10 cm in diameter.

That's all the wisdom of breeding pelargonium. In the course of work, each gardener develops his own techniques, at times, far from the recommended ones.

Basic techniques for cutting geraniums in spring - video

To experienced flower growers, geranium is known as pelargonium. This is one of the most popular indoor plants that can be found in the apartments of many domestic flower lovers. With the onset of stable heat, pelargonium can be transplanted to the garden plot, however, in the fall it is returned to the house again, where it will be provided with a comfortable temperature regime. There is a version that geranium is a flower of aristocrats.

However, among ordinary people there are many fans of this indoor plant. In modern conditions, when a wide variety of exotic plants can be easily purchased, geranium is no longer popular. However, due to its exceptional bright color, this houseplant can compete with many modern exotics.

Pelargonium watering mode

Given that summer is the hottest time of the year, then during this period it is necessary to provide the plant abundant watering... However, they should be kept in moderation to avoid flooding the plant. Otherwise, it will not tolerate an excess of moisture and will die.

When geraniums are grown in such conditions, its leaves become lethargic and rot. Subsequently, gray mold can be seen on them, the stem begins to turn black. When these signs appear, it is necessary to reduce watering faster.

Otherwise, the root itself will begin to rot pretty soon, which is very likely if there is rot. Geranium is considered to be a drought-resistant plant, but still it should not be deprived of the required amount of water, otherwise it will be difficult to wait for abundant flowering from it.

To determine the moment when it is necessary to carry out the next watering, you need to monitor the state of the earthen coma.The beginning of its drying out is a good clue for watering.

In the summer season, the drying out of the earth can occur at different intervals - sometimes every day, and sometimes every other day. In winter, caring for geraniums should be somewhat different: given the cooler growing conditions of geraniums, watering should not be as frequent.

Illumination requirements

Geranium grows well if it does not lack light. Therefore it is recommended place it on the south side... However, comfortable growing conditions can also be provided in partial shade.

It is not recommended that geraniums are constantly exposed to sunlight. Otherwise, it can lead to burns on the leaves. In order to avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon, it is recommended for lunch remove the flower from the windowsill.

If you are going to transplant geraniums into the garden in the summer, then you should find a suitable place. It should be well lit by the sun and protected from wind and drafts.

However, it is undesirable to grow geraniums in full shade conditions, since in this case you can be content with only small leaves. She will not be able to please you with flowering, even if you provide her with appropriate care.

Temperature regime

In order for geranium to grow well at home, it needs a temperature of at least + 12 degrees Celsius. In cooler temperatures, it can have problems: the leaves become drooping, and the stems are bare.

If you do not change the temperature regime, then subsequently pelargonium will die. The elevated air temperature also has a depressing effect on pelargonium. In such conditions, its flowering becomes problematic. This indoor flower feels best of all at normal room temperature.

Air humidity

According to experienced flower growers, geraniums can grow well in any humidity. Therefore, no matter what kind of air is in the room, this will not affect the development of pelargonium in any way.

While caring for pelargonium it is undesirable to spray, since this negatively affects the condition of the flower. You can limit yourself only to regular soil moisture in the summer.

For the normal development of geraniums, fresh air is needed, which makes it very hardy. Therefore, in the summer, it is recommended to keep more of it in the fresh air, or at least grow it on the balcony.

Top dressing of room geranium

To provide geraniums with nutrition, it is unacceptable to use fresh organic fertilizers. It is best to add rich nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal amounts of fertilizer.

By feeding enough potassium to geraniums, you are more likely to see abundant flowering. But you need to ensure that these elements of feeding are present in the composition of fertilizers in small quantities.

Proper care of pelargonium involves providing it with various trace elements:

• copper;
• calcium;
• iron;
• zinc;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• boron

For this purpose, you can use fertilizer for indoor flowers, which can be found at the flower shop. The preparation "Merry Flower Girl" is effective for geraniums. If it is absent, it can be replaced with fertilizer "For flowering plants».

You should refrain from feeding pelargonium if the weather is hot. Otherwise, after this event, the plant will experience stress. If you have planned fertilizing, then it is recommended to carry them out after you transfer the plant to the shade.

