Care of Pelargonium hortorum, the garden geranium

The pelargonium garden It is one of the most common geranium species in nurseries, and therefore also in gardens and patios. It is a plant that blooms for a good part of the year, and requires very little care to brighten up our stay as well as our day-to-day life.

In addition, it is very inexpensive and its cuttings take root easily. For very little money and effort you can have several copies. Do you want to know everything about its cultivation?

Origin and characteristics of pelargonium garden

The pelargonium garden (the correct scientific name is Pelargonium x gardens) is a cross between polluting pelargonium y zonal pelargonium. It is popularly known as mallow, garden geranium or common geranium and is a type of geranium which grows as a low shrub, reaching a height of between 30 and 60 centimetersand develops succulent stems, erect and covered by a very fine fuzz. The leaves are reniform (kidney-shaped), simple and alternate, with somewhat serrated margins.

Blooms from spring to late summerand even until autumn if the weather permits. Its flowers are 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter, and are generally red in color but can also be pink or white.

What are the care of the common geranium?

Getting a well-cared garden geranium is not going to take up a lot of time. It is a very grateful plant, which produces numerous flowers throughout the season, and which you do not have to worry about excessively. In fact, it is often regarded as suitable for those new to the plant world. But of course, it is important to take into account some details so that it is happy in the garden or in a pot.

Location

It is highly recommended to have at Pelargonium x gardens outside, in an area where it receives sunlighteither directly or indirectly. It adapts well to living in semi-shade, but the place must be very bright as it cannot grow in dark areas.

Earth

• Flower pot: you can fill it with universal substrate mixed with 30% perlite, but yes, the pot must have holes in the base so that the water comes out during irrigation; otherwise the roots will rot.
• the garden: not demanding as long as the soil has good drainage.

Irrigation

Watering the garden geranium will be moderate. During the summer it should be watered about 3 times a week, and the rest of the year between 1 and 2 a week. Use rainwater, without lime or, failing that, one that is suitable for human consumption, and add the amount necessary until the soil or substrate is well soaked.

If you have it in a pot, during the summer you can put a plate under it, but you have to remember to remove it in winter in order to prevent its roots from rotting.

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From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, it must be paid with organic fertilizers. For example, guano or seaweed extract fertilizer are recommended; Although the latter must be used with caution, as it is very alkaline and if the pH of the soil in the geranium becomes too calcareous, we could cause problems.

If you have it planted in the ground, you can take advantage of it to fertilize the garden with compost, mulch or manure from herbivorous animals.

Multiplication

The Pelargonium x gardens multiplied by stem cuttings in spring. With a few steps and giving them some basic care, you will get new specimens. If you don’t believe me, you just have to follow these instructions:

1. First of all, clean a pair of scissors or a serrated knife well with soap and water, as that will be the tool you will use to make the cutting.
2. Once clean, cut a stem that measures about 10-15 centimeters.
3. Then, infuse your base with homemade rooting agents, or with powdered or liquid rooting hormones.
4. Next, fill a pot about 10,5 centimeters in diameter with previously moistened vermiculite.
5. Then, make a hole in the center and insert the cutting about 3-4 centimeters.
6. Finally, add more vermiculite if you consider it necessary and place the pot outside, in semi-shade.

Now all you have to do is keep the substrate moist (but be careful, not waterlogged). In about 15-20 days it will emit its own roots.

Planting or transplanting time

If you want to plant your common geranium in the garden, or if you see that its roots are coming out of the drainage holes and / or it has already occupied the entire pot, you can transplant it in springwhen the minimum temperature is equal to or greater than 15 degrees Celsius.

Plagues and diseases

It is vulnerable to attack by the geranium fly, as well as to roya. The first is a pest that pierces the stems and is treated with 10% cypermethrin; and the other is a fungal-borne disease that manifests itself with orange spots on the leaves and is treated with fungicides.

Rusticity

Resists cold, but frost hurts. Ideally, it should not drop below 0 degrees, although it can hold up to -2ºC if it is for a short time.

Where to buy Pelargonium x gardens?

Image – Wikimedia Commons / David J. Stang

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Enjoy your garden geranium!