Reproduction and cultivation of pelargonium from seeds at home (with video)
Reproduction of pelargonium at home is possible by grafting or sowing seed. Under natural conditions, geraniums propagate by seeds. Ripe seeds are vigorously thrown out of the resulting five-leafed capsule. Each seed has a spirally twisted thread, which either bends like a spring or evens out depending on the dryness of the air. The seed thrown out in this way moves like a snake over fairly long distances until it hits some obstacle - a pebble, a blade of grass, then the thread is twisted with a screw, and the seed is screwed into the ground. Growing pelargonium from seeds at home is a laborious and long process.
Seeds are sown in March in deciduous-sandy soil, sprinkled with a thin layer of sand, covered with glass on top and kept in moderate heat, protecting from direct sunlight, with uniform humidity. Seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks. After the formation of 2-3 true leaves, the plants are planted in small pots with soil of the same composition. As they grow, they are transplanted into larger dishes. To better bush, pinch over the 5-6th leaf. Watch the video of growing pelargonium and you can avoid many common mistakes:
Peculiarities
There are directions that combine plants with similar characteristics in the so-called series. They differ, most often, only in color. Pelargonium zonal series "Chandelier" is a small, compact bush (no higher than 35 cm). The leaves are round, in the middle they have a dark horseshoe-shaped spot. Flowers about 2.5 cm in size are collected in large lush spherical inflorescences of the most varied colors.
It can grow both at home and outdoors. Abundant and luxurious flowering. It usually blooms in the garden from spring to late autumn. At home, on a well-lit window and with supplementary lighting, it can bloom in winter.
Common diseases and pests
Geranium diseases are often associated with errors in plant maintenance, common diseases include:
- Rot of the root system. In connection with a fungal disease, a root rot center appears, which gradually spreads to the entire rhizome. A white or gray bloom appears on the plant, vaguely resembling a cobweb.
- Mushroom Botrutis. The stems are covered with brown zones, the plant becomes lethargic, dead parts of a funnel-shaped form appear on the leaves. Excess moisture is the cause of the disease.
- Bacterial disease. The causative agent is microbes. The edges of the leaves begin to dry out, spots are found on the leaf plates. At an advanced stage, geraniums fall off.
- Viral disease. Viral activity affects in different ways, there are many external signs, this is the darkening of leaves with spots, and the lethargy of the plant, and the cessation of growth.
- Edema. Bubbles filled with liquid appear on the plant, these places after a while begin to turn brown. This leads to yellowing and dropping of leaves and flowers. The reason is excess moisture and low temperatures.
To prevent problems with the development and growth of geranium, like any other plant, prevention is important.
For treatment, you need to create the most favorable environment, remove the affected areas of the plant, normalize the soil, lighting, watering, establish high-quality drainage, take fertilizers seriously and selectively.
The most common geranium pests are whitefly, spider mites and aphids.They can appear due to very dry air.
In the fight against pests, insecticides are the best remedy, before using them, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the geranium with running water.
Aspirin is considered an improvised tool, one tablet is diluted in 8 liters of water and sprayed on the plant, repeat the procedure after three weeks.
Features of caring for varietal pelargonium
This perennial plant is undemanding to care, but loves the sun. For a long and abundant flowering, it needs at least 4-6 hours of good lighting, otherwise the plant is strongly stretched in height and blooms poorly. The soil is desirable light, neutral or slightly acidic. Water the plant sparingly, as the soil dries out: excess water is very harmful to it and will lead to decay of the roots. But pelargonium tolerates a slight drought easily, and even begins to bloom more actively. By the way, wilted leaves and flowers should be removed so that new ones will grow instead.
In spring, to promote good flowering, the tops of the shoots can be pinched. In warm summer, when the temperature does not drop below 10-12 degrees, the plant can live outside. But, unfortunately, it is capable of overwintering in the middle lane only in the house.
Accommodation in the country
Blooming geranium large-rhizome
Ground cover geraniums
- dalmatian;
- cantabrian;
- large rhizome.
Geranium large-rhizome forms a beautiful dense leaf cover in partial shade and in the sun
A beautiful carpet is "weaved" by geraniums on the soil; in the south, even in winter, it remains green and does not lose its decorative effect.
Geranium for rockery
- blood red, dwarf forms and varieties;
- gray, or ashy and its varieties, forms.
Blood-red geranium in a small rockery and an ash-tree among stones.
Good next to gray, brown, yellow stones. In rockeries, they are successfully combined with saxifrage, armeria, chippers, iberis and other plants.
Geraniums for mixborder
- Wallich;
- Himalayan;
- cantabrian;
- meadow;
- gorgeous;
- Georgian;
- small-grained;
- Oxford.
Look luxuriously in romantic flower beds with roses and lilies of white, pink, raspberry, red colors, bringing lightness and airiness to the composition. They seem to fill the free space, making the mixborder more complete and perfect.