It is advisable to refrain from applying liquid fertilizer to dry soil. Necessary water the flower first... Otherwise, you will harm the plant, because when applied to dry soil, all fertilizers burn the roots.

It is recommended to carry out bait twice a month.The need for nutrients in geraniums is especially high in spring and summer, so feeding should be carried out already in early May until the end of September.

Geranium transplant

Indoor plant geranium can easily do without transplanting. But you still need to regularly monitor its condition: a transplant may be required at a time when there is no free space for the roots in a small pot.

Therefore, adult specimens usually have to be transplanted. In addition, geraniums have to be transplanted even in cases where it is too flooded with water. In any case, it is recommended to select not very large capacity.

When choosing a pot, you need to take into account that the root system matches the volume of the pot. Before transplanting, high-quality drainage is placed on the bottom. If you believe the flower growers, then geranium can grow well in ordinary country land.

You can also prepare and special soil mixturewhich will require the following components:

• Leafy land.
• Sod land.
• Humus earth.
• Sand.

It is imperative to maintain the proportions - 1: 1: 1: ½. The most favorable period for transplanting geraniums is spring.

How to propagate geraniums at home

To obtain new shrubs of pelargonium, two main methods of propagation can be used. Way seed propagation not so often used by flower growers. It makes sense to use it when it is planned to grow new varieties.

A serious problem for the seed propagation method is that the seedlings grown from them usually have different decorative qualities from the selected variety. Therefore, young geraniums often have different shade of colors and leaves. It also differs in length, height and bushiness.

In the absence of a lot of experience in growing indoor plants, it is recommended to first use cheap varieties of geranium flowers, since beginner growers often fail.

To grow geraniums by sowing seeds, you need prepare the ground suitable composition: it must have a loose structure, so it is imperative to include humus and sand in it.

Usually, the sowing of seeds is carried out already in early March... However, it is allowed to do this at an earlier date, but in this case, in order to eliminate the deficit of lighting, it will be necessary to carry out additional illumination with the help of artificial light lamps.

Before sowing the soil needs to be disinfected... To do this, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which minimizes the risk of developing a black leg in plants. After sowing, you do not need to sprinkle the seeds with a layer of earth.

However, they must be sufficiently buried in the soil. To accelerate seed germination, they need provide a greenhouse effect, for which a film is pulled over, and the container itself is transferred to a warm place.

Propagation by cuttings

Also, for propagation of geraniums at home, you can use cuttings that are harvested in the spring. For this, the prepared shoots must be placed in a container with water.

Usually, the roots of the cuttings form quickly if the room is kept at a high enough temperature. After that the stalk placed in a pot of soil... At the first signs of the beginning of growth, you need to pinch off the top of it.

Before planting the cutting in the ground, it needs to be given a little time to dry from the water. As a rule, when using the cuttings method, shoots taken from the top of the plant are used. Moreover, they must have at least 3-4 leaves.

Geranium diseases and their treatment

Geranium is an unpretentious plant, which confirms its high resistance to diseases and pests. However, in some cases, it can still be affected by certain ailments:

1. Gray rot. As a rule, with the development of this disease, geranium leaves are affected.In this case, you need to remove all infected leaves and put the plant in "dry mode" care. To combat the disease, it is necessary to treat the plant with an antifungal drug.
2. Root collar rot and root rot. With excessive moisture in the geranium, the earthen lump in the pot constantly remains wet, therefore, in such conditions, at a certain moment, geranium affects this disease. It is not possible to do something here, so the death of the geranium is inevitable.
3. Aphid. The favorite place of this insect is the lower surface of the leaves. This pest can have different colors - black, gray and green. An effective method of controlling aphids is spraying with insecticides for indoor plants.

In order to avoid negative manifestations, the processing of pelargonium is recommended to be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions.

Geranium more than deserves a place in the grower's house. Standing out for its splendor and bushiness, it will look no worse than many modern ornamental plants.

However, it can only show its decorative properties with proper care, therefore, she needs to provide not only watering, but also lighting. Moreover, in the summer, it is very useful to take it out into the fresh air.

