The beauty of pelargonium recently won the universal love of our flower growers. The country geraniums on the windowsills of our grandmothers faded into the background, and the backyard landscape and home flower garden conquered new species of pelargonium that fascinate and attract with their beauty. How to grow a long-forgotten and now popular flower - let's share our experience.
Fragrant geranium, kalachik or cranberry was considered a home amulet and was grown on the windowsills of our village and city ancestors everywhere. Essential oil fragrant leaves were used against various evil spirits. Geranium purified stagnant air, removed mold and dampness, neutralized carbon monoxide. In addition, fragrant leaves treated heart ailments, relieved ear and joint pain, and eliminated depression and fatigue.
The appearance of pelargonium appearance resembling a geranium, aroused great interest in the flower. Until now, many consider the plant to be a novelty brought from overseas. It turns out that the geranium that we are used to seeing on village windows is nothing more than pelargonium.
And it’s all because of the famous botanist from Sweden, Carl Linnaeus. When describing geranium and pelargonium plants, he drew attention to the similarity of the plant seeds in the form of a stork’s beak. So both plants were assigned to the Geraniaceae family. Pelargonium or geranium is grown in southern gardens and on the windowsills of Europe and America.
Thanks to the enormous work of breeders, the most beautiful species of geranium-pelargonium with a variety of colors have been bred, double flowers, ampelous types, royal forms with unusual shape flower. Now we can enjoy the beauty different pelargoniums and successfully plant and grow flowers in gardens and on windowsills.
Pelargonium (geranium) growing and care at home
Pelargonium will delight you with flowering long time, if you follow the rules of plant maintenance and perform simple manipulations. Let us consider in detail how to care for a flower. Pelargonium blooms abundantly in spring, summer and autumn. In winter, the plant “falls asleep” and does not produce abundant flowers.
soil
Pelargonium loves loose airy soil. When planting seeds, petioles or transplanting adult plants, choose special soil for pelargoniums from trusted manufacturers. You can prepare your own soil mixture. To do this, mix turf soil, sand, peat in equal proportions and add 10% perlite to increase the looseness, air conductivity and flowability of the soil.
light
It is recommended to place flowerpots with pelargonium on western and southern window sills. The heat-loving newcomer from South Africa loves good lighting. But straight sun rays- this is not for her. Sufficient lighting will allow pelargonium to bloom profusely, and the leaves will delight you with a bright green color. Pelargonium does not tolerate drafts and wind.
The plant loves fresh air summer days When the weather settles, you should take the flowerpots out into the garden, or better yet, bury the flowers directly into the ground. This will cause the growth of new stems and leaves, and therefore flower stalks.
temperature regime
Pelargonium is not very picky about air temperature. The plant is adapted to the temperature range from 15 to 27°C. In hot summers with temperatures above 30°, the plant should be shaded. IN winter time at temperatures below 12° the flower may die. Optimal temperature regime for the plant 20-25°. In winter, watering should be reduced and the temperature maintained within 15°
watering
Wet soil important for pelargonium. But if you put on the scales - abundant or restrained watering, then the scales should tip in favor of the latter. It is better not to allow the soil to become too wet. Slightly dry soil is better than excess moisture. This may cause root rot, which will lead to the death of the flower.
Pelargoniums do not tolerate spraying. Otherwise, they may develop fungal diseases. Plants that like abundant watering and spraying should not be placed next to geraniums.
feeding
During and before flowering, the plant responds well to fertilizing. complex fertilizers for blooming indoor flowers. From March to August it is necessary to feed the plants once every two weeks.
You should strictly follow the instructions for diluting and watering flowers with fertilizers, otherwise you may get the opposite result. Overfeeding will cause the plant to become “fat” by throwing out leaves and stop blooming. Also, you should not apply fertilizers to the dry substrate - you can burn the roots. It is better to combine feeding the flower with watering.
transfer
Mature plants should be replanted or replaced every two years. top layer soil to fresh. For this purpose, use a special soil mixture for pelargoniums. flower pot shouldn't be too much large size. In more compact containers, pelargonium blooms more profusely. If necessary, a large bush of the plant can be divided and planted in separate pots.
pruning
In spring, the flower should be thoroughly pruned to allow side shoots to appear and the tops of the branches should be periodically pinched to stimulate new inflorescences. Strong pruning will avoid leafless bald patches, and young branches will form into beautiful compact bushes with flowering shoots.
