In which pot to plant a geranium sprout. How to transplant geraniums at home, how to plant pelargonium without roots and when is the best time to do it

In the previous article about the bili, the species and varieties of this beautiful flower. A variety of colors not only inflorescences, but also leaves allow you to create beautiful and unique landscape solutions.

In this article, we will continue the story of how to properly care for a flower, plant in open ground, transplant and fight diseases.

Growing Features

By and large, geranium is a rather unpretentious plant and it does not require any special care. This perennial plant, which perfectly tolerates winter cold and does not require digging in the fall.

However, there are several nuances, non-compliance with which can lead to disastrous results.

The first rule to follow is the choice of location. The sunny side or partial shade is best suited. Some species, for example, forest geranium, red-brown, Roberta and all varieties related to them, feel great in fairly shady places. Therefore, they are perfect for landscaping shady areas.

Requires light, loose soil. The root system of geraniums is quite superficial, has a not very long rhizome, so the distance between the bushes must be made large. When planting, the soil must be dug to the depth of a shovel, add humus, or special soil mixtures for geraniums.

Another feature - the ability to "spread" over the territory - geranium is excellent groundcover. And for this feature or characteristic (as you like to call it), it is highly valued by gardeners. This is especially true for Cantabrian geranium, large-rhizome, Wallich.

Some species grow well under trees. It fills the voids in flower arrangements, flowerbeds and other landscape structures.

Home care for beginners (watering, fertilizing, transplanting, etc.)

ABOUT right choice we have already discussed the landing sites. But not only choosing a place is necessary for growing a healthy plant that will delight you. long time. It is necessary to properly care for the planted geranium.

Caring for her does not require too much time and special knowledge. Remember, she likes moderate humidity, so she doesn't need frequent watering. All types and varieties perfectly tolerate heat and lack of moisture.

Both a lack of moisture and overflow can affect the flowering of a plant, the size of flowers and leaves. Therefore, geraniums are watered as soon as the soil has dried well after the previous watering.

Geranium planting algorithm

We dig a hole for a bush about 20-25 centimeters deep.
As already mentioned, well-drained soil is necessary for growth and development. Therefore, drainage must be added to each hole before planting. It can be expanded clay, small pebbles and even broken bricks.
Add sand, humus, special fertilizers.
Place in prepared hole planting material and dig it in.
Lightly tamp the soil, water the planted plant abundantly.
In order to avoid drying out of the soil during the rooting of geraniums, we mulch the soil with sawdust or other suitable material.
Geranium bushes are planted at a distance of 20-40 centimeters from each other.
The distance depends on the variety - the rate of growth of the bush in breadth.

Usually, garden geranium does not require top dressing - it lacks mineral and organic fertilizers laid down during planting. Excess fertilizer negatively affects growth and development, but it is not often possible for a plant to be “pampered” with an additional portion of fertilizer, especially before the flowering period. For this, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are best suited, which must be applied to the soil before flowering.

In order for the geranium to have a beautiful and well-groomed appearance, it is necessary to prune the bushes. Pruning a plant allows you to maintain its attractiveness and avoid the spread of various diseases, such as gray rot, powdery mildew etc. In addition, with timely pruning and removal of faded inflorescences, flowering will be plentiful, beautiful and long, and the bush itself will be lush and beautiful.

IN landscape design any types and varieties of geraniums are used for arranging various flower beds, landscaping lawns, decorating trees, and in discounts.

Plant propagation

Geranium is propagated by seeds, cuttings and division of the bush. As mentioned above, seed propagation is quite difficult. Seed germination is greatly affected by the quality of the material.

Sowing seeds is best done before winter, planting them to a depth of 0.5 centimeters to 0.7 centimeters. Planted seeds are covered with foil. After germination, the film can be removed.

There is another way to grow geraniums from seeds - to plant seeds in peat pots, grow seedlings and then plant a grown plant on permanent place. Geraniums grown in pots are usually planted in the spring when warm days come.

In the second year of cultivation, it is necessary to pick seedlings planted directly in the ground.

Geranium grown from seeds blooms, as a rule, only in the third year.

Often, garden geraniums propagate by self-sowing. This allows you to constantly update the appearance of the garden or site. But often self-seeding interferes with the development of other plants or disrupts a certain species. In order to exclude self-seeding, it is enough to collect immature seed pods on time.

