The Ultimate Geranium Flower Growing Guide

Geranium flower is well-known for their unique look and very fragrant aroma. It has been close to two centuries since the first time American gardeners fell in love with the flower known as the Geranium, and it is not hard to comprehend why they had such a strong attraction to the plant in the first place.

With their elaborately patterned leaves, which are just as stunning as the clusters of delicate flowers that they surround, geraniums are used to fill flower beds, hanging baskets, and containers. Planting geraniums is likely to be a relaxing and delightful experience for the gardener. To properly care for geranium flowers, you need to know a few fundamental suggestions.

What Are Geraniums?

It is a well-kept secret that the garden plant known as Geranium is not, in reality, a geranium. This plant is quite popular in gardens. Garden geraniums and annual geraniums are members of the genus Pelargonium, the botanical name for geraniums cultivated in outdoor settings like gardens. The garden geranium, believed to have originated in South Africa, first made its way to France in 1786. After that, it traveled to North America. The first geranium cuttings belonged to Thomas Jeffersonspread and were used to establish new generations of gardeners when given to friends and relatives.

In most of the United States, geraniums may be cultivated as annuals with reasonable success. If the conditions are appropriate, you can even grow them as perennials in extremely warm regions, such as the southern coastal portions of California. Many dedicated gardeners bring their geranium plants inside for the winter so that you may replant them in the spring. As a result, they can work with fresh soil. Others move their geraniums indoors to serve as houseplants for the duration of the colder months. Geraniums are a type of plant that is very adaptive to their environment.

Popular Types Of Geraniums

Geraniums are one of the few plants that provide a wide variety of options and customizations. There are more than 300 species to pick from, and they come in a wide array of flower colors and kinds, leaves, and smells. They can be as short as six inches or develop to be many feet long with multiple blossoms. Either way, their length can vary greatly. The following are the top four types of geraniums that are in high demand at the moment:

Most people are familiar with traditional geraniums, also called zonal geraniums. Zonal geraniums are low-maintenance plants that can withstand high temperatures and dry conditions. They may produce single or double blooms in various colors, including white, pink, crimson, burgundy, yellow, orange, and purple. Zonal geraniums are also resistant to heat and dryness. Plants of the Classic, Tango, and Rocky Mountain types each display a distinct palette of colors when grown together. 

In some circles, geraniums sold under the name Regal are also known as Marsha Washington geraniums. They are recognized for their large, colorful blooms and are seen as a delicate kind; yet, when the necessary care is provided to them, they thrive. They are at their most productive in locations where the temperature is lower, as they cannot flourish in the harshest summer temperatures. Each of the cultivars Ace High, Brown's Butterfly, Blue Orchid, and the Coral Sea, is unique and noteworthy in its own way.

Ivy geraniums are well-known for the enormous flowering clumps that they generate. The leaves look similar to ivy's and have a glossy quality. Blooming of single, semi-double, and you can observe double flowers from the beginning of spring until the first frost of October each year. Try planting the Summer Showers, Contessa, or White Mesh types to have a bountiful harvest of flowers.

Geraniums that produce a perfume have leaves that feel similar to velvet and emit their unique aroma. Even though they do not make as many flowers as other varieties, many people still select them as the best option for their gardens. Even though the possible combinations are virtually limitless, Apple, apricot, and rose are some of the most ubiquitous scents. There is often a reference to the geranium scent in the cultivar name, as is the case with Chocolate Mint, Ginger, Lemon Balm, and Lime.

Suppose you are interested in growing a true hardy geranium that is a member of the Geraniaceae family. Then, you have a wide variety of options to choose from. The bulk of these plants are hardy perennials that can thrive in Zones 3 to 8, and most of these plants have vigorous rhizomes that can rapidly spread.

 A good choice for a ground cover is geraniums, which are well-known for being highly resilient plants and quite popular. You might wish to consider planting cultivars from the genus Geranium or the hybrids Geraniumand Geranium. Both of these options are available. Because of these three hybrids, you may choose from hundreds of distinct cultivars.

Tips For Planting, Growing & Caring For Geraniums

Growing geraniums do not require a person to have previous knowledge in gardening because they are simple to grow. Geraniums are not picky about the sort of soil or fertilizer that you use, and all they truly require to grow is a little bit of bare attention here and there.

Soil for Geraniums

Geraniums do best when grown in sandy loam soil with good drainage and abundant organic matter, and Geraniums do exceptionally well when grown on this particular variety of earth. If the soil in your garden has a tendency to be on the heavier side, you should incorporate peat, compost, or perlite into it. You are strongly discouraged from making use of dung or vermiculite.