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Geranium or pelargonium is a perennial flower. Its buds are very similar to noble roses. Like the queen of flowers, geranium is a highly sought-after plant that is grown indoors. In the article we will tell you about the propagation of geranium by cuttings, we will give recommendations to flower growers.

The huge popularity of this type of flowers is understandable: they are not only incredibly beautiful, but also have a charming, fragrant aroma. The scent is the essential oils that exude brightly colorful buds. There are several ways to breed geraniums at home - which one should you choose?

Plant care is simple, but reproduction should be one of its important components. The fact is that only young geranium plants have an attractive appearance. But, the older the flower, the more ugly it begins to grow. Moreover, every year fewer flowers appear on it - the most important decoration.

Cutting: a few general rules

The secret to a lush geranium bloom is to regularly update cuttings

What is the best way to propagate geraniums? Of course, everyone wants this to be done simply and efficiently. It is best to propagate pelargonium not by seeds, since this takes a lot of time and the result may not always be positive, but by cuttings. You can renew geraniums several times a year.

Cutting process	February (last decade)	March	April-July	September
Efficiency	Average	Above average	Above average	High
Process feature	The plant develops slowly	Growth Intensity - Medium	Growth Intensity - Normal	The flower grows and develops intensively
The beginning of flowering	Summer	In July	Next year	Next year
Special care: providing	Needed	Not needed	Not needed	Needed
Survival rate	50-60%	About 90%	60-70%	80-90%

Why is the survival rate of cuttings so different? Because March and September are the months in which a period of active growth / dormancy begins, which contributes to the better rooting of young pelargoniums. Advice - if you want young pelargoniums to bloom already this year, you need to start grafting them in March. Planted just a month later - in April, geraniums won't bloom until next year.

Features of caring for young plants

Cuttings need to be watered only in a tray so that moisture does not get on the leaves of the flower

As you can see from the table, it is most profitable to carry out cuttings in March.Thanks to the activation of the movement of the juice at this time, it will be possible to see the color on the plant in the coming summer. If you start cultivating later, the cultivation process itself will take a longer period of time, so it will be possible to admire the flowers of pelargonium only next summer.

Experienced flower growers do not recommend early cultivation for beginners: young plants will need more complex care, additional lighting. So why complicate the process when you can wait a bit and get a great plant at a fraction of the cost?

Several nuances associated with grafting

The length of the cutting is very important for the successful propagation of plants. If small plants are to be propagated, the stalk should be about 2.5 cm long.For larger plants, the stalk should be 5 cm long.

Also, for work, it is necessary to prepare a container where young geraniums will be planted. These can be plastic or paper cups. They can be either purchased or self-made. For this, you can use either plastic bottles or old magazines.

Tip # 1. It is better not to take newspapers - they quickly get wet and fall apart under the weight of the soil in them.

For quick rooting of cuttings in the ground, you need to add sand. Its maximum amount is 1: 3. In order for geranium to take root quickly, the prepared soil must be watered with boiling water or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. This will eliminate any possibility of pathogenic bacteria affecting the cuttings, so nothing will hinder their growth.

Preparing cuttings: what to look for?

Propagation of pelargonium by cuttings in spring

Before starting to engage in cuttings, you need to prepare for this:

1. Sharpen the knife sharply.
2. Disinfect it using rubbing alcohol.
3. Cut off the stalk carefully. You need to cut off the shoots from the top with 3 live-growing leaves. Moreover, the leaves should be located perpendicular to the stem. If cuttings with buds or flowers are cut, they must be removed, otherwise the roots on such branches will not appear for a very long time.
4. The collected raw materials must be put in the shade and wait until the cut dries, as evidenced by the newly formed film.
5. Sprinkle the slice with Kornevin. If such a remedy is not found at home, you can use coal dust. All these rules are extremely important in order for all cuttings to successfully anchor in the ground and in the future flowers are abundantly tied on young plants and firmly held on the stem. Read also the article: → "Rules for feeding houseplants with folk remedies and fertilizers."

Planting prepared geranium cuttings and caring for them

The easiest way to breed geraniums is in water.

In the prepared cups, you need to make holes for the excess moisture stack. In addition, thanks to the holes, air, so necessary for the roots, will penetrate to the soil. Add a mixture of vermiculite to the wet soil. Fill each container with soil.