Most often, two other methods are used for reproduction - cuttings and dividing the bush.

Cuttings are carried out as follows:

take a strong young twig (necessarily with a kidney) and place it in a container of water
after a while roots appear
stalk with roots can be planted in the ground

It is best to do this in the spring, when the weather is warm enough. This will allow the cutting to take root well.

The next method is the division of an adult bush.

It is necessary to deal with the division of the bush in autumn period or in early spring. Geranium does not really like to be disturbed and carried out a change of "residence" in summer period. In order to divide the bush, follow the steps below.

Carefully and carefully (to cause less damage to the root), we dig out the bush, carefully examine it for the presence of growth buds.
Divide with a sharp knife into several parts so that each part has a kidney.
Each resulting bush is planted in a prepared place.
Well shed the planted bush.
Mulching the ground under the bush

Diseases and pests

As a rule, geraniums are not subject to frequent diseases or pest attacks. The aroma of flowers most often repels traditional insects that can harm.

In order to determine how a plant feels, it is enough just to carefully observe its appearance. Appearance bushes can tell about the problems that have arisen, namely the presence of diseases or pests.

If the color of the leaves of the plant has changed, they began to turn yellow, wither and dry out - this is the first sign of a disease or the presence of pests.

Most often, pests or diseases appear due to improper care, namely, non-compliance with the rules of watering and high humidity. In order to avoid this, proper soil drainage is essential.

The most common enemy of geraniums in the garden is the whitefly, aphids, mites. different kind, caterpillars.

Treat bushes to control pests by special means- "Commander", "Aktara", "Fufano", etc.

You can also spray the plants with a solution of your own preparation.

To do this, you need 20 grams of ordinary laundry soap and alcohol, which are dissolved in one liter of boiling water.

To combat aphids, you can spray infusion of ash (1 tablespoon of ash per 1 liter of water).

With improper care, plants can be affected by powdery rot, fungal diseases.

To combat these diseases, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate their causes - high humidity, adjust the watering of plants, establish drainage, remove existing weeds. If the disease has completely captured the plant, then it is better to destroy it (burn it).

For treatment, special preparations (fungicides) are used, the solution of which is sprayed on the affected geranium bushes.

Legends about the appearance of geraniums

This chapter will be a small lyrical addition to the story about geraniums. Very interesting legends. different peoples and countries about the origin of this plant.

It has already been said above that another name for garden geranium is crail. It may be related to the following legend.

This legend tells about the crane, which simply did not have the strength to fly to warm places. Having fought off his brothers, he fell to the ground of an autumn field. Cold, rain and wind did their job - the fallen crane died. But dying, he looked at the gray sky, and a tear rolled down from his eyes onto the cold ground. And in the spring, in this place, from this very teardrop, a plant grew, the flowers of which resembled the blue sky, where the crane so wanted to fly. It was the geranium.

And here is another legend about geraniums associated with cranes. It hails from Lipetsk region. A small group of cranes found shelter in the Vorgol rocks. And then one day the poachers who hunted in these places killed a crane. A lone crane circled for a long time around the place of death of his girlfriend, filling the surroundings with plaintive cries. And then flew to the rocks and fell on them with high altitude. The cranes have left this place. And at the site of the death of a pair of cranes, beautiful fragrant flowers grew, which completely covered the rocks.

Maybe the poetess Ekaterina Yuneeva spoke about this legend in her lines:

"Cry of a crane...
Blossomed with tart geraniums,
purple stone,
The memory of true love
Stores in a drop of blood.

This story about geraniums is connected with the Mother of God herself. When Mary saved the newborn Christ from the chase, droplets of her sweat fell to the ground and turned into beautiful fragrant, moreover, healing flowers - geranium flowers. With the help of this wonderful plant began to treat many diseases.

The coat of arms of the Russian capital Moscow depicts St. George (Yegor is another interpretation of the name George) the Victorious, who strikes a ball of snakes with his spear. And in Dahl's famous dictionary, geranium is called "Egor's spear" because where geranium grows, snakes are not found - they are repelled by the aroma of the plant. By the way, in many countries, in order to scare away snakes from the dwelling, pots of geraniums were placed on the threshold of the house.

