How to grow pelargonium at home?

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, you can see gray mold 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, the care of 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 when 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 resort to it in cases where it is planned to grow new varieties.

A serious problem for the seed propagation method is that the seedlings grown from them usually have decorative qualities that are different 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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Large caps of inflorescences, a persistent specific smell made geranium one of the common indoor plants of noble houses back in the nineteenth century. It was believed that the flower brings happiness and prosperity, and its aroma drives away evil spirits. This is how the love for the flower was passed from generation to generation. Breeders enthusiastically created new varieties, of which there are about 400 species today.

Growing conditions and rules for caring for geraniums for lush flowering

If the windows of the room are on the south side, and the sun "lives" on the windowsill during the whole daylight hours, then these are ideal conditions for geraniums. The flower bed in the garden should be on a hill so that no other plants or architectural forms can cast a shadow on the flower. The plant is not afraid of the rays of the scorching sun, it tolerates dry weather well, the temperature drops to 10-15 degrees.

Optimum growing temperature: for lush flowering, the air must be warmed up to 18-22 ºС, but in winter before flowering, it is enough to maintain 15 ºС above zero (this temperature is kept on a window or in an office space). If the flower does not take breaks between flowering, then its strength will quickly dry out, which will lead to disease or death. 3-4 weeks of rest is enough for the lush flowering to be long.

Lighting: if the sun leaves the geranium growth zone in the garden early or there is not enough light in the room, you should urgently find a sunnier place for the flower, daylight hours at least 12 hours.

Watering and spraying: the leaf plate does not tolerate getting wet, therefore, the plant has a negative attitude to the spray gun and wiping. The accumulated dust from the leaves can be collected with a dry or slightly damp brush or brush. Watering is carried out daily during the flowering period in summer or 2 times a week in winter, when the plant is at rest. When you are away from home in summer, daily watering can be replaced with a cotton cloth, abundantly moistened with water.

Soil mixture: Whether it is a pot for a houseplant or a flower bed in the garden, it is important to remember: geranium roots do not tolerate compacted soil. Therefore, the earth is prepared from sand, peat, black soil in equal quantities. For air exchange, it is often necessary to loosen the soil, so the roots will receive oxygen, and the leaves, thanks to photosynthesis, will be brighter and more luxuriant.

Feeding geraniums with iodine for lush flowering on video:

Fertilizing: everything in moderation. Geranium responds negatively to organic fertilizers and takes mineral fertilizers with pleasure. Now on sale there are special fertilizer complexes for geraniums, which greatly simplifies the life of the grower, the main thing is to dilute the solutions according to the instructions and not increase the concentration. During flowering, phosphorus and potassium will not be superfluous, and after that nitrogen, which will give strength for a new flowering.

Moving to a new location: perfectly tolerates a change of scenery while continuing to bloom. The beauty lives well in clay and plastic pots, the main thing is that drainage is provided in the bottom. Remember: a spacious container will enhance green mass production and reduce flowering. If the pot is larger, then you can plant several bushes at once, forming a bouquet arrangement. Garden geraniums are taken indoors for the winter, otherwise death cannot be avoided.

Pruning geraniums and pinching for dense shoots and lush blooms

How to pinch geraniums for lush flowering photos

In order for the plant to look neat on a windowsill or flower bed, it must be cut off. To do this, choose the period of late winter or early spring, when flowering stops.Cut off old shoots, leaves, providing a neat look to the bush.

For branching and the formation of several shoots, the bush is pinched after 8-10 leaves... This is how the lateral processes, which also bear peduncles, will go. The procedure is not painless for the plant, so it is important to apply fertilizer a couple of days before pruning, and water it 1-2 times a week, as needed. Flowering may move, but not more than a month. During this time, new leaves and stems will grow.

A video will tell you about pinching geraniums:

In the axils of the leaves, new shoots can form, stepchildren, which must be removed when there are 1-2 leaves. Otherwise, the bush will acquire an irregular shape, additional shoots will add disharmony to the overall composition. Leave only shoots from the root.

Pruning geraniums in winter on video:

Be sure to remove faded inflorescences on the bushso that they do not take away the strength from the plant and new flower stalks can form. If you leave the dried flowers on, the plant will begin to form seeds and stop blooming.

