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With the development of indoor floriculture, an increasing number of exotic plants appear on the market. Of course, it is interesting to grow a novelty yourself, but do not forget the usual flowers. One of them grew many generations of our ancestors. And now in almost every home you can find the most ordinary geranium.
Yes, today it will be about her. Someone casually waved his hand, they say, what is it in pelargonium? Have you seen the latest breeding news? On a bush with three leaves a huge hat of double flowers. Color from white to purple, all shades. And what foliage! Carved, motley, multi-color! These beautiful plants are a little like grandma's geranium. If only the specific smell of the leaves.With proper care, you can enjoy flowering almost all year round.
How to grow geraniums at home? Agrotechnics of any kind are very easy. A little effort, simple care and a secret in which pelargonium begins to bloom - that's the whole growing technology. But for those who are breeding this flower for the first time, we will describe everything in detail.
We grow geranium seeds
There is an opinion that geranium seeds do not germinate well. This statement applies only to independently collected seeds. If on occasion we managed to get a bag of industrial production, then their germination is almost 100%.
Geranium is sown in small cups, one by one. Of course, if the case is put on stream, then it is better to sow them in a pile in one container. True, then you have to dive. But planted one by one it will be enough to slightly pile up.
The soil should be a classic composition. This is a fertile garden land, clean sand and peat. The proportions are 2 to 1 to 1. Large drainage is poured at the bottom of the landing tank. Of course, this is not two cobblestones. The size of the fraction is about 1 cm. They should not be neglected, as the geranium root system begins to rot with excess water.
After drainage, fill the container with soil to half. Moisturize it, put a seed, sprinkle with a layer of earth no more than 1.5 cm. Then you need to cover the glass with dense polyethylene or glass. Remove to a dark warm place (temperature around 22 ° C) and wait for germination.
If everything is done correctly, and the seeds are viable, then the first sprouts appear in 9-11 days. After that, the shelter is removed, and the cup is transferred to light and the temperature is reduced to 18-20 ° C.
Caring for young plants as well as for adults.
We grow geraniums from cuttings
Suppose that someone of your friends has cut his bush of varietal geranium, and gave the cuttings to you. What to do with them? Here are two algorithms for your actions:
- Cut off the bottom two sheets, then put the cutting in the water. After a week should appear the beginnings of the roots. And after 14-16 days it is already possible to plant the finished plant in a permanent place.
- We tear off a pair of lower leaflets. Dip a stem slice into any stimulator of root formation and immediately plant it in a permanent pot. About 20 days do not touch the flower, only occasionally moisten the soil.After this period, an independent plant is obtained, ready to please you.
Absolutely any soil for geranium, purchased or made independently, must be disinfected. It is pre-shed with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. After 12 hours, calcined in the oven at a temperature of 110-115 ° C. You can pre-freeze the soil for 3 days, if it happens in winter.
These procedures will avoid the manifestation of many fungal and viral diseases.
About Geranium Diseases and Pests
Despite the fact that the leaves emit phytoncides that kill a large number of germs in the air, geranium itself is subject to certain diseases. As a rule, they arise from improper care. The main factors are insufficient lighting and excessive waterlogging. Often the sore begins with the root system, and then spreads to the leaves.
Most problems can be avoided simply by properly caring for the plant. But, if trouble still arose, then it is fashionable to try to save the flower. Here drugs will help systemic fungicides.They are used strictly following the instructions on the package.
Council If the plant can not be saved, then try to save at least an unaffected sore stalk. From it you can grow a new flower.
Pests. They gladly settle on pelargonium. They are not confused by the scent or fluff on the leaves. This is usually aphid, spider mite or whitefly. The remaining enemies are indifferent to the flower.
The first two you can simply wash off with water with the addition of potash or laundry soap. But with the third scourge to be a long and hard struggle. To withdraw it is not easy, even using the strongest insecticides. Search online articles on how to get rid of the whitefly, get a lot of interesting things.
Where to place geraniums
Homeland of this beauty - South America. Therefore, the flower loves a lot of light. At the same time he is not afraid of direct sunlight. So you can quite safely have pelargonium on the windows facing south. Lighting should be at least 14 hours a day all year round. In winter, this will have to use additional lighting. Geranium has no rest periods.
The first sign of a lack of light is the appearance of a red border around the edges of the leaves.Of course, if it is not provided by the feature of the variety. At the same time lighting affects the duration of flowering, but only slightly. For this there is another secret, which will be described below.