Pelargonium ampelous
Selection in floriculture has reached such a level that you can’t stop admiring new types of pelargoniums with different shapes flowers and various color scheme flowers and leaves. One of these beautiful views represented by ampelous pelargonium.
This is extremely decorative look geraniums with cascading stems reaching a length of up to a meter. The presented photos demonstrate the extraordinary attractiveness of the flower and its skillful use. flower arrangements in landscape design.
Hanging and stationary flower pots with ampelous pelargonium will perfectly decorate the terrace and balcony.
Caring for ampelous pelargonium does not require much effort and comes down to general requirements growing all types of pelargoniums. But some tips on propagation should be pointed out. Ampelous pelargonium is easily propagated by cuttings. For this it is better to use mother plants 2-3 years of age.
- Cut cuttings up to 10 cm long with a small piece of woody stem.
- Remove the side leaves, except the apical ones.
- A mixture of high-moor peat with 10% perlite is placed in half-liter disposable plastic cups with drainage holes for water to escape.
- The cuttings are buried in the soil mixture.
You can also root cuttings from young plants. To do this, cut off the apical parts of the plant 1 cm below the node of the branch. Remove large leaves and peduncles, if present, and remove the leaf “skirt”. Then they proceed according to the landing algorithm described above.
IMPORTANT: Distinctive feature cuttings of ampelous pelargonium (as opposed to royal and zonal) is the lack of drying of the cuttings before planting.
Pelargonium zonal
The most recognizable and familiar type of pelargonium for us is zonal or “standing” pelargonium. The woody stems at the bottom reach a height of up to half a meter. The flowers are simple and double, have different colors and greatly decorate the plant during flowering. Unpretentious plant grown on room window sills and in the garden.
Photos of zonal pelargonium are attractive due to the decorative nature and beautiful coloring of the flowers.
Pelargonium ivy-leaved
Ivy-leaved pelargonium - elegant and very beautiful plant. The species got its name because of its smooth, bright green, shiny leaves, shaped like ivy leaves. As a rule, pelargoniums of this species are hanging plants that are grown in hanging or tall flowerpots.
With proper care, ivy-shaped geraniums bloom profusely and for a long time with single or double flowers. Care and propagation are identical to growing all types of pelargoniums according to the instructions above.
The presented photos provide an opportunity to admire the beauty of ivy-leaved geranium.
Pelargonium royal
It takes your breath away to contemplate the beauty of royal pelargonium. The size of the flowers, the number on the bush, the shape and the varied palette of shades are mesmerizing. There are royal pelargonium clubs where amateur flower growers exchange cuttings and seeds of gorgeous flowering plants.
Despite the aristocratic appearance, the growing conditions and care for the plant are the same as for other species: correct soil, good lighting, watering and fertilizing. So you can safely replenish your flower collection with beautifully blooming varieties of royal pelargonium.
Pelargonium growing from seeds when to plant
Pelargonium seeds are quite large and hard. Growing a plant from seeds is not particularly difficult. Pelargonium can also reproduce by self-sowing if the plant is planted in the garden. You can germinate the seeds of the variety you like yourself by collecting boxes of faded pelargonium umbrellas.
In addition, the seeds different types Pelargoniums are easy to purchase in specialized flower shops. The hard seed shell prolongs the pecking period of pelargonium sprouts. Therefore, experienced gardeners advise scarifying the seed before planting, that is, slightly damaging the integrity of the seed coat.
To do this, the seeds are lightly rubbed on sandpaper with the finest fraction. The main thing is not to overdo it. Seeds treated in this way germinate within a week.
IMPORTANT: Seeds collected from pelargoniums hybrid forms do not guarantee grade during subsequent cultivation.
Pelargonium is sowed in March. The technology for planting seeds comes down to the following:
- plastic cups, containers or cassettes are filled with fertile soil, compacted and moistened from a sprayer;
- seeds are laid on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a centimeter layer of soil, lightly pressed down and irrigated again with a sprayer;
- containers with seeds are covered with transparent lids, glass or film and left until sprouts appear;
- when 2-3 true leaf blades are formed, the plant should be picked into separate pots;
- after 5-6 leaves appear, you need to pinch the tops to stimulate the bushiness of pelargonium for abundant flowering.