Where To Plant Geraniums

Where to Put Geraniums in Your Garden Geraniums are one of the few flowering plants that can be grown successfully in almost all gardening zones. Despite the information shown here, you may still be unsure whether geraniums must be developed in full sunshine. For geraniums to produce flowers, they need to be exposed to a large quantity of sunlight. 

However, in areas of the world that have very scorching summers, it is helpful for the plants to receive shade in the afternoon. The answer to the issue of how much sunlight geraniums require is contingent not only on the type of Geranium you're cultivating but also on the garden zone in which you reside. 

The optimal location is exposed to sunshine in the morning, shielded from the sun in the afternoon groundis well-drained. Choose a place for your geranium flower beds that is of adequate size, and then choose that location. It is possible to lessen the likelihood of a disease spreading by maintaining a proper space between individual plants.

When To Plant Geraniums

When Should Geraniums Be Planted? You shouldn't rush the planting season since geraniums can't survive temperatures lower than freezing, so they'll die if you do. On the other side, if you wait too long, there is a possibility that you may miss the low nighttime temperatures that induce flowering, and you will therefore miss the window of opportunity to harvest the blossoms. The first step in learning to grow geraniums outside is to start by planting the seeds during the appropriate year period. Wait until the last chance of frost has passed, and the temperature of your soil has reached sixty degrees Fahrenheit before you start planting anything.

Fertilizer For Geraniums

There Is Only a Tiny Bit of Fertilizer That Is Needed for Geraniums. Geraniums require only a trace quantity of fertilizer to flourish. If you provide excessive nourishment for the plants, the plant's foliage will thrive at the expense of the blooms. Even if you could locate a specialized geranium fertilizer at your neighborhood garden center, it is not required to purchase such a product. Make a solution that you may use for light fertilizing by mixing one gallon of water with two tablespoons of a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. This mixture can then be used as needed. During the period of active growth, it is recommended that this solution be applied once every three weeks.

Growing Geraniums In Pots

How to Cultivate Geraniums in Pots and Planters Have you ever wondered how geraniums may be grown in containers? It is sufficient to plant them in the ground and provide them with water to accomplish the task. Geraniums may be grown successfully in containers of any size or shape so long as the containers have drainage holes and the soil is loose and can drain effectively. 

In addition to this, the ground must be fertilized moderately and constantly irrigated. The key to successfully cultivating geraniums in containers is to situate the pots in bright and sunny regions that are shielded from areas that see a lot of wind. Growing geraniums in banks have several benefits, one of which is the convenience of bringing them inside for the winter.   

Even during the colder months of the year, geraniums may be brought indoors and maintained as a houseplant; all they need is exposure to bright light to thrive. When the last frost of the winter has melted away, you may start transferring them back outside again carefully.

Watering Geraniums

Geraniums require extensive and in-depth hydration daily. Consequently, you need to dig an irrigation furrow all the way around each plant. Because geraniums require thorough watering, you should be sure to leave an irrigation furrow around each plant so that they receive the proper amount of moisture. It will serve as a reservoir for watering the plants. 

Allows the water to collect in pools, after which it may percolate through the soil at a more leisurely pace. It is essential to enable the ground to dry in between waterings to avoid root rot. To cultivate geraniums successfully in containers, you need to water them constantly.s because the soil in pots has a propensity to get hot. When you water a plant with a soaker hose at ground level, water is kept off the leaves, reducing the risk of disease. 

Because the drainage holes help prevent root rot, you won't need to wait for the soil to get completely dry in between waterings anymore. When should geraniums be watered, and how often should they be watered? Essentially, all you will require is to keep a constant eye on your plants. It is essential to offer proper care for your geranium plants and keep them from withering. As a consequence of the cycles of withering and resurrection, the plant will produce few flowers, and its leaves will fall off.

How it is still important to remove spent flowers from the plant regularly to prevent sickness and increase overall output. When the flowers have passed their peak, pinch off the entire flower stalk and remove any leaves that have outlived their usefulness from the plants. The houseplant known as Geranium has a propensity to elongate its stems and become slender. Regular pinching of the plant's growing tips will induce branching and pruning by providing a stimulus for both processes.

Pruning Geraniums

Geranium flower is sensitive to various illnesses and pests; nevertheless, most insects and other problems steer clear of them. On the other hand, if the temperature is lower and there is more moisture in the air, there is a greater risk of botrytis and other fungal illnesses. Fungicides are available for purchase and offer some measure of protection. When plants are overwatered, there is a risk of developing edema and root rot. These are two of the potential consequences.