Geranium (pelargonium)

Contents

Types and varieties of geraniums (pelargoniums)
Geranium care at home
Reproduction of geraniums at home
Geranium transplant at home
Diseases and pests of geraniums
Popular questions and answers
- Sources of

Many housewives love geraniums for their unpretentiousness and bright, lush flowers. But even this simple flower requires proper care so that its flowering will delight you from spring to winter.

In fact, the correct name for this popular houseplant is Pelargonium (Pelargonium), but the name “geranium” has firmly stuck to it among the people.

True geraniums also exist in nature, many species grow wild in Our Country – they can be found in meadows and forests. Both genera belong to the Geranium family (Geraniaceae), are similar in appearance, and even their names have similar meanings: the word “pelargonium” comes from the Greek “pelargos” – “stork”, and “geranium” was formed from the Greek “geranos” – “crane” . And cranes and storks, as you know, also have an external resemblance, for example, a beak – it was he who gave the names to two plants, because their fruit-boxes have an elongated shape and resemble a bird’s beak.

In general, there are many similarities between pelargonium and geranium, but still they are different plants. However, let’s not be boring, and pay tribute to folk traditions – let this home flower be a geranium.

Types and varieties of geraniums (pelargoniums)

In total, there are 280 species of pelargonium in the world (1), but only a few are used in room culture.

Pelargonium zonal (Pelargonium zonale). She is a bordered pelargonium. It is this type that is most often found in apartments. It got its name due to the color of the leaves – they have a darker, often brown stripe along the edge. The leaves are pubescent, with a strong smell. The flowers are collected from large inflorescences-umbrellas.

This pelargonium is native to South Africa. It came to Europe at the end of the XNUMXth century and was very popular there for a long time. And so much so that at some point it became a symbol of petty-bourgeois bad taste. This plant reached Our Country only a century later – at the turn of the XNUMXth – XNUMXth centuries. And at first, the beautiful geranium grew exclusively in aristocratic houses. But later it began to grow all without exception.

At the moment, this pelargonium has more than 10 varieties. According to the modern classification, which was proposed by Hazel Kay, the owner of the English national collection of Fibrex pelargoniums, several groups are distinguished in zonal pelargoniums:

non-terry – they have simple flowers with 5 petals arranged in 1 row;
terry – this includes semi-double varieties with 6 – 8 petals, terry ones, which have more than 8 petals, as well as tulip-shaped ones, in which the flowers are semi-double, but they never open – they remain in buds resembling tulip buds;
rosaceous (rosaceous) – with densely double flowers, similar to half-opened roses;
star-shaped (stellars) – their flowers are star-shaped;
cactus – their flowers have long petals, which sometimes curl into a tube and resemble some cactus flowers;
variegated (variegated) – they have variegated leaves of various shapes and colors;
miniature – form very small bushes;
dwarfish – combine all low-growing varieties.

The most interesting and unusual varieties of zonal pelargonium:

Appleblossom Rosebud – with densely double flowers of a pink-shaped white color with a pink border and a green center;
Chelsea Morning – with large snow-white flowers, which have a bright crimson spot at the base of each petal;
Deacon Peacock – with double orange-red flowers and green-golden foliage with a bronze border;
Doreen – with large double peach-pink flowers, in which a white border runs along the edge of the petals, and in the center there are dark pink streaks;
Icecrystal – with pink-lilac flowers, which have a fuchsia-colored spot at the base of each petal;
Golden Choice – with densely double flowers of pink color and golden foliage with a red-brown border;
Green and Gold Petit Pierre – a breathtaking variety with light green leaves, in which a green spot stands out in the center, the flowers are bright pink, with long petals;
Joy – with large double flowers of a very unusual color – they are creamy white with a pale pink border along the edge of the petals;
June Patricia – star-shaped pelargonium with double flowers of orange-red color, with leaves of a golden hue;
Plum Rambler – with densely double flowers of a rose-shaped dark red color with a white seamy side at the petals.

Pelargonium ivy (Pelargonium peltatum). Another popular pelargonium and also a native of South Africa. In the people it is often called ampelous geranium. It is a creeping plant, but when planted in a hanging pot, it hangs over the edges effectively. The leaves of this pelargonium are glossy, the flowers are collected in inflorescences-umbrellas and can be of very different colors.

Among the varieties, the most spectacular can be distinguished:

Great Balls of Fire Violet Blue – with large semi-double flowers of rich lilac color with raspberry veins in the center;
Great Balls of Fire Merlot – with huge caps of terry rich cherry flowers;
early orchid – with double salmon-colored flowers.

Pelargonium grandiflora (Pelargonium grandiflorum). Flower growers often call her royal geranium. This is one of the most spectacular species – inflorescences can reach a diameter of 15 cm, and flowers bloom almost without interruption from May to October. It has a variety of colors, there are two-color varieties. This pelargonium is also from South Africa.

She has interesting varieties. For example, Angel – These are hybrids obtained from crossing large-flowered pelargonium and curly pelargonium (Pelargonium crispum). Their flowers are similar to flowers of violets or bright butterflies. The leaves give off a lemon scent. Here are the most popular ones:

Angel Tip Top Duet – 30 – 40 cm high, the upper petals of the flowers are dark crimson with burgundy veins, the lower ones are pale lilac;
Bicolor Angeleyes – two-tone color: the upper petals are crimson, and the lower ones are white;
Аngeleyes Аngel Мosquitaway lizzy – with white flowers and a burgundy spot in the center, leaves with a strong lemon aroma.
Angeleyes Angel Randy – up to 40 cm high with small flowers, up to 2 cm in diameter, light pink in color with a raspberry spot and white edging along the edge of the petals, with a slight aroma of leaves;
Wayward Angel – with flowers of light lilac color with crimson spots on the upper petals.

