Choosing an ampelous plant for the garden and home

Differences between the ivy-leaved plant and the usual

Important. The ampelous geranium got its name due to its well-developed, flexible, cascading shoots, the length of which can reach 90 cm. In ordinary geraniums, the stem is erect, small in size

In ordinary geraniums, the stem is erect, small in size.

The ampelous variety differs not only in the length of the shoots, but also in the leaves. In geranium, the leaves have a velvety surface, in ampelous - a leaf plate:

• smooth;
• dense;
• leathery.

Outwardly, it resembles an ivy leaf, so sometimes the plant is called "ivy pelargonium".

Peduncles are formed in the leaf axils.

Flowers of ampelous geranium with a diameter of up to 4 cm are collected in large inflorescences-umbrellas. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be simple or double.

The color of the petals is bright and spectacular, in all shades of pink and red. Some hybrid varieties have spots and stripes of a contrasting color or border on the petals.

Ampel species are very popular with florists and landscape designers. Unlike other types, the ampelous form has a number of advantages:

• leaving is not difficult;
• can be grown as a perennial form in indoor conditions or as an annual in a personal plot;
• long flowering period from spring to the first autumn frosts;
• suitable for hanging gardens;
• tolerates direct sunlight well;
• drought-resistant;
• tolerates a slight drop in temperature well.

Attention. The plant has only one drawback - with high humidity, the root system and geranium stems rot.

Ampel geranium - types, description

Outwardly, the flowers of the ampelous geranium resemble peonies. Flowering lasts a long time, from spring to late autumn. The flowers have a rich color gamut, there is only blue and bright yellow, you can often find:

• Scarlet;
• White;
• Lilac;
• Pink;
• Red.

The flower should always be located in a well-lit room, otherwise it will have sluggish stems with pale leaves.

This species is rarely seen in vertical gardening. Pelargonium ampelous is more suitable for hanging gardens. Where did the name curly ampelous geranium come from. The main feature of ampelous geraniums is in flexible shoots, which can reach a length of 90 cm. They can hang and curl beautifully. In nature, geranium is a perennial shrub that grows in mountainous areas. In addition to its attractive appearance, the plant is distinguished by its endurance.

This type of pelargonium is called ivy, due to the special structure of the leaves, whose shape resembles ivy leaves. The leaves are very hard to the touch, which even some take for artificial, but this is not so.

Important! The leaves of this species of geranium are glossy, and not covered with fluff, like those of its closest relative, the zonal Pelargonium. The ampelous geranium does not need special care at home, since in nature it grows in mountainous regions

A well-lit loggia or window sill is enough. When growing seedlings, do not get too carried away with watering, otherwise the plant may die. In the summer, it is recommended to water, feed and pinch geraniums

The ampelous geranium does not need special care at home, since in nature it grows in mountainous regions. A well-lit loggia or window sill is enough. When growing seedlings, you should not get too carried away with watering, otherwise the plant may die.In the summer, it is recommended to water, feed and pinch geraniums.

Note! Pelargonium can be grown either from pruning an adult plant or using a seed. If you overdo it with watering in winter, it will be the main cause of diseases and bad roots in the plant.

What is the difference between ivy geranium and ordinary geranium

Ivy-leaved geranium (pelargonium) refers to ampelous plant species that are capable of producing rather long shoots hanging down from flowerpots, or curling along the wall. In ordinary geraniums, the shoots are short, the leaves are large and rather fragile. In ampelous geranium species, the shoots are quite strong, flexible, capable of supporting the weight of leaves and a large number of flowers. The leaves of the ampelous geranium species are five-pointed, large, smooth, with a matte sheen, without a cannon on the surface. In shape, they are very reminiscent of ivy leaves, which loves to curl along vertical surfaces.

Pelargonium ampelous (ivy)

Home geranium

Flowers in ivy geraniums are always bright, large, and fluffy. It is they who are the most important decoration of the plant. Very often, the flowers are collected in large inflorescences at the top of the shoot, which gives the flowering plant the appearance of a fluffy multi-colored cloud. Some breeders plant several varieties of ivy geraniums with different colors of flowers in one box or pots at once. This allows you to create a real extravaganza of color and unusually decorate a loggia or balcony.

