How to grow pelargonium from seeds at home?

Pelargonium from seeds at home can be grown not only by specialists. In order to decorate windowsills or facades of houses with lush flowering plants, you just need to know how to grow geraniums from seeds. It is this way of reproduction that produces especially healthy and beautiful specimens.

Selection and preparation of seeds

It is not difficult to grow pelargonium from seeds, knowing the basic rules. Geranium seeds can be bought at the store, and if you propagate the species that is already growing at home, then after the flowers have bloomed, they must be left alone so that they form fruits. Pelargonium seeds are allowed to mature fully before harvesting. Then we collect the ripe seeds and examine them. Large specimens of a dark brown color are suitable for sowing, some of them may be dull or slightly different in shades, but there should be no spots.

Oblong brown seeds with depressions on the sides are covered with a very dense skin. So that it does not delay germination, the planting material is specially prepared. The seeds are scraped with a knife or stroked several times on both sides with fine sandpaper, making it easier for the future sprout. Then they are soaked for several hours in warm water (some growers before that keep the seeds for 20-30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate or "Epin"), then they are dried.

Soil requirements

Pelargonium is grown from seeds in loose nutrient soil with low acidity. Geranium grows wonderfully in breathable, moist soil that does not retain excess water. It can be purchased at the store or made up yourself to avoid excessive mineralization. It can consist of turf and peat with sand; peat with perlite is a good mixture.

Before planting geranium (its seeds), the earth must be disinfected. To do this, it is enough to hold it in a preheated oven for 20 minutes or pour it over with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Some people advise using fungicides. It is advisable to plant one day after the procedure.

For growing geraniums at home with seeds, use a shallow (no deeper than 3 cm) wide dishes with drainage holes. A layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom, and soil is placed on top. Moisten it before planting.

Seed sowing technology

Planting geraniums with prepared seeds can be carried out all year round, but it is best to do this from February to April - it turns out to wait for flowering as soon as possible. You don't need to plant geraniums too often. Between the seeds, leave from 2 to 4 cm so that the roots do not intertwine. Seeds are laid out on a wet surface of the soil, lightly pressed with your fingers, sprinkled with loose soil on top (its layer should be no more than 1 cm thick).Then the surface is moistened with a spray bottle, covered with a transparent lid, glass or plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.

The seeds planted in this way are placed in a warm room with an air temperature of + 22 ... + 24 ° C. Illumination at this stage does not matter. Crop care consists in airing and moistening, it is important to monitor the temperature level.

Different types of pelargonium take different times to germinate. The zonal geranium can germinate in a week, and the royal sprouts will have to wait at least 3 weeks. Immediately after the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed, and the dishes are exposed to light.

Seedling care

Growing geraniums from seeds at home involves quite traditional care: the seedlings must be kept in comfortable conditions, watered and fed regularly. For irrigation, use settled (soft and clean) water at room temperature. Watering with a watering can with a long spout, moistening the ground, not the plants - geranium does not like spraying and any contact of leaves with water. This is done about 2 times a week, but a more accurate schedule determines the rate of drying of the top layer of the earth.

Starting from the age of two weeks of seedlings, it is recommended to feed it with mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. You can sometimes pour with iodine solution. Top dressing is carried out in 2-3 weeks at the same time as watering.

It is important to monitor the looseness of the soil: it must be carefully loosened between waterings so that the roots receive the right amount of air, and excess water does not accumulate.

Temperature control and lighting

Geranium does not require special conditions of keeping, it is satisfied with the air temperature in a wide range from +20 to +30 ° C, in winter it should not fall below + 10 ... + 15 ° C. Seedlings grown from seeds are best kept on the windowsill on the east or west side. She needs a day of light not shorter than 16 hours, but direct sunlight can burn delicate leaves, so the plants will have to be slightly shaded from the south side.

In the spring, young plants are planted outside, but even there, in order for the geranium to bloom more luxuriantly, it is advisable to keep it in partial shade.

Pick and pinch

Growing pelargonium from seeds requires a mandatory pick after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves. This is necessary for the full development of the root system. Each plant is carefully removed from the common dish and transplanted into separate pots or tall cups with a diameter of 10 cm.

The basic requirements for the soil are the same: looseness, nutritional value, weak acidity.

At the bottom, a drainage layer must be arranged. Further, the plants are looked after as adults. You need to replant when the pot becomes cramped. It is better to transplant from the beginning of spring, when growth is activated.

