Geraniums grow in a variety of colors.They are the perfect addition to any garden, windowsill, or pot.You can grow and care for your own plants with a little knowledge.
Step 1: Pick the right place to plant your plants.
Geraniums are one of the easiest plants to care for and can be planted in the ground or in a pot.There are spots that get full sun, partial sun or light shade.If possible, make sure they get morning sun and afternoon shade.Geraniums are happy if they get five or six hours of sunlight a day.Geraniums can be planted in soil that is draining.Geraniums don't like getting their feet wet and it could lead to a sick plant.If you live in an area that is really hot a lot of the year, try to find a spot that gets afternoon shade and has moist soil.
Step 2: There are holes in the bottom of the pot.
It's important to get a pot with good drainage because Geraniums don't like sitting in soggy soil.Depending on the variety of geranium you bought, buy a pot that is large enough for your plant.If you have a small plant, you may be able to grow it in a 6 or 8 inch pot, while larger plants will need a larger pot.If the saucer has pebbles in it, place it under the plant's pot.
Step 3: The right time of year is when to plant flowers.
Geraniums can be planted in the spring after the last hard frost.Sometimes the flowers have a mind of their own and they will burst into bloom in spring, but other times the plant blooms in midsummer, late summer, or fall.Regardless, be prepared for their beauty to come up in the winter.
Step 4: The garden bed should be prepared.
Geraniums thrive in soil that has been tilled.The soil should be loose a good 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38.1 cm) down.When the soil is loosened, mix in 2 to 4 inches of compost to give it as much nutrition as possible.
Step 5: Give the plants enough room to grow.
You want to separate each plant by 6 inches (15.2 cm) to 2 feet (0.6 m) in distance.If you have picked up a larger variety, you should give each plant 2 feet of space to grow.
Step 6: There are holes for each plant.
The plastic pot that the Geranium is contained in should be double the diameter of the holes.If you buy a 6-inch plastic pot, you should make a hole that is 1 foot in diameter.Geraniums can be grown from seeds if you sow them directly into the ground.Plants will take longer to grow if you use seeds.If you are sowing seeds in a pot, you should start it indoors.You can move the pot outside once the seeds begin to grow.Leave the plants outside during the day when it is warmer and bring them in at night if you need to move them during harsher weather.This is called honing off.
Step 7: The plant should be in the hole.
Don't break the roots of the geranium by taking it out of its container.Place the plant in the hole so that the root ball is level with the surface of the soil.If you have a lot of clay in your soil, it will make a basin for water and cause your plants to rot.The geranium can stand on its own if the rest of the hole is filled with soil.Don't rinse the soil away from the root ball if you want to water your plant immediately.Water at the base of the plant.If you put soil on the stem, it could lead to a rotting plant.
Step 8: As needed, water your plants.
It doesn't mean you should never water Geraniums.If your plants need to be watered, check the soil.If it is dry or barely moist, you should water your flowers.The soil needs to be dry between waterings.Geraniums in pots need to be given enough water.You need holes in the bottom of your pot to water the plants until the water runs out.
Step 9: The compost should be kept flowing.
You should put a new layer of compost around your plants.Place 2 inches of mulch on top of the composted soil.The mulch will help to keep the soil moist and reduce the number of weeds.
Step 10: Remove dead flowers from your plant.
Remove the dead flowers and parts of the plant after the flower has bloomed so that it can grow again.Remove leaves and stalks that have died so that your plant doesn't grow a fungus, which appears on dead parts of plants.
Step 11: Plants are separated every three to four years.
You should separate the plants once they have grown large.The plants should be divided in the late spring.Lift the plants out of the ground, then separate them by the clumps they have grown around their stems, and replant them.
Step 12: Liquidfertilizer such as 20-20-20 can be used.
To know how much to use, follow the directions.If you can, try to keep the plant leaves from being fertilized.During active growing seasons, repeat the application once every two weeks.