Tips on Successfully Grow Geraniums
Geraniums are great to add to your gardens and landscapes designs, my former place of employment every few months would order a 40-foot container of plants, and among those plants which were ordered many were geraniums. Geraniums will work wonders by beautifying both your gardens, landscapes, and interior plantscapes. Geraniums look great when installed in a plant bed giving that needed flavor with its beautiful flower bloom.
If you are looking for a plant that will spice up your landscape and garden area including the interior then look no further the geranium has come to the rescue to brighten your day as you get a taste of these garden beauties.
Planting Location
In order for your geranium to perform at their best installing them in an area that gets full sunlight is a must.
Soil Type
Geraniums don’t like wet feet so sandy soils will keep them growing their best.
Watering Methods
When watering give them a good soaking then allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again.
Fertilizing Methods
After the new growth emerges feed your geraniums with a liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks throughout the growing season.
Garden insect pests of geranium
Keep an eye out for these garden insect pests.
- Aphids
- Bud Worm
- White Fly
- Fungus Gnat
- Katydid
- Spittle Bug Froth
These garden insect pests can cause severe damage but the use of bonide insect pests control will offer help. Before applying chemicals read and follow the manufacturer’s label because the label is the law.
Diseases of geranium
keeping an eye out for these diseases is a must in order for your geranium to grow healthy
- Botrytis Blight
- Bacterial Leaf Spot
- Alternaria Leaf Spot
- Rust
- Stem Rot
- Root Rot
Botrytis Blight
Botrytis blight shows ups as a brown lesion that develops on the plant’s leaves that produces a brown- grayish mass of fungal spores, this disease is encouraged by constant warm wet, or moist conditions. The flowers may become infected but the lower leaves will turn yellow followed by rot, the petals also become discolored which wilts and falls. To control this disease remove leaves and flowers which have been infected and apply a fungicide, before applying read and follow the manufacturer’s label.
Bacterial leaf spot
Bacterial leaf spot is encouraged by crowded conditions where there is improper air circulation along with the weather being warm and moist. This disease shows up as small circular sunken spots on the lower or older leaves which are brown. As this disease spreads it will eventually kill the leaves followed by leaf-drop, the lower leaves will wilt then turn yellow. Leaves that are infected should be removed and in extreme cases, the entire plant should be dug up because there is no known cure.
Alternaria Leaf Spot
Water-soaked circular spots that are dark brown is an indication that your plant is infected with Alternaria leaf spot. Rings may also appear with spots that have yellow halos. Applying a fungicide will bring this disease under control.
Rust
Rust appears as brown-reddish pustules on the underside of the leaves. Yellow areas can also be seen on the leaves’ surface, to treat this disease remove the infected leaves and applying a fungicide will help.
Stem Rot
Stem rot shows up as leaves which wilts but remains small and green, the leaves may also drop or remain attached. This disease is encouraged by the warm weather and constant moisture, allow the soil to dry out or before planting ensure that the soil has good drainage such as sandy soils. In serve, conditions remove and discard of the plant.
Root Rot
Excessive moisture can cause rot root, monitor the amount of water you are giving your plants and cut back allowing the soil to dry out, apply a fungicide if necessary.
Ideas on where to install your geranium
Here are just a few ideas where geraniums will look great.
1. Install them in a hanging basket.
2. Place them in a container.
3. Geranium makes great bedding plants.
4. Installing them in masses around the trunk of a tree looks really great.
5. Plant them alongside a garden walking pathway.
6. Install them in your garden as a front drop.
Container grown geranium
Container gardening is another way to garden, these gardens are truly amazing and do have their benefits. Container gardening is one of my specialties and I really do enjoy it. A great way to grow geraniums is with the help of containers because the containers can always be moved to a more secure environment under adverse conditions. When installing geraniums from containers the containers should be large enough and have drain holes to allow excess water to drain.
The soil type should be a good garden soil that holds the right amount of water but will low excess water to drain through, when watering ensure that your geranium is well watered, allow the soil to dry out somewhat before watering then give your geranium another drink. Fertilize as stated above and keep an eye out for garden insect pests as mentioned also, the container should be placed in an area that gets full sunlight.
