Pelargonium or geranium is a flower that is very easy to care for. It will decorate not only the room, but also a balcony, terrace or garden. At home, to grow such pelargonium as in the photo can be from seeds.

Features of the cultivation of pelargonium

It should immediately make a reservation that only zone geranium can be grown from seed. Other species breed slightly differently.

Pelargonium seed selection

To avoid possible mistakes, you need to carefully select and prepare planting material. When choosing seeds should pay special attention to the following points:

1. Color. Quality pelargonium seeds have a rich brown color. Slight haze and slight shade is allowed.

2. Form. The developed seeds are oblong, on their sides insignificant depressions are visible.

Size 3. Planting material is quite large.

4. The shell. Pelargonium seeds are characterized by a dense leathery shell.

If the planting material has all these qualities, then it can be purchased. It is worth refusing to buy small, flattened, deformed or stained seeds. From planting such material can not expect a good result.

Pre-planting seed treatment

As already mentioned, geranium seeds have a dense shell, making it difficult to germinate. Sometimes seedlings have to wait quite a long time, and the seeds still do not germinate. The reason for failure in improper treatment of seeds before planting or its absence.

Before planting, geranium seeds must undergo scarification - a procedure for removing a thick film. Independently carry out this procedure is easy. For this you will need fine sandpaper. With its help, only the upper dense layer is removed from the seeds, and no deep gaps remain.

It is necessary to process each seed separately, rubbing it on sandpaper several times.

Selection of soil for growing pelargonium from seeds

Geranium prefers a light nutritional mixture, which passes water and air to the roots of the plant well. For germinating seeds, you can use ready-made store soil or make it yourself. There are several options:

Mix in equal proportions peat, sand, humus and compost;

Connect two parts of garden land with one part of peat and sand;

Dilute peat with perlite in a 1: 1 ratio.

If it is possible to prepare the substrate for growing independently, then it should be used. In the purchase of soil seedlings appear later, saplings are weaker, the bush forms thin stems, flowering is scanty.

Before sowing seeds, the prepared substrate should be disinfected to avoid further infection of the flower. To do this, roast it a few minutes in the oven.

Tip!  For soil treatment, you can use high-quality fungicides or manganese. But landing should be postponed for a day.

The most favorable time for sowing seeds is February or March. If you sow pelargonium later, the plant is strongly drawn out and blooms only after 9 months.

Sowing Pelargonium Seeds

Seeds are sown in shallow pots or bowls, the height of which does not exceed 3 cm. If there are no special containers, then trays from semi-finished products and any improvised packaging will do.

The containers are filled with substrate and sprinkled with plenty of water, then left to warm. The recommended soil temperature is 21-22 degrees.

Prepared geranium seeds are soaked in warm water for three hours, which contributes to the emergence of seedlings. Further, they are laid out on the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into the ground. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of loose substrate.

Landings covered with glass or plastic bag, take out to a well-lit place where the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees.

Important!  After one or two weeks, when shoots appear, the containers need to be gradually opened. From this point you need to monitor the soil moisture.

Pelargonium care after germination

In order for the plants to grow healthy and strong, they form a beautiful bush, you need to take good care of them. Geranium needs timely watering, dressing, soil loosening, warm climates, pick picking and pinching.

Watering and feeding

A frequent mistake of beginning flower growers is excessive soil moistening, which leads to an insidious disease - a black leg. It develops very quickly and destroys all saplings. To avoid this, it is necessary to make a drainage layer in the tanks for planting and the holes for the drainage of excess water.

In addition, the irrigation mode is also important. Seedlings are watered as the soil dries, trying not to fill them. After picking in separate containers, plants are watered no more than twice a week. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to once every seven days.

Geranium is fed for the first time two weeks after the picking. To do this, use fertilizers for flowering plants rich in potassium and phosphorus, for example, Agricola.

Periodic feedings - once every two weeks. In winter, the cortex is stopped.

Lighting and air temperature

When caring for young seedlings, you need to remember about their need for light. It is better to arrange capacities with seedling on east or western windows. On the south side, shading from direct sunlight, which in winter can damage delicate foliage, is required.

