Geraniums - which are actually called pelargoniums and should therefore not be confused with the native cranesbills (lat. Geranium) - are popular balcony flowers. If cared for well, the plants will bloom from May until autumn, often even until the first frost.
How do I care for geraniums on the balcony?
Geraniums ensure a colorful balcony from May until the first frost. They need a sunny location, nutrient-rich substrate, regular watering and fertilization and the removal of spent flowers. They can be easily combined with petunias, verbena or fairy mirrors.
Planting and caring for geraniums properly
Garden centers and florists often claim that geraniums don't need much care: the opposite is the case. To ensure that the plants bloom profusely throughout the summer and become an eye-catcher, you must water them regularly, fertilize them and also clean out anything that has faded or dried out. Geraniums need a lot of moisture and are heavy feeders, but at the same time you should not flood them or over-fertilize them - this will only lead to various unsightly diseases. You can have a direct influence on the well-being of the plants as soon as you plant them.
Choice of location
First of all, this includes choosing the right location. Balconies that face south, southwest or southeast and are therefore in the sun all day are ideal for geraniums. In addition, the sun-hungry plants need as much warmth as possible and good protection in persistently rainy weather.
Geraniums prefer nutrient-rich substrate
As a substrate, geraniums prefer nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. You can purchase special geranium soil in stores (€9.00 on Amazon) that is tailored directly to the needs of the flowers. You can also mix the soil you need yourself, for which you
- 1 part compost soil
- 1 part potting soil
- and 1 part perlite (or another clay granulate)
need.
Don't put it on the balcony too early
Furthermore, it is necessary not to put geraniums on the balcony too early in the year. The plants are very sensitive to cold and should therefore not be taken outside before the Ice Saints (around mid-May). Geraniums also tend to simply stop growing at temperatures below 10°C.
Combine geraniums with other flowers
Some balcony gardeners like it pure and plant geraniums solo - often in one color or a mix of different colors. The combination of red and white geraniums, as is also known from the lush geranium plantings in Bavaria and Tyrol, is very popular. However, the flowers can be wonderfully combined with numerous other flowering plants:
- Verbens
- Magic bells
- Petunias
- Vanilla flowers
- Elf Mirror
- True to men
- Gypsophila
- Daisies / Bornholm daisies
- Campanula
You can mix strongly hanging and standing varieties together. The only important thing is that the plant neighbors have the same needs in terms of location, substrate and care.
Tip
If you want to put the geraniums in a balcony box, choose a model with a saucer if possible. This allows excess water to drain away and your geraniums don't get their feet wet.