In this article we will tell you all about room geraniums (also called "kalachik"), namely: how to care for this plant, in what soil to plant and how to choose the right pot.
Do not forget to talk about the methods of reproduction of pelargonium.
Did you know? The geranium family has about 800 species and is widespread in nature in southern Africa and Australia.
Features of growing geraniums at home
The word "geranium" comes from the Greek "geranion" or "geranios", and translates as "crane" (the fruits of this plant really resemble the crane's beak).
The plant itself is a shrub whose height can reach 60 cm. There are two types: flowering or fragrant. In the second case, when flowering, it may resemble the smell of apples, roses, or even nutmeg.
Home geranium is undemanding to care, so she is widely accepted by mistresses into her home and rejoice at this beautiful flower. Geraniums get accustomed to their homes and you have to try to get this flower to hurt.
But, despite the simplicity, there are several features of growing geranium, which should be considered:
- Shine. Geranium is very fond of light, so it is often placed on the window sills, it is necessary to take into account which window to put geranium on (the southern side is best suited).
- Temperature. Geranium is not very capricious in terms of heat, but, nevertheless, in winter time, the room should not be cold (not lower than +10 С). If you want it to bloom all year round, you should provide it with light (in winter - the lamp) and put it in a warm place.
- Watering. Watering is often necessary, but make sure that the water in the pot does not stagnate, as the roots of the plant begin to rot and geranium dies.
Important!In the summer, you can not leave the flower in direct sunlight.
Important! Spray geraniums can not. This flower does not need moist air, and such a procedure only hurts him.
Climatic conditions for geraniums
Since geranium comes from South Africa, then, accordingly, you should create a similar climate in your own home. Of course, this does not mean at all that it is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature in the room at 30 30С and fill the geranium with water, like during tropical rain.
It is enough to keep the soil in the pot moist and to provide sufficient illumination to your little ball. The maximum comfortable temperature for a flower is from +10 to +30 degrees. The need for geranium in good lighting is due to the fact that in her homeland there is the largest number of sunny days in a year.
Important! If there is a shortage of sunlight, an ordinary lamp that fits near the flower is perfect.
Do not save, the choice of a pot for geraniums
When choosing a pot for geranium, it is worth remembering the information that we considered above, namely: "How to water a ball at home". You already know that geranium needs frequent watering, although water should not "stand" in a pot. Thus, when choosing a pot it is worth considering this moment.
If to compare plastic pots and products from baked clay, then the last will be in priority, as the soil dries faster in them. The pot should not be very large, otherwise you risk growing a tree instead of a small flower. One plant is enough for a pot with a diameter of 14-15 cm and a height of at least 10 cm.
What soil is needed for geraniums, fertilizing and plant grafting
Now tell you about what land does geranium love. In this case, we, again, will help the knowledge that we have learned from the previous paragraphs. It is worth remembering 2 important points:
- The soil should be loose and unused;
- Soil should have good drainage properties.
- We use ordinary chernozem, which is sold in flower shops, paired with expanded clay, which is placed on the bottom of the pot;
- A mixture of black soil with river sand and fine gravel, which is placed on the bottom of the pot.
Important!Despite good drainage, the ground in a pot needs to be loosened periodically to avoid root rot.
Go to choice of fertilizers for geraniums. Ordinary fertilizers from a flower shop that contain phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and trace elements. They are made no more than 2 times a month.
It is best to feed a little shot after sunset, or rearranging the pot in the shade. Do not use liquid fertilizer if the soil is dry. Pre-water the flower. It is important to remember that fresh organic fertilizer can not be appliedotherwise the flower will dry.
We now turn to the consideration of how to plant pot flowers.
Grafting geranium - This is a transplant piece of escape from one plant to another. This is done in order to get flowers of different colors / odors on one bush, or to form a decorative crown.
Plant only strong plants at least 1 year old. This is done in the spring when the balls grow at a faster rate. It is important to do everything correctly and exactly according to the instructions that are set out and shown below.
- Make a V-cut on the stock. It should be smooth, smooth and less than the cut of the stock, and the length of the wedge and the cut part should be 2 centimeters.
- Insert the prepared cutting into the received groove, as shown in the picture. As you can see, the scion should have a live kidney next to the cut.
- Graft and rootstock combine so that all parts of the stem coincided at least on one side. To do this, you need to choose the same diameter of the stem of the stalk and stem.