In the period of active growth and the formation of shoots geranium should be covered for at least 16 hours. If there is not enough natural light, then in the evening they organize extra lighting. In the summer, flower pots are carried out on the balcony, terrace or garden.

In the room where pelargonium is grown, it is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature. It should be at the level of 20-25 degrees. In winter, an adult plant can withstand a short temperature drop of up to 10 degrees. But for young shoots such fluctuations are destructive.

Pelargonium Picks and Pinching

In order for the plant to have a developed root system, it must be grown in separate containers.

Pick up seedlings carried out after the appearance of two true leaves. For further cultivation choose narrow and high pots, with a diameter of about 10 cm. If the seedlings are a little stretched, then they can be slightly buried in the ground.

In order for geranium to have a beautiful bush shape and not stretch out, it must be regularly pinned.

The first pinching is carried out after the fifth true leaf. In the future, the flower is regularly pruned in spring and autumn, while all weak and thin shoots are cut. Forming a bush stop for 1.5 months before flowering. Geranium blooms in room conditions three to four months after planting. The photo shows the nip places.

As you can see, the cultivation and care of pelargonium is quite simple. It is enough to surround the saplings with care, and multicolored hats will soon appear on the windowsill. If desired, in May, pelargonium can be planted on a flower bed, where it will delight with flowering all summer. Before the onset of frost, the flower is transplanted back into the pot and brought into the room.

Pelargonium zone - a bright and useful pot plant. It will not only decorate the beds, but also scare away various pests.

Pelargonium seed from home grown easily. The main thing is to follow all the rules and conditions for such a plant. This flower is also known as geranium. It is very simple to care for her, but this plant will decorate any room, garden, balcony, etc.

How to germinate pelargonium seeds

Cultivation of geranium seeds depends largely on the preparatory stage, it is necessary to choose the right seed, soil, draw a miniature greenhouse. It must be remembered that zonal type geranium is best for the germination method from seed. The rest, too, can be so diluted, but it is best to use another method.

The first step is to deal with planting material. To avoid various difficulties and mistakes, it must be properly prepared. Choosing seeds, it is necessary to pay attention to such factors:

  1. Tint. If the seeds are of good quality, they should have a dark brown color, but a slight deviation is allowed.
  2. The form. In fully formed and developed seeds, the shape is oblong, and there are small depressions on the sides.
  3. Dimensions. The size of planting material is small.
  4. Outer layer. Geranium seeds have a fairly dense leathery shell.

If the planting material has all these qualities, then you can safely use it for germination. But if flattening, small deformations, spots on seeds appear, then it is not necessary to expect shoots.

Before planting the seed material must undergo special training. This is due to the fact that the top layer of geranium seeds is very dense, which prevents them from germinating. Sometimes you have to wait a long time for germs to appear, but the seeds never germinate. The reason for this is that the seeds were improperly processed.

Before placing them in the ground, it is necessary to carry out the procedure of scarification, i.e. remove the thick film. To do this, it is recommended to use ordinary sandpaper. Thanks to her, it comes out to remove only the upper layer, but there are no deep cracks or tears. Each seed should be processed separately, it is enough to rub only a few times.

The preparation stage also includes the choice of soil. The mixture should be nutritious, but light. It must pass air and water to the root system of the flower. You can buy ready-made substrates in the store or prepare it yourself. In the latter case, there are several options. First, you can mix in part of perlite and peat. Secondly, it is recommended to take 2 parts of sand and peat. Thirdly, you can use a different composition: mix the same volumes of humus, sand, compost and peat. Substrate is disinfected before use. To do this, put it in the oven for a few minutes. You can also use fungicidal agents.

It is best to plant seeds in February or March, this is the ideal time. It is necessary to place them in the ground, sprinkle with a little substrate and sprinkle liberally with water from a spray bottle. Air temperature should be approximately + 21 ... + 22 ºС. To seedlings appear faster, seeds can be soaked in ordinary clean water at room temperature. Keep them so you need no more than 3 hours. When the seeds are placed in the ground, cover the container with cling film or glass. Once the leaves begin to appear on the stem, you can completely remove such a device.

