Geranium is an unpretentious flower, and thanks in large part to this it has gained such popularity among gardeners. Caring for a plant does not require serious efforts, however, there are still some rules, and if they are not followed, the geranium starts to hurt, its appearance deteriorates.
One of the problems that may arise when growing geraniums is twisting the leaves of a flower. Why this happens and what to do when a problem occurs, this article will tell.
Features of plant growth
Geranium is from South Africa, which is the reason for her love for heat and sun, therefore, placing flower on a sunny window sill, florists do not make mistakes. Moreover, in the warm season, she will be comfortable in the garden, but with the arrival of autumn and a decrease in temperature, it is better to return the flower to the house.
Geranium blooms for almost the entire year.All she needs is a fair amount of light, proper watering and feeding.
Important! To get a lush flowering plant, you must pinch and regularly pruning.
Problem diagnosis
Twisting the leaves of geraniums is nothing more than a signal from the plant that the owner makes mistakes in caring for them.
Why leaflets curl inward?
The reasons may be different, the main thing - to find the correct and correct the error.
Nutrition. An important role in the proper and healthy development of geraniums is played by top dressing. In particular, nitrogen makes the foliage of the plant beautiful and lush, and if for some reason it is not enough, the leaves wither and curl, but with an excess of this element the geranium stops blooming.Also, an excess of potassium can cause foliage to curl. It is necessary for the plant to obtain nutrients, but it is important to monitor its dosage.
- Air. The reason for this state of the flower can be a violation of the temperature and humidity. Geranium loves light, but is afraid of direct sunlight, so the leaves, protecting themselves from them, can curl up.
The plant does not tolerate dry air, so you should not place it in a hot place and near heating devices, and if there is no other way out, you need to put a container with water near the geranium and spray the air next to it.
- Pot. One of the common mistakes is the wrong choice of pot. Often, geraniums are initially planted in too large a capacity, or, conversely, do not rush to perform a transplant in a larger pot. Together with the growth and development of the flower, its root system grows, which means that with time it becomes a little room in the flowerpot and it needs to be replaced with a more spacious one. If this is not done, the leaves will lose their healthy appearance and begin to curl.
- Diseases and pests. Despite the resistance of geraniums to diseases and pests, there is no guarantee that the plant will never get sick or be attacked by insects.
If, for some reason, leaves curl around an indoor or garden flower, and spots or white patches appear on them, these are symptoms of infection with a fungus. In such a situation, the plant should be treated Bordeaux liquid.
Note! In case of root rot, the plant will not be cured.Also pests such as worms, ticks and aphids can also provoke leaf curling. You can get rid of them by treating geranium with a special tool purchased at a flower shop.
- The soil. In the wrong soil is impossible to grow a healthy flower. The soil for geranium should be light, have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction, and river sand and peat should be present in the composition. If the soil is prepared independently, and not purchased in a store, you should add mineral fertilizers and humus to it.
Nutrition. An important role in the proper and healthy development of geraniums is played by top dressing. In particular, nitrogen makes the foliage of the plant beautiful and lush, and if for some reason it is not enough, the leaves wither and curl, but with an excess of this element the geranium stops blooming.What to do in this case?
On condition that the necessary comfort conditions are provided, geranium can decorate the room all year round.
If the leaves of the plant for some reason began to curl up, the most important thing is to determine the cause of this state of the flower and act, starting from it. The main things you can do:
- introduce top-dressings with a sufficient nitrogen content;
- protect geraniums from drafts;
- transplant plants to the pot, the size of the root system;
- monitor the presence of pests and, if necessary, process the flower with special means.
Preventive measures
In order to avoid diseases of the geranium, it is necessary to monitor it and provide proper care:
- soil sterilization;
- properly water, avoiding an excess of moisture;
- pritenyat a flower so that it does not get a sunburn;
- provide adequate lighting, avoiding direct sunlight;
- avoid drafts;
- maintain the air temperature in summer + 18-20 degrees, in winter - not below +10 degrees;
- monitor the humidity of the air, avoiding overdrying;
- timely transplant into a pot of suitable volume.
There are a lot of diseases that can spoil the beauty of geraniums. However, if you know why they appeared, and eliminate their causes in time, the flower will decorate any space with its bright colors for a long time, be it an apartment, a house, or even a garden plot.