If the soil has been treated with boiling water, you must wait a few minutes until it cools down. Place the cuttings, freed from the lower leaves, in cups, deepening them a couple of centimeters into the soil. Place the cups on a pallet for easy movement and place them in a dark place.

After 4-5 days, the cups are transferred to the window, but it is best not to put them on the windows located on the south side: the sun's rays can destroy all flower seedlings. The room temperature should be at least 14 and not higher than 16 degrees Celsius. It is not the soil that needs to be watered, but the pallet - the plants will be provided with moisture, and, at the same time, water will not be able to get onto the leaves, which is very undesirable. You don't need to cover the cups.

If sluggish or yellowed leaves appear, you can place such plants under the jars, thus creating homemade mini-greenhouses for them. Thanks to the favorable microclimate under the jar, young plants will recover in a few days.

Rooting: how to check the condition of the roots?

To see how the process of emergence of roots goes, it is enough to look at the glass from the side: through the transparent (thin) walls, the newly formed roots will be clearly visible. But, if the cups are opaque and nothing can be examined, the best proof that the plants are taking root is that young green leaves will begin to form rapidly on them.

Rooting time of different varieties of geranium
Geranium type / process peculiarity	Royal	Ivy	Zonal	Fragrant
Duration of root germination	4 weeks	2 weeks	3 weeks	6 weeks
Blooming time	After 10-12 months	After 10-12 months	After 2-3 months	It is difficult to predict, since this type of geranium is quite whimsical.

A few important tips from experts

Cuttings can be put in water, for the appearance of roots, or you can immediately plant the cutting in the ground

There are times when the cuttings do not want to take root. To change this situation and get a full guarantee of survival, it is necessary to proceed as follows 14 days before the branches are separated from the mother plant:

1. On the trunk, where there are no branches, incisions must be made. They should be circular and all over the stem. You need to cut the stem through the kidney.
2. Where the cuts were made, gum will flow. It has bumps. These are the rudiments of the roots. The separated elements take root and begin to grow rapidly.
3. In order for new plants to take root quickly, it is necessary to ensure good air permeability and sterility of the substrate. Read also the article: → "Why is it necessary to loosen the soil around plants and in indoor pots."

Tip # 2. At the bottom of the container, before filling the soil, you need to place pieces of foam or expanded clay: pelargoniums do not like excess moisture and can die from an excess of moisture.

Rooting in water: how does it happen?

The easiest way to propagate geraniums is by cuttings

Germinating geranium cuttings in water is much easier. It also makes it easier to follow the root growth process. To do this, you need to dry the stalk, remove the lower leaves and place it in a jar / glass with water, to which activated carbon has been added. After a couple of weeks, when the roots have grown enough, the plants can be planted in a permanent place. The composition of the soil in the flowerpots is normal.

What should be considered with this method of grafting pelargonium?

1. All operations must be carried out on a sterile surface, in a sterile container and a sterile instrument (knife).
2. After planting in the soil, water only with warm water. This must be done carefully so that water does not get on the new plantings.
3. You can root it at any time of the year, but March is the most effective in this matter.
4. In order for the plants to bloom quickly, they must be planted in groups no closer than 15-17 cm. See also the article: → "Caring for indoor plants in winter."

🎥 Video advice "Working method of breeding geranium (Pelargonium) at home"

Tells the full cycle of growing and breeding geraniums from A to Z ⇓.

The most common mistakes beginners make when growing geraniums

Although geranium is considered an unpretentious flower, there is still something that it does not really like or even does not tolerate. But since beginners most often do not know about this, they have a chance not to see all the beauty of the flowering of this plant. What can prevent this?

Action / What it can lead to	Flaw	Surplus
Watering	Leads to drying out of the root and death of the plant	Causes root rot
Top dressing	Due to the lack of necessary microelements, the plant grows poorly, flowers will be thrown out a little, and they will be small.	Excess trace elements will excessively accelerate the growth of the stems, they will stretch and break easily.Blooming quickly and abundantly will drain the flower and it will most likely die.
Pruning	Poor care in this matter will not cause the death of the plant, but it will lose its aesthetic qualities.	If you overdo it when pruning, the flower may not bloom at all.

