How to propagate geraniums at home. Easy care of geraniums at home

In this article we will tell you everything about indoor geranium (also called “kalachik”), namely: how to care for this plant, what soil to plant it in and how to choose the right pot.

Let’s not forget to tell you about the methods of propagating pelargonium.

Did you know? The Geranium family has about 800 species and is widely distributed in nature in southern Africa and Australia.

Features of growing geraniums at home

The word "geranium" comes from the Greek "geranion" or "geranios", and is translated as "crane" (the fruits of this plant actually resemble the beak of a crane).

The plant itself is a subshrub, the height of which can reach 60 cm. There are two types: beautifully flowering or fragrant. In the second case, when flowering, it may resemble the smell of apples, roses, or even nutmeg.

Homemade geranium is undemanding to care, so housewives everywhere take it into their homes and rejoice at this beautiful flower. Geranium takes root well in homes and you will have to try to make this flower start to hurt.

But, despite its unpretentiousness, there are several features of growing geraniums that are worth considering:

1. Light. Geranium loves light very much, so it is often placed on window sills, and you need to take into account which window the geranium is placed on (the south side is best).

Important!In the summer, you should not leave the flower in direct sunlight.

2. Temperature. Geranium is not very capricious in terms of heat, but still, in winter, the room should not be cold (not lower than +10 ˚С). If you want it to bloom all year round, then you should provide it with light (a lamp in winter) and place it in a warm place.
3. Watering. You need to water frequently, but make sure that water does not stagnate in the flowerpot, as the roots of the plant will begin to rot and the geranium will die.

Important! Geranium cannot be sprayed. This flower does not need moist air, and such a procedure will only harm it.

Climatic conditions for geraniums

Since geraniums are native to South Africa, you should create a similar climate in your home. Of course, this does not mean at all that you need to constantly maintain the temperature in the room at 30 ° C and fill the geranium with water, as in tropical rain.

It is enough to keep the soil in the pot moist and provide sufficient illumination for your “ball”. The most comfortable temperature for a flower is from +10 to +30 degrees. The need for geraniums in good lighting is due to the fact that in its homeland there is the greatest number of sunny days a year.

Important! If there is a lack of sunlight, an ordinary lamp, which is installed next to the flower, is perfect.

Don't skimp when choosing a pot for geraniums

When choosing a pot for geraniums, it is worth remembering the information that we discussed above, namely: “How to water a ball at home.” You already know that geraniums need frequent watering, although the water should not “stand” in the pot. Thus, when choosing a pot, it is worth considering this point.

If we compare plastic pots and baked clay products, then the latter will be a priority, since the soil dries out faster in them. The pot should not be very large, otherwise you risk growing a tree instead of a small flower. A pot with a diameter of 14-15 cm and a height of at least 10 cm is sufficient for one plant.

What soil is needed for geraniums, feeding and grafting of the plant

Now let's tell you about what kind of soil does geranium like?. In this matter, again, we will be helped by the knowledge that we gleaned from the previous paragraphs. There are 2 important points to remember:

1. The soil should be loose and unused;
2. The soil must have good drainage properties.

There are several soil options that are well suited for geraniums:

1. We use ordinary chernozem, which is sold in flower shops, paired with expanded clay, which is placed on the bottom of the flowerpot;
2. A mixture of chernozem with river sand and small crushed stone, which is placed at the bottom of the pot.

The composition of the soil “from the store” must necessarily include peat, which is required by the plant.

Important!Despite good drainage, the soil in the pot must be loosened periodically to avoid rotting of the roots.

Let's move on to choosing fertilizers for geraniums. Regular fertilizers from a flower shop are suitable, which contain phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and trace elements. They are paid no more than 2 times a month.

It is best to feed the ball after sunset, or by moving the flowerpot into the shade. There is no need to use liquid fertilizer if the soil is dry. Pre-water the flower. It's important to remember that fresh organic fertilizers cannot be applied, otherwise the flower will dry out.

Now let's move on to considering how to plant indoor flowers.

Geranium grafting – This is the transplantation of a piece of shoot from one plant to another. This is done in order to get flowers of different colors/smells on one bush, or to form a decorative crown.

Only strong plants at least 1 year old are grafted. This is done in the spring, when the balls grow at a faster rate. It is important to do everything correctly and exactly according to the instructions, which are outlined and shown below.

Important!You should not use a cutting that is larger in diameter than the rootstock.

How to water geraniums correctly

Indoor flowers, kalachiki, should be watered quite often, especially in the warm season, when geraniums bloom or grow rapidly. During dormancy, in winter, the intensity of watering is reduced, leaving the soil slightly moist.

If you notice gray mold on the leaves or a characteristic putrid odor, this is an excess of moisture in the flowerpot. In this case, you should either wait until the soil dries and not water the flower, or transplant the geranium into a new dry substrate.

It is worth remembering that too dry soil for a roll will not be as bad as an excess of moisture that stagnates in the soil. In hot weather, pelargonium is watered once a day. At average temperatures and little evaporation, watering is carried out every two days.

Features of pruning geraniums

Now we will look at how to trim the balls correctly.

Geraniums need to be pruned, regardless of their size and age. This is done so that the number of inflorescences can be increased.

First stage of pruning passes before winter. This procedure helps the curl retain more resources for a successful transition to a state of rest.

We start pruning only after the geranium has completely faded: we cut off half the length of the flower (this allows us to give more light to the basal flowers and reduce the chance of infection with fungi). If the sections begin to turn black over time, they need to be shortened.

Re-pruning produced in late February or early March. This is necessary if the pelargonium has become very stretched over the winter.

Geraniums need pruning sharp blade, which should be disinfected with an alcohol solution before the procedure. The cuts are made obliquely, above the leaf node.

Fading flowers and dried shoots must be pruned. In this case, you not only make the bush more attractive and small, you help the plant cope with possible problems, and reduce the risk of fungus developing on wilted parts.

Geranium propagation methods

Now we have come to the final stage of the article - reproduction. Geranium can be propagated in two ways: seeds and cuttings. And now we will help you evaluate the pros and cons of each method.

Seeds

So, you have geranium seeds and you need to get beautiful bushes from them. Let's start with what you need to know before you get started:

• Seed planting time;
• Soil option for planting;
• Germination period;
• Moments of transplantation.

Optimal time planting is the period when the plant is dormant (early winter - mid-spring).

Next, you will need the correct substrate for planting. In this case it will be perfect mix of turf+sand+peat (in a ratio of 2:1:1). Water will not stagnate in it, and the peat will provide a kind of nutrition for the sprouted plant.

After choosing the soil, you should prepare it yourself. seeds. To do this, they are treated with epin or zircon, and then soaked for 3 hours in water at room temperature.

The seeds and soil are ready - let’s move on to the actual landing. We spread the soil 0.5 centimeters thick, put the seeds on top and cover with glass. Place the box with seeds in a bright room with a temperature of +20 degrees.

The plant will germinate within one and a half weeks after sowing. The growth rate depends on several factors: the variety of geranium, room temperature and shelf life.

With the development of indoor floriculture, an increasing number of exotic plants are appearing on sale. Of course, it’s interesting to grow a new plant yourself, but don’t forget your usual flowers. One of them was grown by many generations of our ancestors. And even now in almost every home you can find the most common geranium.

Yes, today we will talk about her. Someone will casually wave their hand, saying, what’s wrong with pelargonium? Have you seen the latest breeding news? On a bush with three leaves there is a huge cap of double flowers. Colors from white to purple, all shades. And what foliage! Carved, colorful, multi-colored! These beautiful plants bear little resemblance to grandma's geraniums. If only by the specific smell of leaves. With proper care, you can enjoy flowering almost all year round.

How to grow geranium at home? Agricultural technology of any variety is very easy. A little effort, simple care and the secret by 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 geranium from seeds

There is an opinion that geranium seeds do not germinate well. This statement applies only to self-collected seeds. If by chance you managed to purchase a bag of industrial production, then their germination rate is almost 100%.

Sow geraniums in small cups, one at a time. Of course, if the business is on stream, then it is better to sow them in a bunch in one container. True, then you will have to dive. But for those planted one at a time, it will be enough to slightly hill up.