How to cut geraniums in spring, we look at the video:

Having shown the necessary attention, the gardener will always contribute to the lush flowering of geraniums, the beautiful growth of green mass, and the healthy look of plants.

Reproduction of geraniums at home

There are 2 ways of propagation: seed and cuttings. The choice depends on the variety and the gardener's preferences. Each has its own subtleties, but not difficult to repeat.

It is better to buy seeds in a specialized shop for gardeners, where a consultant will prompt and help you decide on the choice of a variety. In addition, store seeds will give the expected results in terms of appearance and flowering quality. Self-collected seeds from hybrid plants do not guarantee the repetition of the qualities that the parents have.

How to grow geraniums from seeds

Growing geraniums from seeds photo seedlings

• Seeds are sown in bulk on the nutrient mixture as rarely as possible, sprinkled on top with a thin layer of earth or sand.
• Seedling pots are chosen in small sizes, 50-100 ml each.
• After planting, the container is covered with a film so that there is a greenhouse effect that helps the early germination of seeds.
• Every day, it is necessary to remove the accumulated condensate from the film so as not to provoke the development of fungal diseases.
• When the first shoots appear, the film is removed.
• Watering is carried out as needed, without waterlogging the soil.
• After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the bushes dive into containers for constant growth.
• The seedlings must receive a lot of light so that development takes place in full, the plants do not stretch out and do not hurt.

The video will tell you more about growing geraniums from seeds:

It is not difficult, because even novice flower growers and schoolchildren can handle it. By the way, children really like to participate in the process of growing seedlings. Then they watch with delight how the plants develop, release the first buds and delight with abundant flowering.

Propagation of geranium by cuttings and dividing the bush

Propagation of geranium by cuttings photo How to propagate geranium

The most common way of breeding geraniums, which is not time consuming and always brings the desired result.

• For propagation by cuttings, an adult bush is suitable, from which you can cut off a lateral shoot without damage.

How to propagate geranium by cuttings Geranium shoot photo

• The finished shoot can be immediately planted in a clay pot, separating the lower leaves from the stem.
• Soaking in a glass of water is not required, the plant does not like moisture, rot may appear.

Planting geranium cuttings photo

• The cut site is treated with a weak solution of manganese, if conditions require it (the presence of pests, high humidity in the room, causing mold).

Geranium propagation by cuttings Cuttings of geraniums photo

If the bush has several branches from the root, then geranium can be propagated by dividing the bush... To do this, the plant is removed from the ground, the dividing point is found, the bush is bred and placed in a permanent place. Geranium will begin to bloom in 2-3 months, and under favorable conditions - earlier.
The seed method is painstaking, but with a long flowering - 5-7 years. In the case of propagation by cuttings, the bush will begin to fade in 4-6 years.

Diseases and pests of geranium

Unfavorable conditions, low temperatures and abundant watering can lead to rotting of the base of the stem of seedlings and adult plants - black leg. The disease leads to the death of the entire bush, if you do not take action. With abundant watering and stagnation of water in the pot, you need to transplant the flower into new soil, pinching off the upper processes.

How to care for geraniums at home Diseases and pests of geraniums photo

Gray bloom on the leaves - mold appears in the absence of drainage in the pot, the compressed soil does not provide sufficient air exchange, the flower begins to fade. The best way of prevention is to follow the recommendations of loosening, in a timely manner to introduce mulching substances into the soil. Sleeping tea leaves, fine river or aquarium sand, peat will do. The affected leaves are treated with antifungal drugs - gentle spraying of problem areas.

Whiteflies, butterflies, aphids, moths - all those garden pests that can live in the garden. If soap solution and tobacco infusion did not help, then you can turn to industrial means.

Difficulties in caring for geraniums Why geraniums turn yellow what to do

Why did the lower leaves turn yellow and dry?

Why did the lower leaves of geranium turn yellow?

This means that there is not enough moisture and air exchange in the soil. It is enough to increase watering and loosen the ground. If it does not help, then you need to transplant the plant into a new, well-drained soil.