There is also an oriental legend about why geranium bushes are so abundantly covered with beautiful flowers. The prophet Mohammed, descending from the mountains, decided to take a break and hung his cloak, soaked with sweat, on the nearest nondescript bush, which everyone considered a weed. The bush turned the branches with the cape towards the sun, and it quickly dried out. In gratitude for such care, the prophet covered this bush with fragrant beautiful flowers. That weed was a geranium.

And according to giving, geranium petals can help win love and attract the attention of a person to whom you are not indifferent. To do this, dry the geranium flower petals, put them in a rag bag, tie it up and always carry it with you. The person you like will definitely pay attention to you.

And finally, a small, but very beautiful and informative video about such a simple and beautiful plant - about geraniums.

With the development of indoor floriculture, an increasing number of exotic plants appear on sale. Of course, it is interesting to grow a novelty on your own, but do not forget the usual flowers. One of them was grown by many generations of our ancestors. Even now, in almost every home you can find the most common geranium.

Yes, today we will talk about it. Someone casually waved his hand, they say, why is there such a thing in pelargonium? Have you seen the latest breeding news? On a bush with three leaves there is a huge hat of double flowers. Coloring from white to purple, all shades. And what foliage! Carved, motley, multicolored! These beautiful plants bear little resemblance to grandma's geranium. If only the specific smell of the leaves. With proper care, you can enjoy flowering almost all year round.

How to grow geraniums at home? Agricultural technology of any variety is very light. A little effort, simple care and the secret at which pelargonium begins to bloom - that's the whole growing technology. But for those who are breeding this flower for the first time, we will describe everything in detail.

Growing geraniums from seeds

There is an opinion that geranium seeds germinate poorly. This statement only applies to self-harvested seeds. If by chance it was possible to purchase a bag industrial production, then they have almost 100% germination.

Geraniums are sown in small cups, one at a time. Of course, if the matter is put on stream, then it is better to sow them in a bunch in one container. True, then you have to dive. But planted one at a time, it will be enough to slightly spud.

The soil should be of a classic composition. It's fertile garden soil, clean sand and peat. Proportions 2 to 1 to 1. To the bottom landing capacity large drainage is poured. Of course, these are not two cobblestones. The fraction size is about 1 cm. It should not be neglected, since root system geraniums with excess water begins to rot.

After drainage, fill the container with soil to half. Moisten it, put a seed, sprinkle with a layer of earth no more than 1.5 cm. Then you need to cover the glass with thick polyethylene or glass. Remove to dark warm place(temperature about 22 ° C) and wait for shoots.

If everything is done correctly, and the seeds are viable, then the first sprouts appear after 9-11 days. After that, the cover is removed, and the glass is transferred to the light and the temperature is reduced to 18-20°C.

Care for young plants in the same way as for adults.

Suppose that one of your friends cut off his bush of varietal geraniums, and gave the cuttings to you. What to do with them? Here are two algorithms for your actions:

We cut off the two bottom sheets, then put the stalk in the water. In a week, the beginnings of roots should appear. And after 14-16 days, it is already possible to plant the finished plant in a permanent place.
We cut off a couple of lower leaves. Pointwise dip the cut of the stem into any root formation stimulator and immediately plant it in a permanent pot. We do not touch the flower for about 20 days, only occasionally moisten the soil. After this period, an independent plant is obtained, ready to delight you.

Absolutely any soil for geraniums, purchased or made independently, must be disinfected. It is preliminarily shed with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After 12 hours, calcined in the oven at a temperature of 110-115°C. You can pre-freeze the soil for 3 days if it happens in winter.

These procedures will avoid the manifestation of many fungal and viral diseases.

About diseases and pests of geraniums

Despite the fact that the leaves secrete phytoncides that kill a large number of microbes in the air, the geranium itself is susceptible to some diseases. As a rule, they arise from improper care. The main factors are insufficient lighting and excessive waterlogging of the soil. Often the sore begins with the root system, and then spreads to the leaves.

Most problems can be avoided by simply taking proper care of the plant. But, if trouble nevertheless arose, then it is fashionable to try to save the flower. Medicines will help systemic fungicides. They are used strictly following the instructions on the package.

Advice. If the plant cannot be saved, then try to save at least the stalk unaffected by the sore. From it you can grow a new flower.