Different types of pelargonium and aspects of their germination

Royal pelargonium is considered capricious, so that when growing such a flower is often required to pay attention to it. Homeland is South America, unlike other subspecies. This type of geranium is planted at the beginning of winter. Do not allow direct drafts and sunlight. This grade prefers the increased air humidity. For the landing, it is necessary to pick up a light type of soil that needs to be constantly maintained in a slightly wet state. The temperature in the room where the royal pelargonium is located must be at least 20ºС. For the first time, shoots can be seen in about 3 weeks. As soon as they appear, it is necessary to place a container with sprouts in a room where the temperature is not less than 15ºС. These varieties include Fairy Queen, Dirwood Angelay Aes, Charmi Electro, Ansbrook Beauty, etc.

As for the ampelous geranium, it will also be diluted with seeds. Homeland is the southern part of the African continent. The plant is also considered quite capricious, but if you give it a lot of attention, the flowering will be not only beautiful, but also very lush. Due to this, ampelous varieties of pelargonium are very popular in the design of verandahs, open platforms, and suspended flower beds. Shoots can grow up to 1 m in length. It is necessary to place the fruit of the flower in the soil, which is previously wetted. Then everything goes according to standard technology. Ampel geranium varieties are very capricious in terms of growing plants from seeds, so many prefer to use cuttings.

Zonal pelargonium also usually grows in the wild on the territory of South Africa. Such varieties are easily propagated by means of seeds. Sprouting technology is standard. Zonal pelargonium includes rosaceous, tulip, stellate, clove and other varieties.

The ileum-type pelargonium is distinguished by the flexibility of the stem, because of which it begins to curl. Shoots in length can be up to 1 m. These varieties are great when you need to decorate balconies, verandas, make hanging soda. The germination technique is typical, but the main thing is to maintain the soil moisture and a certain air temperature. It is best to sow in early winter, but this can be done until the middle of spring.

How to care for pelargonium after germination

How to grow pelargonium from seed is a mystery to many people. Everyone is accustomed to immediately buy a ready-made flower in a pot, and then take care of it so that it is strong, healthy and beautiful. For geranium requires timely watering, loosening the soil, feeding, pinching and so on.

A common mistake of many beginning flower growers is that they excessively moisten the soil. This leads to the fact that such a disease develops as a black leg. It is rapidly developing and destroying all the landings. To prevent such a problem, it is necessary to monitor the frequency of irrigation, the rate of drying of the soil, as well as make a drainage layer and special holes in the bottom of the pot.

Very important is the mode of watering. Seedlings should be watered as they dry out. You can not over fill them. When a picking is carried out, after which they are located in different containers, it is recommended to water it no more than 2 times a week. In winter, the frequency of watering should be reduced - no more than 1 time per week. The next day after watering is always necessary to loosen the top layer of soil in a pot.

One more important condition is fertilizer application, since it will be difficult for a plant to manage without top dressing. The first time it is necessary to fertilize 2 weeks after the dive. For this perfect any complex fertilizer with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. For example, it is recommended to use the composition Agricol. It is necessary to apply fertilizer 2 times a month. In winter, the procedure is not carried out.

Growing geraniums from seed suggests proper lighting. Young shoots require a sufficient amount of light. It is recommended to place pots on windows from the west or east side. If you have to put a container with shoots on the south side, then you must first darken the window from direct sunlight, which can even damage the soft foliage in winter. During active growth and development of pelargonium shoots, a minimum of 16 hours of illumination is required. If the light of natural origin is not enough, then in the evening it is necessary to build additional lighting. The ideal option is phytolamps, then it is possible to do with ordinary sodium and luminescent ones. In the summer, it is recommended to take out pots with such flowers in the garden, on the balcony, terrace.

As for the temperature, in the room where geranium is located, there should be about + 20 ... + 25Сº. In winter, an adult and an established flower can survive a short-term decrease in temperature to + 10 ° C. But for young plants it will be disastrous.

Picking and pinching are very important. In order for each flower to have a sufficiently developed root system, grown shoots must be transplanted into new containers. Picks should be carried out after 2-3 true sheets appear on them. The diameter of the containers should be about 10 cm. It is best to take high, but narrow containers. If you want the seedlings to be stretched, then they are allowed to slightly deepen into the ground.