Growing geranium in hanging baskets
Growing geranium from hanging baskets is so amazing because these baskets can be hung from just about anywhere as long as they are getting the required amount of sunlight. When installing these garden beauties from hanging baskets what you don’t want is to crowd the basket. The amount of geranium that should be used should be based on the size of the plants and the basket size.
As a rule, I would install 2-3 per basket, the soil should be a good potting soil that will hold the right amount of water but will allow excess water to drain. The soil should be allowed to dry out somewhat before watering. The basket as stated earlier should be placed in an area that gets sufficient sunlight in order for your geranium to thrive. Fertilize with a liquid feed fertilizer but before applying read and follow the manufacturer’s label because the label is the law. As far as garden insect pests and diseases are concerned follow as directed above.
Growing geraniums indoors
Bringing nature indoors is a great way to spruce up that drabbed area especially during the winter months. Extra care, however, must be taken in order to have success in this type of environment. The first step is to choose geraniums that are healthy because this is a great head start when growing geraniums indoors. Geraniums love the full sunlight, therefore, your geraniums should be placed near a west or south window that gets that bright indirect sunlight or providing grow lights will help in keeping your geraniums thriving.
The room temperature also plays an important part in the health of your geraniums, during day time the temperature can be anywhere from 64-7o degrees, and at night 54-55 F.
The use of a liquid feed fertilizer during the growing season is and add benefit for your geranium. Before applying fertilizers read and follow the manufacturer’s label because the label is the law.
Keep an eye out for these garden insect pests.
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Mites
The use of insecticidal soap will bring these garden insect pests under control.
Deadheading geraniums is a must to keep them blooming nicely, for more on how this is done continue to the article below.
Deadheading Geraniums
Deadheading is a great way to keep your geraniums blooming so beautifully, the way this is done is by removing spent flowers so that your plant can focus its energy on producing or putting forth new flowers. So what you will do is with the help of a sharp sterilized hand pruner cut or remove the plant parts which is below the joint or node this is where your new growth will emerge into a beautiful flush of leaves and flowers. The process will surely have your geraniums looking healthy and vibrant.
The final word
Geraniums make a great choice for your spring and summer garden, these garden beauties have made a name for themselves by proving they can bring that much-needed flavor. So if you are in the market for a plant that will brighten up your garden giving that WOW then geraniums are the plants for you trust me you will be so glad that you made an investment in these garden beauties.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
While reading through this post, I was thinking of how to plant this in a container because I engage in container gardening but I couldn’t be more happy that its possible as you highlighted how to in your post. I must say, geranium indeed looks magical and I couldn’t help but fall in love with them even through the image. This is a great plant to add up to my garden and I must surely plant it. Very nice overview.
Hello, RoDarrick so good to see you and I am so happy to help. These plants are garden beauties and do work wonders. Wishing you all the best of success and have a good day. Thanks so much for your kind words.
Hey Norman, I can honestly say that I do not have a green thumb. Anything I try and grow dies almost immediately. But I now feel confident that I can grow and care for geraniums. Such a very in-depth guide and it certainly sounds like you know what you are talking about. I live in Australia, what would be the best flower to plant and cultivate in our climate?
Hello, Marvin so happy to meet you. So sorry to hear that whatever you grow dies, all it takes is having the right knowledge about plants and implementing it and you will be on your way to garden success. Here are a few native plants which grow well in Australia.
Kangaroo paws, Desert flame, pink rock lily, Wattle, Bottlebrushes, and waxflowers. These are justa few of he many you can try. Wishing you the best of success and have a good day.
Hello Norman , You do a good job ! Your article is very interesting and brings us a lot information. Now I know what this flower need to grow and what I have to do to avoid the disease that attack this plant and how to control the insect.
See you at the Top.
Hello, Jackson so happy to help and thanks a million for those kind words. God’s willing my friend I will see you at the top! all the best to you and have a good day.