Why doesn't geranium bloom even though enough time has passed? What to do

Why geranium does not bloom photo

• It looks like the air in the room is too warm and dry. Frequent ventilation, a humidifier will help.
• Another reason may be the depletion of the bush, it is simply already old and you need to think about propagation by cuttings and getting new young bushes.
• Do not forget about the quality of the soil: often the problem can be solved by transplanting it into a fresh loose soil mixture. Planting simply into the ground with abundant watering will help to rejuvenate the bush. But when planting back into the pot, remember: it is better to divide the bush afterwards, it will grow strongly and there will be little space in the old pot.
• The dried flowers remaining on the bush may also be the cause. The plant will stop blooming if not cut.

Why do geranium leaves turn yellow?

Geranium leaves dry around the edges what to do

Remember: geranium leaves dry out and turn yellow only with improper care. If the plant is uncomfortable, it turns on defense mechanisms in order to survive. The reasons may include too high room temperature, insufficient watering, too compacted soil that does not allow the roots to sufficiently nourish the plant.

Transplanting into a more spacious pot, with a new nutrient mixture, balanced watering, and airing the room, will help here.

Why did the geranium leaves on the windowsill begin to turn red in winter?

Why did geranium leaves turn red?

Only low temperatures change the green color of the leaves to red. The way out is a warm place and loosening of the soil.

The use of geranium in traditional medicine

The specific aroma of geranium will not please every family member, but at rest the plant does not give off its aroma. Healers believed the essential oil of geranium, extracted from the green mass of the plant, relieves headaches, helps fight migraines.

Geranium application:

• treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with a decoction of leaves;
• aromatherapy with geranium oil relieves stress, relieves insomnia;
• root tincture normalizes blood pressure, lowers upper pressure;
• a decoction of inflorescences relieves inflammation, redness, suppuration, is used to wipe the eyes with purulent conjunctivitis;
• a compress of soaked leaves relieves age-related pain in the joints, stretching, fatigue.

The plant is an excellent protector against flies and mosquitoes in the summer. The bushes on the window will be the salvation from annoying insects - a decoration and a barrier.

Geranium will not leave indifferent any grower, and care and care will bring bright bouquets of inflorescences.

The origin of the flower, its legendary past

How to propagate geraniums at home photo

Geraniums are considered the geographical origin of South Africa, with its sunny and hot climate. Despite its thermophilic preferences, the plant easily adapted to the European continent. The history of cultivation as a crop begins in the 16th century, when trade with African countries developed. For Russia, the flower became known after the journey of Peter 1 across Europe. Dutch architects brought with them several bushes of indoor flowers, among which there was a geranium.

The origin of the name according to Muslim beliefs is associated with the prophet Mohammed. Geranium was a weed, nobody paid attention to it. When the prophet came down from heaven to earth, his cloak was wet with sweat. He threw it on the grass, and the geranium wrapped the cloak closer to the sun. To quickly evaporate moisture. Mohammed noticed this and thanked the plant by presenting a luxurious umbrella of inflorescences and an unforgettable aroma.

By the color of the geranium inflorescences, it was possible to determine the meaning of the flower. Pink geranium attracted love and family well-being, white - childbirth, red - protected from evil spirits and evil spirits. Petals can attract a husband to the house or set up family relationships. For this, young unmarried girls carried dried flowers in a linen bag with them. In the family, geranium helped women get rid of her husband's drunkenness and return him to the family.

Poems were written about geraniums, famous classics were mentioned in their stories. It was grown as decoration and for healing. Some varieties are able to adapt on the street, others like home warmth, but they all respond gratefully to the caring hands of the gardener.

Types and varieties of geranium

Geranium at home photo How to care for geraniums in a pot

Geranium is characterized by division into 6 groups:

• royal large-flowered, characterized by large caps of inflorescences;
• zonal, a symbol of the Victorian era, evergreen bushes with tall inflorescences;
• ampelous, with five-toed even leaves and cascading shoots;
• fragrant, emitting a specific aroma, flowers are small, collected in small rounded inflorescences;
• succulent, with thorns on the bushes, and the appearance resembles fabulous creatures;
• variegated with gracefully colored leaves with an unusual transition of green shades.

For room pelargonium, there are 2 types:

• ampelous with cascading shoots, looks great in a pots;
• low bush with large caps of inflorescences.

Geranium at home Growing conditions planting and care Reproduction photo

Under indoor growing conditions, geraniums are represented by more than forty varieties. Common types: fragrant, royal, zonal. All of them are unpretentious to care for, abundantly flowering, love the sunny side.