Geraniums in a natural style garden
- red-brown;
- meadow;
- forest;
- Oxford (with the exception of terry varieties);
- Endress.
They seem to be specially designed for natural-style gardens. Lovely, unpretentious, with no special requirements for care, geraniums are charming in compositions.
Geraniums for containers
- large rhizome;
- gray.
Geranium krupnokornevischnaya in a garden vase and ash in a pot
Photo from the site
Why not? Perennial geraniums in pots are an excellent decoration for entering a house, recreation areas, and an open terrace.
What geraniums are dear to your heart? Which of them are already growing in your country house?
If you are interested in everything related to geraniums, be sure to pay attention to a special selection of publications - there are so many interesting and useful things in it!
- Geranium: a plant for all gardening occasions
- Forest and field plants in the garden: geraniums
- Geranium krupnokornevischnaya, or toast
- Geranium is not pelargonium! Types and varieties of geraniums for the Moscow region
- From geranium to geranium: wild and garden species
- Meadow geranium to strengthen hair: a simple beauty recipe
The most common varieties of geranium
Geranium is a diverse plant not only in its external data, but also in its characteristic properties and various features:
evergreen varieties - red-brown, blood-red
varieties that can withstand prolonged drought - ash, Dalmatian, large-rhizome, Renard
- varieties that prefer shade - forest, red-brown, Roberta
- varieties that can tolerate shade - marsh, blood red, meadow
varieties that need good lighting - Georgian, Himalayan, large-rhizome, small-grained, magnificent, flat-leaved, Renard
varieties in which the leaves are originally colored - Georgian, Roberta, large-rhizome, small-grained
In addition, when planting in a flower bed, it should be borne in mind that different varieties have different flowering times.
"Raphaela F1"
This is an amazing variety of pelargonium. It is distinguished by a variety of colors, extraordinary beauty and attractiveness. Even one such plant can significantly improve and refine the appearance of an entire flower garden and bring a touch of celebration to an ordinary room. The height of Rafaella pelargonium can reach 40 cm, and the diameter of the inflorescence-buds themselves is 15 cm, the color of the flowers is always bright, juicy and saturated. The leaves are dull, dark green, to the touch as if covered with a soft and invisible down.
Stems are powerful, straight, with few lateral shoots. Pelargoniums, like any other flowers of the geranium family, have a rather pronounced specific aroma. It is easy to smell it with just a little stirring of the plants. Today there are several varieties of this variety of pelargonium.
The following varieties of pelargonium have similar characteristics:
- Rafaella White;
- Rafaella Orange;
- Rafaella Peach.
Wild geranium meadow - what kind of flower
Crane, field geranium or wild meadow geranium belongs to the Geraniev family. This plant is used as a medicinal plant. It is also a honey plant. The Latin name is Geranium pratense.
While walking through the forest, you can come across meadow geraniums
Forest geranium and meadow geranium are similar species. Unlike meadow geranium, forest geranium is not a medicinal plant. The color of its petals can be pink, red, purple, blue.
This plant belongs to the Geranium genus, so it should not be confused with Pelargonium, which belongs to a different species, but belongs to the same family.
The extraordinary beauty of flowers is mesmerizing
A brief description of where it grows in the wild
Meadow geranium lives in temperate climates in all regions of Eurasia. It grows in meadows of the steppe and dry land, in forest glades and forest edges. It can be found in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, near shrubs. She often lives near fences and barriers.
Wild geranium loves moist soil, but does not tolerate either excessive moisture or temporary drought. This flower grows in soil that contains a moderate amount of minerals. Wild geranium is a light-loving plant. It does well in open spaces with good lighting. Shading and lack of sunlight oppresses the flower and can destroy it.
Botanical characteristics and description:
- The plant has a thick and short (less than 10 cm) rhizome with bracts.
- Straight stems, about 30–80 cm high, branch off at the top.
- Near the root are wide carved leaves, divided into 7 blades. Similar leaves on the stem are divided into 5 lobes, and the leaves near the inflorescence are divided into three lobes.
- The inflorescence is shaped like an umbrella. Many large flowers appear in each of them.
- The petals are 2.3 mm long and 17 mm wide.
- The flower consists of 5 wide rounded petals of blue, bluish, violet, lilac color.
- All parts of the plant are covered with short soft hairs.
Wild meadow geranium blooms for 2 months: from late May to mid-July. Fruits ripen by August or September. This flower gives a lot of pollen and nectar.
Geranium pratense grows in meadows, forest edges and clearings
Medicinal properties and contraindications for use
Knowledge about such a useful plant as meadow geranium is passed from generation to generation. The healing properties of this flower are very diverse:
- It has anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic properties.
- Helps to stop bleeding, to numb a small wound.
- Dissolves kidney stones, bladder.
- It is a toxoid in relation to snake venom.
