A Geranium is a diverse type of plant with various types which can be grown in a range of conditions such as from full sun to shade environment. The Geranium plant comes with variety colours like pink, blue, white, and purple. It usually blooms in the middle of summer time and there are some species blooms during the spring and fall season. It is also an easy plant to grow and it is often used by landscapers in borders, rock gardens and also as a ground cover. The Geranium plant is also known as Cranesbill and it can grow up to 6-inch to 4-feet high depending on the type of it. The tender perennial plant started to become a hit among plant lovers after the \’Rozanne\’ grab the title of Perennial Plant of the Year organized by the Perennial Plant Association. Below are some of the tips and information in order to care for a Geranium plant.
What you need:
- Geranium plants
- Trowel or tool for planting
- Organic matter or fertilizer
- Mulch for weed control
Method:
- First of all, you have to choose a location where the plant can receive proper sunlight for it to grow. It is recommended to choose a sunny location to get the best flower production. If you plant it in a shaded area, the Geraniums will thrive. Always do the planting of the Geraniums in late month of May where there are no frost that can caused danger to the plant.
- The next step is to prepare the plant\’s bed by weeding and also aerating the soil. Make sure to remove first all the unwanted weeds that surround the area so that the Geranium plants will have enough water and food without competing with other plants. Then, you need to turn the soil until it becomes loose and less compact in order to provide the aeration process of the roots enough room for it to grow plus also improving on the drainage.
- After that, you have to add at least an inch organic matter onto the soil to help condition the soil especially if its condition is heavy and clay-like. The organic matter can be in the form of compost, manure or peat moss and this method need to be done repeatedly for every year.
- Next, you have to gently remove the Geranium plants by tapping its container and also gently tease the roots. Then, you have to dig a hole of at least 1 and a half times the size of the root ball before placing the plant into the soil at the same level as when it is in the container (or pot). Your plants can be placed within a space of between 6-inch until up to 2-feet apart. After that, you need to carefully firm the soil surrounding the roots without damaging the plant. A damage plant can be easily makes the plant susceptible to disease.
- In order to prevent unwanted weeds and also help retain water, you can spread mulch over the soil. The next step is for you to start watering the plants thoroughly and always remember to fertilize the plant at least once per month by using liquid fertilizer until you encounter the first frost.
- You can also dug-out the plants and brought it inside your house during the fall season. This can be done by simply cutting the plants back approximately half the size and re-pot, before placing it in your sunny window especially during the winter months. If you are in warmer climates and there is no danger of frost, your Geranium plants will become dormant during winter and new growth will start to begin during the spring season. The plants can be divided for every three or four years by siung before breaking the up the roots. Last but not least, you have to replant the divided plants in order for you to have beautiful blooms for many years in the future.
Additional Reading:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2304307_care-geranium-plant.html
http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Care_for_Geranium
http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2050
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/betta_design/1803861082/
