Geranium Features
Geranium or Pelargonium is native to South Africa, so full sun and high temperatures are their natural habitat. They also do well in partial shade, but then bloom less.
After many years of breeding, many colorful varieties and hybrids have been created. They can be grown not only in pots and balcony boxes, but many varieties can also be used in flower beds.
Note! Geranium for the balcony, due to the variety of colors and shapes, can create a cozy, colorful corner of relaxation. even on tiny balconies. They suit any style, and the availability, reasonable price and wide selection provide almost unlimited possibilities.
The flowers of the representatives of the genus Pelargonium have a distinctive feature: their upper petals are slightly larger than the lower ones.
Flowers can be white, pink, red or maroon. The size of the inflorescence usually depends on the variety. There are large-flowered and double varieties, as well as geraniums with modest and rather nondescript flowers.
Additional Information! There are flowers with many petals, like rosebuds, that never fully open, making them look like tulips. They also have small flowers resembling pansies.
Geranium leaves can be rough, smooth or fluffy. The leaves and roots of geraniums are still used to treat many diseases. Geranium also helps with stress, neuroses and insomnia, improving the overall psycho-emotional background and increasing efficiency.
In addition, they support skin regeneration and are able to treat a number of infections, including fungal infections. This plant repels many indoor pests.
Which geraniums are best for a balcony?
Different groups has numerous varieties. Depending on the origin, type of growth and type of flowers, geraniums are divided into flower beds, ivy and large-flowered varieties.
Flower bed geraniums are the most common. They have slightly rounded leaves. They have fleshy, erect and highly branched stems. In older plants, the shoots at the base are woody. The leaves are rounded, with notched edges, on a long petiole. On the upper side of the leaf plate there is a characteristic dark pattern.
Spherical inflorescences with small flowers, rich color. Flowers come in many shades and can be solitary, semi-double or full. Due to their profuse flowering throughout the summer, they are very popular for planting in boxes and pots on balconies and terraces, as well as in beds and beds in gardens. Garden geraniums grow up to 50 cm in height.
Ivy ampelous geranium , with drooping stems, creates decorative cascades of flowers. Its leaves are shaped like ivy. Flowers come in different colors, can be single, semi-double or full. Ideal for planting in balcony boxes, hanging baskets. Ivy geranium is very resistant to drying out.
Large-flowered geranium – royal or English pelargonium, is one of the most beautiful among the large family. It has particularly attractive, brightly colored flowers, often with a darker centre. The leaves are usually serrated, sometimes smooth, soft and pubescent.
Royal geraniums were originally grown as houseplants as they start flowering in early spring, unlike garden geraniums. The plant usually grows up to 40-60 cm in height.
Multi-flowered geranium is called English. It is characterized by large, intensely colored inflorescences with a dark center. When choosing an outdoor location, choose a place protected from wind and rain, as they are more sensitive than flower bed and ivy geraniums.
Geraniums with ornamental leaves, mostly flower bed geraniums, have beautiful patterns and bright colors on the leaves. Many varieties with decorative leaves have rather delicate flowers, not as showy as other varieties.
These plants are found in groups of flower bed or ivy geraniums. Hardy and easy to care for, they are ideal for planting on balconies.
How to grow geraniums on a balcony?
Geranium flowers are very easy to grow. They owe their great popularity primarily to their excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions, diseases and pests. Caring for them is not difficult even for beginners. It is enough to follow a few simple tips to enjoy them from May until the first frost.
Where to plant?
Pelargonium grows best in a sunny place, but will cope with the shade, but the flowering will be weaker. To ensure abundant flowering, it should be regularly watered and fertilized.
Bed geraniums grow best in full sun, while ivy geraniums grow in light partial shade. Both of these groups are quite tolerant of the situation and quickly adapt to the conditions.
The temperature of the content depends on the species, but in general, temperatures up to +25 degrees during the day and up to +16 degrees at night are suitable for geraniums. Ivy geraniums should not be planted at high altitudes where strong winds blow due to their rather brittle stems.
Landing
Geraniums planted in boxes or pots should have enough room to grow. The distance between plants should not be less than 25 cm. Balcony boxes or pots should be deep enough.
The soil
When growing in pots, a special soil for geraniums is recommended, enriched with essential nutrients. It is best to buy a ready-made substrate for flowering balcony plants. They grow well in almost any soil with a pH of 6.2-7.2. It should be fertile, retaining moisture, but permeable. Holes should be made in the bottom of the pot so that excess water can freely flow out of the container.
Geranium on the balcony care
In order for them to decorate the balcony with flowers all season, you need to properly care for them.
Note! Ivy geranium is the most drought tolerant. Flower beds and large-flowered plants do not tolerate drought well.
Geraniums should always be regularly watered abundantly, even daily. In the summer heat, plants require watering twice a day – in the morning and in the evening. In other periods, water when the top layer of the substrate dries slightly. Geraniums do not tolerate waterlogging of the roots very well.
How to feed geraniums to bloom profusely?
For long and abundant flowering, geraniums require regular fertilization. It is worth buying a special fertilizer for geraniums or for flowering plants. Feed once a week. This procedure is best done when watering. Geraniums need a lot of nitrogen for leaf formation and potassium for lush flowering.
pruning
To form a beautiful bush, pelargonium must be periodically cut. Otherwise, its stems may stretch out, become bare, and flowering will become less abundant.
The best time for this pruning is spring. Most of the branches must be removed from the bush. This will delay flowering, but will rejuvenate the plant, make it more compact and add more blooms. Due to the fact that among the geraniums there are types of ampel type, the method of pruning for each of them will be different.
Geraniums bloom profusely from May until the first frost. To prolong the flowering time, dried inflorescences are regularly removed. In place of faded flowers, new ones quickly appear. WITH.
How to save geraniums in winter?
Most cultivars overwinter indoors to flower the following season. After the first autumn frosts, they should be moved to a bright and cool room at about 10°C. Wintering temperature should not exceed 14ºC. Geraniums must go through a period of hypothermia in order to bloom in the next season.
In winter, plants should be watered sparingly. As soon as the temperature rises in March-April, the plant will wake up to life. Before you take the geranium outside (after May 15), transplant it into fresh soil and, if necessary, into a larger pot.
reproduction
Geraniums can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. Cuttings can be done at any time of the year, but most often this is done in spring or autumn. This breeding process is considered quite easy, in addition, it allows you to keep all the characteristics of the variety.
When can geraniums be taken out to the balcony
It depends on the weather and the type of plants. Usually it is April and May, but sometimes March. Geraniums tolerate cold well. Taking flowers to the balcony involves daily monitoring of the weather. In spring, the day is often warm or even hot, while the night is cool and frosty.
The safe temperature at which you can leave flowers on the balcony without the risk of freezing at night is about 10 degrees. In a few days it may be several degrees lower. In case of cold weather, balcony flowers are brought into the house for the night, day or several days.