Pests. With pleasure they settle on pelargonium. They are not embarrassed by the aroma or fluff on the leaves. Usually it's an aphid spider mite or whitefly. The rest of the enemies are indifferent to the flower.

The first two can simply be washed off with water with the addition of potassium or laundry soap. But with the third misfortune, a long and stubborn struggle lies ahead. It is not easy to remove it, even using the strongest insecticides. Search the web for articles on how to get rid of whiteflies, you will learn a lot of interesting things.

Where to place geranium

The birthplace of this beauty - South America. Therefore, the flower loves a lot of light. At the same time, he is not afraid of direct sunlight. So you can safely place pelargonium on windows facing south. Lighting should be at least 14 hours a day all year round. In winter, this will have to use additional lighting. Geraniums do not have dormant periods.

The first sign of a lack of light is the appearance of a red border along the edges of the leaves. Of course, if this is not provided for by the feature of the variety. At the same time, lighting affects the duration of flowering, but only slightly. There is another secret for this, which will be described below.

The plant does not belong to the succulent family, but it can accumulate a little moisture in the leaves. It does not tolerate waterlogging at all, but feels absolutely calm in case of forced drought for up to 5 days. Then it begins to consume the moisture reserves from the leaves and discard them. He won't need them anymore.

So that your bush does not go bald ahead of time, water the geranium according to the scheme: the earthen ball is completely dry and plus another 2 days. In winter it is about once every 15 days, in summer more often.

Be sure to drain excess liquid from the sump completely. In order not to climb your finger inside the pot each time, feeling the soil, purchase special beacons for measuring the level of humidity. They will change color when the ground is dry enough. By the way, the water should be at room temperature.

top dressing

Geranium loves to eat. From February to November she needs a regular dose mineral fertilizers from great content potassium. But nitrogen can be added quite a bit, otherwise you will get mighty foliage without a single bud. It is strictly forbidden to add organic matter, pelargonium does not tolerate it at all.

The plant is fed no more than once in 20 days, strictly on the second day after the main watering.

geranium shaping

Pelargonium grows in height with cosmic speed. If you miss even a little time, then it can grow into a hefty tree. It is not very attractive aesthetically. In addition, the buds appear only at the ends of the shoots. Therefore, the bush must be formed from a very early age.

To do this, pinch the central shoot over the 4th leaf. They wait for the appearance of stepchildren, then tear off the tops of their heads, also above the 4th leaf. So do with all the shoots. Thanks to this formation, you will get a lush spherical bush with big amount buds.

If during the winter the plant stretched out, or the moment of formation was missed, then it is better to cut the entire bush up to 3 leaves in the spring. So stepchildren will appear and you can again form geraniums beautifully.

By the way, don't throw away the scraps. You can try to root them for later planting. Or dry in the shade and arrange in cloth bags. It is good to lay out such blanks in cabinets; this specific aroma repels moths well.

And now the one promised above valuable advice. We created all the conditions, care for, feed, illuminate ... but the geranium does not want to bloom. What to do? We open main secret. Geranium begins to bloom only when there is practically no room left for the roots in the pot. Sometimes the owners see that the roots are braiding the whole lump of earth and are in a hurry to transplant the pelargonium into a larger pot. And she, ungrateful, instead of buds, begins to build up the root system again.

How to do it right? In the spring we do not transplant a bush. It becomes crowded, it begins to bloom. At good care does this until the end of the summer. When the last bud has faded, cut it off and only then transplant the plant. Moreover, the pot should be only 1-1.5 cm larger than the previous one. During the winter, the root system will again completely braid the soil clod and the cycle repeats.

That's the whole trick.

