Geraniums are an annual flower that people just can’t seem to get enough of. Geraniums not only smell amazing, but you can find them in just about every shade of red and pink you can imagine. If you wish to add geraniums to your flower beds, flower pots, and landscaping this year, check out these 7 Tips for Growing Geraniums. When you give these simple tips a try you can enjoy a season that is full of color, fragrance, and the most gorgeous geraniums around.
7 Tips for Growing Geraniums
1. Choose a healthy start. Half the battle is finding a healthy start or seedling. Buy your geraniums from a trusted gardening center. Look for healthy green leaves, no sign of yellowing, dryness, or pests, and choose plants with plenty of budding on them. You don’t necessarily want a plant that is blooming already, but has a show in store.
2. Use more potting mix, less dirt. Geraniums do well when they are in a mixture that consists of more potting mix and less dirt. They really need the nutrients and prefer the airy mixture. Use a mixture of 2/3 potting mix and the rest soil when preparing your pots.
3. Don’t over water. This is a huge mistake people make when taking care of this plant. You don’t want to over water as it can cause yellowing. Instead, water well then allow the pot to completely dry out before you water again. The idea is to water deep, dry out completely.
4. A slow release fertilizer works well. Use a slow release fertilizer after you plant and again a few weeks later. A liquid fertilizer is ideal and will do the work for you. Don’t over fertilize in hopes of getting bigger blooms. Always follow package directions.
5. Give them 4-6 hours of direct sun. Geraniums do love to be warm. They should have at least 4-6 hours of direct sun each day. If you are having trouble getting that much sun in one spot, put your pot on wheels so you can shift it around as needed.
6. Deadhead! Geraniums will not do well and continue to bloom if you leave spent blooms on the plant. Instead you need to deadhead as you see dead foliage as this will keep the plant healthy and make sure it spends its resources where it needs to: on creating new blooms!
7. Bring them indoors. You CAN bring geraniums inside during the cold months and winter season. If you do, they will continue to grow for you during the winter months. Otherwise, it is an annual and will die if left outdoors. If you do plant it in a container, why not try to bring it in at the end of the season and continue to enjoy it?
If you love geraniums and want to enjoy more growing success, give these 7 Tips for Growing Geraniums a try. They are perfect for getting bright, full blooms that are sure to impress the neighbors and put on a show all summer long!
More Flower Gardening Tips:
7 Tips for Growing Gorgeous Sweet Peas
7 Tips for Growing Freesia
Judith says
I have a geranium tree…..never bloom….
I tried everything…..
Need help
Jan says
One color of my Geraniums has been going for over 40 years. My father gave my mother a beautiful reddish orange geranium which she loved SO much that she took slips and repotted in the fall. The following spring Jerome, my father passed away of a massive stroke. My mother felt it was her duty to keep the geranium going. So over 40 years later, I have a beautiful geranium called Jerome which I have propagated every year since. I also have 4 other colors which I have named and keep going year after year
Alea Milham says
Wow, that is amazing! What a lovely way to honor your father!
Dick says
We have over a dozen geraniums that we winter-over in our garage with 50-75% success. It really saves the money and you can plant at your convenience. All of the tips were informative.
Jenny Pantoja says
I am glad you posted these tips because I’ve planted geraniums in my garden and was over watering them and also not cutting down the dead ones. Now I hope they will begin looking better.
Liz Ramirez says
Thank you for the tips!! First time growing them ?
Cathy Bishop says
I love geraniums! I have a red one that is 4 years old. It summers on the front porch and winters in the house. It blooms year around. Loved your post.
Jeannie Hallam says
Always had bad luck with my gerianiums.. thanks for the information. this will help me alot…