In order for the bush to have a beautiful shape and not to be excessively elongated, it is necessary to carry out the pinching procedure regularly. The first time it is supposed to be done after the 5th real sheet appears. Then pruning must be done in spring and autumn - all weak shoots must be cut. It is recommended to stop molding the bush for 1.5 months before the flowering period begins.

Diseases and pests

When growing pelargonium can be difficult. For example, there are the following problems with foliage:

As for growth problems, the symptoms are as follows:

  1. Slowing growth rate - lack of space for the roots in the pot, pest infestation, the wrong level of soil acidity.
  2. Simultaneous growth scarcity of the whole flower and yellowing of foliage. The reason may be a lack of nitrogen.
  3. Long-footed - there was no pinching or excessive watering and frequent feeding.
  4. The growth of the spindle type is the lack of sunlight;

Conclusion

Growing geraniums from seeds at home is really easy. It is only necessary to create the right conditions for the growth and development of this plant. And then it will please with a healthy saturated shade of foliage and frequent flowering. It is not difficult to germinate seeds, even a beginner can handle it.

Geranium fans can be found everywhere. The reason lies in the fact that this plant is suitable for growing in various places and is not particularly whimsical in the care. Under the condition of full sunlight, the flowers will bloom constantly, one after another, in the country - from spring to the first frost, and in the house - from early spring to late winter. Despite the fact that each individual is not distinguished by durability, its inflorescences are kept for a long time. This is due to the fact that flowers bloom not at the same time, but one after another. Because of this, the plant always has a flowering appearance.

When planning to grow should be borne in mind that its color will be much more abundant if you grow this plant in pots as small as possible. During the spring period, geranium is best exposed to fresh air. You can even plant it in open ground, preferably by transferring the bush - thus minimizing the risk of damage to the roots.

As a rule, the reproduction of this plant most often occurs by grafting. Many growers have no idea how to grow geranium from seeds. If cutting is used as a breeding method, the process is slightly simpler. In addition, this option gives a full guarantee of preserving all the maternal qualities of the plant. If it is planned to grow geranium from seeds, most likely the varietal qualities of the plant will be changed. However, this property can be described as positive, due to the fact that in this case it is possible to grow a plant with completely new decorative characteristics. And this is an interesting and unpredictable moment.

It should be borne in mind that the cultivation of geranium from seeds implies an almost total change in the shoot of the plant, its flowers and leaves. In other words, there is a full selection, giving a new type of this plant.

When planning to grow geranium from seed, every gardener should take note of the fact that they are best planted in late January - early February. This is due to the fact that the period after which the plant will give the first color is 4 months. In addition, a place where there will be pots of geraniums, it is necessary to provide good lighting. The soil where it is planned to plant flowers should be fairly loose, fertile and contain sand and humus in its composition.

Having arranged for the future flowers all the necessary conditions, you can proceed to direct sowing. The important point is that, intending to grow geranium from seeds, it should be remembered that different varieties should be planted in different pots. The reason for this separation lies in the fact that the time when sprouts begin to sprout comes for different varieties with unequal frequency. Therefore, if the seeds are placed in one container, not all of them will be able to ascend. Before sowing, the soil is best treated with a solution of manganese, this will help ensure that plants protect against possible diseases. Seeds should be laid into the soil gently and shallowly. To do this, you can use an ordinary match - press them into the prepared soil with it, then cover with a transparent film or glass.

Geranium seed pots should be small and shallow. In addition, they require drainage holes. This will allow moisture not to accumulate in the soil, which will prevent the death of sprouts. Pots are best identified in a warm and well-lit place.

It is very important to protect only sprouted shoots from direct sunlight in order to prevent their death. After about five leaves appear on the young shoots, they can be safely transplanted into larger pots and exposed to fresh air.

Hello, dear friends!

Despite the fact that most of us consider pelargonium (geranium) as a houseplant, it nevertheless grows and develops beautifully in flower gardens. It can be landed in window boxes, decorate with it a balcony or a veranda. Before telling you about the cultivation of pelargonium from seeds, let's take a closer look at this plant.

