Geraniums are one of the most popular plants for decorating a garden or balcony. They bloom for a long time, resist time, and require little care. Geraniums are also natural mosquito repellents. But it happens that geraniums do not flower, or that their leaves turn yellow.
Here are the secrets of a healthy plant and perfect flowering!
The light
Geraniums need lots of light, especially if you want them to flower! Expose them to light, if possible towards the south or southeast.
The optimum temperature for the plant is between 15 and 25 degrees. Geraniums hate cold and wind, so it’s important to keep them sheltered in winter by placing them in a bright but not very windy spot in your garden or balcony.
If the temperatures are very cold, you can cover the geraniums with a nylon tarp.
Geraniums in the garden – Source: spm
The water
Water often, especially in summer!
Geraniums need a lot of water: the soil should always be moist. Therefore, in case of high temperatures, water once or several times a day.
In cold weather, on the other hand, water only occasionally, taking care that the soil does not dry out.
Sometimes the water you normally use may be unsuitable for geraniums due to too high a calcium content.
You can solve this problem by leaving the water in the watering can overnight, with a little peat in the bottom, which will give the water an optimal pH for your plant.
Attention :
When watering, do not create water stagnation, at the risk of seeing the roots rot. Also avoid watering the leaves, which can develop fungus or mold.
The pots
One of the secrets to a healthy plant is the pot you plant it in.
Geraniums can be planted in pots of any shape, but size is what matters.
The ideal size of the pot is at least 20 cm in diameter and at least 15 to 20 cm deep: these are indeed the optimal dimensions to allow the roots of the plant to develop freely.
If, on the other hand, the geranium is very large, larger pots should be chosen, up to 40 cm in diameter.
At the bottom of the pot, you can lay gravel, which will give weight and prevent the wind from knocking the plant over.
Geraniums – Source: spm
Floor
Geraniums need slightly acidic soils.
Although it has strong roots, which adapt to all types of soil, the plant grows best in light, porous soil, rich in clay: you will find soils suitable for your geraniums in nurseries.
The plant should normally be repotted with fresh soil in late winter or early spring.
Before replanting, clean the roots of old soil.
Fertilize
Don’t forget to fertilize your plant!
The best time to fertilize is the flowering period, that is from spring to late autumn, and the most suitable fertilizers are those containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
The essential natural fertilizer is coffee grounds: two tablespoons of sun-dried coffee grounds are enough to give your plant a significant dose of nutrients!
During the hottest months, you can also fertilize the plant every 15 days if you want it to bloom profusely.
Cleaning
Cleaning geraniums requires a bit more care, including removing dried flowers and leaves.
For new flowers and leaves to appear, the old ones must be removed with a pair of scissors: before using them, however, remember to disinfect them with alcohol to prevent the plant from becoming infected.
diseases and parasites
Like many plants, geraniums attract pests that can damage them and lead to their death.
If the leaves turn yellow and the surface of the plant feels sticky, aphids or mites may be the cause.
In this case, you can fight them with a natural remedy based on Marseille soap or by putting a few drops of cinnamon essential oil in the irrigation water.
One of the greatest dangers for geraniums, however, is the geranium lycene: this is a parasite that can infect the plant and lead to its death in a short time.
Natural remedies consist of cleaning the leaves and branches of geraniums with a cotton ball soaked in water and garlic to eliminate any larvae.
There are various natural remedies for cochineal , including linseed oil diluted in water, alcohol or Marseille soap.