Types of geraniums and their features

Rooted cuttings of pelargonium (geranium)

Breeders have bred many varieties of geraniums. All of them differ not only in name, but also in the shape and color of flowers and leaves. Among all this variety, the following types are the most popular:

1. Zonal. There are many varieties. Unpretentious in care, often blooms. The inflorescences are bright in color. Leaves are round, slightly wavy with dark red or brown edges. The number of petals in flowers depends on the species. So, in simple pelargoniums there are 5 of them, in semi-double ones - 6-8, in terry ones - 8 or more petals. A flower can bloom all year round, if suitable conditions are created for this. The abundance of flowers depends on the size of the pot - the smaller it is, the more inflorescences.
2. Royal. The main feature is the varied colors of large flowers, which can reach a diameter of up to 15 cm. You can also distinguish this subspecies of flowers by a dark strip or speck on each petal. The petals themselves can have different shapes - simple, terry, corrugated, wavy. Pelargonium of the royal species can grow up to 50 cm high. The plant blooms for about four months. It is noteworthy that it is not worth waiting for the one-year-old royal geraniums to bloom, since they begin to throw out flowers only from the age of two. Among all types of geraniums, only the royal one is very demanding in terms of conditions and care.
3. Fragrant. Pelargonium of this subspecies is distinguished by a wide variety of aromas (therefore, fragrant). One has only to touch the leaf a little and the room will be filled with the smell of lemon, strawberry, ginger, rose - each hybrid has its own smell. Small inflorescences are predominantly purple or pink in color. Geranium oil is obtained from plants of this species. Its scope is wide enough - cosmetology, cooking, medicine. Geranium oil is also used in everyday life for aromatizing premises.
4. Zonal. Differs in a characteristic coloring of the leaves - a border in the center or on the edge. The edging can be wide or narrow, dark or, conversely, lighter than the sheets. The spot in the center can be purple or reddish brown. There are several types of zonal pelargonium - stellate, cactus-flowered, rosaceous. In addition, geraniums of this species can have different heights depending on the variety, so there are both miniature plants and tall ones.
5. Ivy or ampelous. Shoots are fragile and thin. The bushes reach a height of 1 meter. The dark green foliage is shaped like a star. Double or simple flowers with a diameter of about 5 cm can have a wide variety of colors. Blooms for 4 months. Most often, flowering occurs in the summer. Feels very good in hanging flowerpots.

Heading "Questions and Answers"

Questions # 1. What is the best way to propagate geraniums at home?

The easiest way to reproduce is in water. If you want to propagate geraniums in the ground, then it is better to choose the method of grafting, since the seeds take root and grow for a long time.

Question number 2. Why does geranium not take root for a long time during reproduction?

There are several options: the soil may not be suitable, the breeding site is not chosen correctly, the temperature or humidity is not suitable, and the watering is poor. Try rooting. It can be purchased at any plant growing store.

Question number 3. Is it possible to put geraniums on the window when breeding?

It is possible, but it is worth considering the location of the window. If the window faces south, then it is worth looking for another breeding site.

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Reproduction of geraniums at home by cuttings is a simple process and even a novice gardener can do it. The vegetative method of obtaining new bushes allows not only to rejuvenate the mother plant, but also to get neat flowering caps of flowers on the windowsill in the summer. Geranium can be propagated by cuttings and seeds.

When geranium is propagated by cuttings, it allows you to preserve all varietal characteristics, in contrast to seed propagation. This is especially true when you want to grow rare varieties where the colors of leaves, flowers and other features are important.

When is the best time to cut

Cutting geraniums at home must be carried out within a certain time frame. Then the new young plants will take root well. If you want to get flowering bushes this year, then it is better to start breeding in the spring (in March).

Delaying just a month will postpone the flowering of the bushes to the next year. For indoor plants, propagation by cuttings can be carried out all year round, but in winter the survival rate is reduced by half. In September, the efficiency is high - at this time the bush begins to actively grow and develop. However, in this case, flowering occurs in a year.