If the climate allows, then you can plant pelargonium in the garden in the spring. In this case, it is advisable not to remove it from the pot, but to drop it directly with it. Otherwise, in the fall, you will have to call an excavator to dig an overgrown root system.
Geranium absolutely calmly tolerates direct sunlight on the leaves. But at air temperatures above 35 ° C, it is better to shade it a little. Still, this is excessively hot weather, burning the leaves and tops of the shoots.
By the way, in winter, geranium content is sufficient at + 16-18 ° С. From spring to autumn, it is desirable to adhere to at least + 21-22 ° C.
The first sign that the pelargonium does not like something is the yellowing of the lower leaves. But what exactly does not suit the beauty, you will have to determine on your own. Overfeeding with fertilizers, overwatering, incipient disease - any of these factors are reflected first of all in color shade foliage.
If you have any difficulties with the choice of fertilizer for pelargonium, then pay attention to those products on the packaging of which it is indicated “for balcony plants”. It's hard to go wrong here.
Starting from the age of 2 years, when transplanting, the size of the pot is not increased. By the way, a flower can grow up to 10 years, or even more, if it is provided with suitable conditions.
Old dried leaves and wilted flower stalks are not recommended to be cut off by hand, because there is a high probability of damaging the stem of the plant. It is better to do this with a sterile sharp knife.
Self-collected seeds do not transmit the decorative qualities of parents to children. But don't despair. Maybe you can make your own unique variety geraniums?
There is an interesting observation: if a person likes the smell of geranium leaves, then he is not all right with nervous system, and it would be desirable to be checked up at the corresponding doctor. Those people who find the aroma unpleasant have a strong healthy nervous system.

How to grow geraniums at home? Completely simple and effortless. Do not treat pelargonium with disdain and she will thank you clean air in the house and long bright flowering.

Video: how to grow indoor geraniums

Select appropriate place under landing. In the garden or in a pot, geraniums are one of the easiest flowers to care for. Geraniums can be planted in a spot with 24/7 light, partial light, or even light shade. Usually, geraniums need about 5-6 hours sunlight per day, although this number can be either less or more. It is best to plant geraniums in well-drained soil. Geranium does not like to have its roots too wet, but swampy soil can lead to various diseases.

If you live in a region with a fairly hot climate, find a place with afternoon shade and relatively moist soil.

If you decide to plant geraniums in a pot, choose a suitable pot. There should be holes at the bottom of the pot to drain water, as geraniums do not like wet soil very much. Depending on the variety of geranium, buy a large enough pot. If you have small flower, buy a pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm. Large varieties of geraniums will need a pot of 25 cm in diameter.

Choose the right time for planting. It is recommended to plant geraniums in the spring, after the last severe frosts. Depending on the variety, the plant may flower in mid-summer, late summer, or fall (although sometimes flowers have their own minds and may even bloom in spring). Regardless of the time of flowering, be prepared for them to appear in all their glory at any time except winter.

Prepare the garden. Geranium grows best in loose and plowed soil. Take a shovel or rake and dig up the ground to a depth of 30-35 cm. After that, mix 5-10 cm of compost to enrich the soil with as many nutrients as possible.

Each plant should be planted at a considerable distance from each other. Depending on the variety of geranium, each plant should be planted at a distance of 15 to 60 centimeters. If you bought a variety of large geraniums, each plant should be two meters apart.

Dig holes for each flower. Each hole should be about twice the diameter of the pot containing the flower. For example, if you bought geraniums in a 15 cm pot, you must dig a hole 30 cm in diameter.

If you decide to grow geraniums from seed, plant them directly in the ground. If you really decide to grow geraniums from seeds, you should know that your flower will take a long time to grow and bloom. If you are planting seeds in a pot, let the pot sit inside the house until the seeds have roots. When the seeds germinate, you can take them outside.

Geranium rightfully occupies one of the places of honor in the list of favorites. indoor plants. It is also successfully used to decorate balconies, terraces, garden plots and outdoor flower beds. A variety of colors, unpretentiousness and ease of reproduction - undoubted merits this plant.

The cutting method is one of the most common geranium propagation methods. They can be used all year round, but best time for a great result - spring. This method seems simple enough, but following a few rules will allow you to grow beautiful showy plants.

Geraniums can be grown from seed, root division and stem cuttings. To plant geraniums without roots, you need to properly perform the pruning procedure. Apical cuttings are ideal for plant propagation. They should be cut under the kidney so that the length is 7-8 cm and 3-5 leaves remain on each of them. The cut must be oblique. The bottom leaves are removed.

If after pruning the plant has long branches, they can also be cut into cuttings of the same length with two to three pairs of leaves and used for rooting.

Ready cuttings should be left to dry in the air. After a couple of hours, the cut and the places where the leaves break will be tightened thin film. The cuttings are ready, it's time to choose a rooting method.

