Geraniums - cultivation, care and propagation of flowers
Contents
pelargonium , popularly known as geranium, nutmeg or geranium , is one of the most common types of summer flowers, which is often kept on the balcony due to abundant and long-lasting flowering , and blooms from early summer to late autumn.
Types of geraniums
In addition to the shrubby, zonal, hanging geranium that is grown in pots, boxes or garden beds ,
there is also the geranium creeper that can decorate the walls of summer terraces.
This South African flower arrived in Europe in the 18th century,
and after years of cultivating and crossing different types of geraniums,
today we have different colors of flowers available, from purple, several shades of red, pink to white.
Pelargonium has fragrant, velvety leaves , and may have simple or full flowers . Shrubby geranium grows up to 90 centimeters.
Propagation of geraniums
Growing this plant from seed is unprofitable in smaller quantities, so geraniums are propagated by cuttings .
The best time to propagate geraniums is August , when the flowers are most lush.
Cuttings are best transplanted into a pot filled with a combination of sand and peat.
Young plants should be left in a sunny and airy place ,
and in the spring they should be transplanted into larger pots or boxes, in fresh soil for flowers.
The soil needs good drainage as the geranium root does not tolerate much moisture.
Growing and caring for geraniums
Geranium will bloom all year round if exposed to the sun and temperatures higher than 13 degrees Celsius .
The most lush flowers are achieved by placing the plant in an airy and very sunny place,
so it is best to keep it on balconies facing south.
Too little moisture does not suit these flowers, so it needs to be watered only occasionally ,
when the soil is completely dry within 2 inches. For high heat watering may be more frequent.
When watering, only the soil should be moistened because too much moisture on the leaves or flowers will cause rot.
If you overdo it with watering, the plant can develop gray mold ,
a disease that needs to be removed, and the cleaned plant can then be treated with a fungicide.
The red edges on the leaves indicate that the plant does not tolerate cold weather, so it may be necessary to store it indoors during cold nights.
The geranium needs to be pruned from time to time, removing worn flowers to encourage the birth of new ones.
Fertilizer for geraniums
Feeding is mandatory for young plants, and may be necessary during the peak of flowering ,
during the hot summer months. Phosphorus-based fertilizer is used for this .
At the same time, fertilization should be chosen with the lowest possible nitrogen content, which can impoverish the flowering of geraniums.
You can find geranium fertilizers in garden or larger shopping malls, and it is advisable to use them once or twice a month for best results.
Watering geraniums with milk
Watering and nurturing plants with milk is used both to nourish the flowers and to protect the plant from pathogenic organisms and other pests .
Milk contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium,
which support the growth and flowering of the plant and strengthen their immunity.
In addition, milk-treated plants better absorb nutrients from the soil in which they are planted.
Watering geraniums once a week with a little milk will favor the growth of flowers and highlight the shade of their colors,
while providing protection and nutrition to the plant.
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