Ivy-leaved pelargonium

The most popular varieties of ampel ivy geranium. table

Name	Description
Amethyst	Ideal for balcony cultivation. Flowers are large, double, collected in bright inflorescences. The shoots grow rapidly to form a lush basket. The basic colors of the variety are bright crimson, purple, dark pink.
Crocodile	This variety is distinguished by an unusual color of leaves: golden frequent streaks stand out brightly on a green field. Semi-double flowers, painted in coral or purple color, collected in large inflorescences. During the growing season, the plant quickly forms a compact basket.
Ice rose	This variety looks like a rose because of the strongly double large inflorescences. The petals of the flowers of this geranium variety are white. The plant forms a compact shrub that is abundantly strewn with beautiful white flowers.
Jacky gauld	Another variety that amazes with its abundant flowering. Flowers are white, double, with a lot of petals. The bushes are large due to the abundant branching of the shoots. The highlight of this variety is that in the open sunlight, the snow-white petals eventually acquire a pink or purple hue, which looks very unusual.
Mrs. Martin	This variety impresses with its abundant flowering and beauty. Large double flowers are always collected in large inflorescences. When blooming, the geranium bush looks like a lacy cloud, which can be pink or light lilac. Plants are unpretentious and are characterized by fast branching of shoots and the formation of a large basket.
Rouletta	The flowers of this variety have a bright and unusual color: white large petals are surrounded by a rich crimson border. This variety of geraniums is classified as compact, since the height of the bush does not exceed 25-30 cm. It blooms very profusely, unpretentious to watering.
Tornado lilac	The variety is distinguished by a compact bush that is densely dotted with bright purple flowers. The top petals of each flower are decorated with purple veins. The variety is distinguished by exuberant flowering even in winter, it is unpretentious.
Rhapsody	This variety is distinguished by its very large and fluffy flowers, the upper petals of which are more intense in color than the lower ones. Most often, the flowers of this variety are painted in a deep burgundy color. Differs in abundant flowering, large bushes with wide glossy leaves and branched shoots.
PAC Red Sybil	The flowers of this variety of geraniums are painted in bright red, strongly macular, with large petals. The bush is quite compact, not too tall.The leaves are green, without spotting, internodes on the shoots are short.
PAC Tomcat	The flower petals of this variety have the most intense color among all types of geraniums - maroon. The variety is distinguished by abundant flowering, the bush forms a compact lush basket. The leaves are green, with a glossy sheen. without spotting.

Pruning an old plant after flowering, taking cuttings

After the end of the flowering of the mother plant, the apical cuttings are cut from it for rooting. Pelargoniums are very susceptible to fungal diseases, so it is advisable to make a cut on the mother plant above the node and be sure to treat the cut with a fungicide, sprinkle it with charcoal or sulfur, these measures will reduce the likelihood of stem rot. It is optimal to carry out cuttings in a warm season, this also reduces the risk of disease. It is better not to remove old leaves that remain on the plant at this time, as lateral shoots will soon begin to grow. As young shoots grow, old leaves are removed. As soon as young shoots grow 8-10 leaves, they are pinched.

To make the crown uniform and stimulate good flowering, old specimens immediately after the winter rest are pruned, frail and diseased shoots are removed, long shoots are shortened, leaving 2 to 5 buds on each shoot. It is undesirable to carry out pruning in the fall, since at home, without strict adherence to the cool wintering conditions, weak lateral shoots are formed, which will have to be removed.

Description of pelargonium grandiflora

Royal pelargonium is a close relative of the zonal variety of culture. But it cannot be found in natural conditions, since it is obtained by crossing other species. Therefore, the plant differs from its counterparts not only in appearance, but also in its whimsicality to the conditions of detention.

Pelargonium grandiflora is distinguished by exquisite flowers

History of the century

The first varieties of grandiflora appeared at the end of the 18th century and were of English origin. They were obtained as a result of improved flower size in common species that were introduced from the Cape Province of South Africa.

But already in 1834, French breeders made their own adjustments to the process of obtaining royal pelargonium. Therefore, during this period, varieties and species appeared with contrasting veins and two bright spots on the upper petals. This group of royal pelargoniums was named the Diadeatum.

The decisive step in the selection of grandifloras was made by the gardener James Audier, who managed to achieve that the veins on the petals turned into spots, and in the end there were 5 pieces per flower.

Peculiarities

Geranium grandiflora, as the common people sometimes mistakenly call the flower, forms a bush up to 50 cm high and at the same time grows more in width than up. Her leaves are densely located on the shoots. The plates are large, rounded, rough to the touch, serrated along the edge. They can be light or dark green in color. The root system is fibrous.