Video about sowing pelargonium seeds
Continuation: first shoots
Growing pelargonium (geranium) from cuttings
Growing pelargonium from cuttings is simple and accessible even to beginners. Plants obtained from harvested cuttings guarantee the quality of the flower you like. Cuttings are perhaps the most favorite method of propagating pelargonium among flower growers. For cuttings, use pieces of cut shoots 7-10 cm long with leaves.
Further, the process of rooting cuttings can proceed according to two scenarios. The first is to place the cuttings in water until the roots emerge. And the second is to plant the cuttings directly in cups with fertile soil. Cuttings are grown in a shaded place. Care involves regular watering and fertilizing.
The video demonstrates how to prepare cuttings and plant them in the soil.
Features of growing pelargonium
The most important thing in growing pelargonium:
- loose and fertile soil;
- a cramped pot;
- sun and fresh air;
- regular moderate watering with warm, settled water - more intense in summer, scanty in winter;
- pinching shoots and rejuvenating haircut in spring.
Secrets of growing pelargonium
Knowing some secrets, you can achieve flowering pelargonium all year round.
- When watering pelargonium, make sure that water does not get on the stems of the plant. This may cause rotting.
- Pinching the tops of the stem will increase the release of new branches with flower stalks.
- In summer, pelargonium needs fresh air for abundant flowering. It is necessary to take the flower out into the garden or onto the balcony.
- Regular fertilizing with fertilizers will prolong and enhance flowering.
- Spring pruning is necessary to form a lush bush.
- After flowering, faded inflorescences should be removed.
Growing pelargonium from seeds in peat tablets
Peat tablets make it much easier to obtain seedlings from pelargonium seeds. First you need to prepare the tablets for sowing the seeds. To do this, they are placed in trays and filled with water little by little. After some time, the peat picks up moisture and the flat tablets increase in volume, turning into thick, wet barrels.
The pelargonium seed is placed in the center of the barrel and pressed slightly with a toothpick for better contact with the soil. The tray with peat tablets is covered with a transparent lid or glass and placed on the windowsill.
After some time, green sprouts will appear. When two true leaves are formed, it is time to transplant the pelargonium into larger pots. A peat tablet with a sprout is planted in a pot with soil, after first removing the shell from the tablet.
Then care comes down to timely watering. After a couple of months, a young green bush forms from the sprout, which needs to be pinched at a height of 7-10 cm to increase bushiness.
Pelargonium growing and care in the garden
Pelargonium perfectly decorates garden landscape. The flowers open in all their glory and shimmer with colors. Pelargonium is planted in large stationary ceramic flowerpots, special baskets, and ampelous species are hung in flower pots. You can plant several specimens of geraniums different colors in one pot and get a stunning picture, pleasing the eye with its flowering until autumn.
On the eve of planting young pelargonium sprouts in the garden, they need to be hardened off. The seedlings are taken out for several hours open air terraces or balconies. This way the bushes will get stronger and will easily tolerate replanting.
Caring for pelargoniums in the garden is very simple:
- sufficient lighting;
- preventing the soil from drying out;
- regular feeding.
IN garden centers You can purchase beautiful specimens of flowering pelargoniums. But how nice it is to create a flower miracle yourself from small seeds or green cuttings. We hope that the tips for growing beautiful pelargonium will help you decorate your garden and window sills with beautiful multi-colored armfuls of flowers.
Video of growing pelargonium
The video will show detailed steps growing pelargonium.
Bush divisions). Pelargonium hybrids that were grown from own seeds, do not have the properties of the parent. In order to preserve the necessary characteristics, they are propagated exclusively by vegetation.
Experienced flower growers are interested in growing this or that variety from seeds on their own. You can use store-bought or your own grains. A flower grown from seeds blooms more abundantly and longer than one grown from a cutting.
Features of planting material
In appearance, the flower seeds resemble coffee beans. They are located in the seed box. One of the sides is slightly convex, and the other is flat, with a pronounced dividing line. Color – rich brown. A small downy umbrella acts as a dense shell covering the seeds. After ripening, the capsule bursts and fruits appear in its place.
