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Last week I finally put the geranium seedlings outside. In past years I followed these steps exactly and the geraniums were almost down to the ground. Blooming nonstop from spring to autumn.
These are the basic tips by which I always find the most beautiful and strongest plants.
Basic tips when buying geraniums
- Pay attention to the leaves. They must be firm, healthy and free of pests.
- The plant must have a well-developed root system.
- The geranium must not be wilted.
A strong plant is the foundation
Until mid-May I pinch them after planting. That way the geraniums will be full of vigor and ready to bloom; they will be lush and beautiful. From around mid-May (or a little later) I stop pinching and let the buds and new shoots develop.
Prepare old containers
When growing geraniums it’s very important that the containers you plant them in are perfectly clean.
If you decide to reuse older flowerpots, wash them with hot water and disinfect them.
It’s enough to use some antifungal product that you use at home. Let it work, preferably overnight, and the next day rinse thoroughly with hot water again. I also leave them to disinfect in the sun; it’s a guarantee that the container is ready.
When I plant them, I proceed like this!
- I always plant geraniums in a special geranium substrate.
- Pots must have a double bottom; that’s the only way you can water them properly.
- I plant a maximum of 4 quality seedlings in one pot.
- Around each seedling, insert 3-4 fertilizer sticks and water.
- For three weeks, until they root well, I water from above and add a little fertilizer for trailing geraniums to each watering.
- After three weeks I can pour water into the holes at the bottom of the pots; the geraniums are sufficiently rooted and know how to draw water from the bottom of the pots.
Watering during the summer
During flowering I care for the geraniums much like anyone else. I water regularly and add fertilizer about 1–2 times a month. I also follow my grandmother’s watering method: not every time, but at least a few times a month I water the geraniums with nettle extract. It is also excellent against pests. I always water with standing, ideally rainwater.
How to prepare the watering solution?
So just soak young nettles in water and let it steep — I leave it for up to 2 weeks and simply use it for watering. It is also an excellent protection against pests; nettle water doesn’t smell good to them either.
