How to Grow and Care For Geraniums Like a Pro

Common geraniums in the Pelargonium genus are attractive container and bedding plants that add color and fragrance to the garden all season long, but did you know there are different types of geraniums to care for?

The three species most often found at nurseries and garden centers are Pelargonium x hortorum ( zonal geraniums), Pelargonium peltatum (ivy geraniums), and Pelargonium graveolens (scented geraniums).

Common geraniums feature appealing foliage with rounded to kidney-shaped leaves. Foliage may be ruffled or marked with a dark interior line that mirrors the shape of the leaf.

While scented geraniums have specific fragrance notes, the foliage of ivy and zonal geraniums also often emits a pleasant scent.

Although different in their growth habits, bloom size, and color, these geranium types are most often grown as annuals in temperate zones.

They are versatile plants that work well in mixed pots, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Geraniums are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Geranium Care

• Full sun
• Long bloom period
• Deadhead spent blooms

Geraniums offer a lot of enjoyment for little effort. Give them plenty of sun, remove spent flowers and they will bush out and produce multiple blooms.

This is a dependable, showy plant for home gardeners that performs well with minimal care.

Light

Place your geraniums in a location that receives six to eight hours of sunlight daily. In climates with hot summers, plants benefit from some afternoon shade.

Soil

Organically rich soil that drains well is best for growing geraniums. For bedding plants, mix aged compost or garden soil into the top 6 to 8 inches of the planting area.

Use a quality, loose potting mix for container-grown plants. Geraniums thrive in soil with an average to slightly alkaline pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

It's a good idea to test for pH level before planting. Levels lower than 6.0 cause excessive uptake of iron and manganese which can damage foliage.

Water

Water potted geraniums and young bedding plants two to three times weekly. Once plants are established, soil can be allowed to dry out in between and watering once a week is often sufficient for garden grown varieties.

Allowing soil to dry out completely before irrigating encourages a greater number of blooms.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperatures between 70°F and 75°F during the day and 60°F and 65°F degrees at night provide an ideal environment for common geraniums. These are short-lived, tropical perennials that may continue to bloom year-round in USDA zones 9 to 12.

Temperatures of 85°F or higher along with high humidity cause wilting and yellowing of foliage.

Geraniums tolerate temperatures as low as 45°F but grow more slowly and die back with the first freeze or heavy frost when left unprotected.

Fertilizer

Geraniums are not heavy feeders however container grown plants benefit from an application of balanced, slow release fertilizer every two to four weeks. Withhold fertilizer if your potting medium already has it in the mix.

Types of Geraniums

• Zonal geraniums, P. x hybridum: Features large 4 to 5 inch flower clusters from spring into autumn in a variety of colors including reds, pinks and whites. Blooms may be single or double. Container grown or added to flower beds.
• Ivy geraniums, P. peltatum: Also known as trailing geraniums, the variety is popular in window boxes and hanging baskets. Flowers are similar to zonal geraniums but single and slightly smaller.
• Scented geraniums, P. graveolens: Features fragrant foliage in various scents such as rose or lemon. Flowers spring to summer with smaller blooms but similar shape and color to ivy geraniums. Usually grown in pots.

Pruning

Pruning includes pinching back to encourage lush, full growth. Deadheading spent flowers on types that produce significant blooms is key for continuous flowering.

Branches are pinched back just above a leaf node. Remove flower stems at their base. Check regularly and remove any damaged stems or foliage.

Propagating Geraniums

Common geraniums are easily propagated from cuttings. If you're new to propagation techniques, these plants are great to start out with since cuttings have a good success rate.

They will root in either water or soil, however cuttings planted in soil root more vigorously.

Cuttings can be taken anytime but you'll get best results propagating geraniums during summer months.

Gather together a sterile snipper, potting soil, pot/s with drainage holes, and rooting hormone and follow these steps:

1. Choose a healthy branch on a mature geranium plant 4 to 6 inches long.
2. Use the snipper to cut the branch just above a leaf node.
3. Remove all but the two top leaves.
4. Fill a pot with soil. Several cuttings can be placed in a large pot or use small pots for single stems.
5. Use your index finger or a pencil to make deep narrow holes in the soil.
6. Dip the end of the cutting/s in rooting hormone. Geraniums root easily without it so this step is optional.
7. Shake off excess and carefully set the cuttings into the planting holes.
8. Tamp down soil around the cutting to keep it upright. Water thoroughly.
9. Place pot/s in a warm spot that receives bright indirect light and keep soil moist but not soggy.
10. Roots should appear in two to three weeks. Pull gently on the cutting. If you feel resistance, roots are present.