Important!You should not use a cutting that is larger in diameter than the stock.
How to water a geranium
Potted flowers should be watered often enough, especially in the warm season, when geranium blooms or its rapid growth occurs. During the "rest", in winter, the intensity of watering is reduced, leaving the ground slightly damp.
If you notice a gray mold on the leaves or a characteristic putrid odor - this is an excess of moisture in the pot. In this case, you should either wait until the soil dries and do not water the flower, or transplant the geranium into a new dry substrate.
It is worth remembering that too dry ground for a roll will not be as terrible as excess moisture, which stagnates in the soil. In hot weather, pelargonium is watered once a day. At medium temperatures and slight evaporation, watering is carried out every two days.
Features trimming geraniums
Now we look at how to trim the balls.
Geranium should be cut off, regardless of its size and age. This is done in order to increase the number of inflorescences.
The first stage of pruning takes place before winter. This procedure helps the ball save more resources for a successful transition to a state of rest.
We begin to cut only after the geranium has completely faded: we cut off half the length of the flower (this allows us to give more light to the root flowers and reduce the chance of infection by fungi). If the cuts over time began to turn black, they need to be shortened.
Re-pruning produced in late February or early March. This is necessary if pelargonium over the winter is strongly stretched.
Crop geranium need sharp blade, which before the procedure should be sanitized with an alcohol solution. Cuts are made obliquely above the leaf node.
Pruning flowers and dried shoots are subject to pruning. In this case, you do not just make the bush more attractive and small, you help the plant to cope with possible problems, and reduce the risk of developing fungus on faded parts.
Geranium Breeding Methods
Here we come to the final stage of the article - reproduction. Geranium can be propagated in two ways: by seeds and cuttings. And now we will help you assess the pros and cons of each method.
Seeds
So, you have geranium seeds and you need to get some beautiful bushes out of them. Let's start with what you need to know before you begin:
- Planting time;
- Soil option for planting;
- Germination period;
- Moments of transplant.
Next you need the right substrate for the landing. In this case, perfect turf mix + sand + peat (in the ratio 2: 1: 1). It will not stagnate water, and peat will give a kind of feeding sprouted plants.
After selecting the soil is worth preparing yourself seeds. To do this, they are treated with epine or zircon, and then soaked for 3 hours in water at room temperature.
Seeds and soil are ready - go to the most landing. We spread the soil with a thickness of 0.5 cm, put the seeds on top and cover with glass. We place the box with the seeds in a bright room with a temperature of +20 degrees.
The plant will germinate within one and a half weeks after sowing. The growth rate depends on several factors: the geranium variety, the room temperature and the storage period.
After a leaf appears on a young plant 3-4 leaves, you need to produce planting geraniums in a pot. It is important to correctly sever the roots of several flowers that have not yet had time to crawl. Take a new pot with a diameter of the top of not more than 10 cm.
The seed propagation method is rather long and laborious. It is not suitable for everyone, as it requires attention and deadlines. In the next section, we will look at the propagation method by cuttings, which is used much more often than by seeds.
Cuttings
Many people know that geranium is easiest to propagate by cuttings, but hardly anyone will tell you the detailed instructions. Now we will teach you how to replant the little ball so that it will take root and grow on the new place.
Transplantation of cuttings is carried out in early autumn, after flowering.
- We cut a strong and healthy stem 8-14 cm long. We cut the cut with a sharp knife (you can use the construction one) just below the knot.
- On the cut cuttings leave 2-3 top leaves, the rest are cut.
- The cutting is placed in a solution of the stimulator of the formation of roots (if any). In the absence of a solution, the chance of successful germination decreases, but does not disappear completely.
- Pour suitable soil in a pot with a diameter of about 10 cm; we make a notch with a pencil and plant an escape.
Important! This method is not suitable for royal geranium, as this variety does not have time to take root and just rot.
Shredded coal is added to the water to prevent the development of diseases. And when the sprout has taken root, it is transplanted into a pot with earth and then cared for as an adult plant.
After reading the article, you learned how to care for a little ball at home. We told you about the breeding options for geraniums, how to cut the bush and when to do it. Described the features of care for this beautiful plant. Now you will surely be able to pick up a pot and a primer for your pelargonium and be sure that it gets everything you need.
