Grow Geraniums for Color All Summer

Colorful geraniums are so loved and so commonly grown that they hardly need a description. But there are newcomers to gardening and to growing geraniums.

Geraniums bloom all season.

Geraniums are grown as annuals only because they do not survive frost. Grown indoors or brought inside through the winter they can continue growing for a couple of years.

Plants grow from one to two feet tall in one summer. Colors are red, pink, white, and purple. They have no unusual requirements, a good well drained soil is helpful. A half day of sunshine is fine., morning sun with afternoon shade is best. They are often grown in flower beds as well as pots and hanging baskets.

Plants are usually obtained as single plants in four inch pots or larger. Planting geranium seeds takes a long time to produce sizable plants. Geraniums can be purchased as fully gown plants, but that is expensive if you are buying many plants.

Multiply your favorite plants.

Geranium plants can easily be multiplied by taking cuttings and rooting them. Cut off a healthy stem about four inches long. Remove all but the top three or four leaves. Use a rooting medium of vermiculite, perlite, or coarse sand in a six inch pot. Using a pencil or finger, make a hole in the rooting medium. Place the geranium in the hole, and firm the medium around the cutting. Keep well watered. Put in a well lighted area but out of direct sun. You can increase humidity by placing part of a clear plastic bottle over the cutting. When the cutting starts producing new leaves, the cutting has rooted and can be placed in the garden a week or two later. Rooting hormone increases odds of success.

There are a number of types of geraniums. Some are grown as herbs and have scented leaves. Another type has ivy shaped leaves and is somewhat vine like, making them good for hanging baskets.

Zonal geraniums are the most common.

Most people grow Zonal Geraniums in their gardens. They have bushy growth with leaves that are somewhat round. Zonal geraniums continuously produce may flower clusters. Geraniums can use pruning at times to keep them looking full rather than leggy.

Water when the soil is moderately dry to keep the leaves from turning yellow. Old flower stalks and yellowing leaves need to be removed to keep a good appearance. Also remove any leaves that look diseased or have insect infestations. Brown leaves may be the result of lack of water. Yellow leaves can result from too much water and not enough light. Red tinged leaves can be the result of cold weather.

Good sanitation is the best way to prevent various types of disease. Space plants to promote good air circulation.