Red, pink or white – hanging geraniums are the perfect plant for a balcony that blooms all summer long. Due to their bright colors and long flowering period, the flowers are perfect for this purpose, but they also require a lot of care. In the following article you will learn how you can enjoy your hanging geraniums for as long as possible.
How do you properly care for hanging geraniums?
Hanging geranium care includes: regular watering without waterlogging, using special geranium fertilizer or flowering plant fertilizer, cleaning out dead shoots if necessary, paying attention to diseases and pests and storing in a cool, dark place in winter.
Water hanging geraniums properly
When it comes to their water requirements, hanging geraniums are quite ambivalent: the popular summer flowers originally come from the dry and hot climate of Southeast Africa and are therefore quite used to longer dry periods. Short-term dry phases do not harm the plants, nor should they be exposed to excessive moisture. On the other hand, hanging geraniums are also quite thirsty plants that need to be watered well, especially on hot and dry days. In addition to high humidity, you should also avoid waterlogging or constantly wet substrate.
Fertilize hanging geraniums regularly
In addition, hanging geraniums are extremely heavy feeders and should therefore be fertilized regularly. A special geranium fertilizer is suitable for this, although conventional flowering plant fertilizer serves the same purpose. The best way to fertilize is when watering. Make sure the substrate is moist, otherwise the roots could be damaged.
The right time to cut hanging geraniums
Many hanging geranium varieties are self-cleaning, i.e. H. dead shoots do not need to be cleaned out. For other hanging geraniums, however, this measure is quite useful in order to stimulate the formation of new flowers. Otherwise, a strong pruning is carried out before storing in the winter quarters and another one - to remove water shoots - in early spring.
Diseases in hanging geraniums
Hanging geraniums are prone to certain diseases, especially in damp weather or when watering is too frequent. Powdery mildew, gray mold, geranium rust and bacterial wilt are common. As soon as you notice the first signs of these plant diseases, which are often caused by fungi or bacteria, you should act as quickly as possible - cut off affected areas and make the affected plants drier.
Pests on hanging geraniums
Whiteflies, thrips or aphids feel particularly comfortable on hanging geraniums. If the infestation is noticed in time, you can contain it with a proven home remedy: Treat the affected leaves and shoots with a mixture of 500 ml of water, a generous splash of dishwashing liquid (preferably with a citrus scent) and two tablespoons of cooking oil.
Overwinter hanging geraniums properly
Hanging geraniums should under no circumstances overwinter outdoors. The plants are not hardy, but if they are heavily pruned and without soil, they can easily survive the cold season in a cool, dark cellar.
Tip
Geraniums should only be watered from below so that no water gets on the leaves.