The soil should have a classic composition. This is fertile garden soil, clean sand and peat. The proportions are 2 to 1 to 1. Coarse drainage is poured onto the bottom of the planting container. Of course, these are not two cobblestones. The fraction size is about 1 cm. It should not be neglected, since the root system of geraniums begins to rot when there is excess water.

After drainage, fill the container halfway with soil. 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. Place in a dark, warm place (temperature about 22°C) and wait for germination.

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

They care for young plants in the same way as adults.

Let's assume that someone you know trimmed his bush of varietal geranium and gave the cuttings to you. What to do with them? Here are two algorithms for your actions:

1. We tear off the two bottom leaves, then put the cutting in water. In a week, the beginnings of roots should appear. And after 14-16 days you can already plant the finished plant in a permanent place.
2. We tear off a couple of lower leaves. We accurately dip a 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 pre-diluted with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After 12 hours, they are 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 help avoid the manifestation of many fungal and viral diseases.

About diseases and pests of geranium

Despite the fact that the leaves secrete phytoncides, which 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 soil moisture. Often the sore starts from the root system and then spreads to the leaves.

Most problems can be avoided by simply caring for the plant properly. But, if trouble does arise, then it is fashionable to try to save the flower. Systemic fungicide preparations will help here. They are used strictly following the instructions on the packaging.

Advice. If the plant cannot be saved, then try to save at least the cuttings that are not affected by the disease. You can grow a new flower from it.

Pests. They happily settle on pelargonium. They are not bothered by the aroma or fluff on the leaves. Usually these are aphids, spider mites or whiteflies. Other 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 there will be a long and stubborn struggle. It is not easy to remove it, even using the strongest insecticides. Search the Internet for articles on how to get rid of whiteflies, you will learn a lot of interesting things.

Where to place geraniums

The homeland of this beauty is South America. Therefore, the flower loves a lot of light. At the same time, he is not afraid of direct sunlight. So you can absolutely safely place pelargonium on windows facing south. Lighting should be at least 14 hours a day all year round. In winter, you will have to use additional lighting for this. Geraniums have no 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 peculiarity of the variety. In this case, 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 is able to accumulate a little moisture in the leaves. It does not tolerate waterlogging at all, but feels absolutely calm during forced drought for up to 5 days. Then it begins to consume moisture reserves from the leaves and shed them. He won't need them anymore.

To prevent your bush from going bald ahead of time, water the geranium according to the following scheme: the earthen ball is completely dry and plus 2 more days. In winter this is about once every 15 days, in summer more often.

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

Feeding

Geranium loves to eat. From February to November she needs a regular dose of mineral fertilizers with a high potassium content. But you can add very little nitrogen, otherwise you will end up with powerful foliage without a single bud. It is strictly forbidden to add organic matter; pelargonium does not tolerate it at all.

Feed the plant no more than once every 20 days, strictly on the second day after the main watering.

Geranium formation

Pelargonium grows in height at cosmic speed. If you miss even a little time, it can grow into a huge tree. It is not very attractive aesthetically. In addition, 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 above the 4th leaf. They wait for the stepsons to appear, then tear off the tops of their heads, also above the 4th leaf. This is done with all shoots. Thanks to this formation, you will get a lush spherical bush with a large number of buds.

If the plant has stretched over the winter, or the moment of formation has been missed, then it is better to trim the entire bush to 3 leaves in the spring. This way the stepsons will appear and you can form the geranium beautifully again.

By the way, don’t throw away the trimmings. You can try to root them for later planting. Or dry in the shade and place in fabric bags. It is good to place such preparations in cabinets; this specific aroma repels moths well.

And now the valuable advice promised above. You have created all the conditions, you take care of it, feed it, provide additional light... but the geranium still does not want to bloom. What to do? Let's reveal the 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 entwined with the entire lump of earth and are in a hurry to transplant the pelargonium into a more spacious pot. And she, ungrateful, begins to grow the root system again instead of buds.

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

That's the whole trick.

1. If the climate allows, 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 dig it in directly with it. Otherwise, in the fall you will have to call an excavator to dig up the overgrown root system.
2. Geranium tolerates direct sunlight on its leaves absolutely calmly. 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.
3. By the way, in winter it is enough to keep geraniums at +16-18°C. From spring to autumn, it is advisable to stick to at least +21-22°C.
4. The first sign that pelargonium does not like something is yellowing of the lower leaves. But what exactly does not suit the beauty will have to be determined independently. Overfeeding with fertilizers, excessive watering, incipient disease - any of these factors is reflected first of all on the color shade of the foliage.
5. If you have any difficulties choosing a fertilizer for pelargonium, then pay attention to those products whose packaging is marked “for balcony plants.” It will be difficult to make a mistake here.
6. Starting from the age of 2 years, when transplanting, the size of the pot does not increase. By the way, a flower can grow for up to 10 years, or even more, if it is provided with suitable conditions.
7. It is not recommended to pick off old dried leaves and wilted flower stalks with your hands, because there is a high probability of damaging the plant stem. It is better to do this with a sterile sharp knife.
8. Seeds collected independently do not pass on the decorative qualities of parents to children. But don't despair. Maybe you can develop your own unique variety of geranium?
9. There is an interesting observation: if a person likes the smell of geranium leaves, it means that something is wrong with his nervous system, and it would be advisable to check with the appropriate doctor. Those people who find the aroma unpleasant have a strong, healthy nervous system.

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

Video: how to grow indoor geraniums

How to grow beautiful geraniums. You can grow geranium from seeds, but I prefer cuttings, which are carried out from mid-February to early March. At this time, it is already necessary to prune geraniums. After all, geranium is light-loving, but in winter there is little light, and the plant stretches out and becomes not very beautiful. In geraniums, you need to trim the bare shoots to the height you need (but not quite to the stump, of course), new branches will come from them. Or you can renew geraniums every year by replanting them from new cuttings, as our great-grandmothers did in the old days. For propagation of geraniums, apical cuttings approximately 7 cm long with 3 to 5 leaves are suitable. We cut the cuttings, making an oblique cut under the bud, tear off the lower pair of leaves, dry the cut and the place where the leaves are broken for 2 - 3 hours, so that the cut is covered with a film, and plant immediately in prepared pots with soil, water lightly. To form a lush bush, we pinch the apical bud. We put it in a bright place, but not in the sun! Many people simply cut the cuttings and place them in water; I advise you to put activated carbon tablets in a jar of water to prevent rotting. Roots form very quickly. Then they are planted in pots. You need to take a small pot. Geraniums don’t need a lot of soil. The faster the roots entwine a clod of earth, the faster the plant will bloom, and the smaller the pot, the more abundant the flowering will be. In large pots, the plant may not bloom at all, it doesn’t need it - life is already good, why bother? You can even plant several cuttings in one pot. During the rooting process, the lower leaves may turn yellow - tear them off when a couple of new leaves appear. To form a beautiful lush bush, pinch the top on the 8-10th leaf, the side shoots on the 6-8th and constantly turn the pot so that the bush is even. Geranium loves: - sun (but tolerates light shade); - warm (but will survive very light autumn frosts); - not frequent, but abundant watering; - good drainage in the pot; - moderately fertile, even poor soil (otherwise there will be a lot of greenery, but few flowers); - regular feeding; - removing faded inflorescences to continue flowering. In June-July, if necessary, cuttings can be made. A very good feeding is iodine water: dissolve 1 drop of iodine in 1 liter of water and pour 50 ml of this composition over the walls of the pot. Don't overdo it so you don't burn the roots! After such watering, the geranium blooms continuously and gorgeously! If the leaves turn yellow, the reasons may be as follows: - if only the edges of the leaves dry out, the cause is a lack of moisture; - if the leaves are limp or rotting, the reason is excess moisture. In both cases, leaves may fall off. The stem is exposed, the lower leaves fall off - lack of light. In summer, geranium loves to live in the fresh air - take it out to the balcony or into the garden and plant it well in the ground. At first, having experienced the stress associated with a change of place, the geranium will hurt, its leaves may turn yellow and fall off. But then she will delight you with abundant flowering. The geranium blooms amazingly outside, and the bush grows strongly like never at home.