The bushes of the grandiflora are compact

In the royal variety, the flowers consist of 5 petals. Moreover, the top three are much larger, and the bottom two are smaller. The petals go over each other. Flowers can be simple or double. The color of the petals is very diverse: from white, pink and orange to red and dark cherry. The petals can be corrugated and wavy, have a bright spot or stripes.

Attention! The difference between grandiflora is that the peduncles do not rise above the foliage, as in other species, but are located at the same level. During the flowering period, the bush is an unforgettable sight, for which the royal pelargonium fell in love with flower growers

Due to the high decorative qualities of the plants, it is widely used to decorate glazed balconies, terraces, loggias and home interiors. The flowering period for grandiflora begins in April-May and lasts for 3-4 months, depending on the conditions of detention.

At the same time, pelargonium grandiflora is not intended for growing in the garden, since it does not bloom in the open field.

The plant is characterized by rapid growth - at the end of the first season, you can get a compact bush with a height of 20-30 cm, and already in the next season, royal pelargonium reaches a standard size. As they mature, the shoots lignify below, like in other species.

Important! The variety of grandiflora does not have a characteristic smell of pelargonium, but some varieties during flowering exude a delicate aroma combining shades of rose, lime and mint

Top dressing of ampelous pelargonium for lush flowering

During the flowering period, geraniums need feeding. You can help the flower during this period with the help of various fertilizers, which are added to the soil throughout the spring and summer.

In this case, a complex of mineral fertilizers comes to the rescue. Also, flower growers sometimes use milk as a top dressing. But you should be careful, beforehand, just like other fertilizers, you need to dilute it with water.

Lush flowering of ampelous geranium at home after proper care

Important! Organic feeding is not suitable for ampelous geraniums. For fertilization purposes, substances such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium sulfate are also used, which also need to be diluted with water.

For fertilization purposes, substances such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium sulfate are also used, which also need to be diluted with water.

Ivy geranium: care and reproduction

In order for a plant to grow and develop normally, you need to know certain rules. Ivy geranium is almost always accepted. There are several secrets that will help keep geraniums from drying out, falling leaves, so that the houseplant blooms and grows in size. Caring for this type of plant is completely identical to that which is present in the agricultural crops of the garden.

Ivy ampel geranium care, reproduction, requires the following:

• in order for pelargonium ivy to feel good, you need to prepare a special soil. The following components should be present in equal proportions: peat, sand, sod and leafy earth;
• in the summer, you need to water the geranium 2 times a day. You need to use water at room temperature. The land should be treated with a spray bottle;
• periodically you need to trim the bushes of the flower, removing the lower branches. You should get a mini-tree with a profusely blooming crown;
• before winter, trimming of all shoots is required except for the central one, on which no more than 6 leaves are located.

Geranium seedlings care

For your information! The main condition is the frequency of actions. Do not forget about watering, pruning branches, sometimes fertilizing the soil. Caring for ivy pelargonium is not difficult if you follow these rules.

Growing from seeds

Geranium propagation can occur from seeds. Germination of planting material occurs within 1-2 weeks under normal conditions. In order for the seedlings to germinate accurately and be strong, you need to take into account several nuances:

• choose high-quality planting material. Each seed should be brown. Each specimen should be firm and slightly oblong;
• preparation of seeds. If the material is purchased, then there will be no problems with this, since the seeds have already been processed. Home copies must be sanded with sandpaper, treated with special agents and soaked in water;
• prepare loose soil, which should have an appropriate composition. It is better to buy a ready-made one in an agricultural store;
• pick up a container for sowing. You need to choose not too high flowerpots. This will make it easier to root the plant;
• how the sowing is carried out: put drainage on the bottom, fill up the soil, and then the seeds at a distance of 5 cm from each other, sprinkle them with soil 2 cm and spray from a spray bottle. After that, put the flowerpot on the windowsill and cover with glass.

Growing geraniums from seeds

Note! It is better to purchase planting material in a specialized store. The purchase will cost more, but the quality will be 100%

The growing process itself is elementary: moisten the soil in accordance with the need, open the glass for a few minutes a day. After the first shoots appear, standard care is carried out as for ordinary seedlings.

