So that your balcony becomes a true visual highlight, you must care for your hanging geraniums properly - this particularly applies to specimens cultivated in balcony boxes. Balcony boxes are usually not considered optimal planters, as they offer plants little space to root and grow. In addition, if you care incorrectly, geraniums in balcony boxes risk either dying of thirst, starving or, if you are too careful about watering, rotting due to waterlogging.
How do I care for hanging geraniums in the balcony box?
To care for hanging geraniums in the balcony box, plant them in a sunny location with drainage, water regularly, fertilize with flowering plant fertilizer or blue corn, cut off any dead flowers and overwinter them in a cool, dark place.
Plant hanging geraniums correctly in the balcony box
However, before proper care, the geraniums must first be planted correctly. The points of location, substrate and drainage are particularly important. Plant your geraniums in a location that is as sunny as possible - the plants are real sun worshipers and need a lot of light for a long and magnificent flowering period. When planting in a balcony box, drainage is particularly important as a prerequisite to prevent waterlogging from forming in the first place. Small pebbles or clay granules are ideal for this as the bottom layer of substrate, and the actual planting substrate should be both loose and permeable and rich in nutrients.
Which balcony box is best suited for geraniums?
If possible, choose a balcony box with a coaster. These models have drainage holes at the bottom through which excess water can drain away and be poured off if necessary. Commercially available, closed balcony boxes, on the other hand, require a lot of attention, especially in rainy weather. If the summer is rainy, geraniums in such boxes need special protection - otherwise the plants will be too moist and will eventually die.
Care for hanging geraniums properly
Geraniums are quite high-maintenance plants that should be watered and fertilized regularly.
Watering and fertilizing
Optimally, geraniums are always slightly moist, but never wet. Always water the flowers when the top layer of substrate has already dried, but watering should not be carried out thoroughly. Regular fertilization is also important for the heavy-feeding geranium. Fertilize either with liquid flowering plant fertilizer (e.g. geranium fertilizer) or blue grain dissolved in water.
Cutting and overwintering
For the longest possible flowering period, you should always cut away dead flowers so that the plants invest their energy in new flowers. Before putting them away for winter quarters, geraniums should be cut back heavily and removed from the balcony box. Instead, pack the root system, freed from excess soil, in a plastic bag and overwinter the plants in a cool, dark place.
Tip
A real insider tip for fertilizing geraniums is coffee grounds.