Another popular variety is Aristotle. It was bred in Germany and is distinguished by its compact bush size and large inflorescences that bloom for 3 months in a row. The most popular varieties:

Aristo Black Beauty – with flowers of burgundy-violet color;
Aristo Candy – the upper petals are purple in color with a lilac border, the lower ones are lavender with fuchsia spots;
Aristo Petticoat – the lower petals are pure white, the upper ones are white with a bright burgundy spot.

Large-flowered pelargonium has several more interesting varieties that are also worth paying attention to:

Birthday Gir – flowers are bright pink with a white base and corrugated edges of the petals;
fairy queen – with large flowers: the upper ones are dark purple with a white border, the lower ones are white with purple spots and strokes;
Mona Lisa – with large white-pink flowers and a raspberry speck at the base of the petals.

Pelargonium fragrant (Pelargonium graveolens). This is the same “grandmother’s flower”, which in Soviet times grew on the windows in many apartments. Her flowers are not as spectacular as those of other species, but she is not valued for them either. Leaves – that’s what attracts flower growers. They are carved, velvety and very fragrant – with a clear hint of lemon.

Geranium care at home

In general, geraniums can be considered unpretentious, but they have a number of requirements that are important to consider. Pelargonium grandiflora especially likes to be capricious.

Ground

Any universal soil for flowering plants will do. But it’s better to cook it yourself. The ideal option is a mixture of turf, foliage and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 1 (2).

Temperature

In summer, pelargoniums need a very warm content – up to 27 ° C, and in winter it should be low – about 14 ° C.

It should be remembered that pelargonium does not like cold drafts. Therefore, when airing the room, leave the flower away from the open transom. In general, the flower is very loyal to airing.

Lighting

All types of geraniums are very fond of an abundance of sunlight, so they need to be placed on a well-lit windowsill, periodically turning the pot so that the bush forms even and regular.

In winter, it is imperative to illuminate the geranium with special fitolamps, otherwise the flower may wither. Geraniums need at least 12 hours of full daylight hours so that the shoots do not stretch.

Humidity

Pelargoniums do not like it when they are flooded, because they come from Africa, and there are often droughts. Therefore, watering should be moderate, the soil in the pot should dry out completely between waterings. In summer, watering should be more abundant – without water, the leaves will fade, and the flowers will begin to fly around. But do not let water stagnate in the pan, geraniums do not need excess moisture.

They are undemanding to air humidity, but they react well if they are sprayed with soft filtered water from time to time (especially in winter, when batteries dry the air) (so that white stains do not remain on the leaves).

Fertilizers and fertilizing

Geraniums can be fed much less frequently than other flowers – in the summer every 2-3 weeks, in the winter once every 2-3 months. Fertilizers can be chosen universal or for flowering plants.

Trimming

In the fall, after the geranium has faded, you need to slightly shorten the top of the head. If this is not done, the geranium will grow into a shapeless bush. Florists note: the more geraniums are cut in the fall, the more magnificent it will be in the spring.

And be sure to remove dry leaves and inflorescences.

Reproduction of geraniums at home

Green cuttings. Do not throw away the trimmed tops of geraniums – this is an excellent material for flower propagation. However, cuttings cut in winter will most likely not take root, but autumn ones may take root. In general, there are 2 optimal cutting terms: March and August (3).

Such “top” plants retain all the properties of the mother and begin to bloom in the very first summer after rooting. Cuttings usually take root in 2-3 weeks.

Seeds. Geraniums are also propagated by seed, but this is much more labor intensive and less efficient. Seeds are best sown in plastic containers – they are laid out on the surface of the soil, without falling asleep with earth and covered with a lid.

Germination of seeds depends on the initial quality, and this is always a lottery. After the sprouts appear, the lid must be opened, and the container placed in a well-lit place, watered more often, but do not overfill. Illumination with phytolamps is a must! Plants from seeds usually bloom in a year.

Geranium transplant at home

Often transplanting geraniums is not worth it, for her it is stressful. There are 2 signs when a flower needs a transplant:

the roots are exposed;
the geranium began to wither and wither (perhaps it was poured, the roots began to rot, so when transplanting they will need to be treated with potassium permanganate and dried a little);

The flower is transplanted into a pot that is slightly larger than the previous one, carefully transferring it along with a clod of earth. Drainage is a must!

Diseases and pests of geraniums

There are a few classic problems that come with growing geraniums.

Gray rot appears on the stems and leaves. Overflow is usually the cause of this problem.

It is best to remove the flower from the pot, dry the roots, treat them with potassium permanganate and plant the plant in a new pot with fresh soil.

The root rots near the ground. This is root rot.

Alas, the plant can no longer be saved, it will have to be thrown away.

A whitish coating appears on the leaves. It’s most likely powdery mildew.

For treatment, you can use Fundazol (4) or biological products: Fitosporin-M, Alirin-B, Gamair, Pseudobacterin-2, Planriz.

The leaves curl up into a tube, turn yellow and fall off. Inspect the wrong side – it can be whiteflies or aphids.

Actellik can be used to control pests (4).