The most common garden pelargonium, or zonal. The bush is upright, from 15 to 50 centimeters tall, the leaves are round, small, dark or light green, may have a dark ring around the edge or without a ring. The flowers can be simple, as well as double or semi-double, gathered in spherical inflorescences. Flower color can be very diverse: pink with different shades, carmine, red, salmon, white. Pelargonium flowers that have two different colors - white with red or pink - look very elegant. In open ground, in rabatkah and flower beds, pelargonium blooms from May to September. In winter, the plant must be dug out and stored in a bright, cool place.

Pelargonium growing technology

In January - February, under ambient conditions, pelargonium seeds are sown on seedlings. The soil mixture should easily pass water and not less than six. It is best to buy ready-made nutrient soil mixture.

In the soil it is necessary to make shallow grooves, evenly arrange the seeds in them and sprinkle them a little with earth. Watering crops is necessary as the soil dries, trying to avoid excess moisture. With an excess of moisture, seeds rot, and seedlings quickly die from various root rot.

Under room conditions, crops should be covered with a film or glass to maintain the necessary moisture and microclimate favorable for germination. Boxes should be placed in a bright place of the room, where the air temperature is 22 - 24 degrees.   In such conditions, after 3 to 6 days, the seeds germinate. When the cotyledons appear, the film or glass can be removed and the temperature can be reduced to 18 - 20 degrees. The place for growth of seedlings must be very well lit, otherwise, they will quickly stretch and may die.

When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings should be laid out in small pots (8 - 10 centimeters in diameter). If, due to the lack of light, pelargonium seedlings are slightly extended, it is better to bury them into the soil by 1 - 2 centimeters. In this case, they will grow additional side roots and seedlings will get stronger.

14 days after the picking, pelargonium begins to feed. First you need to give organic liquid fertilizers, for example, Agricola-Fantasia (1 teaspoon for half a liter of water). Next, every 8 to 10 days, you need to repeat the feeding, using fertilizers "Effect for flowers" and "Agricola for flowering plants", according to the instructions.

Pelargonium loves a dry climate more than dampness, so you should not plant it in damp places. This plant blooms well in the penumbra, where the flowers are larger. True flowering while less abundant than the sun.

Pelargonium seedlings are planted in open ground in the second and third decade of May. On the loggia or the seedlings on the balcony can be placed earlier, providing protection against frost. For pelargonium to grow well and blossom, it needs nourishing and loose soil. Of course, better than a ready-made special soil mixture for pelargonium, it is difficult to think of anything. If you cannot buy such a mixture, then before planting you need to apply a complex full fertilizer, such as nitrophoska or granulated Agricola for flowering plants, following the instructions.

In flower beds, pelargonium is planted according to the scheme 20x20 or 15x15 centimeters. In small containers, plants are planted even closer together and 2 to 3 centimeters deeper than they grew in pots for seedlings. This, again, is done to make the plant grow additional roots.

In autumn, pelargonium blooms for a long time, tolerates a cold snap to minus 3 degrees. If you want to prolong the flowering of your pelargonium, you need to dig out your favorite plant and plant it in a pot. If the earth lump with roots is quite large, then the flowering of such a plant practically does not stop. On a bright window, with suitable conditions created, pelargonium will bloom for another two to three months.

If you decide to carry out the cultivation of pelargonium from seeds, then of course you need to try to choose the right seeds of these plants and select the appropriate varieties.

Favorite varieties of pelargonium

Varieties and hybrids of seed pelargonium are divided into 2 groups:

  • Grandiflera - the plants of this group are higher, they bloom not too plentifully, but they have large flowers and inflorescences.
  • Multifler - Pelargoniums of this group are compact, low, bloom profusely.

Grandifier Group

  • Hybrid F1 Horizon  - plant height from 35 to 45 centimeters. It has large inflorescences with a variety of colors: coral, orange, cream, salmon, red, white; three types of colors with stripes and strokes; five types of colors with a bright beautiful edge on a white background; seven different shades of pink.
  • F1 Hybrid Maverik  - plant height from 35 to 45 centimeters. It has large inflorescences with flowers with a diameter of 4 centimeters. The range of colors: pink, light pink, white with a pink eye, purple, red, salmon, coral, white.