Rooting cuttings can be done in two ways, given their advantages and disadvantages.

root stem cuttings easy enough in water. To do this, prepare containers filled with 5 cm of pre-settled water. It is better if the containers are made of dark glass. The cuttings are lowered into the water with the lower cut. Roots appear within a week.

The beauty of this method is that you can observe the rooting process and plant the plant in the ground at the right time. The disadvantage is that the edge of the handle, without having time to release the roots, can rot. To prevent decay, experienced gardeners recommended to add to water Activated carbon. Water changes should be done once every two days.

Shoots with roots are planted in the ground. Subject to the rules of care from such cuttings, lushly flowering beautiful geranium bushes are obtained.

Geranium cuttings can be rooted immediately in the ground. Containers or pots with holes to drain excess water are suitable for this purpose. Good drainage - necessary condition for excellent results. Ready cuttings are planted in moist soil at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. The rooting process can take two to four weeks. The shoots are watered as the soil dries. To obtain lush bushes, the upper bud is pinched.

The undoubted advantage of this method is that the plants take root better. The downside is when you think that the geranium has taken root and you start replanting it ahead of time, thereby losing some of the excellent planting material.

Growing conditions for geraniums

Good lighting, moderate watering and room temperature- the key to good rooting cuttings. Pruning will also benefit the old plant. As a result, you will get many luxurious geranium bushes.

Video about planting geraniums without roots

Geranium is known to experienced flower growers as pelargonium. This is one of the popular indoor plants that can be found in the apartments of many domestic flower lovers. With the onset of sustained heat, pelargonium can be transplanted to garden plot, however, in the autumn she is again returned to the house, where she will be provided with a comfortable temperature regime. There is a version that geranium is a flower of aristocrats.

However, among ordinary people there are many fans of this houseplant. IN modern conditions when you can easily purchase a wide variety of exotic plants, geranium no longer enjoys its former popularity. However, due to its exceptional bright coloring, this houseplant can compete with many modern exotics.

Pelargonium watering regime

Considering that summer is the hottest time of the year, during this period it is necessary to provide the plant with abundant watering. However, they must be moderate to avoid flooding the plant. Otherwise, it will not tolerate an excess of moisture and will die.

When growing geraniums in such conditions, its leaves become lethargic and rot. Subsequently, gray mold can be seen on them, the stem begins to turn black. When these signs appear, it is necessary to reduce watering faster.

Otherwise, the root itself will begin to rot pretty soon, which is very likely if there is rot. Geranium is considered drought tolerant plant, but still it should not be deprived required amount water, otherwise it will be difficult to wait for abundant flowering from it.

To determine the moment when you need to carry out the next watering, you need to monitor the condition of the earthen coma. The beginning of its drying is a good hint for watering.

In the summer season, the drying of the earth can occur at different intervals - sometimes every day, and sometimes every other day. IN winter time care for geraniums should be somewhat different: given the cooler growing conditions of geraniums, watering should not be as frequent.

Light requirements

Geranium grows well if it does not lack light. Therefore, it is recommended place it on south side . But, comfortable conditions cultivation can be provided in partial shade.

It is not recommended that geraniums be constantly exposed to sunlight. Otherwise, it can lead to burns on the leaves. To avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon, it is recommended at lunch remove a flower from the window sill.

If you are going to transplant geraniums into the garden in the summer, then you should find a suitable place. It should be well lit by the sun and be protected from wind and drafts.

However, it is undesirable to grow geraniums in conditions of complete shading, since in this case you can be content with only small leaves. She will not be able to please you with flowering, even if you provide her with appropriate care.

Temperature regime

In order for geranium to grow well at home, it needs a temperature of at least + 12 degrees Celsius. At cooler temperature conditions she may have problems: the leaves become drooping, and the stems are bare.

If you do not change the temperature regime, then subsequently the pelargonium will die. Pelargonium is also depressingly affected by elevated air temperature. In such conditions, its flowering becomes problematic. This one is best indoor flower feels at normal room temperature.

Air humidity

If you believe experienced flower growers, then geraniums can grow well with any humidity. Therefore, regardless of what kind of air is in the room, this will not affect the development of pelargonium in any way.

While caring for pelargonium spraying is undesirable., since this negatively affects the condition of the flower. You can limit yourself to regular soil moisture in the summer.