In the wild and in garden areas, meadow geraniums are more common. Its flowering is not so lush, but the green mass makes it possible to compensate for this deficiency. It is no more than half a meter in height, but to form a neat bush it is better to cut off long stems, then there will be no “bare” branches.

Geranium varieties such as "Star of the Moscow Region", "Waterfall of Summer", "Orbit", "Maverick", "Yarka", "Pavla" are popular for cultural cultivation. Hybrid seeds, offspring of the first generation. Therefore, re-collection of seeds may not bring the qualities that the parent has.

Growing home geranium Geranium propagation by cuttings at home photo

How to breed and grow a gorgeous geranium at home

Geranium can be grown from seed and by cuttings.

The latter cultivation method is used at the very end of winter, from the second half of February to early March.

Geranium is very light-requiring, therefore, by the end of winter, due to lack of light, it is usually strongly stretched. To make it lush and beautiful again during this period, it is necessary to prune the plant.

It is very easy to do this: cut bare shoots to the desired height. After a while, new, young shoots will appear.

Some people practice such a method of renewal as transplanting a cuttings. This method was also used by our grandmothers. Apical cuttings with 4-5 leaves are best suited for reproduction. They are cut obliquely under the kidney, the two lower leaves are removed, the cut site is dried for several hours, transplanted into pre-prepared pots and lightly watered. The upper bud is pinched for the splendor of the flowering of the plant and the future flower is placed in the sun.

You can do it even easier: cut the cuttings, put in a container of water, add activated charcoal (to prevent rotting) and wait for the roots to appear, which will form very soon. After that, the plant is ready for planting in the ground.

Geraniums do not require a large pot size and a lot of land. The fact is that flowering will come the faster, the faster the roots are wrapped around the earthy lump. And flowering in a small pot will be more lush.

In a large pot, geraniums may never grow at all. At first, while the plant is rooting, the lower leaves may turn yellow. They need to be removed, and after a while new ones will grow in their place.

To form a beautiful lush round bush, you need to do the following:

1. pinch the top on 8-10 sheets.
2. pinch the side shoots on 6-8 sheets. Remember to turn the pot in a circle to form an even bush.

Now a little about what geraniums love. She loves the sun, warmth, abundant, rare watering, loosening, top dressing and not very fertile soil. If the soil is fertile, you run the risk of a large green, but not flowering plant.

Despite all of the above, don't worry too much. Geranium is able to withstand light shade and small autumn frosts.

And here is the recipe for good feeding: Dissolve 1 drop of iodine in 1 liter of water for irrigation. 50 ml of the solution must be poured over the sides of the pot. Be careful, do not get carried away, feeding with iodine can burn the roots.

Such watering is a guarantee of gorgeous flowering.

There can be many reasons for the yellowing of leaves. Lack of moisture or, on the contrary, abundant watering may be one of them. Lack of light can cause the lower leaves to fall off.

In the summer, you can make the geranium cuddly and take it out into the fresh air. You can even temporarily transplant it into garden soil. Do not be alarmed if at first she gets a little sick. The plant will recover quickly and delight you with amazing color. You will be surprised how well the bush grows outdoors.

The pink color of the leaves in the sun shouldn't bother you either. This is totally normal.

The flower is very fond of the autumn coolness. 10-12 ° C above zero is the ideal temperature. He can live on the street until the first frost begins (+2, -5 ° С).

Then it should be cut, returned to the home pot and put away for the winter in a cool place, ensuring its favorite temperature (+ 10.12 ° C). The plant needs to be accustomed to the room temperature gradually.

With the development of indoor floriculture, an increasing number of exotic plants appear on the market. Of course, it is interesting to grow a novelty on your own, but do not forget the usual flowers. One of them was grown by many generations of our ancestors. And even now, in almost every home you can find the most common geranium.

Yes, today we will talk about her.Someone carelessly waved his hand, they say, what's wrong with pelargonium? Have you seen the latest breeding innovations? On a bush with three leaves, there is a huge cap of double flowers. Colors from white to purple, all shades. And what foliage! Carved, variegated, multicolored! These beautiful plants bear little resemblance to grandma's geraniums. If only the specific smell of leaves. With proper care, you can enjoy flowering almost all year round.