Multifler group

  • F1 Hybrid Early Wagon  - plants with a height of 25 - 30 centimeters, this series of pelargonium includes a mixture of colors.
  • F1 hybrid Black velvet  - plants 25 - 30 centimeters high. It has dark brown leaves with a green border, medium-sized inflorescences with flowers of salmon, red, light pink or pink color.
  • Hybrid F1 Multiblum  - plant height 25 - 30 centimeters, begins to bloom early. The flowers have a diameter of about 3 centimeters. The color is red with white, salmon, coral, red, white and there are still four shades of pink.
  • F1 hybrid Avanti - plants 30 - 40 centimeters high, begins to bloom 10 - 14 days earlier than other series of pelargoniums. Flowers can be four shades of pink, light purple, red, white, salmon.

In Soviet times, the blooming geranium on the windowsill was considered philistinism. Modern man dismisses such representations, so you can meet pelargonium in almost every home. It blooms profusely and beautifully for almost the entire year, unpretentious, useful - what more could the owner wish for? The rules for caring for geraniums are simple, but they exist and require implementation. Experienced growers share tricks of growing healthy pelargonium. For harmonious development, it is important to timely transplant the plant.

Features of growing a flower at home

There is nothing particularly difficult in the rules of geranium care. But it should highlight the basic requirements for the conditions of growth and flowering plants and comply with them. The main thing to remember is that geranium is a drought-free plant. After all, pelargonium is a guest from Africa. It copes better with a lack of moisture than with its excess.

Watering

You can water the geranium every day, two or three times a week, sometimes one procedure is enough for 7–10 days. It all depends on the temperature of the air in the room in which pelargonium grows. How to determine what to water? The answer is simple: dried topsoil in a pot. Clear signs of waterlogging: sluggish leaves, lack of flowering, the appearance of mold at the base of the stem and on the ground.

Geranium does not require spraying leaves. For her, it is harmful. Protect her from such a test.

Air temperature

The ideal temperature ranges from 18 ° C to 25 ° C. Geranium tolerates intense heat. 10 o C or slightly higher - optimally in the winter period of rest, when the plant does not bloom.

Lighting

Pelargonium loves a lot of sun. In the house, the flower should be placed on the south, south-west or southeast window. Geranium will survive in partial shade, but there will be no vigorous and prolonged flowering.

Geranium loves soil loosening. But this should be done carefully, to a depth of no more than five cm.

Top dressing

With the right soil, geranium at home needs feeding once a month. For flowering and a healthy form, it needs potash and phosphate fertilizers. The flower also needs nitrogen. You can purchase special tools for geraniums or use universal preparations for flowering houseplants.

To prolong flowering once a week, feed the geranium with iodine water (a drop of iodine per liter).

Fertilizer is applied after the main irrigation, about half an hour later. The earth must be wet in order not to burn the roots. In the summer, for the time of feeding, it is recommended to remove the plant from the sun and then hold in the penumbra for another 2-3 hours.

Pruning

In the spring, pruning of all shoots is carried out, leaving no more than 5 growth buds. If time is missed, the procedure can be carried out in early autumn.

Pruning allows you to create a beautiful shape of the bush and stimulate the formation of a larger number of buds.

How to plant geranium: the choice of capacity, the requirements for the composition of the soil and other nuances

Geranium with proper care can grow and bloom for 10-12 years, while maintaining decorative. How often should it be transplanted? It depends on the green mass formation rate.   Rapid growth requires annual transplanting of plants, slower - once every two years.  The usual schedule for updating the pot for pelargonium is every 10–12 months.

How to choose a pot for geraniums

Geranium does not carry a large space for the roots. If you put a pelargonium in a pot of significant volume, it may even die. It will not bloom for sure until the roots “absorb” all the soil. Therefore, it is better to plant the flower first in a small container, and a year later to change it to a large one. A pot with a diameter of 10–14 cm is suitable for one root; its height should not exceed 15 cm (ideally, 10–12 cm). When changing the container, its diameter is taken into account, the new pot should be 1.5–2 cm more than the previous one.

