Pelargonium (geranium)
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Pelargoniums, commonly known as Geraniums, are a large, diverse group of mostly evergreen and tender plants used as bedding or houseplants. Although pelargoniums are often called geraniums, this is not correct, as the true geraniums are hardy herbaceous plants.
Pelargonium groups Most pelargonium cultivars are divided to six groups:-
Regal: Bushy evergreen perennials and shrubs with rounded leaves sometimes lobed or partially toothed, producing single rarely double flowers in shades of mauve, pink, purple or white grown for outdoor or indoor display
Angel: Similar to regals, but more compact and bushy. Mostly derived from P. crispum
Ivy-leaved: Trailing evergreen perennials with stiff fleshy leaves and single or double flowers used for hanging baskets or containers
Zonal: These are mainly derived from P. inquinans and P. zonale. Upright, bushy, succulent-stemmed perennials grown for their single or double flowers. Some have attractive foliage. This type is most commonly used for bedding displays
Scented-leaved: Shrubby evergreen perennials and shrubs, which are mainly cultivated for their scented and often distinctly lobed, toothed or incised or variegated leaves
Unique: Shrubby evergreen perennials that do not fall into the above categories
Pelargoniums can be grown in borders or containers. In borders or beds, plant in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil. Most prefer full sun. Regal cultivars prefer partial shade and zonal cultivars will tolerate some shade.
For indoor or outdoor container cultivation use well drained soil-less multipurpose compost or soil-based compost such as John Innes No 2.
If growing indoors or under glass grow in full light shaded from scorching midday sun.
Water moderately during the growing season from spring to summer, avoid the compost becoming too wet and provide good ventilation. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser according to the application instructions on the packet, every 10-14 days in spring. Once flowers start to form, switch to a high potassium fertiliser such as tomato feed. Water only sparingly in winter. Many will continue flowering if kept at 7-10°C (45-50°F).
Many pelargoniums are naturally bushy. They can be pinched back in spring or early summer to encourage further branching. Tall, vigorously growing cultivars can be trained on canes to form a pillar. Young plants of trailing ivy-leaved cultivars are best pruned back to promote branching.
Deadhead plants regularly to promote flowering.
If kept actively growing all year round, the majority of pelargoniums can be renovated by hard pruning in spring. Those that are overwintered in containers in a greenhouse (method 2) have already been cut back in autumn and should not need further pruning.
Information from The Royal Horticultural Society.
Pelargonium (geranium)
To view more of my images, in this series, please click "here" !
Pelargoniums, commonly known as Geraniums, are a large, diverse group of mostly evergreen and tender plants used as bedding or houseplants. Although pelargoniums are often called geraniums, this is not correct, as the true geraniums are hardy herbaceous plants.
Pelargonium groups Most pelargonium cultivars are divided to six groups:-
Regal: Bushy evergreen perennials and shrubs with rounded leaves sometimes lobed or partially toothed, producing single rarely double flowers in shades of mauve, pink, purple or white grown for outdoor or indoor display
Angel: Similar to regals, but more compact and bushy. Mostly derived from P. crispum
Ivy-leaved: Trailing evergreen perennials with stiff fleshy leaves and single or double flowers used for hanging baskets or containers
Zonal: These are mainly derived from P. inquinans and P. zonale. Upright, bushy, succulent-stemmed perennials grown for their single or double flowers. Some have attractive foliage. This type is most commonly used for bedding displays
Scented-leaved: Shrubby evergreen perennials and shrubs, which are mainly cultivated for their scented and often distinctly lobed, toothed or incised or variegated leaves
Unique: Shrubby evergreen perennials that do not fall into the above categories
Pelargoniums can be grown in borders or containers. In borders or beds, plant in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil. Most prefer full sun. Regal cultivars prefer partial shade and zonal cultivars will tolerate some shade.
For indoor or outdoor container cultivation use well drained soil-less multipurpose compost or soil-based compost such as John Innes No 2.
If growing indoors or under glass grow in full light shaded from scorching midday sun.
Water moderately during the growing season from spring to summer, avoid the compost becoming too wet and provide good ventilation. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser according to the application instructions on the packet, every 10-14 days in spring. Once flowers start to form, switch to a high potassium fertiliser such as tomato feed. Water only sparingly in winter. Many will continue flowering if kept at 7-10°C (45-50°F).
Many pelargoniums are naturally bushy. They can be pinched back in spring or early summer to encourage further branching. Tall, vigorously growing cultivars can be trained on canes to form a pillar. Young plants of trailing ivy-leaved cultivars are best pruned back to promote branching.
Deadhead plants regularly to promote flowering.
If kept actively growing all year round, the majority of pelargoniums can be renovated by hard pruning in spring. Those that are overwintered in containers in a greenhouse (method 2) have already been cut back in autumn and should not need further pruning.
Information from The Royal Horticultural Society.