Geraniums - or as they are properly called, pelargoniums - are among the typical balcony flowers. In summer, a veritable cascade of red, pink or white flowers seems to pour down from many a balcony. Geraniums bloom so wonderfully lushly when they are planted and cared for correctly.
How to plant and care for geraniums correctly?
Geraniums prefer a sunny location and loose, nutrient-rich substrate. Plant them after the Ice Saints (mid-May) with sufficient planting distance. Regularly removing spent flowers promotes flowering from May to October.
Which location do geraniums prefer?
First of all: Geraniums need sun, sun and more sun! The more, the more beautiful and rich the flower will be.
What substrate do geraniums need?
Geraniums are heavy feeders and therefore need a loose, permeable and nutrient-rich substrate. Special geranium soil is available commercially, but you can also mix it yourself from commercially available, pre-fertilized potting soil, compost soil and perlite or sand. But also make sure that the pot has good drainage, because geraniums do not tolerate waterlogging.
Can geraniums only be kept in pots or planted outdoors?
In principle, you can also put geraniums in the perennial bed, but the plants are not winter-hardy and therefore have to be dug up again in autumn and left to overwinter frost-free. If you want to plant geraniums in the garden, this procedure is recommended:
- Plant the geraniums in a large, untreated clay pot.
- This should have a drainage hole at the bottom.
- Sink it into the ground so that only the top edge of the pot is visible.
- In autumn you can dig up the plant and pot again.
The advantage of this method is that you can cultivate non-hardy plants in the perennial bed and then dig them up again without damaging the roots.
When is the best time to plant geraniums?
Geraniums should only be planted after the Ice Saints - i.e. from mid-May at the earliest. The plants are very sensitive to frost and therefore need to be protected from possible late frosts.
What planting distance is ideal for geraniums?
As young plants, geraniums are still quite small, but under the right conditions they spread very quickly in all directions. Therefore, do not place more than a maximum of four young plants in an average balcony box of one meter in length.
When do geraniums bloom?
Geraniums are tireless summer bloomers and show their flowers in the months between May and October. However, you should remove dead flowers regularly to encourage the plants to bloom for a long time.
How to propagate geraniums?
Geraniums can be propagated very well from half-ripe cuttings that are cut in late summer. You can recognize this because the stems have already turned brown, meaning they are woody. Cuttings that are too soft, on the other hand, quickly become moldy. Growing from purchased or self-collected seeds is also possible, but not for all varieties. Hybrids can usually only be propagated vegetatively.
Can geraniums also be preferred?
You can start growing geraniums from seeds yourself from January / February. It is best to plant the seeds in potting soil in a warm and bright place, preferably in an indoor greenhouse. As soon as the plants have four leaves, they can be pricked out and planted in good potting soil. Fertilization begins around six to eight weeks after germination.
Tip
Geraniums can be planted very well together with verbena, fairy mirror, spider flowers, juggler flowers, gypsophila, lobelia or petunias. Fuchsias, on the other hand, are less suitable as they prefer a shady location.