There should be drainage holes in the pot.  The appearance of the roots of pelargonium in them - a signal to transplant into a large bowl. The best is suitable capacity of unglazed ceramics. The bush in it feels good, grows and blooms. But there is one drawback: in the pottery the soil dries faster than in plastic. Therefore it is required to frequent watering.

Photo Gallery: choose the right pot

  A geranium pot must have drainage holes to drain excess water.
  For geranium, it is important that the pot was not “for growth”; the plant blooms more abundantly in close capacity
  Each new geranium pot should be 1.5–2 cm larger than the previous one in diameter.
  Geranium grows better in ceramic pots - they are well breathable, contributing to the aeration of the soil

Pelargonium soil

Geranium is not particularly demanding on the quality of the soil. But for the comfortable development of the bush need loose and well-drained ground. The optimal composition of the following compositions:

  • substrate for indoor flowers or universal soil mixed with the necessary components for geranium: perlite, vermiculite, river sand (the first two substances can be exchanged for peat and humus, taken in approximately equal proportions);
  • topsoil from the garden (better to take under the bushes and trees);
  • sod soil, humus, large river sand (8: 2: 1).

When can be transplanted geranium

Potted flowers are usually picky in terms of transplanting. Better and easier plants tolerate such stress in the spring. Geranium in this sense makes no special claims. Of course, the spring transplant is perceived by Pelargonium as a natural process after the winter rest and stimulates it to an intensive increase in green mass and further flowering. This period covers the end of February, the whole of March and the first decade of April. After transplantation at this time, pelargonium will delight with lush flowers before the onset of frost.

If deadlines are missed, you can make a transplant in the fall, in September-October. But if there are unambiguous signals that the plant needs an appropriate procedure (roots protruding from a drainage hole, mold on the ground, a disease), you can replant at any time of the year. Yet it is very undesirable to disturb geranium in winter and at the time of flowering.

Features transplant pelargonium after purchase

Buying a geranium does not mean instantly transplanting it from shipping storefloor. Over the past weeks, the plant has had to quickly adapt to changing temperature and light several times, so it is necessary to regret it and allow it to adapt to new living conditions. As a rule, it takes several weeks to get used to it (from two to four). Then they act according to the algorithm:

  1. Pot take a little more than the previous one.
  2. Cooking fresh ground mix.
  3. We transfer the plant into a new container, having previously moistened the soil a little.
  4. Dump the ground to the edges of the pot (do not tamp).
  5. Carefully water.

Before transplanting carefully inspect the root system of the plant. Healthy roots are covered with earthy clod completely. Shaking off the substrate and washing them is necessary only if rot, disease or insects are detected. In other cases, the whole earthen room is moved to the new ground. Young roots will receive all the necessary nutrients from it.

Some flower growers violate the generally accepted rules for transplanting purchased geraniums. They immediately carry out the above procedures with it, believing that there is no need to wait and it is better to immediately put the plant under all tests, and not stretch them for a month.

How to plant a geranium without roots

It is possible to plant a twig of geraniums without roots. The ideal time is spring or the beginning of autumn. This is usually done like this:

  1. A geranium twig, 5–7 centimeters long, with two to five leaflets, is cut at a right angle.
  2. Warm distilled or boiled water is poured into a transparent glass.
  3. The geranium stalk is placed in the water. It needs to be changed every 2-3 days. To speed up the rooting process, succinic acid is dissolved in a liquid (250 ml tablet) or a little biostimulator is added - Epin, Zircon, Kornevin (2-3 ml per liter).

Prolonged maintenance of the future bush of pelargonium in the water can cause rotting of the part dropped there. To prevent this, you can put an activated carbon tablet in the container.

Most flower growers do not immerse the cuttings in water, and immediately root them in a prepared pot with an earthen mixture. Cuttings after pruning are dried at room temperature for about two hours. Then they are seated in transparent plastic cups filled with universal soil for flowering houseplants or peat chips. The appearance of geranium influences the way of rooting: the zonal gives roots in water faster, fragrant in the ground, the royal prefers soil too, but the process is slow.

Dishes with future bushes are placed in a well-lit place, but not under direct sunlight. Ivy and zonal geranium is ready for transplanting in a pot in 10–15 days, the royal will need a month. Transparent cups are good because the appearance of the roots can be quickly noticed - in a few days they reach the walls of the dishes. Another criterion that the procedure was crowned with success is the appearance of a new leaflet.

