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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Michael Wright, The Complete Indoor Gardener, (New York, NY: Random House, 1974), Joan Benjamin, Great Garden Shortcuts, (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1996), over for five years in the house in the winter and outside in the late spring. Despite what you may have heard, geraniums are heavy feeders, that crave the right nutrients in order to thrive. Good Geranium care is vital for long-lasting summer color of this popular bedding plant. In pots, choose a commercial soil-less mix specified for use in pots. Geranium care These perennial houseplants require high-quality Potting Mix, which contains perlite. Pinch off dead and discolored leaves. Put each geranium plant in a pot that is at least 6 to 8” (15.2 to 20.3 cm) in diameter. In hot summer temperatures, poke a finger 2 inches into the soil in the container every day and get out the watering can if the soil is dry. Geraniums do not like to sit in soggy, compacted soil. You can, however, overwinter your geraniums and replant them every spring. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. are often container plants and, although also perennials, require more care in cold temperatures. But if you don’t know how to care for geraniums properly, you can run into plenty of mysterious problems. It's possible it may survive, the cold has made it go into a "hibernation" type of state, don't water it now but don't let it dry out completely either, add a small amount of water if you have to. All geraniums need afternoon shade if your area regularly sees summer temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Take care not to damage too much of its existing rootball. I go through the plants and toss out the ones that are totally brown and brittle. Water the pot thoroughly and place in a cool but well lit part of your house. Overwintering Geraniums. The odds are that the lush, potted geraniums brightening your patio are not true geraniums (Geranium spp. Water your geraniums once a week, or when the surface soil becomes dry. Experiment with ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum). Store the Entire Plant in Your Basement. However, they do require cool … They were too big to bring, "No specifics. Use fluorescent lighting or grow lights if you don’t have a sunny window to overwinter your plants. Prune the geranium back by one-third. Tuck geraniums into fertile, well-drained soil. You can pot your overwintered geraniums up indoors to give them a jumpstart, or if you live in warmer zones, you can pot them up outside. What Are the Soil Requirements for Geraniums? It is a resistant plant, that can even handle high temperatures, and is very easy to care for. This article has been viewed 154,287 times. Stop fertilizing and limit water to once a week, keeping the plants on the dry side, while they are in the house. At the same time, trim stems by one-third to encourage branching. What does make a difference is the size: the larger the pot, the bigger the plant can grow. I go through the plants … Or, add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil mix when you plant the geraniums in the pot - it feeds them all season. Try new plant combinations and change to larger containers. Few flowers look as good in a pot as these do. Every third watering, add Epsom salts - magnesium sulfate - to the plant water - 1 teaspoon per 1 gallon - to provide magnesium. Last Updated: November 4, 2020 How to Care for Fall Mum Plants in Containers. Both require plenty of sunlight, careful watering and light levels of fertilization. Feed your geraniums every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. Geranium Care: Pinching, Pruning and Deadheading Getting geraniums to germinate is the first part of growing, but getting them to flower is something entirely different that requires pinching. If your unheated room doesn’t have a sunny window, you will have to provide at least 6 hours of artificial light every day. Although commonly called geranium, this well-known potted plant is actually a Pelargonium. Combine them with other annuals like Lobelias, Bacopa, Millionbells or pansies for a great summer display. ", "Really helpful in easy to understand terminology, with good supporting pictures. Care and Feeding When purchasing geraniums/pelargoniums, check the root base to see if it has been propagated by using a foam “plug.” This “plug” allows growers to get plants to market quickly - but will eventually kill the plant if it isn’t removed. Snip off the faded flowers of potted geraniums. One of the most common flower in gardens and balconies is the geranium, which gives life to any corner with its colours. Potted geraniums can be spotted in just about every neighborhood in the spring. When and how you do this depends on the time of year and whether your geraniums have been grown from cuttings or just been overwintered indoors. Watch for the geranium to bloom in late spring; it continues to bloom until frost. Next, I take the plants out of the paper bag(s) and cut them down to just a couple of inches. There are several ways to overwinter your geraniums, but we find the best way is to plant them into boxes or pots in a multi-purpose compost. To prevent this, water only when the top inch of the potting mix is dry, and make sure that moisture can easily drain away through holes in the pot. One of the most common flower in gardens and balconies is the geranium, which gives life to any corner with its colours.It is a resistant plant, that can even handle high temperatures, and is very easy to care for. For maximum bloom, place the plants in an area where they will get 4-6 hours of sunlight. Place plants in pots with drainage holes to avoid root rot. Balanced, water-soluble fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer. Geranium is an enchantment in the garden and on the deck all summer long.. Main Geranium facts. Good drainage is essential to geraniums so choose containers with adequate drainage holes. Geraniums prefer a slightly acidic soil. Fill the container in the well-prepared potting soil. Feeding geraniums with the right geranium fertilizers requires some knowledge about this plant’s specific requirements. Authors for creating a page that has been read 154,287 times of direct sun a day, if,. So I will do all 3 steps immediately provides the best flowering, but they will tolerate part.... Up healthy plants and, although also perennials, require more care in pots is very easy care... Resistant plant, that can even handle high temperatures, and it can ’ t a... Hours of sunlight ( not heavy, clayey soil ) when planting in containers or flower beds, geraniums actually... 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