How to grow geraniums at home? Agrotechnics of any kind are very light. A little effort, simple care and a secret in which pelargonium begins to bloom - that's the whole cultivation technology. But for those who are breeding this flower for the first time, we will describe everything in detail.

Growing geraniums from seeds

There is an opinion that geranium seeds do not germinate well. This statement only applies to self-harvested seeds. If on occasion it was possible to purchase a bag of industrial production, then their germination rate is almost 100%.

Geranium is sown in small cups, one piece at a time. Of course, if the business is put on stream, then it is better to sow them in a bunch in one container. True, then you have to dive. But planted one at a time, it will be enough to slightly huddle.

The soil should be of a classic composition. This is a fertile garden land, clean sand and peat. The proportions are 2 to 1 to 1. A large drain is poured at the bottom of the planting tank. Of course, these are not two cobblestones. The size of the fraction is about 1 cm. They should not be neglected, since the root system of the geranium begins to rot with excess water.

After drainage, fill the container with soil to half. Moisten it, put a seed, sprinkle with a layer of earth no more than 1.5 cm.Then you need to cover the glass with dense polyethylene or glass. Remove to a dark, warm place (temperature about 22 ° C) and wait for shoots.

If everything is done correctly, and the seeds are viable, then the first sprouts appear after 9-11 days. After that, the shelter is removed, and the glass is transferred to the light and the temperature is lowered to 18-20 ° C.

They take care of young plants in the same way as adults.

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Growing geraniums from a cutting

Suppose that someone you know cut his varietal geranium bush, and gave the cuttings to you. What to do with them? There are two algorithms for your actions:

1. We cut off the two lower leaves, then we put the cutting in the water. A week later, the rudiments of the roots should appear. And after 14-16 days, you can already plant the finished plant in a permanent place.
2. We cut off a couple of lower leaves. We dip the cut of the stem into any rooting stimulator and immediately plant it in a permanent pot. We do not touch the flower for about 20 days, only occasionally moisten the soil. After this period, an independent plant is obtained, ready to delight you.

Absolutely any soil for geraniums, purchased or made independently, must be disinfected. It is pre-spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After 12 hours, calcined in an oven at a temperature of 110-115 ° C. You can pre-freeze the soil for 3 days if it happens in winter.

These procedures will avoid the manifestation of many fungal and viral diseases.

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About diseases and pests of geranium

Despite the fact that the leaves secrete phytoncides that kill a large number of microbes in the air, geranium itself is susceptible to certain diseases. As a rule, they arise from improper care. The main factors are insufficient lighting and excessive waterlogging of the soil. Often, the sore starts at the root system and then spreads to the leaves.

Most problems can be avoided simply by taking proper care of the plant. But, if the trouble did arise, then it is fashionable to try to save the flower. Here preparations of systemic fungicides will help. They are used strictly following the instructions on the packaging.

Advice.If the plant cannot be saved, then try to save at least a stalk that is not affected by the sore. A new flower can be grown from it.

Pests. They are happy to settle on pelargonium. They are not confused by the aroma or fluff on the leaves. These are usually aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies. The rest of the enemies are indifferent to the flower.

The first two can be simply washed off with water with the addition of potash or laundry soap. But with the third misfortune there will be a long and stubborn struggle. It is not easy to remove it, even using the strongest insecticides. Look online for articles on how to get rid of a whitefly, you will learn a lot of interesting things.

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Where to place geranium

The homeland of this beauty is South America. Therefore, the flower loves a lot of light. At the same time, he is not afraid of direct sunlight. So you can quite safely place pelargonium on the windows facing south. Lighting should be at least 14 hours a day all year round. In winter, you will have to use additional lighting for this. Geraniums have no rest periods.

The first sign of a lack of light is the appearance of a red border around the edges of the leaves. Of course, if this is not provided for by the peculiarity of the variety. At the same time, lighting affects the duration of flowering, but only slightly. There is another secret for this, which will be described below.

How often to water geranium

The plant does not belong to the succulent family, but can accumulate a little moisture in the leaves. It does not tolerate waterlogging at all, but it feels absolutely calm during a forced drought up to 5 days. Then it begins to consume the moisture reserves from the leaves and dump them. He won't need them anymore.