When flowers appear on pelargonium, you should take care of the seeds. The option of artificial pollination is possible. You can transfer pollen using a needle or tweezers. In the very center of the plant there are 10 stamens and 1 pistil with stigma. It is necessary to carefully take pollen from one flower and transfer it to the stigma of another, which should have bloomed a few days before. Pollination using this method can be done many times.
Now about how to collect ripened seeds. After pollination has occurred, 4-5 days later, the column begins to grow. The capsule fruit is pointed and elongated. The fruit will burst immediately after the seeds ripen. Slightly oblong seeds, which are covered with light fibers, hang on thin and dense threads.
Harvesting takes place when the grains are completely ripe. Dry, opened boxes are considered evidence of maturity.
Attention! It is necessary to ensure that the seeds do not fall out or germinate, because in this case, storing them will be impossible.
We invite you to watch a video about the collection and features of planting material:
Photo
In the photo below you can see what the seed looks like.
How to grow a flower?
When to sow?
Sowing pelargonium at home can be done all year round. The main thing is to provide additional light. Optimal period For the procedure, the end of February or March is considered. Later sowing threatens excessive elongation of shoots, and flowering will not appear earlier than after 9-10 months.
Preparing soil and seed material
Important! It is preferable to plant pelargonium in a nutritious and light soil that allows air and water to pass well to the root system. You can germinate seeds in purchased soil or in home-made soil.
There are several options:
- Mix equal portions of sand, peat, compost and humus.
- Combine 2 parts garden soil with 1 part peat and sand.
- Dilute peat with perlite 1:1.
Before sowing, the substrate must be disinfected: bake in the oven for a couple of minutes. This is done to avoid infection. Fungicides or manganese are also used for treatment.
Careful selection of planting material ensures that the flower grows quickly and without problems. When selecting seeds, you need to pay attention to the following:
Seeds that have the following characteristics are unsuitable:
- Small in size.
- The presence of various deformations.
- Flat.
- The surface of the seeds is covered with spots.
How to plant?
Sowing with peat tablets
- You need to take medium-sized tablets.
- Place them in a fairly deep container and fill with warm water.
- Wait until they increase 5-6 times.
- Place the seed in a special hole and then cover it a little with peat from the tablet.
- Next, the container is placed in a warm place, first covered with glass or thick film. Over the next 1-2 weeks, the first shoots will appear.
Selection of pot
To germinate pelargonium, you will need small pots, 3-4 centimeters deep. Such containers can be purchased at flower shop or do it yourself. Growing takes place in a box or pot. The container should be selected according to the size of the roots. There is no need to replant until the plant becomes crowded.
Soil selection
should be fertile and loose. Clayey, loamy and acidic soils are not suitable. Experienced flower growers It is advised to prepare the substrate yourself. In store-bought soil, the seedlings are weaker, the shoots are late, the bushes grow thin, the stems, on the contrary, are thick, the flowering is not lush and faded.
Aftercare
Humidity mode
Excessively wet soil has a negative effect on the flower. May cause a disease called blackleg. It instantly develops and destroys the plant. To avoid this disease, the pot must have a drainage layer and a hole through which excess liquid will drain.
How to water young shoots?
The watering regime must be observed. To form a beautiful and healthy bush, timely watering is required. The procedure is carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried. After planting in separate containers, water no more than 2 times a week. In winter, the frequency is reduced to once every seven days.
Growing pelargonium at home from seeds allows gardeners to get abundant flowering plant. Important conditions are the selection of seeds, compliance with all recommendations for planting and proper care for young shoots. Now you know everything about planting and caring for pelargonium.
Video on the topic
We invite you to watch a video on how to properly sow pelargonium seeds:
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Pelargonium or geranium is perennial, which is usually grown as indoor flower and which does not particularly bother you with self-care. Previously, geranium could be found in almost every house on the windowsill. Nowadays, planting pelargonium in open ground, because on fresh air you can create much more lush flower beds that will look very beautiful and rich. Our article will discuss how to grow pelargonium for seedlings, successfully care for it at home, as well as when and how to plant it in open ground.
