Geranium, it is pelargonium, is unpretentious, but it is easy to destroy it, if you do not follow the basic rules of care and watering. Putting knowledge into practice will allow you to grow a beautiful plant and enjoy its flowering every year.
Basic rules for growing geraniums
To make the flower feel comfortable and not fade, adhere to several key conditions for caring for it.
Did you know? If you plant or place geraniums in a place of large concentrations of insects, they will soon disappear.
To grow pelargonium you need:
- a pot in which the roots of the plant will be spacious, but not too big - in such a geranium will grow greatly, but it will not bloom much;
- micronutrient-rich soil with good drainage;
- proper watering;
- a place with good lighting, but without direct sunlight on the flower;
- periodic fertilizing;
- compliance with temperature conditions in the summer and winter (they differ);
- transplantation as the roots grow (no more than once every 2-3 years).
If the roots in the pot occupy almost all the free space - this is good for a beautiful and long flowering, but they should be distributed without hesitation, otherwise the flower will not have enough nutrients.How to determine the need for geranium in water
Regularly observing pelargonium, it will not be difficult to draw conclusions about whether there is enough water for it and whether there is overflow. To do this, you need to know about the signs that the plant gives, and about the features of flower care.
| When to water more often | When to water less often |
| Young flower in active growth | Hibernation from late autumn to early winter |
| Many leaves | Young plant has few leaves |
| Flowering plant | No drainage |
| Summer - no rainy season | High humidity |
| Clay pot | Plastic or metal pot |
For proper watering, you need to take into account such nuances:
| Not enough water | Excess water |
| Leaves wither and fall | The plant does not grow, fade |
| Dry yellow leaves and stalk | Leaves turned yellow, decay began |
| The buds fall without opening | The stem is soft |
| Leaf fall | Watery mounds on the sheets |
If you alternate the lack of water with overflow, then geranium will also die. The main sign of such an error is the appearance of black dots on the leaves.What water can be used
The temperature indicator of pelargonium irrigation is within room temperature. Too cold water provokes diseases and leads to rotting of the rhizome.
Important! Geranium is afraid of abundant moisture, it is not required to spray it and wipe the leaves. High humidity leads to the appearance of dark spots on the plant and to its withering.
Hard water, supersaturated with calcium, is also not suitable for geraniums. If white spots are visible on the ground, this indicates that there are impurities in the water. It is not necessary to buy liquid for irrigation in the store - hard water can be filtered off or simply left to settle for several days.
Melt and rain water are good for irrigation, it is cleaner than sewer and softer.
How to water geraniums at home
Observe the watering regime of pelargonium so that it has healthy leaves and blooms profusely. Do not allow stagnation of moisture in the soil and stand, otherwise the roots will not receive the oxygen they need and begin to rot. That is why the drainage layer and the holes in the bottom of the pot, through which excess water will drain, are so important.
For an even distribution of moisture, it is better to water the plant from a container with a narrow throat. Water should pour along the walls of the pot without falling onto the leaves.
How often do you need to water the geranium:
- in a warm period, the flower is watered every other day;
- from autumn to early spring, during the dormant period, the plant is watered 1-2 times a week, as necessary, if the soil has dried 1 cm in depth.
For accuracy, use a small stick on which you can make a mark. This is ideal for accurately determining how many times a week pelargonium needs watering.
Did you know? Aromatic geranium oils act as antidepressants, increase the mental and physical abilities of the elderly.
The combination of fertilizing and watering
In winter, when the geranium is in a sleeping state, it is not necessary to feed it, and in spring and summer, fertilizer should be included in watering once every 2-3 weeks. The plant does not require organic dressing, it is enough mineral fertilizers - potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen.
They are added in equal proportions, reducing the amount of nitrogen closer to flowering and increasing the dose of potassium.
You can use ready-made dressings, which are sold in flower shops. Especially useful before flowering are those that contain iodine.
For lush flowering, it is preferable to add magnesium with sulfur, which stimulate the growth and long life of inflorescences. Dosage - 15 g per 5 liters of water. Phosphorus and nitrogen are better absorbed with magnesium, but calcium is absorbed more slowly.
Important! It is forbidden to add fertilizer to the soil before irrigation - This leads to burns and death of geranium roots. Watering first, and only after an hour - top dressing.
Extra Care Tips
In order not to encounter the problem of lack of flowering, use the following secrets of agricultural technology:
- In October, when the flowering is over, transplant the geranium into fertile soil and prune, leaving 1/3 of the height of the shoots.
- 2 weeks after transplanting, place the flower in a cool room with a temperature of 5 ° C for 1 month.
- Significantly reduce watering so that rot does not develop.
- In the spring, hold one pinch to adjust.
Start feeding pelargonium from March and continue until the end of August.
Gardeners note that tight pots contribute to the lush flowering of geraniums, but this only works if the plant receives plenty of nutrients. If there are not enough minerals, and irrigation is wrong, the flower will have a deplorable appearance.