So that your bush does not go bald ahead of time, water the geranium according to the scheme: the earthen lump is completely dry and plus another 2 days. In winter, it is about once every 15 days, more often in summer.

Be sure to drain the excess liquid completely from the pan. In order not to climb every time with your finger inside the pot, feeling the soil, purchase special beacons to measure the moisture level. They will change color when the ground is dry enough. By the way, the water should be at room temperature.

Top dressing

Geranium loves to eat. From February to November, she needs a regular dose of mineral fertilizers with a high potassium content. But you can add very little nitrogen, otherwise you will get mighty foliage without a single bud. It is strictly forbidden to add organic matter; pelargonium absolutely does not tolerate it.

The plant is fed no more than once every 20 days, strictly on the second day after the main watering.

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Geranium formation

Pelargonium grows in height at cosmic speed. If you miss the time even a little, then she can grow into a hefty tree. It is not very attractive aesthetically. In addition, buds appear only at the ends of the shoots. Therefore, the bush must be formed from a very early age.

To do this, pinch the central shoot over the 4 leaf. They wait for the appearance of the stepsons, then tear off the tops of their heads, also over 4 leaves. This is done with all shoots. Thanks to this shaping, you will get a lush spherical bush with a large number of buds.

If during the winter the plant has stretched out, or the moment of formation has been missed, then it is better to cut the entire bush to 3 leaves in the spring. So the stepsons will appear and you can shape the geranium beautifully again.

By the way, do not throw away the trimmings. You can try to root them for later planting. Or dry in the shade and arrange in fabric bags. It is good to lay out such blanks in closets, this specific aroma repels moths well.

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The secret of geranium bloom

And now the valuable advice promised above. We have created all the conditions, take care of, feed, light up ... and the geranium does not want to bloom. What to do? We reveal the main secret.Geranium begins to bloom only when there is practically no room for the roots in the pot. Sometimes the owners see that the roots braid the whole clod of earth and are in a hurry to transplant pelargonium into a more spacious pot. And she, ungrateful, instead of buds, begins to grow the root system again.

How to do it right? We do not transplant the bush in the spring. It becomes cramped for him, he begins to bloom. With good care, it does this until the end of summer. When the last bud has bloomed, we cut it off and only then transplant the plant. Moreover, the pot should be only 1-1.5 cm larger than the previous one. During the winter, the root system will again completely encircle the soil ball and the cycle repeats.

That's the whole trick.

Helpful hints

1. If the climate permits, then you can plant pelargonium in the garden in the spring. In this case, it is advisable not to take it out of the pot, but drip it in directly with it. Otherwise, in the fall, you will have to call an excavator to dig out the overgrown root system.
2. Geranium absolutely calmly tolerates direct sunlight on the leaves. But at air temperatures above 35 ° C, it is better to shade it a little. Still, this is excessively hot weather, burning the leaves and tops of the shoots.
3. By the way, in winter geraniums have enough content at + 16-18 ° C. From spring to autumn, it is advisable to adhere to at least + 21-22 ° С.
4. The first sign that the pelargonium doesn't like something is the yellowing of the lower leaves. But what exactly does not suit the beauty will have to be determined independently. Overfeeding with fertilizers, excessive watering, an incipient disease - any of these factors is reflected first of all in the color shade of the foliage.
5. If you have any difficulties with the choice of fertilizer for pelargonium, then pay attention to those products, on the packaging of which is marked "for balcony plants." It will be difficult to make a mistake here.
6. Starting from the age of 2 years, the size of the pot is not increased when transplanting. By the way, a flower can grow up to 10 years, or even more, if it is provided with suitable conditions.
7. It is not recommended to pick off old dried leaves and wilted peduncles with your hands, because there is a high probability of damaging the stem of the plant. Better to do this with a sterile, sharp knife.
8. Seeds collected on their own do not transfer the decorative qualities of parents to children. But don't be discouraged. Maybe you will be able to breed your own unique geranium variety?
9. There is an interesting observation: if a person likes the smell of geranium leaves, then everything is not right with his nervous system, and it would be advisable to check with the appropriate doctor. Those people who do not like the scent have a strong healthy nervous system.

How to grow geraniums at home? Quite simple and effortless. Do not treat pelargonium with disdain and it will thank you with clean air in the house and long bright flowering.

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Video: how to grow indoor geranium