To form a beautiful ornamental plant, it is usually recommended to pinch it after every 5–8 leaves (depending on the species and variety). This should be done with clean hands or tools; it is advisable to treat the cut site with activated (charcoal) carbon. Pelargonium should be lush, but breathable and transparent.

Video "Growing geraniums from seeds"

In this video, you will learn how to grow pelargonium from seeds on your own.

Pelargonium, or simply geranium, is one of the most popular among lovers of home and garden plants. And this is not surprising at all, because it is a pleasure to grow it: it has excellent decorative properties and is very unpretentious in care. Knowing some of the rules and features of geraniums, even an inexperienced florist can cope with its reproduction.

Geranium

History and interesting facts

Geranium is a perennial or annual plant belonging to the geranium family, which has more than 400 species and forms.Its homeland is hot South Africa, but pelargonium grows almost throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in regions with a temperate climate and mountainous subtropical regions. In Europe, it appeared in the 15-16th century, and immediately fell in love with flower lovers. The name geranium comes from the Greek word geranos, which means crane.

Pelargonium

It should be noted that this beautiful plant is grown not only for decorative purposes. It has many beneficial properties: it can neutralize toxins and harmful substances, relieve headaches, and also stop bleeding and heal wounds. It is recommended to keep geranium in rooms where hypertensive patients live, as well as people suffering from nervous system disorders and insomnia.

Pelargonium zonal

In the old days, pelargonium was endowed with not only healing, but also mystical properties. It was believed that this plant scares away snakes, so it was planted around houses in places where reptiles are found in large numbers. In addition, fragrant sachets are often made from pink geranium flowers and placed next to worn things - in order to protect themselves from the evil eye, and at the same time scare away moths. But cat lovers with this plant should be careful. As you know, cats love to feast on home flowers, and the leaves of pelargonium contain poisonous substances that are extremely dangerous for animals.

Red blooming geranium

Description

Geranium is a low herb or shrub with a branched root system (except for species that grow in the mountains - their root looks like a rod). The structure and color of the leaves in different species also differ from each other - they can be green, grayish, bluish or even red, whole, with small or pronounced cuts, and in many varieties the leaves are covered with hairs.

Indoor geranium

Pelargonium flowers are large enough, have a blue, white, purple or purple hue, collected in inflorescences that look like a brush. The fruits in which the seeds ripen (this happens in late summer and early autumn) are capsule-shaped, with long valves - after ripening, they twist, scattering the seeds.

Geranium seeds

Reproduction of room geranium

Indoor white geranium

Before growing indoor geraniums, you should know several important rules:

• the best place for a pot is a well-lit windowsill, since the plant loves sunlight very much;
• in winter, it is better to keep the flower in a cool room, but the temperature should not be lower than 10 ° C;
• in order to increase the number of shoots and inflorescences, the plant should be pinched, and dried flowers should be removed;
• almost all types of pelargonium must be cut regularly;
• with sufficient nutrition and lighting, the flower can bloom throughout the year.

Growing from seeds

Seeds - photo

Red, white, fragrant, as well as ampelous pelargonium grows best in indoor conditions. Before starting planting, you should make sure that the seeds are free of hard leathery shells. Otherwise, they will need to be well sanded with sandpaper. Experienced flower growers do not name the exact time for planting, since with sufficient lighting, seedlings can grow in autumn and winter, but the period from November to April is considered the optimal time.

The surface of the seeds must be scratched with a knife or rubbed with an emery stone

1. Before sowing, the seeds should be prepared in a certain way: treated with zircon or epinin, and soaked for three hours, no more, in water at room temperature.

   By the way, for the prevention of various diseases, you can first hold the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, and then rinse and soak in plain water

   Seed treatment

2. Take containers or boxes that are filled with a mixture of turf with sand and peat (2: 1: 1) or a peat-perlite mixture (1: 1) - this is the substrate that is best suited for growing seedlings.

   Prepared pots with soil

3. Spread the seeds at a distance of at least five centimeters, sprinkle a little and cover with plastic or glass. Spray the soil constantly from a spray bottle with pre-settled water at room temperature and make sure that it does not dry out.
4. If the temperature and humidity conditions are correct, the sprouts will appear in two weeks.

