Every balcony gardener probably wants magnificently thriving, lushly flowering geraniums (actually pelargoniums, which is the botanically correct name). Sometimes, however, the very demanding plants do not want to thrive as the ambitious flower lover would like. Fortunately, there is something you can do about yellow leaves on geraniums.
How to treat yellow leaves on geraniums?
When geraniums get yellow leaves, the cause is usually a lack of nutrients, especially iron. To counteract this, you can use iron fertilizer and regularly apply the right fertilizer such as geranium fertilizer or flowering plant fertilizer.
Indication of nutrient deficiency
If the leaves on plants - not just geraniums - gradually turn yellow, this is often a sign of nutrient deficiency; especially if the leaf veins themselves remain green. This nutrient deficiency occurs not only when you fertilize too little, but also when you use an unsuitable fertilizer. Each plant species has its own specific nutritional requirements, which not only relates to the frequency of fertilization, but also to the composition of the fertilizer. Yellow leaves on geraniums, for example, are often an indication of a deficiency in the trace element iron.
What to do about yellow leaves?
Fortunately, the unsightly yellow leaves of your geraniums can be treated quite easily. As an effective first aid measure, we recommend rapid first aid with a special iron fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon), which is dissolved in the irrigation water and administered together with it as a solution. However, be careful when handling iron fertilizer, the product is poisonous.
Fertilize geraniums properly
As is often the case, prevention is better than treatment, which is why you should feed your geraniums regularly and with the right fertilizer. The flowers are extremely heavy feeders and should be cared for at least once a week. Suitable fertilizers are mainly:
- special geranium fertilizer
- Flowering plant fertilizer
- Bluegrain
- Coffee grounds
Make sure not to fertilize dry substrate. Instead, you can administer the fertilizer together with the irrigation water.
Tip
Since a lack of nutrients weakens the plant, pests increasingly settle - whiteflies in particular target geraniums that have been m altreated in this way. These should also be combated in good time.