Reproduction of ampelous geranium by cuttings at home

Geranium can also propagate by planting cuttings. This option is relevant for novice florists. It is better to cut the cuttings in the spring. At this moment, not only the splitting off of the processes occurs, but also the cultivation of the plant. If there is no need to trim excess branches, then you can pinch off the cuttings in autumn or winter.

First, you need to properly cut the twig, which will later become a process. Cutting of ampelous pelargonium is carried out in accordance with the following algorithm:

1. Select a twig. The shoot should be 10-12 cm long and have at least 5 leaves.
2. The cutting is being prepared. After splitting off, treat the cut with a special tool. Put on paper to dry the twig. Enough 6 hours.
3. Prepare the soil by pouring it into a container. At the bottom of the container, drainage must already be formed before this.
4. Dig each twig 1-1.5 cm deep. Tamp the earth well around the trunk.
5. Moisten the ground with a spray bottle.

Propagation by cuttings

Note! The stalk should not be placed in water. The twig will not start up the roots, but will simply rot

The seedling will take root in 2-3 weeks. During this time, 1-2 leaves may turn yellow and fall off. If the trunk begins to dry, then the plant receives too much moisture.

2 Growing conditions

Unlike its unpretentious "relatives", ampelous pelargonium has a more capricious character. In order for the plant to please with healthy foliage and abundant flowering, it needs to create certain conditions:

• Like other plants from Africa, Pelargonium ivy prefers well-lit places. In an apartment, a south window is best suited for her. Alternatively, accommodation is possible on the east, south-east or south-west side. When grown outdoors, slight shading is acceptable.
• In the garden or on an open balcony, it is worth protecting the plant from drafts and strong gusts of wind, which can damage long shoots.
• The optimum temperature range should be within + 20- + 25 ° С. In summer, you need to ensure that the pelargonium does not overheat in a hot room; in winter, the flower should be kept away from heating appliances.
• Pelargonium ivy is undemanding to watering. On the contrary, excess or stagnant moisture can lead to disease or death of the flower. Water the plant after the top layer of soil dries out by 1-2 cm. Excess moisture from the pallet must be removed 1 hour after watering. During watering, water should be avoided on the leaves and inflorescences.
• Fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers is mandatory during the growth period from March to October. In this case, additional food must be made 2-3 times a month. Top dressing with a high nitrogen content is not suitable for ampelous geraniums, as they stimulate the growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering. Nitrogen can be applied only in early spring for better growth of young shoots and foliage.
• Air humidity for ivy geranium does not play a special role. It is not necessary to spray the plant specially. Such a procedure can even harm the flower - cause rotting processes in cool weather or provoke burns on hot days. The plant tolerates drought well and does not like humid climates.
• For the treatment of fungal and viral infections (rust, black leg, chlorosis, mosaic), fungicidal preparations are used. Insecticidal products help to get rid of pests if they appear.

Curly pelargonium is dormant in winter.At this time, caring for a flower is significantly different from the conditions that it needs in spring and summer:

• It is preferable to keep the plant at an air temperature of + 12- + 15 ° С, however, the thermometer should not fall below + 8- + 10 ° С. If the apartment is warm and there is no way to lower the temperature of the content, pelargonium will have to be additionally illuminated until the summer length of the day.
• Water less often and less abundantly, about 2-3 times a month.
• Do not apply top dressing during the dormant period, so as not to stimulate the flower to premature growth.

Compliance with these conditions guarantees a good "well-being" of ivy-leaved pelargonium and abundant long flowering in the warm season.

It is undesirable to use organic fertilizers as top dressing for ampelous geraniums. The best option would be complex preparations released specifically for pelargonium and surfinia.

Reproduction

Ivy geranium is propagated by two methods: seeds and cuttings.

Seeds

This method allows you to get a lot of planting material, although you can buy it in a specialized store. But only sowing seeds is a complex process that requires adherence to the following recommendations:

1. Sowing planting material is necessary from November to April. In winter, the sprouts need additional lighting.
2. For the development of a powerful root system, the soil must be loose and light.
3. Sow seeds in peat pots or tablets. Close them up no deeper than 5 mm.
4. Cover the container with crops with plastic wrap.
5. It is better to use a spray bottle to water the seedlings.
6. 30 days after the first shoots appear, you can pick and plant the plants in separate containers. From this point on, it is necessary to fertilize the geranium.