Is it possible to replant blooming geraniums?

Any plants during flowering spend a lot of effort on bud formation and seed ripening. During such a period, it is better to regret the geranium, to strengthen additional feeding, and not to subject it to additional stress.  Otherwise, the flowers will fall first, then the leaves turn yellow. The plant may even die. It is recommended to wait for the end of flowering and transplant pelargonium in 5–10 days.

If there is an urgent need to transplant geraniums into a new pot at the time of flowering (the plant was dropped or damaged, the bush fell ill), then it can still be done. It is necessary to try to transfer pelargonium into a new container without damaging the roots, without destroying the earthen room. Flowers, of course, fall off, but geranium will survive.

Features of plant care after transplantation

The geranium transplanted into a new pot does not need any additional feeding for the first two or three months. All the nutrients she takes from fresh soil. Therefore, pelargonium requires only timely watering as the soil dries. It is important to ensure optimum temperature readings and proper lighting. After the appearance of new leaves and the growth of the rooted cutting, the pelargonium is pinched so that it does not stretch upward, but bush.

Step-by-step instructions for planting and transplanting

Before starting work on transplanting or planting a geranium, you need to prepare everything you need: a pot, scissors, an earth mixture, a watering can with warm water. If you decide not to use new dishes, but the one in which another flower grew, you should soak it in bleach for a day for disinfection or boil it. Then rinse thoroughly in running water and dry. Further, the actions are based on the algorithm:

  1. At the bottom of the pot lay brick chips, pieces of foam or expanded clay. You can use broken pieces of ceramic pottery, crushed stone and gravel. The thickness of the drainage layer is about 1–2 cm.
  2. We water a geranium, we wait when water is absorbed. Then we get the plant together with a lump of earth. To do this, turn the pot upside down, holding Pelargonium by the trunk at the base. With the second hand we embrace the container and draw out the plant. You can gently tap the palm of the bottom.
  3. The roots of the extracted plant inspect. Areas affected by rot, other damaged tissue are cut off with a sharp disinfected knife or scissors.
  4. Carefully place the rhizomes in the prepared pot on the drainage layer. The voids are filled with soil and slightly compacted. To the top of the tank, you must leave two centimeters of empty space so that when irrigating water does not overflow.
  5. We water the plant and clean it in penumbra for about a week. After seven days, put the geranium in a permanent habitat.

Video: how to transplant geranium in another pot

How to rejuvenate geraniums with transplant

Geranium feels good in one pot for several years. But a three year old plant may already need to be updated. It is better to rejuvenate the pelargonium bush in spring, in March-April. For this, the geranium is cut, leaving about five points of growth on each shoot. This procedure helps to give the bush a beautiful shape and increase the number of buds in the future.

The second way to rejuvenate geranium is to get seeds and grow a new plant from them. It is important to remember that if a variety of pelargonium belongs to the category F1 (selection hybrid), then the desired result can not be achieved - the varietal characteristics of the mother plant will not be passed on to descendants.

The third way - the division of the bush. For this, pelargonium is plentifully watered, after a day they take a lump of earth from the pot and divide the roots into the required number of copies. Next, follow the instructions.

Possible problems associated with transplantation and solutions

The transplanted geranium is a big sissy. It is subject to many hazards. They all come from the wrong care for the "newborn" flower. Water the plant should be on the edge of the pot, and not at the root. It is required to loosen the earth especially carefully and shallowly. The first week after transplantation for the geranium is dangerously active sun, it needs light penumbra.

Sometimes, pelargonium leaves change color, lose their tone. Why does geranium turn yellow after transplanting? This is the plant's reaction to stress experienced. It is necessary to pinch them and remove the inflorescences. After two or three weeks, pelargonium will return to normal. For prevention, you can pour a solution of Kornevin, Heteroauxin. They stimulate the formation of roots.

Geranium is the favorite of many flower growers. To grow it is a simple matter. With proper care, you can dilute the whole garden of pelargoniums. They bloom beautifully and abundantly, their fragrance neutralizes microbes in the room and has a beneficial effect on human vitality.