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Geraniums are an all-time favorite of flower lovers and home gardeners alike.
These dainty flowering plants are not only easy to grow, but they also have a lovely scent and grow in a wide range of colors.
Read on below and learn everything you need to know about growing geraniums.
About Growing Geraniums
Geraniums are among the most grown flowers in the United States, and indeed, around the world.
They require a location in your yard, garden, or home, that receives roughly 5 hours of light per day. That said, some species require more or less light.
Starting from seeds, geraniums take approximately four months to germinate. After germinating, the flowers require another three to four months to start blooming.
The species is self-pollinating as well, so they are excellent for indoor plants, and on porches, windowsills, and balconies.
Geraniums are flowering plants introduced to Europe by traders that brought them from South Africa. These plants resembled the wild European geraniums but they weren’t exactly alike.
There are two main kinds of geraniums, the annual plant which lasts only for a year, and the perennial which returns every season.
These gorgeous flowers are the perfect addition to every garden for their bright colorful flowers and their strong sweet scent.
Quick Geraniums Growing Information
| How much light is needed: | Most geranium varieties need between 4 and 6 hours of full sun per day. |
| How much water is needed: | Geraniums need to be watered thoroughly. However, you should allow the soil to dry between watering. |
| Is it best to start with seeds or plants: | Starting geraniums from seeds is fairly easy. However, it will require patience, as it could take up to 16 weeks for geraniums to flower. |
| The best month to plant: | If you want your geraniums to flower in the spring, you need to sow your seed from early to mid-February |
| Preferred climate/temperature: | The preferred temperature for geranium plants is between 65 and 75 F during the day and between 50 to 60 F at nighttime. |
| Is indoor or outdoor growing better: | Geraniums can be grown indoors or outdoors. If you live in areas with low temperatures during the winter, indoor geraniums are the best choice for you. |
| Do indoor plants need to be pollinated: | Like most spring-flowering plants, geraniums do not need pollination. This kind of plant has the ability to self-pollinate. |
| Level of difficulty to grow: | Easy. |
| Plant height: | 6 to 48 inches depending on the variety. |
| Time from planting to harvest: | It takes the geraniums plant between 13 to 15 weeks to flower. |
Planting Geraniums
Geraniums not only add color and fragrance to any garden but are also very easy to grow and take care of.
Find below the step-by-step guidelines for planting your own geraniums:
1. If you’re going to plant your geraniums outside, the first step will be to choose the right spot. Remember these plants grow better with at least five hours of sun per day.
2. No matter if you plant your geraniums in your garden or a pot, make sure the soil has good drainage. These plants do not like wet and soggy soil.
3. Geraniums grow better in soil that is loose. You can use a tiller to ensure that the soil is loose 12 to 15 inches down.
4. Dig a hole for each plant making sure to leave a distance of at least 6 inches between them.
5. Place the plant in the hole trying not to hurt the roots, which have to be level with the surface. Avoid putting soil in the stem of the plant as it may cause it to rot.
Harvesting Geraniums Seeds
In autumn you can harvest the seeds that have appeared in your geraniums and save them for the following year. Read on below and learn about the process of harvesting geranium seeds.
1. After the geraniums are finished blooming in early autumn, look for the seed pods that will start to develop at the base of the bloom.
2. Before harvesting the seeds, you’ll have to wait for them to turn brown and dry.
3. Cut the seed pods and store them in a paper bag for 2 weeks. Make sure the spot where you store them is warm and well-ventilated.
4. Once the seeds are dry, separate them from the plant’s debris and store them in a paper envelope and inside a jar. Put two teaspoons of powdered milk in several layers of tissue inside the jar with the seeds.
5. Make sure the temperature of the storage spot is under 55 F and your seed will be ready to be planted the following spring.
Geraniums Growing FAQs
Do Geranium Plants Need Fertilizer?
You can use granular slow-release fertilizer once in the spring, or liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20, two, or three times during the growing season. It’s important not to over-fertilize geraniums.
Do I Need to Cut the Dead Flowers of my Plants?
If you cut the dead flowers from your geraniums, the plant will focus its energy on creating new ones. If you leave the dead flowers, their energy will be focused on creating seeds.
Suggested Reading: How to Grow Cosmos
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