The striking, cup-, wheel- or plate-shaped flowers of the cranesbill bloom blue, violet, pink or white. Some have darker veining or a light center. Geranium is quite easy to care for and usually flowers very reliably. Sometimes, however, the longed-for floral decoration simply doesn't appear or is gone after a short time. There are various reasons for this.
Why isn't my cranesbill blooming?
If a cranesbill does not bloom, this may be due to the different flowering times of the species, an incorrect location, a lack of nutrients or a lack of pruning. Check the location needs and, if necessary, provide the plant with complete fertilizer.
Note the flowering times of the different species
Many storksbill owners are surprised when the plant is supposed to bloom from June to October (according to internet sources) and then only manages to bloom for a month. Or the blossoms, which were expected in May, only appear in July. The reason for this lies in the very different flowering times of the different cranesbill species, some of which open their calyxes in spring - and are then finished flowering by June at the latest - and others only bloom quite late. Many geranium species also have a very short flowering period, while the hybrids in particular can bloom for several months.
Prune cranesbill after flowering
But the storksbills, which bloom early and only for a short time, can be stimulated to bloom a second time by pruning them in a timely manner. To do this, cut the perennial back shortly after it has faded; it will sprout again within six to eight weeks and produce new flowers. After cutting, you can provide the plant with a little immediately available complete fertilizer (€12.00 on Amazon) and thus provide additional stimulation. However, be careful not to prune late-flowering varieties in July, thereby removing the flower before it can even break open.
Choose a suitable location
Another reason why some storksbills are unwilling to bloom is the wrong location. Just as with the flowering period, the different geranium species also differ in terms of their location requirements. Many cranesbills do not bloom because they are either too sunny or too shady. For this reason, be sure to pay attention to the required conditions, which of course also applies to the soil. In principle, cranesbills prefer a loamy, humus-rich subsoil, with some species preferring nutrient-rich and moderately moist to moist soils and others prefer lean, dry substrates.
Tip
If everything is fine in terms of substrate, location and flowering time, but the cranesbill still doesn't want to bloom, this could also be due to a nutrient deficiency. In this case, fertilize the plant with a quickly available substance - i.e. H. If possible, liquid – complete fertilizer.