HOW TO CARE FOR GERANIA 1. SOIL FOR GERANIA To grow geraniums, the soil must be nutritious; a mixture of equal parts of garden soil, peat and sand is suitable. The same soil is suitable for sowing geranium seeds. When grown in gardens, geraniums prefer well-drained soils. In the fall, geraniums are dug up and transferred to a pot. When growing geraniums in pots, good drainage is required to avoid water stagnation in the roots. Periodically, the soil in the pots must be loosened, this provides air access to the roots and prevents root rot. 2. WATERING GERANIA Geranium requires regular and abundant watering in spring and summer and moderate watering in winter, since with weak vegetation the root system is easy to flood. Geraniums do not require spraying or washing the leaves. It belongs to the category of those plants that are better to dry than to overwater. All geraniums have the ability to accumulate water, so they are considered dry-resistant. When watering, it is necessary to ensure the drainage of excess water to prevent waterlogging. If a geranium receives more water than it needs, then its leaves and flowers change their appearance. If you overwater, even if the foliage is good, the geranium may not bloom. 3. SIZE OF POTS FOR GERANIA Geraniums are grown in pots or boxes. The size of the pots is selected according to the size of the root system. The pot should not be too large - in this case it is not possible to control the growth of the plant and form the desired height. In small pots, geranium blooms better, the flowers will be more beautiful and bright, but in spacious pots the bush develops well, but blooms worse. For young bushes, select a small pot, since the roots of geraniums are small. Flower pots are changed to larger ones only when the old geraniums are already clearly crowded. If the pot is large, you can plant two or three cuttings in it. Pots for geraniums can be plastic or made of baked clay, but in plastic pots the soil dries out more slowly, so there is a greater likelihood of roots rotting, while clay pots allow moisture and air to pass through well. The optimal pot diameter for one plant is 12-14 cm and 22-25 cm for three or more plants in one pot. The height of the pot is 10-15 cm. The smaller the pot, the more compact the plant (especially true for geraniums grown from seeds). 4. PINCHING GERANIAS Strengthening branching, the formation of a bush and crown of geraniums is achieved by pinching. Pinching is done on the 8-10th leaf if the plant is grown from cuttings, and on the 6-8th leaf if the geranium is grown from seeds. When pinching, the growing point is removed. In some cases, repeated pinching is required. There are two ways to form a bush. If, after pinching, new shoots begin to grow not from the rhizome, but from the axils of the upper leaves, they must be removed. Only axillary shoots are left below the top pair of leaves. Or another way - let these upper axillary shoots grow and after two or three pairs of leaves pinch them again. Geraniums are pinched in February-March. Although pinching enhances branching and accordingly increases the number of flowers, it delays the flowering of geraniums. 5.PRUNING GERANIA At the end of February - beginning of March, the geranium wakes up. During this period in the spring, it is necessary to form a crown, for which old and large stems are cut off, leaving 2-5 buds on each shoot. Cut stems are used for cuttings. It is undesirable to prune geraniums and take cuttings in December-January, as this is the most difficult period in the life of the plant. Pruning in the fall leads to the appearance of young, frail growth, which weakens the plant and it may die over the winter. Typically, geraniums grow intensively in rooms in winter, forming discolored elongated shoots that need to be cut out in early spring. To get a good bush, it is useful to take geraniums out into the open air in the summer. Pruning, as well as pinching, delays the flowering of geraniums. 6. FEEDING OF GERANIA Geranium responds positively to mineral and organic fertilizers. During the period of active growth, fertilizing with mineral mixtures or liquid fertilizers is used. During the flowering period, fertilizers containing more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen are used. Such fertilizers stimulate flowering. If it is necessary to obtain abundant greenery, then fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are used. Feeding is carried out once a week from late spring to early autumn. If the geranium was transplanted into a new soil mixture, then fertilizing usually begins three months after transplantation, when the soil is depleted. 