Geraniums are one of the most popular plants to decorate a garden or balcony. They bloom for a long time, resist time and require little care. Geraniums are also natural mosquito repellents. But it happens that geraniums do not bloom or their leaves turn yellow.
Here are the secrets to a healthy plant and perfect bloom!
The light
Geraniums need a lot of light, especially if you want them to flower ! Expose them to light, if possible to the south or southeast.
Also read: How to keep bees away from geraniums? Tips and advice
The optimal temperature for the plant is between 15 and 25 degrees. Geraniums hate cold and wind, so it’s important to keep them protected in winter by placing them in a bright but not too windy spot in your garden or balcony.
If the temperatures are very cold, you can cover the geraniums with a nylon tarp.
Water
Water often, especially in summer!
Geraniums need a lot of water: the earth must always be humid. Therefore, in case of high temperatures, water once or several times a day.
In cold weather, instead, water only occasionally, taking care that the soil does not dry out.
Sometimes the water you normally use may not be suitable for geraniums due to too high a calcium content.
You can solve this problem by leaving the water in the shower overnight, with a little peat in the bottom, which will give the water an optimal pH for your plant.
Attention :
When watering, do not create stagnation of water, at the risk of rotting the roots. Also avoid watering the leaves, which can develop fungus or mold.
the pots
One of the secrets to a healthy plant is the pot in which you plant it.
Geraniums can be planted in pots of any shape, but size is what matters.
The ideal size of the pot is at least 20 cm in diameter and at least 15 to 20 cm deep: these are the optimal dimensions to allow the roots of the plant to develop freely.
If, on the other hand, the geranium is very large, it is advisable to opt for larger pots, up to 40 cm in diameter.
At the bottom of the pot, you can place gravel, which will give it weight and prevent the plant from being knocked over by the wind.
Soil
Geraniums need slightly acid soil.
Although it has strong roots, which adapt to all types of soil, the plant grows best in light, porous soils rich in clay: you will find suitable soils for your geraniums in nurseries.
The plant should normally be transplanted into fresh soil in late winter or early spring.
Before replanting, clean the roots of the old soil.
Pay
Don’t forget to fertilize your plant!
The best time to fertilize is the flowering period, that is, from spring to late autumn, and the most suitable fertilizers are those that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
The essential natural fertilizer is coffee grounds: two tablespoons of sun-dried coffee grounds are enough to provide your plant with a significant dose of nutrients!
During the hottest months, you can also fertilize the plant every 15 days if you want it to flower abundantly.
Cleaning
Cleaning geraniums requires a bit more care, including removing dried flowers and leaves.
In order for new flowers and leaves to appear, the old ones must be removed with scissors: before using them, however, remember to disinfect them with alcohol to prevent the plant from becoming infected.