Geraniums are one of the most common plants that adorn the balconies of our cities. This success does not happen for any reason and their great diffusion is due to the fact that they are very easy to care for and to the beauty and intense colors of their flowers. As just mentioned, geraniums do not require much specific care and it is only during the summer when they must be treated with a little more care since, although they can withstand high temperatures, it is not advisable to expose them excessively to the sun’s rays during the summer. The summer season.
Geraniums stand out for the powerful color intensity of their flowers, since there are more than 240 varieties of species of different sizes and shades, so you will surely be able to find your favorite variety! The most common is the zonal geranium, whose flowers are red, purple-pink or white, and its stems and flowers trace sinuous shapes. It is also quite frequent, as a typical decoration of the balconies, the hanging geranium whose colors are similar to those of the zone. If you have a geranium or have decided to buy one, remember that they are very easy to maintain, throughout the article we explain how to care for geraniums:
What do you need to care for geraniums?
- Sunny place.
- In our gardening and plants category you can find many good tips to take care of your flowers and plants and make them happy.
Instructions for caring for geraniums
- The most important point and the one that should have absolute priority when caring for your geraniums has to do with. This plant needs a lot of light throughout the year and one of its great advantages is that the direct action of the sun’s rays does not damage it. It is for this reason that geraniums are often chosen to decorate balconies, terraces and gardens. Do not be afraid to place them outside because of the high temperatures since they are capable of withstanding up to thirty degrees Celsius. You should only take some kind of precaution if you live in a climate that is too hot. If the usual temperatures exceed the limit of thirty degrees, it is recommended that during the hottest hours you place them in a place with some shade. In the same way, it is also inadvisable to place them in the shade continuously since in this way the plant will not grow leafy.
- The ideal, as you can guess from the previous section, is to place your geraniums outside. If you don’t have a place to do it, you can keep them at home but you should place them next to a window that, if possible, faces south, so that they receive the maximum possible amount of light.
- On the other hand, these plants do not tolerate cold well. During the winter if there is frost you must protect them. If they are planted in your garden, you can try to cover them with plastic, creating a kind of homemade greenhouse. If you have them outside but they are planted in pots, it is best to put them at home. Of course, you must take minimal precautions and store them in a place with abundant light, ventilation and without heating.
- When it comes to watering frequency, geraniums don’t need a lot of water so if you are a somewhat forgetful person you should not worry too much, since you do not need to water them very often. When these plants need more water is in summer. Obviously this is related to the higher summer temperatures, but also to the fact that it is at this time when they bloom. During this time you should water your geraniums two or three times a week. During the spring and autumn you can reduce the frequency and water them only once a week and finally, in the winter, if they lose all their flowers, you will not need to water them more than once a month or even less. You can check the plants’ need for water by examining their soil. If the soil is very dry, the geraniums have used up all the water and need more.
- Watering geraniums is a very simple operation but you should try not to water them from above by wetting their leaves and flowers and you should try to pour the water directly onto the lower part of the stem and roots. These precautions are necessary because its flowers are very sensitive to the oxidation process that can cause a decline in color, although it does not affect the health of the plant. Obviously if your plants are outdoors they will be under the action of the rain. You can try to protect them by placing them under plastic but if you can’t do it for whatever reason, don’t worry, remember that the water on their leaves and flowers does not cause them any damage, it only weakens their color.
- As they do not need a lot of water, you must be especially careful not to flood them as they could rot and die. For this reason, it is more advisable that you water them little.
- It is also recommended, linked to the previous point, that you use clay pots. These pots will help ensure good drainage and prevent the substrate from compacting too much. As in the care of any other plant, you should try to make the substrate loose and oxygenated. For this, you should change it at least once every two years. Try to do this activity in the spring, so that when the plant begins to bloom in the summer it will be healthy, lush and leafy.
- You can pay them during the summer to help them while they bloom. To do this, buy fertilizer for geraniums or a generic one. There is a great variety and supply, surely your florist can advise you. Make the fertilization every fifteen days.
- To get new shoots out you can prune them in late winter or early spring. And you can reuse the remains of the pruning to plant new geraniums, since this plant reproduces very easily through cuttings.
- Pluck dead leaves throughout the year. It will help them grow healthier.
Tips for caring for geraniums
- Geraniums are a very strong and resistant plant but that does not mean that they do not need any attention. As you may have noticed throughout the reading of this article, they require minimal care like any plant.
- One of the great dangers that lie in wait for these plants are insect pests. You can buy many chemical products to eliminate these discomforts, but I would recommend that you opt for a more natural option. There are many home remedies to ward off pests. One of the most common is to make a nettle macerate, although there are many others such as onion infusions or lemon remedies.