Naturally, the most common way to propagate pelargonium is to grow it from cuttings.
For detailed and visual information on how to propagate geranium from cuttings, see the following video.
Video: propagation of geraniums by cuttings
Now on sale you can find truly a huge number of varieties and hybrids geranium seeds, variety of colors and sizes which can satisfy any desires and needs.
By the way! If you are going to grow geranium in open ground, then it is better to buy special varieties that have medium-sized, strong and hard leaves, and these are zonal geranium, ivy-leaved geranium, etc.
When to sow pelargonium seeds for seedlings
Theoretically, you can sow geranium seedlings all year round, but it is more practical to sow pelargonium seeds in the second half of winter, since as your seedlings grow, the daylight hours will increase.
Thus, optimal time sowing pelargonium seeds for seedlings is January-February (maximum in March), because It will begin to bloom only after 5-6 months, just in time for summer.
Worth understanding! For growing in room conditions, if you have the opportunity to provide additional lighting, then, of course, you can sow pelargonium with seeds at any time. But if you are planning to plant in open ground, then do it in winter or, at most, in early spring.
In principle, you can sow even in November-December, then it will bloom in the spring - in April-May.
Important! If you sow in winter or early spring, then seedlings are a must add additional illumination, because she needs 12 hours of daylight.
Video: when and how to sow pelargonium (geranium) with seeds
How to sow pelargonium seeds correctly
So that the growth and development of pelargonium seedlings goes to in the right direction, you need to select the appropriate container, suitable soil and properly prepare the seeds for planting.
Selecting a landing container
Planting containers are selected based on your capabilities and needs, as well as the number of seeds of future seedlings.
If you plan to pick, you can sow in general containers, for example, in the same plastic containers(5-6 cm high).
If it is more convenient for you to grow without picking, then pelargonium seeds can be immediately sown in individual and relatively deep containers, for example, pots or cups (8-10 cm high). Naturally, they must have drainage holes to drain excess liquid so that the water does not stagnate.
Important! If you take shallow cassettes, you will still need to transfer the seedlings from them.
If you want your pelargonium to bloom in a pot, then it must be at least 1 liter in volume.
Suitable soil
The soil for growing pelargonium seedlings should be loose and nutritious, as well as neutral in acidity. Therefore, any one will suit you perfectly universal primer for growing flowers, but in general, it is ideal to take special soil for geraniums.
It’s very good if you prepare your own substrate, which will consist of turf land, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. Instead of sand, you can use perlite or vermiculite.
Advice! To make the soil loose and soft before sowing, it can be passed through a sieve.
Seed preparation
Many gardeners quite successfully sow their seeds without any treatment, simply dry them in moist soil. But to increase germination, they should be scarified or soaked.
Pelargonium seeds can be scarified using sandpaper, in other words, slightly damage the shell so that it is easy for the sprouts to adhere. However, this must be done very carefully, otherwise you will easily spoil your seeds.
Or you can simply soak them in cotton pads in a solution (some soak them in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution) for 20-30 minutes, in addition, this will also disinfect them.
Interesting! Pelargonium seeds come in 3 types - already scarified (i.e., cleared of the hard shell), coated and ordinary. Naturally, the first 2 types do not need to be prepared in any way; they can be sown immediately.
Direct sowing
Step-by-step instructions for sowing geranium seeds for seedlings:
- Fill the containers with soil.
- Make grooves (at a distance of 3-4 cm) or shallow holes (0.5-1 cm).
- Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
- Place the seeds at a distance of 2-3 centimeters from each other.
Advice! It is convenient to spread the seeds with a toothpick.
- Sprinkle the grooves or holes with soil.
Or you can fill it with river sand.
- Moisten with water from a spray bottle.
- In order for the seeds to begin to actively germinate, you need to create greenhouse conditions, in other words, to achieve greenhouse effect, which means you should cover the container cling film or a transparent lid (if you have a food container).
- Place in a dark and warm place (above +20 degrees, according to some sources - +24-28 degrees).
Video: correct sowing geraniums for seedlings
By the way! There is quite interesting way sowing, which gives earlier and higher germination: after you spread or sprinkle the seeds, you will need to pour boiling water over them. It's that simple!
You can also sow geraniums in peat tablets.
