Geranium home. Growing and caring at home

Geranium (Pelargonium) is a false, but more familiar and generally accepted name for the pelargonium flower, so in the future, in most cases, we will call it that.

In everyday life, pelargonium is most often mistakenly called geranium. Systematically, it belongs to the family of geraniums, which includes the genus geranium and pelargonium. The usual indoor flower for us belongs to the genus "pelargonium".

Representatives of the genus "Pelargonium" - perennials native to South Africa. Among them there are dwarf varieties whose height is not more than 12.5 cm, as well as giants with stems up to 1 m.

Every few years, the plant needs pruning. Fortunately, geranium grows very quickly and gains a height of 25-30 cm in a year.

The plant has a long flowering period - starting in early spring and ending in late autumn.

Growing geraniums in the house of gardeners is pushed not only by craving for beauty, but also by childhood memories. It can, without any doubt, be called a plant with history. It is not at all surprising to see geraniums in the house where people of the older generation live. Pelargonium planting is a tradition.

Useful properties of geraniums

The healing properties of geranium were known in antiquity. The main healing substance of pelargonium is geraniol.

Folk healers today use the roots and leaves of the plant with the following ailments:

• insomnia;
• headaches;
• stress, depression;
• radiculitis;
• with bacterial and fungal infections;
• neurosis;
• osteochondrosis, etc.

It is known that pelargonium has a positive effect on skin regeneration, working capacity and the psychoemotional state of a person.

Care for geraniums at home

Geranium is not a moody plant. But, as for any culture, for good growth and flowering, it needs to create the most comfortable living conditions.

Flowering geranium

Home geranium blooms for several months. A distinctive feature of the genus "pelargonium", to which room geranium belongs, is the asymmetric structure of the flower. Its lower and upper petals are of various shapes.

Depending on the variety, the flowers can be white, pink, red, burgundy. The size of the inflorescences also depends on the variety. There are both large-flowered representatives of the genus, and varieties with flowers that do not carry special aesthetic value.

Temperature mode

Geranium comes from hot countries, so it prefers to grow warm. In different species, the temperature of the plant may vary. On average, the temperature is considered to be comfortable for the day in the range of 20-25⁰S, night - 12-16⁰FROM.

The conditions for the plant vary by season: in winter, geraniums should be in a cooler room than in summer. In the heating season, the optimal thermometer is 18-20⁰FROM.

In winter, the flower must be kept away from radiators and protected from drafts. When growing pelargonium, it should be borne in mind that she does not like heat and a sharp change in temperature.

Lighting

The flower is tolerant of maintenance on the western, eastern side of the house. But geraniums at home are best grown on a south window. The ideal appearance of the plant can only be guaranteed if daylight hours last at least 16 hours. Otherwise, the stems of geraniums begin to lengthen and acquire a nondescript appearance. Therefore, in winter it is recommended that the plant be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

Geranium can grow in the shade, but at the same time the appearance of the plant leaves much to be desired: the lower part of the stem is exposed, the leaves are smaller, the flowers are thinning or not formed at all.

Watering

In summer, plants need abundant watering several times a week. In winter, geraniums are watered with a small amount of liquid every 2 weeks.

The need for moisture is determined visually - the top of the soil should dry.

The flower is extremely negatively affected by overdrying and soil overflow.

Spraying

A geranium flower at home does not require regular spraying. Humidification of the leaves is necessary only if the air is excessively dry in the room - on hot summer days or in the heating season.

If necessary, you can conduct hygienic cleaning of the leaves.

Feeding geraniums

Pelargonium needs additional food sources in the spring and summer. The frequency of top dressing is once every 2-3 weeks.

Spring and summer - the time for active flowering of geraniums. Therefore, fertilizers for it should be selected with a predominance of potassium, phosphorus. The amount of nitrogen in the preparation should be minimal.

Substances are applied in liquid form under the root, or produce foliar feeding by spraying.

Priming

For planting a flower, a ready-made shop primer with the mark "universal" or "for pelargonium" is suitable. When buying, you should pay attention to the components of the soil. It should not contain a large amount of humus, as this can lead to excessive growth of green parts and suppression of flowering.

Given the low quality of the finished soils, experts recommend doing a mix for geraniums yourself.

Soil mix options:

1. sand, turf land, peat, humus (in a ratio of 1: 2: 2: 2);
2. sand, peat, garden land (1: 2: 2).

Transfer

Pelargonium is best planted in clay pots. Be sure to have a drainage hole in them.

When caring for geraniums at home, you need to remember that large containers are not suitable for planting it, so this affects their flowering.