We suggest you watch a video about planting ivy geranium seeds:

Cuttings

This breeding method is used most often. Consider how to prepare planting material and root the cuttings in the ground. Procedure:

1. Using a sharp knife, cut the cuttings from the tops of the vertical shoots. Do this in August or March.
2. Choose shoots that are at least 7 cm long. They should also have 2 leaves.
3. After cutting, dry the shoots for 15 hours and treat with activated carbon powder.
4. Root the planting material in loose soil. The cutting should not be deepened by more than 4 cm.
5. Cover the container with a non-woven material that allows air to pass through well and does not form condensation.

We suggest you watch a video about ivy-shaped geranium cuttings:

Read more about the reproduction of ivy-leaved ampelous geranium and subsequent care here.

Differences

Although there are many similarities between the bushes, there is also a difference. Experienced growers know her.

• It is impossible to cross geranium and pelargonium. By crossing plants, botanists do not get seeds. All due to the fact that they have different genetic codes.
• Geranium was first discovered in the temperate zone in the Northern Hemisphere, and pelargonium in the southern regions. Therefore, the first blooms if the room temperature does not rise above + 12 ° C, and the second withers away during such wintering.
• It is not necessary to leave pelargonium on the window in the summer if there is a gazebo or loggia. With the first frosts, they bring the pot with it into the house and put it in its original place until next summer. Geranium grows and hibernates successfully in open ground without shelter. But this method of growing is not suitable for the Far Eastern, northern regions with harsh climatic conditions.

Application

The difference in the use of geranium and pelargonium is based on the fact that they belong to different genera in the Geranium family and have different characteristics. When grown outdoors, geraniums are planted in small groups in the country or in the front garden next to the house.

Geraniums fill the voids in the flower bed, ennoble areas in the shade where other flowering plants are hard to take root, and green up the hills, digging into the soil with strong roots. Pelargoniums are often bred as houseplants.Rarely they are planted in the beds for the summer, terraces or loggias are landscaped with their help.

External signs

Despite the fact that pelargonium and geranium have similarities in appearance, there are still more differences. Being a southern beauty, pelargonium has not adapted to the Russian climate. She is bred at the window. On the first warm days (when there is confidence that there will be no frost), they take out the flowerpot with her on the veranda or loggia, and in the fall they bring it back into the room and put it on the window.

Pelargonium is pretentious about the quality of lighting: the better it is, the richer the flowering.

Sometimes the sunlight is not enough. If you do not supplement pelargonium with fluorescent lamps, it will not bloom.

Blooming pelargonium has irregular buds, with 3 lower petals smaller than 2 upper ones. They form large inflorescence umbrellas. The color of the buds depends on which species this or that representative of the genus belongs to. They can be monochromatic (white, dark red, pink) or two-colored. Blue, purple and blue buds will never bloom on pelargonium.

The genus Geranium is numerous. In the forest and on the lawns, there are wild representatives of it with blue and purple buds, and in the squares there are garden ones (varieties "Gruzinskaya", "Melkotychinkovaya", "Ash") with a different color.

They have 5 or 8 correctly positioned petals. They are either single or with a half-umbel inflorescence.

Gardeners like geraniums because of their simplicity. It will not die in the open field in the cold winter, even if it is not covered with a white non-woven covering material (agrotex, spantex). It is left for the winter, without pruning the leaves in the fall.

Care

Plants are taken care of differently. What the geranium will carry will be the doom for the pelargonium. Below is a comparison table for clarity.

For an illustrative video about cultural differences, see below.

Output

As we found out, garden geranium is a very beautiful and at the same time unpretentious plant to care for. Therefore, these flowers are an excellent choice for summer residents and gardeners who want to concentrate on growing other crops.

You can get some additional information on this topic from the video in this article.

Garden geranium is a favorite culture of flower growers. Because of the beautiful inflorescences and decorativeness of the bush, it has become popular. The name of the flower is associated with the shape of the fruit, which resembles a crane's beak or a stork's beak.This flower is called differently in different countries: in Germany it is "stork nose", in England and America - "crane", in Bulgaria - "health resort". In Russia, this flower got its name from the Greek word "geranium".

Geranium is an unpretentious, widespread plant. It appeared in the 17-18 centuries in the south of England, in Europe, today it has up to 280 species. Currently, new varieties of garden geranium have been developed. They are perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions of our country, they tolerate winter well and are highly resilient. Garden geranium attracts specialists and amateurs in the field of selection for its amazing quality - ease of cultivation.