A decoction or infusion of leaves, flowers, crane roots is used for a number of diseases:
- bronchitis, tracheitis, other respiratory diseases;
- enteritis, colitis;
- food poisoning;
- dysentery;
- cancer;
- epilepsy;
- angina pectoris, tachycardia;
- rheumatism, gout;
- bone fractures;
- insomnia;
- angina;
- inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat;
- fever;
- various bleeding;
- abscesses, abscesses, skin ulcers;
- fistulas.
With this broth, you need to wash your hair with severe hair loss.
Despite the variety of medicinal properties, meadow geranium has several contraindications. Preparations based on this plant cannot be used for certain diseases and conditions:
- thrombophlebitis;
- thrombosis;
- increased blood viscosity;
- gastritis;
- increased acidity of the stomach;
- intestinal atony;
- constipation;
- pregnancy.
The plant contains many flavonoids, vitamins, tannins.
Garden geranium - varieties: photo
1. Meadow geranium DoubleJuel. 2. Meadow geranium Summer Skies. 3. Geranium hybrid Orkney Cherry. 4. Dark geranium Margaret Wilson 5. Jolly B. Above photo: Mrs. Kendall Clarke Geranium Variety
It is difficult to consider all types and varieties of geraniums in one article.
I only touched on those that, as they say, are in extreme positions: there are more pros or cons in their characteristics. And this does not mean at all that what I do not like or did not succeed in will behave in the same way in your garden.
Gardens are different for everyone, climatic and microclimatic conditions are also different. But I can vouch for one thing: all types and varieties that have received flattering reviews from my side will not cause you problems. And they will decorate your garden for a long, long time.
Geranium (planting).
Care and reproduction
For the full growth and flowering of the Roseanne geranium, we recommend adhering to the following rules:
- During the vegetative development of the culture, additional feeding must be made. You will need both complex mineral fertilizers and organic ones. Regularity of application - once every two weeks.
- In case of poor flowering, preventive pruning is carried out. In this case, only 8-10 cm of shoots are left. Such a procedure will not only restore the strength of the plant, but also give it a beautiful shape.
- Watering frequency is calculated based on the condition of the topsoil. As soon as the first 2 to 3 cm are dry, moisten the soil immediately. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature. Cold liquids will provoke diseases of the root system. It is worth considering that this species will more easily tolerate a short drought than an excess of water.
- After each watering, you need to loosen the soil. This will provide oxygen to the root system.
- When growing crops in a flowerpot, it is better to water through the pallet.
- You do not need to repot the flower regularly. This is done only if the root system has grown strongly and does not fit into the container or the roots are heavily flooded with water.
- When choosing a container for Roseanne geraniums, consider the fact that the culture does not tolerate a large space. It is much more comfortable for a flower in a compact container, the volume of which is 1-2 cm more than the volume of the rhizome.
- If geranium grows in the open field, then a preventive transplant is still needed. It is held every two years. It is best to carry out the procedure in early spring - at this time, the culture has recovered after a long flowering, but has not yet released new buds.
Breeding features
There are two ways to propagate Roseanne geraniums: by cuttings and by dividing the rhizomes.
- The root system is also divided in early spring. After the roots are removed from the soil, they are examined, the affected and dry parts are removed. In this case, it is imperative to treat the cut sites with crushed coal in order to prevent the development of infections.
- To plant a culture with a cuttings, cut off the process, which will have 5-7 leaves. The stalk is placed in water (it is advisable to mix it with activated carbon).After 5-7 days, the shoot will take root, and it can be transplanted into the hole.
A newly planted plant requires special care. Watering is done immediately after planting, but not plentiful. Then the soil will dry out for a week. The first top dressing is applied 25-30 days after planting.
Roseanne geranium does not give seeds, therefore, its flowering lasts until the very frost.
Roseanne is an amazing plant that can take root even in the colder parts of the country. Moreover, the plant is combined with many other crops and looks great solo.
Fragrant Pelargonium - Pelargonium graveolens and its photo
Almost all beautifully blooming pelargoniums have a rather unpleasant odor.
But there is Pelargonium (Pelargonium roseum - pink, or Pelargonium odoratissimum - the most fragrant) with small pinkish flowers, but with very fragrant leaves. The leaves are deeply cut, covered with hairs. If you rub them with your fingers, the aroma will intensify. Their smell resembles perfume. If you look at the leaf through a magnifying glass, you will notice that the hairs of the leaf consist of a single-celled vesicle - a head on a leg of four cells, called a "gland". This bubble contains a fragrant essential oil. The bubble bursts and the oil evaporates. Pelargonium fragrant in the photo looks somewhat more modest than its relatives.
This species appeared in Europe about 300 years ago, soon becoming one of the most beloved plants. It is not like other species. Currently, varieties are known whose aroma resembles the smell of mint, rose, lemon, pepper. This species is especially popular in rural areas, where it was called fragrant geranium.