   The first shoots under the film

5. The transplant is carried out when 2-4 sprouts appear on the seedlings. It is very important not to miss this moment, as the roots will intertwine and it will be very difficult to transplant. The pots must be at least 10 cm long.

   Sprout transplant

Room geranium care

Despite the fact that geranium loves moisture, it should not be in stagnant water, so a layer of expanded clay should be poured onto the bottom of the pot. Water the plants with a narrow-nosed watering can. As soon as 6-7 leaves appear on the plant, it must be pinned to stop its growth and "awaken" the lateral buds. On cloudy days, Pelargonium must be provided with additional lighting. In summer, it is better to take it outside and put it in a place protected from direct exposure to ultraviolet rays (the plant loves warm, dry air).

How to care for room geraniums

You need to fertilize the flower once every two weeks, starting from the end of March and until November, using liquid fertilizers for this. In addition, you can prepare top dressing yourself: for this, a liter of water is taken, to which a drop of iodine is added. You need to take 50 ml of this solution, and gently water the plant with it so that the liquid does not fall on the roots, but on the walls of the pot. Geranium does not need spraying.

Geranium care

Pelargonium is susceptible to a number of diseases, therefore, the plants should be regularly examined for the appearance of characteristic signs. These can be yellowed leaves, reddened leaves, gray mold, or leaf fall. Usually the reason for such phenomena is too low room temperature or excess moisture. The most dangerous disease for geraniums (especially for young shoots) is called "black leg". In this case, the base of the stem begins to darken in the plant - unfortunately, there are no radical methods of combating this phenomenon, so the infected specimens will have to be destroyed.

Geranium diseases

Reproduction of garden geranium

When choosing a place for growing garden geraniums, it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the variety. Most plants prefer sunny or semi-shaded places, but there are some that can only grow near bodies of water. So, in dry, sunny places, red-brown, Georgian and large-flowered species grow well, in the shade - Balkan pelargonium, in wet and shaded areas - Himalayan, marsh and meadow. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral and fertile enough.

Garden geranium

Garden geraniums can be propagated both by seeds and vegetatively. The first one is rather laborious; in addition, in this case the varietal characteristics of the plant are not always preserved. In addition, it is difficult to collect seeds, and some species do not form them at all. To prevent the seeds from scattering around the site, experienced gardeners do the following: they make small canvas bags in which they place the unripe fruits of the plant, and fix them well - if the fruit bursts, the seeds will be trapped in a kind of trap. It should also be borne in mind that plants that are propagated using seeds bloom only the next year.

Garden geranium seeds

To plant geraniums, seedlings can be grown from seeds in the same way as in the case of room geraniums, and then transplanted into open ground, or simply sowed into soil fertilized with peat.

Transplants

Seedling before transplanting into the ground

It is important that the planting site is large enough, since geraniums tend to grow strongly. It is also worth considering that heat-loving plant varieties do not like direct sunlight (they can severely burn the leaves), so a lace shade is best for them - for example, under the crowns of trees. Planting sprouts or sowing seeds is best done in spring or late summer.

How to propagate geranium by cuttings

Garden geranium care

The rules for caring for garden pelargonium are quite simple, and are as follows:

• the most important thing is regular watering in accordance with the requirements of a particular variety;
• in order not to loosen the soil, it is better to plant low-growing garden crops between the bushes of the plant, or to mulch the soil;
• rejuvenation or transplantation of pelargonium does not require at least ten years;

  Geranium care consists of regular watering and fertilization

• removal of weeds is also not necessary - geranium grows almost immediately, so there is simply no room for weeds;
• in autumn, they are pruned on the bushes, with the exception of winter-green species, which can winter without pruning and shelter;
• in the spring, as soon as the plants wake up (usually this happens early enough), the planting needs to be fed with nitrogen fertilizer, and after about thirty days - with a complex one;
• do not work with geraniums in too hot weather - it releases a large amount of oils that can irritate the skin on the hands.

An open and lighted place like garden geranium

Diseases and pests

Pelargonium is practically not subject to spoilage by pests, since the strong aroma of its leaves repels insects. The only exception is spider mites, which can be eliminated with a soapy solution or insecticide. As for diseases, they most often appear if geranium grows in cold, too humid places. Some of the most common plant diseases include:

• powdery mildew. The first sign is a white bloom on the leaves, after which they begin to dry out and the geranium dies. As a control measure, the infected parts must be removed, and the bush must be treated with a Bordeaux mixture;

  Bordeaux mixture

• gray rot. It manifests itself as brown spots on the leaves, which subsequently grow, and the leaves begin to curl and fall off. A diseased specimen should be removed immediately so that it does not infect the rest;

  Gray rot on geranium leaves

• brown spot. Light spots form on the underside of the leaves, which then turn yellow or brown. The disease can be eliminated with a fungicide.

