Caring For Geranium
Caring For Geranium Flowers is easy as long as you plant them correctly, fertilize properly and water accordingly.
The geranium has long been a favorite plant for both garden beds and containers. This common geranium is actually a member of the genus Pelargonium while the wild geranium is a member of the genus Geranium. Both look great in gardens!
Both the wild and common geraniums are suited for outdoor living, but the Regal or Martha Washington geranium is best kept in containers indoors.
Caring for Geranium flowers is similar for plants in beds and containers. When planting geraniums in your garden beds, wait until after the last frost. These plants can be damaged in strong winds so make sure you plant in a somewhat sheltered area. Use a well drained soil and a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. Fertilize monthly with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Water weekly.
Caring For Geranium Flowers In Planters
Geraniums will grow just as well in outdoor planters as in your garden bed. The key is to make sure you pick a planter big enough to support growth of the plant. Use a soil that has plenty of aeration like a commercial mix or garden dirt mixed with perlite. Use a container that will drain well and even add some rocks to the bottom so that your plant does not sit in the water. Plant in a sunny spot that is protected from strong wind. Fertilize monthly and water weekly.
Caring For Geranium Flowers Indoors
The Regal or Martha Washington geranium is not suited for outdoor use but perfect for the indoors! Put your plant in a sunny window for best results. Perfect temperatures for your indoor geranium are mid 60’s during day time hours and mid 50’s at night. Fertilize once a month in spring and summer and every 2 months in fall and winter. Water weekly and use a container that has good drainage.
Disease
Black Leg stem turns black and leaves fall off – mostly happens on cuttings.
Use fungicidal spray to help control spread, never take cutting from a diseased plant.
Leaf Spot leaves fall off after becoming spotted.
Remove infected leaves, water with a soaker so as to avoid getting water on plant.
Gray Mold gray moldy spots, petals wilt and fall off.
Discard infected plants do not plant geraniums too close together and make sure there is enough air space between plants, a fungicidal spray may help.
Rust rusty looking spots, plant turns yellow
Treat with fungicidal spray.
Root Knot nematodes plant gets knotted roots and growth is stunted.
Destroy infected plants and do not plant in that spot again.
Dropsy mostly a problem with indoor plants that show lesions
Don’t water the plant so much and put it in the sunniest spot you can find.
Pests
Caterpillars, flys, mites,termites and slugs are garden pests that might like to make a meal of your geraniums. You can control most of these pests with special sprays that you can get at your garden supply store. Aphids are another problem that may be controlled with ladybugs. Slugs can be captured simply by putting out a saucer of beer.
More On Geraniums:
Healing Properties Of Geraniums
Explore the medicinal uses of this plant from healing skin to repelling insects to relieveing symptoms of PMS.
Geranium Care
How to plant and care for your Geraniums.
Geranium Pests And Disease
What's making your plant turn yellow? Find out what it could be and how to treat it.
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