7. SOOWING GERANIAS Geranium grown from seeds blooms much more abundantly than those propagated by cuttings. Up to 30 inflorescences can bloom simultaneously on a plant. Such geraniums are more resistant to low air humidity and suffer less illness. Geraniums are sowed in January-February in seedling pots or bowls. The soil for sowing is first spilled with boiling water and a dark solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are laid out on moist soil, lightly covered with seedling soil and sprinkled with a growth stimulator. The bowl is covered with glass or film. Crops must be kept evenly moist. Water carefully so that the seeds do not go too deep, otherwise they will not germinate. Seedling bowls with emerging seedlings must be ventilated daily by lifting the glass or film and removing condensation. Seed germination time is 7-14 days; temperature fluctuations beyond 20-24 degrees are undesirable. When 2-4 true leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings dive. At the same time, to prevent the formation of stem rot, it is necessary to plant plants at the same depth at which they grew before. Seedlings are grown at a temperature of 16-18 degrees in a bright room, moderately fertilized. After 6-8 weeks, the plants are transplanted into another pot. Flowering occurs in mid-summer. 8. CUTS OF GERANIUM Most often, geranium is propagated by cuttings - the fastest way to get a flowering plant. In addition, seeds obtained from hybrid geraniums do not exactly reproduce all the qualities of the parent forms. Therefore, cuttings are used much more often, which guarantees the safety of the variety; in addition, the plants begin to bloom soon after rooting. When planting seeds, the period before flowering is longer. Cuttings are rooted in February-March and July-August. The period of propagation by cuttings is due to the fact that the rooting of cuttings deteriorates at air temperatures above 25 degrees (in cold summers it can be propagated throughout the entire growing season). It is best to renew geraniums by cutting off the apical shoot for rooting with 2-3 leaves and a length of 5-7 cm. After pruning, the cuttings are withered in the shade for 24 hours; to prevent rotting of the cuttings, the cut is dipped in crushed coal, and then planted in a light mixture, deepening them by 2-3 cm and kept at a temperature of 20-22 degrees. The soil mixture must contain sand at least one third or one quarter. First, the soil mixture is scalded with boiling water and poured with a dark solution of potassium permanganate. The first watering is plentiful, then it is watered rarely and not sprayed, since excess moisture can cause rotting of the cuttings. Unlike most plants, geranium cuttings planted for rooting do not need to be covered; this has a negative effect. Rooting of cuttings occurs in about a month. It is best to root cuttings in 0.2 liter plastic cups. Transplantation into a 9-11 cm pot is carried out if there are roots along the entire perimeter of the cup. Plants grown from cuttings taken in March bloom in mid-summer, while those cut in August will bloom in the spring. 9. DISEASES AND PESTS OF GERANIA The most common disease of geraniums is blackleg. This is a disease of stem cuttings; the base of the cutting turns black due to fungal infection. Such cuttings are immediately removed. Blackleg disease is caused by soil that is waterlogged or compacted, preventing drainage. To prevent blackleg disease, it is necessary to use sterilized soil. To preserve the variety, you can try cutting the plant. With a lack of light, excessive air humidity and excessive watering, geraniums may develop root collar and root rot, and pests such as aphids and whiteflies may appear. To avoid this, geraniums need to be provided with favorable conditions (light, coolness in winter with infrequent watering). When moving plants from open ground or from a balcony into a house, geranium leaves may turn yellow. After acclimatization to new conditions, the yellowing of the leaves stops. Yellowing of the leaves is possible if winter conditions are not met, as well as with a common fungal disease - rust. When rust occurs, geranium leaves become covered with yellowing spots and then dry out. Currently, there are drugs that protect plants from fungal and bacterial infections. Geranium disease - lodging of seedlings is caused by fungi that infect the roots and bases of the seedlings' stems, causing the plants to fall. To prevent seedlings from lodging, seeds must be sown in sterilized soil and not over-moistened. 10. TRANSPLANTING GERANIAS Young geraniums must be replanted annually or every two years. This is done in the spring before growth begins. The pot should be small, otherwise leafy shoots will develop strongly and the plant will not bloom. If geraniums are planted in balcony boxes (after spring frosts), then the distance between them is 20-25 cm. If geraniums grew in the garden, they are dug up in the fall and transferred to a pot. If it is not possible to replant the plants, then you can annually replace the top layer of soil without replanting the plant itself. In the third year of life, it is better to replace plants with young ones grown from cuttings. Cuttings rooted in August are left for the winter without transshipment. In March-April they are transferred into 9-11 centimeter pots. If the geranium grew in the garden, in the fall, before frost sets in, it is brought into the house. The roots of the plant are shortened and placed in a pot with good drainage. The tops of the shoots of the plants are cut off. 11. LIGHTING If there is not enough lighting, then geranium reduces its flowering, its leaves and flowers lose their brightness. If the geranium is indoors behind glass, then direct sunlight is harmful and can cause burns, but outdoors in the open sun the geranium can easily tolerate them. In winter, geraniums need lighting with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps.