The transplant is carried out in the spring-autumn period. The need for the procedure is determined by the roots, which begin to appear from the drainage holes.

In adult plants, even if they are not cramped in the pot, the soil is changed every few years.

A prerequisite for transplantation is a drainage layer under the ground.

Pruning

Beautiful pelargonium cannot be grown without the formation of a bush. Without pruning, the plant stretches, the stems thicken and become bare, flowering becomes sparse.

Geranium is mainly formed in spring. Most of the leaves and stems are removed. This pruning pushes the flowering period. But at the same time, the bush is rejuvenated and looks more attractive, and the flowers develop more magnificent.

In order to form a beautiful bush, the plant also needs pinching, removing dried leaves and flowers.

Pelargonium is prepared for winter by cutting off all weak vegetative parts.

Propagation of geraniums

Propagating geraniums is not difficult. To do this, it is enough to buy seeds in the store and sow them or cut the apical stem from an adult plant and root it.

Propagation by cuttings

With the help of cuttings, pelargonium is often propagated in autumn or spring. But the plant survives well at any time of the year.

Cuttings are considered the easiest method of reproduction, so it is best suited for beginners. The procedure is as follows:

1. cuttings with a length of 7-15 cm are cut from the top of the bush;
2. remove flowers and lower leaves;
3. the stalk is placed in water and placed in a place with moderate amounts of sunlight.

The cut part of the bush quickly forms roots. Typically, geraniums are ready for transplanting 2 weeks after pruning.

Seed propagation

Seed reproduction of pelargonium is longer and limited in time - it is available only in spring.

Before sowing, the seeds of the plant are preliminarily prepared - soaked in moistened tissue. But this procedure is not mandatory, most seeds have already been processed by the producer.

Ready seed is planted in the soil mixture. Water and cover with a film or glass. Placed in a warm place. The first shoots should appear no later than 14 days after sowing.

After the appearance of several real leaves, the landing is dived.

Diseases and Pests

At home, the following symptoms of the disease may appear in geraniums:

• black stalk - the bush is affected by a fungus (black leg);
• lack of flowers - there is not enough light, an excessive amount of fertilizer or the plant was not cut;
• gray fluff at the bottom of leaf blades and stem - a consequence of the vital activity of fungi (gray mold);
• brown leaf tips - the room is dry;
• yellow and red leaves at the bottom of the stem - the plant is cold or the air is too dry;
• green parts of geranium turn red - the room is cold;
• rotting of the stem - overflow;
• white circles on the leaves - fungus (rust);
• yellow leaf edges - lack of light or natural discharge of old leaves;
• bare stalk - anti-aging pruning is necessary;
• brown spots on the leaves - lack of moisture;
• yellow spots on the leaves - sunburn.

As for pests, then the residents of pelargonium can be:

• mealybugs;
• spider mites;
• whiteflies;
• cyclamen mites;
• aphid.

Types of home geranium with photos and names

The genus Pelargonium includes more than 250 species of plants. Among them there are both pelargonium, bred exclusively for indoor cultivation, and plants for open ground.

Upholstered geranium

Pelargonium from southeastern Africa. Due to the drooping stems in the room, it is often used as an ampel plant. The leaves are smooth, sometimes with a slight pubescence. Wide - up to 10 cm.

Long flowering - from spring to autumn. The number of flowers in an umbrella is up to 8. Coloring can be red, white, pink.

Royal geranium

Royal pelargoniums can grow exclusively indoors. There are a lot of leaves. The surface is finely pubescent or smooth.

Plant height - up to 50 cm. Leaf blades almost odorless.

Unlike other varieties, the flowers are larger - up to 7 cm in diameter. Coloring can be white, red, pink, purple, burgundy, etc. The flowering period is spring-autumn.

Geranium

Zonal geranium is a tall plant, the stems of which can be up to 0.8-1.5 m. The leaves have a rounded shape. At the top of the leaf blade there is a pronounced brown "belt". Smooth to the touch, there may be slight pubescence.

The flowers are red. The umbrella is multi-flowered. Long flowering - from spring to autumn.

Fragrant geranium

Outwardly resembles a small shrub up to 22 cm high.

Leaf blades pubescent, pleasant to the touch. Size - up to 2.5 cm. They emit a sweet aroma.

Flowering occurs in the summer. In one umbrella, up to 10 small flowers are formed. Their color may be pink or white.

Geranium is an unpretentious plant that even beginner growers can grow. The main thing when growing is to provide it with enough light and prune it in time. Geranium is distinguished by a large number of varieties, so every lover of fragrant flower can choose a suitable variety for themselves.