  Alirin-B

Beauty geranium is an easy-to-care, unpretentious plant that will appeal to both a beginner and an experienced florist. It can be planted on a balcony, in a garden, in flower beds or at home - in any case, its bright flowers and thick leaves will become a real decoration.

Beautiful sunny flower - geranium (pelargonium)

Video - Caring for geraniums at home

Pelargonium or geranium is a flower that is very easy to care for. It will decorate not only a room, but also a balcony, terrace or garden. At home, you can grow such pelargonium as in the photo from seeds.

Features of growing pelargonium

It is worth making a reservation right away that only zonal geranium can be grown from seeds. Other species reproduce in a slightly different way.

Pelargonium Seed Selection

To avoid possible mistakes, you need to carefully select and prepare planting material. When choosing seeds, you should pay special attention to the following points:

1. Color.Quality pelargonium seeds have a rich brown color. Slight dullness and light shade are allowed.

2. Form. The developed seeds are oblong; on the sides, insignificant depressions are visible on them.

Size 3. The planting material is large enough.

4. The shell. Pelargonium seeds are characterized by a dense leathery shell.

If the planting material has all these qualities, then it can be purchased. Avoid buying small, flattened, deformed, or spotted seeds. A good result cannot be expected from planting such material.

Preplant seed treatment

As already mentioned, geranium seeds have a dense shell, which makes it difficult for them to germinate. Sometimes you have to wait for seedlings for a long time, but the seeds still do not germinate. The reason for the failure is improper seed treatment before planting or lack of it.

Before planting, geranium seeds must undergo scarification - a procedure to remove a dense film. It is not difficult to carry out this procedure on your own. This will require fine sandpaper. With its help, only the upper dense layer is removed from the seeds, and no deep breaks remain.

You need to process each seed separately, rubbing it on sandpaper several times.

Choosing a soil for growing pelargonium from seeds

Geranium prefers a light nutrient mixture that allows water and air to flow well to the roots of the plant. To germinate seeds, you can use ready-made storey soil or make it yourself. There are several options:

• mix in equal proportions peat, sand, humus and compost;

• connect two parts of garden land with one part of peat and sand;

• dilute peat with perlite in a 1: 1 ratio.

If it is possible to prepare a growing substrate on your own, then you should use it. In purchased soil, seedlings appear later, seedlings are weaker, the bush forms thin stems, flowering is scarce.

Before sowing seeds, the prepared substrate must be disinfected to avoid further contamination of the flower. To do this, it is fried for several minutes in the oven.

Advice! For soil treatment, you can use high quality ready-made fungicides or manganese. But the landing should be postponed for a day.

The most favorable time for sowing seeds is February or March. If you sow pelargonium later, then the plant is strongly stretched and blooms only after 9 months.

Sowing pelargonium seeds

Seeds are sown in shallow pots or bowls, the height of which does not exceed 3 cm. If there are no special containers, then trays from semi-finished products and any improvised container will do.

The containers are filled with a substrate and sprinkled abundantly with water, after which they are left to warm up. The recommended soil temperature is 21-22 degrees.

Prepared geranium seeds are soaked in warm water for three hours, which promotes the emergence of seedlings. Further, they are laid out on the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into the ground. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of loose substrate.

The plantings are covered with glass or a plastic bag, taken out to a well-lit place where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees.

Important! After one to two weeks, when shoots appear, the containers must be gradually opened. From this point on, you need to monitor the moisture content of the soil.

Pelargonium care after germination

In order for the plants to grow healthy and strong, to form a beautiful bush, they need to be well looked after. Geranium needs timely watering, feeding, loosening the soil, warm climate, picking and pinching.

Watering and feeding

A common mistake of novice florists is excessive moistening of the soil, which leads to an insidious disease - black leg. It develops very quickly and destroys all the seedlings. To avoid this, it is imperative to make a drainage layer in the containers for planting and holes for the drain of excess water.