How often to water the geranium
The plant does not belong to the family of succulents, but is able to accumulate some moisture in the leaves. It does not tolerate overwetting at all, but it feels completely calm in case of a forced drought for up to 5 days. Then he starts consuming the moisture reserves from the leaves and dumping them. He won't need them anymore.
So that your bush does not become bald ahead of time, water the geranium according to the following scheme: the earthen room is completely dry, plus 2 more days. In winter, it is about once every 15 days, in the summer more often.
Be sure to drain excess liquid from the pan completely. In order not to climb a finger into the pot each time, feeling the soil, get special beacons to measure the level of humidity. They will change color when the earth is dry enough. By the way, the water should be at room temperature.
Feedings
Geranium loves to eat. From February to November, she needs a regular dose of mineral fertilizers with a high content of potassium.But nitrogen can be added quite a bit, otherwise you will get mighty foliage without a single bud. Organics are strictly forbidden to add, pelargonium does not tolerate it absolutely.
Feed the plant no more than once in 20 days, strictly on the second day after the main irrigation.
Geranium Shaping
Pelargonium grows in height with cosmic speed. If you miss a little time, it can blow out a hefty tree. It is a little attractive aesthetically. In addition, the buds appear only at the ends of the shoots. Therefore, the bush must be formed from an early age.
To do this, pinch the central shoot over 4 sheets. Waiting for the appearance of stepchildren, then tear off the tops and from them, just above the 4 leaf. So do with all the shoots. Thanks to such shaping, you will have a magnificent spherical bush with a large number of buds.
If during the winter the plant has stretched out, or it has missed the forming moment, then it is better to cut off the whole bush to 3 leaves in spring. So stepchildren will appear and geraniums can be shaped beautifully again.
By the way, do not throw away the trim.You can try rooting for later landing. Or dry in the shade and spread on fabric bags. Such blanks are well laid out in the cabinets, this specific aroma well repels the mole.
The secret of flowering geraniums
And now the promised valuable advice above. They created all the conditions, look after them, feed them, fill them up ... and geranium does not want to bloom. What to do? We open the main secret. Geranium begins to bloom only when there is practically no space left for the roots in the pot. Sometimes the owners see that the roots twist the entire clod of earth and rush to transplant the pelargonium into a more spacious pot. And she, ungrateful, instead of the buds, begins to build up the root system again.
How to do the right thing? In the spring we do not transplant the bush. It becomes crowded, it begins to bloom. With good care makes it until the end of summer. When the last bud has faded, cut it off and only then transplant the plant. Moreover, the pot should be only 1-1.5 cm larger than the previous one. During the winter, the root system will again completely entwine the soil and the cycle repeats.
That's the whole trick.
Useful recommendations
- If the climate allows, then you can land pelargonium in the garden in the spring. At the same time, it is advisable not to take it out of the pot, but to drop it directly with it. Otherwise, in the fall, you will have to call an excavator to dig out the overgrown root system.
- Geranium absolutely calmly tolerates direct sunlight on the leaves. But at air temperatures above 35 ° C, it is better to apply a little. Still, this is excessively hot weather, burning leaves and crown of shoots.
- By the way, in winter geranium is enough content at + 16-18 ° C. From spring to autumn, it is desirable to adhere to at least + 21-22 ° C.
- The first sign that Pelargonium does not like something is the yellowing of the lower leaves. But what exactly does not suit the beauty, will have to determine on their own. Over-feeding with fertilizers, excessive watering, the beginning disease - any of these factors is reflected first of all on the color shade of the foliage.
- If there are difficulties with the choice of fertilizer for pelargonium, then pay attention to those funds on the packaging of which is marked “for balcony plants”. It will be difficult to make a mistake here.
- Since the age of 2 years, the size of the pot does not increase during transplantation.By the way, a flower can grow up to 10 years, or even more, if it is provided with suitable conditions.
- Old dried leaves and faded flower stalks are not recommended to be torn off by hands, because there is a high probability of damaging the stem of the plant. It is better to make it a sterile sharp knife.
- Seeds collected independently do not convey the decorative qualities of parents to children. But do not despair. Maybe you will be able to bring your own unique variety of geraniums?
- There is an interesting observation: if a person likes the smell of geranium leaves, it means that he is not okay with the nervous system, and it would be advisable to check with the appropriate doctor. Those people who smell unpleasant, have a strong healthy nervous system.
How to grow geraniums at home? Quite simply and effortlessly. Do not treat pelargonium with disdain and she will thank you for the clean air in the house and long bright flowering.
Video: how to grow indoor geranium
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