How to get geranium cuttings from a mother plant

In order to obtain high-quality planting material at home and successfully propagate geraniums, only a healthy mother plant should be chosen for cuttings. The work is carried out in several stages:

1. You need to prepare a sharp knife or scalpel, disinfect it with alcohol. In no case should you use a blunt instrument, as this is fraught with damage to the tissues of the cuttings and slowing down the growth of future roots.
2. Cuttings are cut from shoots directed at right angles to the main one, while at least 3 leaves should grow on them.
3. For tall varieties of geranium, the length of the cuttings should be about 5-7 cm, for undersized and miniature species - 2.5-4 cm.
4. The cut is made at right angles to the stem.

If cuttings with inflorescences or unopened buds are taken for a cut, it is recommended to cut them off. Otherwise, the rooting of the planting material may be delayed. Sections on the shoots need to be dried - for this, they are placed in a shaded place for a while. The newly formed film will testify to the fact that the trimming points are delayed.

In order for the cuttings to take root in the soil faster, the slices must be sprinkled with a rooting agent (“Kornevin” or another similar preparation will do). You can also soak the shoots in the solution by preparing it at the concentration indicated on the package.

Instructions for rooting cuttings (step by step)

Cuttings can be rooted in two ways - in soil mixture and in water. If you follow a simple scheme, breeding geraniums at home will definitely be successful.

Landing in the ground

When the cut points on the cuttings are dry, they can be planted immediately in the ground, in separate containers or in a common pot (the distance between plants is about 15 cm). In this case, you need to be guided by the following recommendations:

• The landing container must be suitable. It is optimal to use a small pot or an ordinary plastic cup, the volume of which does not exceed 200 ml;
• There must be a drainage hole at the bottom of the container to drain moisture. In a plastic glass, they need to be done independently using a red-hot knitting needle or needle;
• It is necessary to prepare a substrate suitable for geraniums by mixing peat, sand and perlite in a 1: 1: 1 ratio;
• It is recommended to sterilize the substrate by spilling it with boiling water or a hot solution of potassium permanganate (the water should be slightly pinkish);
• A drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the container (pieces of foam plastic, foam balls or expanded clay), then the soil cooled after sterilization is poured almost to the top, and a cutting is inserted into it to a depth of no more than 4 cm;
• The ground around the trunk must be gently tamped with your fingers;
• You need to spill the soil a little and put the glass with the handle in a shaded place for 3-4 days;
• Further, the cuttings are exposed to a light window, where there is no direct sunlight;
• Watering is carried out as the top layer of the soil dries up, it is best to pour water into the pan - this way you will exclude moisture from entering the shoot itself.

Cuttings need to create greenhouse conditions (cover with a jar or a transparent bag) only if the leaves begin to lose turgor and turn yellow. If adaptation to new conditions is successful, no additional manipulations are required.

Rooting in water

A fairly simple way to get good roots on geranium cuttings is to place them in water as follows:

• You need to take settled water at room temperature and fill a dark glass jar with it. You can also use a regular plastic cup;
• A crushed tablet of activated carbon is added to each container - to prevent root decay and the development of microbes;
• The stalk needs to be dipped in water only halfway;
• The water needs to be changed periodically. You also need to ensure that there is no complete evaporation of the liquid and the flowering of the container;
• It is better to put glasses with cuttings in a bright place, but it is advisable to slightly shade.

The formation of roots is clearly visible in the water - when their length reaches 2.5-3 cm, the cuttings can be planted in the ground according to the above scheme.

Caring for cuttings after rooting

The growth of new leaves will signal the successful rooting of shoots. In this case, you can transplant geraniums into a new container along with an earthen lump. At the same time, the pot should be slightly larger than the previous one - in a too spacious container, budding will occur much later, since the plant will direct all its forces to fill the free space with roots.

After planting geraniums in a permanent pot, pinching the top of the head is recommended - this will help the plant quickly take the shape of a bush.

You need to put geranium on a windowsill with sufficient illumination and no drafts. Watering should be moderate, and if the soil is very dry, it is recommended to moisten it a little in order to exclude diseases of the root system.

Pelargonium reacts negatively to spraying the leaves - such care will have to be abandoned in the name of the health of the bush. During the active growing season, the flower is fertilized with potassium-phosphorus mineral fertilizers, which stimulate budding.