How to Grow Geraniums in Pots

They are content with a simple pot. They don't require much water or special care, other than natural, effective, and periodic fertilization. geraniums They bring cheer, indoors and out. Easy to grow and care for, geraniums are a perfect plant for decorating terraces and balconies during the warmer months with their beautiful colors. Capable of creating splashes of color that are clearly visible even from a distance, geraniums come in many varieties (these are the most important: zonal, ivy, variegated, interspecific, angel, regal, and scented). They love partial shade and coolness. Let's see, step by step, how to grow geraniums in pots and how to care for them to always have lush flowers with vibrant, vibrant colors.

Index of topics

Origins

Geranium, whose scientific name is Pelargonium, belongs to the grass family: it grows in various habitats, mostly warm, but its native soil is South Africa. From there, geraniums were imported to Europe, especially to the Mediterranean regions which have a climate more suited to this type of plant. The name derives from the Latin geranium , meaning crane, and evokes the crane's beak shape of the fruit produced by the plant. Geraniums love Mediterranean temperatures and thrive between 15 and 25°C. However, they cannot tolerate very high temperatures, except for some varieties native to areas with very hot summers. Those of Caucasian origin prefer full sun, while those from mountainous areas require partial shade. This is an undemanding plant, but to thrive, it requires fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil. Place a layer of gravel and a good universal potting mix at the bottom of the pot.

Variety

There are approximately 1.000 varieties of geraniums, of which a quarter are wild. The most common ones for our crops are these:

Fragrant Geranium

Certainly the most fragrant, and also the one with the greatest variety of colors, and velvety to the touch. Due to its intense, pleasant scent, it is ideal as a mosquito repellent, and once the flowers are dried, as a linen freshener. At home, the ideal location is in the kitchen.

Zonal Geranium

This is the most common and widespread species, and is called zonal because the color of the flowers is more intense in the central area. There are many flower varieties, and this plant is well suited to being grown on a balcony or in front of a window.

Geranium Ivy

It grows in a cascading pattern, with tendrils that can reach up to 1,5 meters in height. It's a self-cleaning variety, as the dry stems fall off on their own and don't require pruning, making this type of geranium highly prized by those who don't want to do too much maintenance.

Variegated-leaf geranium

The name itself suggests this geranium has a distinctive characteristic: its leaf colors, ranging from green to yellow and brown. It's a discreet, unobtrusive, yet very elegant variety.

Imperial Geranium

It's considered the most refined variety, with large, intensely colored flowers. The only drawback is that this variety's flowering period is shorter than the others.

Where are they planted?

The simplest technique for propagating geraniums is dividing the clumps. Alternatively, around the months of April and May, it is possible to multiply geraniums by cutting.

Take the cutting from the strongest shoots about 10 cm long: cut immediately below the node with a sharp knife to avoid fraying the tissues, clean and disinfected if possible with a flame.
Plant the cutting and cover the pot with cling film to ensure warmth and humidity.

Cultivation in pots

Geraniums are repotted in spring using peat and clay soil. Pots should be proportionate to the size of the plant: not too large, otherwise the roots will take up too much space, at the expense of leaves and flowers. When repotting, carefully inspect the container for cracks or breaks. If there are traces of moss on the surface, especially in terracotta pots, or slugs or spider mites, give it a thorough clean with hot water and a brush. Finally, when repotting, geraniums should be shortened by about a third (if the branches are too long, remove any yellow or dry leaves).

Cure

Don't overdo it with the manuring and, during the period of vegetative recovery, generally between the end of February and March, use an organic fertilizer capable of promoting growth and flowering.

Watering

While during the winter season, it is good water Water geraniums only occasionally; in summer, however, the plant requires more water. Increase watering as new leaves develop and avoid any waterlogging: before watering again, make sure the soil is completely dry.

Pruning

Remove the faded flowers and the leaves yellow to allow the production of new leaves and flowers. During the month of July, at the end of flowering, cut the plant close to the ground to encourage a possible second flowering for some varieties.

Flowering

During bud formation, it is useful to avoid keeping the plant in full sun to encourage intense color.

How to care for them in winter

During the winter, geraniums must be protected from intense cold and frost: as mentioned, reduce watering and remove dead flowers and leaves. If you keep the plants on the balcony, place them in a well-protected corner. If you decide to move them indoors, choose a bright spot and avoid placing them near fireplaces or radiators. In case of snow and very cold temperatures, suspend the already sporadic watering to prevent the soil from freezing and killing the plant. When caring for your geranium, be careful to remove faded flowers and a few buds from the most blooming tops (to avoid overworking the plant), and cut the leaves with scissors (but don't tear them off) to within half a centimeter of the base. Finally, remember to turn the soil frequently to allow the plant to breathe.

The video provides some useful tips on how to care for geraniums:

What to do to have beautiful geraniums

To summarize, there are 5 essential things to do to have beautiful geraniums:

Place the geranium in the light, but without letting the sun shine on it.
Water regularly, without overdoing it and avoiding waterlogging. If you feel the water is too hard, with too much calcium and magnesium, let it sit overnight in the watering can with a handful of peat moss in the bottom.
use natural fertilizers
When you buy a geranium plant, check that it is compact and with the buds still closed.
In a pot or in a box, it doesn't matter: but transplant the geranium plant shortly after purchasing it.

Problems and remedies

Geraniums can be attacked by aphids and geranium moths: use natural insecticides as soon as you notice the first moths or damage. And if that doesn't work, switch to products specifically designed for these insects.

How to grow geraniums