Video: sowing pelargonium in peat tablets
Caring for geranium seedlings at home
As soon as friendly shoots appear (scarified seeds germinate within 3-4 days, just like soaked ones, but on average, most of them germinate in 7-14 days), the shelter must be promptly removed and rearranged landing capacity in a well-lit place, but where the temperature is already lower - about +18-22 degrees during the day and +16-18 at night.
Further care consists exclusively moderate watering when drying the top layer of soil using slightly warm, settled or filtered water.
Remember! Pelargonium does not like excessive watering and too wet soil.
Picking
The first picking of geranium seedlings is carried out when it has 2 true leaves. The procedure is quite standard. To do this, you will need individual containers (0.2 cups) filled with peat-based soil mixture (or again ready soil for pelargoniums), a spoon or other tool that will be convenient for you to carry out the picking procedure - remove the seedling from the common container.
Pay attention! When picking pelargonium, it is very important to carefully take the seedling, and always with a lump of earth, so as not to damage the roots young plant, in other words, use the transshipment method rather than picking (when the roots are exposed).
Video: picking pelargonium seedlings
In the future, most likely, you will need another transplant into a larger pot (0.5-1 liter), this time exclusively by transshipment.
Important! The day before transshipment, do not forget to water your seedlings well so that the earthen ball does not crumble when moving it.
Video: transshipment of geraniums a month and a half after sowing
Top dressing
Advice! After picking or transferring seedlings, it is advisable to immediately water the transplanted plants with some special fertilizer for better rooting, for example, you can use “Rooter” or “Kornevin” to root system seedlings took root better in the new place.
During the initial period of growth, pelargonium seedlings can be fed nitrogen fertilizers, For example, ammonium nitrate or urea, and then (when the plant already has more than 5-6 true leaves) it is already possible to apply complex mineral fertilizers type nitroammophoska. Also at this time you can start doing foliar feeding(per sheet) calcium and/or magnesium nitrate.
Pinching
It is not necessary to pinch pelargonium, because many varieties are genetically designed in such a way that they themselves form beautiful branched bushes.
Advice! However, if you see that the plant is reluctant to branch, then for more powerful tillering you can pinch the geranium over 5-6 real leaves.
When and how to plant geraniums in open ground in a flower bed
Certainly! Everyone is accustomed to the fact that geranium is a home potted crop, but this does not mean that it cannot be grown in open ground.
As for the timing of planting geraniums in open ground, first of all you should monitor the weather - it should already be warm enough during the day, naturally, return spring frosts should pass, which means that pelargoniums should be transplanted into the garden from the second half of May.
Planting pelargonium in open ground is more than simple:
- chose and prepared a place;
- dug the planting hole a little more sizes pot;
- they pulled the seedling out of the pot (and didn’t forget to spill it first) and put it in a new place of residence;
- sprinkled with fertile soil on the sides, compacted around the seedling;
- spilled plenty of water.
As for the planting location, the plant should not be planted too far open place, otherwise the sun will burn the leaves and the plant will have an ugly appearance and poor health.
For geraniums it is optimal to find place in light partial shade.
However! Pelargonium will bloom most profusely in a sunnier area.
It also needs to be planted in places in the garden where there is no stagnation of groundwater or rainwater.
Video: planting pelargonium in open ground - when, where and how to plant
Care for geraniums in open ground
Pelargonium tolerates drought very well - it remains green for a long time and does not fade, and it also reacts normally to high humidity (rainy weather). However, this does not mean that it does not need to be watered at all. But you need to do this in moderation!
Pay attention! Royal pelargoniums not very suitable for open ground, because Their flowers deteriorate greatly when it rains.
If you want your pelargonium to stand beautiful and bloom continuously, then be sure to get rid of faded flower stalks so that the plant does not waste its energy on ripening the seeds.
Advice! And for the winter, you can transplant geraniums into pots and bring them home.
Video: transplanting geraniums from the garden in the fall and further care
In order for positivity to be observed in the growth and development of pelargonium seedlings, it is necessary from the very beginning to choose the right planting container, suitable soil, correctly prepare and sow the seeds and responsibly care for them at home. By taking a serious approach to planting flower seedlings in open ground, you are guaranteed to achieve beautiful flowering.
