The plants we commonly call geraniums were introduced to Europe by Dutch traders who brought them from South Africa. Because these new plants resembled the wild geraniums already growing in Europe, many came to confuse them and called them by the same name. But, the flowering plants that adorn the majority of gardens are members of the genus. Pelargonium or pelargonium.
The common geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) is an outdoor plant, but they are also commonly grown indoors in hanging baskets. Planting geraniums is very easy as long as you can give them what they need, and this will depend on where and under what conditions you decided to grow your plants. For example, geraniums need a lot of light to bloom, but indoors they will tolerate moderate light conditions. If you want to know more details about it and learn how to plant geraniums without any problems, continue reading.
Where to plant geraniums?
To be successful with geraniums, you need to know where is the best place to plant them. Most annual geraniums need a site in full sun, except for the ivy geranium, which grows best in light shade. Perennial geraniums, on the other hand, grow in sun or shade, depending on the type. All geranium varieties benefit from sun protection during the hottest period of the day. Also, you can beautify your garden with other species of flowering plants, as it is so easy to plant climbing nasturtium.
What type of soil to use for planting geraniums?
The best soil for perennial and annual geraniums is one that is fertile and drains well. In any case, try to improve drainage and soil quality with the appropriate mix. For best results when growing geraniums in containers, fill them with a light, fluffy potting mix and for planting geraniums in the garden mix equal parts soil and potting mix to get the right medium.
What is the best planting method for geraniums?
When buying geraniums, pay close attention to color and size. Healthy leaves will have no discoloration above or below them and the stems will be sturdy, not untidy. Be sure to also avoid any plants with obvious signs of pests. Common houseplant pests include mealybugs, whiteflies and spider mites.
Once you have your geranium open a hole where you want to plant, make sure it is the same size as the roots of the young silver. Carefully remove the plant from the container and leave it in the hole you made, cover it with some additional substrate. This silver can be easily propagated by cuttings. That is, you can cut healthy stems of 5 nests in length, remove the leaves and bury them leaving three knots below the substrate.
Place plants in pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot. Use a well-draining potting mix, never choose heavy, clayey soil when planting in containers. Geraniums do not like to sit in soggy, compacted soil. For maximum flowering, place plants in an area where they receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight.