Geranium

Geraniums are called very common as balcony flowers hybrids of pelargonium thyroid (Pelargonium peltatum) - an ampelny species, growing in length by 2 m. The leaves are glossy, leathery dense palmate-separate, in shape resemble ivy leaves, hence the name of the group of such pelargoniums - ivy-leaved. Numerous cultivated hybrid forms are obtained as a result of crossing of thyroid pelargonium and brick-red pelargonium (P. latericius). Flowers are usually on a long stem, simple or double, painted in various colors from cream to pink, red and lilac, there are two-tone and variegated foliage. Hybrids of thyroid pelargonium and zonal pelargonium (P. zonale) have semi-thyroid leaves, other characteristics are similar to those of thyroid pelargonium, but the plants themselves are more compact. Flowers in hybrid forms can be simple, double, semi-double. With simple flowers popular: 'Balcony Imperial' and 'Decorative Imperial' with red flowers; 'Balcony pink', 'Balcony lilac', 'Decorative Lilac' - with colors corresponding to the names. With double ones, the most famous are 'Amethyst' with dark lilac and' Grenchen beauty ' with scarlet-red flowers. Semi-double varieties include: pink 'Bella Donna', intense pink 'Lambada' and white 'Luna'. More resistant to rain (and they appear more flowers) varieties and hybrids with simple flowers. Double-flowered geraniums are very beautiful, but usually the number and density of flowers formed on them is less.

Geraniums are called very common as balcony flowers hybrids of pelargonium thyroid (Pelargonium peltatum) - an ampelny species, growing in length by 2 m. The leaves are glossy, leathery dense palmate-separate, in shape resemble ivy leaves, hence the name of the group of such pelargoniums - ivy-leaved.

Numerous cultivated hybrid forms are obtained as a result of crossing of thyroid pelargonium and brick-red pelargonium (P. latericius). Flowers are usually on a long stem, simple or double, painted in various colors from cream to pink, red and lilac, there are two-tone and variegated foliage.

Hybrids of thyroid pelargonium and zonal pelargonium (P. zonale) have semi-thyroid leaves, other characteristics are similar to those of thyroid pelargonium, but the plants themselves are more compact. Flowers in hybrid forms can be simple, double, semi-double. With simple flowers popular: 'Balcony Imperial' and 'Decorative Imperial' with red flowers; 'Balcony pink', 'Balcony lilac', 'Decorative Lilac' - with

colors corresponding to the names. With double ones, the most famous are 'Amethyst' with dark lilac and' Grenchen beauty ' with scarlet-red flowers.

Semi-double varieties include: pink 'Bella Donna', intense pink 'Lambada' and white 'Luna'. More resistant to rain (and they appear more flowers) varieties and hybrids with simple flowers. Double-flowered geraniums are very beautiful, but usually the number and density of flowers formed on them is less.

Cultivation

Ivy-leaved pelargoniums, strictly speaking, are not indoor crops. They are widely used in the open ground for the design of flower beds, flowerpots, as an ampel plant on the window, balcony, terrace. In addition, you can use supports to grow pyramid-shaped geraniums. In the rooms they are placed on the southern windows, but they winter with difficulty (the optimal temperature is 8-10 °C). Plant in spring, in May, in a well-drained soil-a mixture of garden soil and peat or rotten foliage, filled with a full mineral fertilizer in the amount of 30 g per bucket of soil. Spring and summer once a week, they are watered with a complex flower fertilizer. In mild climatic conditions, pelargoniums can always be kept outdoors. In a moderately cold climate, pelargoniums are removed for the winter in a cool and dry room. They can also be kept in a wooden box, dug out with a lump of earth, placed next to each other, after removing the dry flowers and leaves. In April, they are again taken out into the fresh air. In pelargoniums, when the vegetation resumes, the shoots should be strongly pinched.

Location

Thyroid pelargoniums require a lot of light, and they tolerate open sun well, especially in dry and well-ventilated environments.

Temperature

Geraniums can withstand high air temperatures and do not like frost.

Watering

In summer, plants need to be watered frequently. In autumn, watering is gradually reduced. In winter, the soil is maintained only in a slightly moist state.

Transplant

Transplanted once every 2 years, in spring or summer.

Care

It is necessary to constantly remove faded inflorescences and dry or damaged leaves. In the spring, overwintered shoots are cut off.

Reproduction

Since most hybrid forms and varieties do not produce seeds, these plants are more often propagated by cuttings. In summer, take apical shoots 8-10 cm long and plant them in groups of 3-4 (so that the plants start to bush faster) in a mixture of sand and peat (1:1), which is constantly maintained in a moist state. After rooting, young plants are transplanted into a new pot and pinched to encourage the development of side shoots. After 3-4 months, new plants begin the flowering period.

Diseases

When water stagnates or air humidity is high, pelargoniums, especially in spring, are attacked by fungi that cause gray rot, rust, and root rot. Temporarily stop watering and carry out treatment with fungicides. Plants are damaged by aphids and mites, which cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. They get rid of them, respectively, with the help of drugs against aphids and acaricides.

Acquisition

Pelargoniums thyroid can be bought in any gardening center in the spring. Choose healthy plants with non-elongated internodes (the part of the stem located between two adjacent leaf attachment points).