At home, you can grow absolutely any, even the most exotic, types of flowers from seeds that cannot grow independently in our latitudes. However, this will require a lot of effort, especially in the first stage, which includes getting the first sprouts. But geranium is quite easy to grow from seeds and does not require any special care for the plant in the future.

The flower, firmly established on tables and window sills, belongs to the geranium family and its types vary depending on the zonal affiliation. In addition, there is a special ampelous and ivy-leaved form of pelargonium, but the principles of growing and caring for them are almost the same.

Features of growing pelargonium from seeds

To grow geraniums without problems and quickly, you need to carry out careful selection planting material. The seeds should have a brown color with a slight matte sheen and a moderate tint.

The shape of the seeds should be oblong, with small depressions on the sides, the shell should be leathery and dense, size - quite large.

If you come across seeds that are flattened, small, deformed, or that differ from the desired tone and are covered with spots of different colors, set them aside. Planting such material will not provide the desired result.

The seeds of some types of geranium, especially ivy-leaved ones, do not sprout for 2-3 months, which causes panic and disappointment among novice gardeners. As a result, caring for the plant completely stops.

To minimize germination time, it is necessary carry out the scarification procedure, that is, remove part of the shell in order to ensure unhindered access of nutrients directly into the seed.

You can do this yourself using fine- or medium-grained sandpaper, which will allow you to remove the top layer without forming gaps that are harmful to the plant.

If you need to achieve the fastest germination of pelargonium, rub the seed 2-3 times on sandpaper with slow rotational movements.

Preparing the soil for growing geraniums from seeds

The substrate can be purchased at a special flower shop, but there is a high probability that the soil will be oversaturated with minerals.

Such conditions are not very favorable for pelargonium - seedlings appear several times (2-3) slower, and the bushes have thick stems and short growth, flowering is sparse.

Soil for geraniums better to make it yourself. To do this you will need:

• high quality peat (1 part);
• river sand (1 part);
• turf soil (2 parts).

To avoid infection of the flower with various diseases (which is especially important for hanging varieties), the substrate should be bake in the oven 2-3 minutes.

At the same time, you should not be afraid that the organic compounds and nutrients in the soil will be destroyed - pelargonium feels great in unenriched soil and does not require the use of fertilizing.

You can also use a high quality fungicide to treat the soil. Only in this case, you should wait 3-6 hours before planting the seeds.

Where can you grow pelargonium from seeds? Ideal for sprouting geraniums small compact pots or trays, 3 cm deep. You can purchase containers in special stores or make them yourself.

How to grow a plant from seeds

After filling the pots with soil, lightly sprinkle the surface of the soil with warm water and leave for one day to warm the soil to the required temperature (21−22 °C).

Then with your finger or a suitable tool make small holes at a distance of two cm from each other. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil one cm thick.

The soil needs to be slightly moistened again and cover containers with film, in which small holes are pre-drilled to provide air access.

At home, geraniums must be provided with optimal temperature conditions and lighting, but under no circumstances place pots with planted seeds on the windowsill.

When the first soft green sprouts appear, remove the cover so as not to create conditions of high humidity for the plant. Now is the time to place the trays with pelargonium on the windowsill to provide the plant with sunlight, otherwise growing the flower will take two to three times longer.

In order to obtain a healthy bush with strong stems, as well as to strengthen the root system, the soil must be loosened periodically. After two true leaves appear, pelargonium should be picked and transplant the bush into a narrow and tall container.

After waiting for the fifth leaf to appear on the pelargonium, the seedlings should be pinched. This will ensure that the bush grows as branched as possible, otherwise you will end up with a plant with a long, thin stem.

Caring for pelargonium from seeds at home

Pelargonium does not need to create any special conditions for further growth and development, but still requires some care.