You can also follow steps 1 through 3 above then place the cuttings in a clear glass of clean water. The fleshy stems cause water to become cloudy fairly quickly so it's important to freshen the water frequently. Rooting may take a little longer but you'll have the advantage of being able to see them develop.

How to Grow Geraniums From Seed

Geraniums grow easily but slowly when started from seed. Flowering can take up to between four and five months so plan to sow seeds in February.

Although germination is dependable seedlings are prone to damping off so use new or sterilized equipment. Raising these plants in a heated greenhouse or under fluorescent lights works best.

You'll need a soilless planting medium, seed starting tray, plastic dome, and light source.

1. Fill a seed starting tray with moistened, soilless potting mix to 1/2 inch from the top.
2. Sow seeds 2 to 3 inches apart and cover with 1/8 inch of mix.
3. Water thoroughly allowing excess to drain.
4. Cover the tray with a plastic dome and place in a location that receives bright indirect light.
5. Position fluorescent lights 4 to 6 inches above the tray and leave them on for 12 to 16 hours a day.
6. Keep soil moist and temperatures between 70°F and 75°F.
7. Once seedlings emerge, remove the plastic dome.
8. When true leaves appear, seedlings can be potted up into individual containers with regular potting mix.
9. Continue to grow seedlings out in containers until all danger of frost has passed.
10. Harden off before transplanting into the garden.

Potting and Repotting Geraniums

Geraniums bloom best when slightly potbound and mature plants seldom need to be potted up.

Move purchased plants into a 10-inch pot with plenty of drainage holes using a quality potting mix. Terracotta is a good choice.

If your potting mix includes fertilizer you won't need to feed. Otherwise give plants a diluted, balanced, slow-release fertilizer once every two to four weeks during the growing season.

If you've started with seed you need to pot your geraniums up gradually into pots 1 or 2 inches larger.

Overwintering

Common geraniums can be overwintered to bloom a second year. In zones 9 to 12 they may grow as short lived perennials blooming year round.

In colder zones, potted plants can be moved into a protected area such as an unheated garage or greenhouse or can be overwintered indoors. However, they are mostly grown as annuals and replaced every year.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Geraniums attract common sapsucking insects including aphids and whiteflies. Slugs also feed on the succulent-like stems and foliage. A strong spray with a hose or application of neem oil usually eradicates and controls these pests.

Plants are also vulnerable to fungal infections like botrytis and root rot. Avoid overwatering and apply an appropriate fungicide when necessary.

How to Get Geraniums to Bloom

Common geraniums bloom spring through summer and even into autumn with just a little maintenance. Give them plenty of sun and allow soil to dry out between waterings.

Fertilize container-grown plants with a slow-release liquid fertilizer every two weeks to four weeks throughout the season and remove spent flowers and their stems as soon as they start to fade.

How Long Do Geraniums Bloom?

Geraniums have extended bloom periods with some varieties blooming all season long into autumn. Plants produce multiple blooms that each last one to two weeks. Deadheading spent flowers encourages successive flowering.

What Do Geranium Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Blooms vary in size according to geranium type with scented geraniums producing the smallest flowers. Zonal and ivy geranium yield larger clusters of individual, 5-petaled, flowers and zonal geraniums flowers may be single or double.

Popular colors are red, white, and pink but new cultivars are introduced regularly including two-toned flowers. Flowers are not fragrant however foliage often has a noticeable pungent aroma.

Scented geraniums stand out for specific fragrances assigned to the foliage such as rose, lemon, and nutmeg.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Pruning out damaged stems and foliage and consistently deadheading flowers are both key to keeping your geranium in blossoms. Allowing soil to dry out between waterings also encourages more flowers.

Deadheading Geraniums

It's important to remove both the flower and its stem when deadheading. Use your fingers or a snipper to pinch the stem near its base where new growth has started.

Common Problems With Geraniums

Geraniums require little maintenance but there are a few tasks necessary to keep plants healthy and flowering. Most common problems are due to errors in care and can be corrected when caught early.

Few Blooms

If your plant produces scanty flowers, it may be getting too much heat. Try moving potted plants into a shaded area in the afternoon. Too much fertilizer also slows flower production.

Yellow Foliage

Consider your watering schedule since both overwatering and underwatering cause leaves to yellow. Check soil pH. Levels below 6.0 are too acidic for geraniums and also cause chlorosis.

Spindly Growth

Insufficient light causes plants to become leggy. Place geraniums in a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight daily.