For the normal development of geraniums, fresh air is needed, which makes it very hardy. Therefore, in the summer, it is recommended to keep more of it on fresh air or at least grow on a balcony.

Fertilizing indoor geraniums

To provide nutrition to geraniums, it is unacceptable to use fresh organic fertilizers. It is best to add rich nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal amounts of fertilizer.

Feeding geraniums with potassium in sufficient quantities, you are more likely to wait for its abundant flowering. But you need to ensure that these elements of top dressing are present in the composition of fertilizers in small quantities.

Proper care of pelargonium provides for its provision with various trace elements:

copper;
calcium;
iron;
zinc;
magnesium;
manganese;

For this purpose, you can use fertilizers for indoor flowers, which can be found in flower shop. Effective is the drug "Merry Flower Girl" for geraniums. In the absence of it, it can be replaced with fertilizer " For flowering plants».

You should refrain from feeding pelargonium if the weather is hot. Otherwise, after this event, the plant will experience stress. If you have planned top dressing, then it is recommended to carry them out after you transfer the plant to the shade.

It is advisable to refrain from applying to dry soil liquid fertilizer. Necessary water the flower first. Otherwise, you will harm the plant, because when applied to dry soil, all fertilizers burn the roots.

Geranium transplant

A houseplant geranium can safely do without a transplant. But still, you need to regularly monitor its condition: a transplant may be required at a time when there is no free space for the roots in a small pot.

Therefore, adult specimens usually have to be transplanted. In addition, geraniums also have to be transplanted in cases where it is too flooded with water. In any case, it is recommended to select for transplantation not very large capacity.

When choosing a pot, you need to consider that the root system matches the volume of the pot. Before transplanting, high-quality drainage is laid on the bottom. If you believe the flower growers, then geraniums can grow well in ordinary summer cottage land.

You can also prepare for it special soil mixture , which requires the following components:

Leaf land.
Sod land.
Mucky land.
Sand.

Be sure to maintain proportions - 1: 1: 1: ½. The most favorable period for transplanting geraniums is spring.

How to propagate geraniums at home

To obtain new pelargonium bushes, two main propagation methods can be used. Way propagation by seeds not so often used by flower growers. It makes sense to resort to it in cases where it is planned to grow new varieties.

A serious problem for the method of propagation by sowing seeds is that the seedlings grown from them usually have decorative qualities different from the chosen variety. Therefore, often young geraniums have different color shade and leaves. It also differs in length, height and bushiness.

In the absence of much experience in growing indoor plants, it is recommended to first use cheap varieties of geranium flowers, since novice flower growers often fail.

For growing geraniums by sowing seeds, it is necessary prepare the ground suitable composition: it should have a loose structure, so be sure to include humus and sand in it.

Usually the sowing of seeds is carried out already in early March. However, it is allowed to do this in more early dates, but in this case, in order to eliminate the lack of lighting, it will be necessary to carry out supplementary lighting with the help of artificial light lamps.

Before sowing the soil needs to be disinfected. To do this, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which minimizes the risk of developing a black leg in plants. After sowing, it is not necessary to sprinkle the seeds with a layer of earth.

However, they must be sufficiently buried in the soil. To accelerate the germination of seeds, they need provide a greenhouse effect, for which a film is pulled on top, and the container itself is transferred to a warm place.

Reproduction by cuttings

Also, for propagation of geraniums at home, you can use cuttings that are harvested in the spring. To do this, prepared shoots must be placed in a container of water.

Usually the roots of the cuttings form quickly if the room temperature is high enough. After this, the cutting placed in a pot with earth. At the first sign of the beginning of growth, you need to pinch off the top of it.

Before planting the stalk in the ground, it needs to be given a little time to dry from the water. As a rule, when using the cutting method, shoots taken from the top of the plant are used. And they should have at least 3-4 leaves.

Geranium diseases and their treatment

Geranium is unpretentious plant which it confirms by its high resistance to diseases and pests. However, in some cases, it can still be affected by certain ailments:

To avoid negative manifestations processing of pelargonium is recommended to be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions.

Geranium more than deserves to have a place in the grower's house. Standing out with splendor and bushiness, it will look no worse than many modern ornamental plants.

However, their decorative properties she can only show with proper care, so she needs to provide not only watering, but also lighting. And in the summer it is very useful to take it out into the fresh air.