Geranium flowers have a variety of colors, such as red, pink, purple, and so on. Needing no further explanation, geraniums are the perfect garden complement, window trimmer, and potted plant. Follow these steps to find out how to grow and care for your own beautiful geraniums.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Growing Geraniums
Step 1. Choose the right place to plant geraniums
Geraniums are one of the easiest plants to care for, whether grown in pots or in direct soil. Geraniums can be planted in areas that receive full, partial or partial shade. Generally, geraniums will grow best with about five to six hours of sunlight each day. Geraniums will grow well in well-draining soil. This plant does not like it if the roots are too wet and the soil that is soaked in water can cause it to get sick.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of sun throughout the year, try to find a place that is shaded during the day and has moderately moist soil
Step 2. Choose a pot with a hole at the bottom, as geraniums don't grow well in waterlogged soil
Buy a pot that is large enough for your plant according to the type of geranium you are buying. If you choose a smaller plant, you may need a 6 or 8-inch pot, while larger geraniums will need a 10-inch pot.
Step 3. Choose the right time to plant your flowers
The National Gardening Association recommends planting geraniums in the spring, after the last snow has melted. Depending on the type, geraniums may bloom in midsummer, late summer, or fall, although sometimes geraniums bloom suddenly in spring. Regardless of when your geranium will bloom, be prepared to enjoy the beauty of the flowers once they bloom.
Step 4. Prepare the planting area
Geraniums will grow well in well-prepared, loose soil. Use a tiller or harrow to make sure the soil you are using is loose, 12 to 15 inches deep. After loosening the soil, mix in 2 to 4 inches of compost to provide as much nutrients to the planting area as possible.
Step 5. Leave enough space for each plant to grow
Depending on the type of geranium, you will need to space each plant 6 inches to 60 cm from each other. If you choose a larger type of geranium, you will need to allow 60 cm between each plant to grow.
Step 6. Dig a hole for each plant
Each hole should be twice the diameter of the plant container you purchased. For example, if you buy a geranium in a plastic container measuring 6 inches, then you have to make a hole with a diameter of 30 cm.
If you choose to grow geraniums from seed, sow them directly into the soil. If you do choose to use seeds, be aware that your plants will take longer to grow and flower. If you are sowing seeds in pots, start planting them indoors until the plants begin to take root. Once the plant begins to grow, you can move it outdoors
Step 7. Insert the plant into the hole
Carefully remove the geranium from its original container. Make sure not to damage the roots. Place the plant in the hole you made so that the root ball (a mixture of roots that stick together in a plastic container) is parallel to the soil surface. Fill the hole with soil and pat it around so the geraniums can grow upright. Immediately give your plants water.
Do not put soil on the stems of plants, as buried stems can rot
Method 2 of 2: Caring for Geraniums
Step 1. Water your plants as needed
Geraniums are considered quite drought tolerant, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't water them. To find out if your plant needs water, check the soil. Use your fingernail to scratch the layer below the soil surface. If the layer is dry or not at all moist, you will need to give your plant water.
For potted geraniums, make sure that you give them enough water. Water the plant until the water flows out of the bottom of the pot (this is why you need a pot with holes)
Step 2. Continue composting
Each spring, you should add a new layer of compost around your geraniums. Place 2 inches of mulch on top of the compost layer, so the soil will stay moist and reduce the number of weeds that dare to grow around your geraniums.
Step 3. Keep your plants healthy by removing dead flowers
Once the geraniums have bloomed, remove any dead flowers and plant parts so that your geraniums can grow back healthy and strong. Remove dead (brown) leaves and stems so your plants don't grow mold (which only appears on the dead parts of the plant).
Step 4. Separate your plants every three to four years
Once your plants have grown large (and have likely gone through a good period of growth), separate them. Separate the plants in late spring. To do this, remove the plant and its roots from the soil, separate the plants according to their clumps, and replant.
Step 5. Give liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20 or 15-30-15
Follow the fertilizer instructions to find out how much and how often you need to apply it. Do not let the fertilizer on the geranium leaves.
Tips
- Geranium roots can be grown. Cut the stems of the geraniums and clean them of the leaves underneath. Grow roots in a root growth medium.
- Grow geraniums in containers or combine them with other plants in the garden. Geranium flowers will grow well together with other plants.