Compliance with basic plant care rules guarantees its protection from pests and various diseases. If the substrate is excessively moistened, there is a high probability that the geranium will be affected by fungal diseases.

In addition, too hot and dry air can provoke the appearance of whiteflies. In these cases, to resolve the problem special drugs are used.

Experienced gardeners know geranium under the name 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 stable warmth, pelargonium can be transplanted to a garden plot, however, in the fall it is returned to the house again, where it 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 indoor plant. In modern conditions, when you can easily purchase a wide variety of exotic plants, geranium is no longer popular. However, thanks to its exceptional bright color, this indoor plant 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 abundant watering. However, they should be moderate to avoid flooding the plant. Otherwise, it will not tolerate excess moisture and will die.

When geranium is grown in such conditions, its leaves become limp and rot. Subsequently, gray mold can be seen on them, and the stem begins to turn black. If these signs appear, you should reduce watering quickly.

Otherwise, pretty soon the root itself will begin to rot, which is very likely if there is rot. Geranium is considered to be a drought-resistant plant, but still it should not be deprived of the required amount of water, otherwise it will be difficult to expect 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 clod. The beginning of its drying out is a good hint for watering.

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

Lighting requirements

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

It is not recommended that geraniums be constantly exposed to sunlight. Otherwise, it may lead to burns on the leaves. To avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon, it is recommended to removing a flower from the windowsill.

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 protected from wind and drafts.

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

Temperature

For geranium to grow well at home, it needs a temperature of at least + 12 degrees Celsius. In cooler temperature conditions, it may experience problems with leaves becoming drooping and stems becoming bare.

If you do not change the temperature regime, then the pelargonium will subsequently die. Increased air temperature also has a depressing effect on pelargonium. In such conditions, its flowering becomes problematic. This indoor flower feels best at normal room temperature.

Humidity

According to experienced gardeners, geraniums can grow well at any air humidity. Therefore, regardless of the air in the room, this will not affect the development of pelargonium in any way.

When caring for pelargonium It is not advisable to spray, since this negatively affects the condition of the flower. You can limit yourself to just regularly moistening the soil in the summer.

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

Feeding indoor geraniums

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

By feeding geraniums with potassium in sufficient quantities, you are more likely to see abundant flowering. But you need to ensure that the specified fertilizing elements are present in the fertilizer in small quantities.

Proper care of pelargonium involves providing it with various microelements:

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

For this purpose, you can use fertilizers for indoor flowers, which can be found in a flower shop. The drug “Merry Flower Girl” for geraniums is effective. If it is not available, 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 plan to fertilize, it is recommended to do it after you move the plant into the shade.

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

Transplanting geraniums

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

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

When choosing a pot, you need to take into account that the root system matches the volume of the pot. Before transplanting, high-quality drainage is laid on the bottom. According to flower growers, geranium can grow well in ordinary country soil.

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

• Leaf soil.
• Sod land.
• Humus soil.
• Sand.

It is imperative to maintain the proportions - 1:1:1:½. The most favorable period for transplanting geraniums is spring.

How to propagate geranium at home

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

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

If you do not have much experience in growing indoor plants, it is recommended to first use cheap varieties of geranium flowers, since novice gardeners often fail.

To grow geranium by sowing seeds, you need prepare the ground suitable composition: it must have a loose structure, so it is imperative to include humus and sand in it.

Usually the seeds are sowed already in early March. However, it is allowed to do this at an earlier date, but in this case, in order to eliminate the lighting deficiency, additional illumination will have to be carried out using 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 blackleg in plants. After sowing, you do not need to sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil.

However, they must be sufficiently buried in the soil. To speed up seed germination, it is necessary for them provide a greenhouse effect, for which a film is pulled over the top, and the container itself is transferred to a warm place.

Propagation by cuttings

You can also use cuttings that are harvested in the spring to propagate geraniums at home. To do this, the prepared shoots need to be placed in a container with water.

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

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

Geranium diseases and their treatment

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

To avoid negative manifestations, it is recommended that pelargonium be processed in strict accordance with the instructions.

Geranium more than deserves to have a place in the gardener's home. Standing out for its lushness and bushiness, it will look no worse than many modern ornamental plants.

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