In addition, the irrigation regime is also important. Seedlings are watered as the soil dries up, being careful not to flood them. After picking in separate containers, the plants are watered no more than twice a week. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to once every seven days.

The first time they feed geraniums two weeks after the pick. For this, fertilizers are used for flowering plants with a rich content of potassium and phosphorus, for example, Agricola.

The frequency of dressing is once every two weeks. In winter, the subcortex is stopped.

Lighting and air temperature

When caring for young seedlings, you need to remember their need for light. It is better to place containers with seedlings on the east or west windows. The south side will require shading from direct sunlight, which can damage delicate foliage even in winter.

During the period of active growth and formation of shoots, geraniums should be illuminated for at least 16 hours. If there is not enough natural light, then supplementary lighting is organized in the evening. In summer, flower pots are taken out onto the balcony, terrace or garden.

In the room where pelargonium is grown, you need to maintain an optimal temperature. It should be at 20-25 degrees. In winter, an adult plant can withstand a short drop in temperature up to 10 degrees. But for young seedlings, such fluctuations are destructive.

Picking and pinching pelargonium

For a plant to have a developed root system, it must be grown in separate containers.

The picking of seedlings is carried out after the appearance of two true leaves. For further cultivation, narrow and high pots are chosen, with a diameter of about 10 cm. If the seedlings are slightly elongated, then they can be buried a little into the ground.

In order for the geranium to have a beautiful bush shape and not stretch out, it must be pinched regularly.

The first pinching is carried out after the fifth true sheet. In the future, the flower is regularly pruned in spring and autumn, while all weak and thin shoots are cut out. The shaping of the bush is stopped 1.5 months before the beginning of flowering. Geranium blooms indoors three to four months after planting. The photo shows the pinching points.

As you can see, the cultivation and care of pelargonium is not difficult at all. It is enough to surround the seedlings with care, and multi-colored hats will soon appear on the windowsill. If desired, in May, pelargonium can be planted on a flower bed, where it will delight with flowering all summer. Before the onset of frost, the flower is transplanted back into the pot and brought into the room.

Zonal pelargonium is a bright and healthy potted plant. She will not only decorate the beds, but also scare off various pests.

source

The favorite of flower growers, geraniums are easiest to propagate by cuttings - this is the simplest and most reliable method, which in 99% of cases gives positive results. But when it comes to rare varieties that are difficult to find on the shelves of flower shops in an adult form, the seed method of growing comes in handy. The selection of seeds is always good enough, and with a little effort it is quite possible to obtain a rare variety of geraniums.

When can you sow seeds?

The time for sowing geraniums depends on desire and lighting. If it is possible to provide backlighting or there is enough natural light in the room, you can grow pelargonium at least year-round.

According to the recommendations and observations of experienced flower lovers, the best time for sowing seeds is considered to be the period from late autumn to mid-spring.

How to accelerate seed germination?

In order for the seeds to sprout faster, it is necessary to carry out scarification, that is, to violate the integrity of the shell. This can be done in two ways:

1. Place the seeds in a clay pot and rub them lightly with an emery stone.
2. Use a sharp knife to scrape off the brown shell from one side of the seed.

Soak the prepared seeds in water for a day.

Which soil to choose?

For successful germination of geranium seeds, the substrate must be loose.Ordinary garden soil will not work here; it is better to use lighter components for this purpose, such as peat and perlite in a 1: 1 ratio.

The best option is also a soil mixture, which includes:

• 2 pieces of turf;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part sand.

How to sow seeds?

It is good to shed soil before sowing. Lay out the seeds, leaving a distance of 5 cm between them and lightly sprinkle on top. To maintain the humidity and temperature required for germination, the pot must be covered with foil.

Spray the soil in the pot periodically to prevent it from drying out.

After one and a half to two weeks from the moment of sowing, seedlings will appear, then the film can be removed. After another week, they can be dived into separate containers. At this stage, each seedling should have at least 2-4 leaves. Before removing the seedlings, the soil should be well moistened so as not to damage the fragile young roots in the process.

Care of young geranium bushes

The first feeding of geraniums should be done 2 weeks after transplanting. In the future, it is enough to apply fertilizers twice a month, using complex preparations with a low nitrogen content, otherwise the geranium will refuse to bloom.

When a young bush grows more than 6 leaves, pinch the top of the shoot - this way you can form a compact flower and achieve active flowering.

Video about growing geraniums from seeds