The florist’s trick for making geraniums bloom in autumn
An ideal ornamental plant for balconies, terraces and gardens, geraniums are increasingly present in homes, especially thanks to their beautiful flowers. Although it is a very hardy and low-maintenance plant, there are ways to keep it in bloom all autumn.
Discover these tips that will keep your geraniums healthy and beautify your garden or balcony.
How to care for geraniums in autumn?
Geraniums undergo several transformations as the weather cools. While they are going through changes, you need to be very careful because they can wilt very quickly.
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It is important to stop fertilizing them and not give them fertilizer when they are about to go dormant. In addition, it is extremely important to clean the flowers, leaves, but also sick or dry shoots, and then take good care of their soil.
For very good aeration, use a stick, but be careful not to damage the roots. When temperatures drop to 5 degrees Celsius or less, geraniums should be kept in protected spaces.
During this period, it is important to reduce the watering of geraniums before changing their environment. In fact, the soil must be very dry. Otherwise, the roots may rot.
Remember to water only when the soil is dry. Never keep the soil wet because geraniums suffer more from overwatering than from underwatering. Follow the key rule of watering when the top layer of soil is a little dry to the touch. Also make sure the pot has drainage holes.
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On the other hand, autumn is also the time to cut the shoots of potted geraniums in half. After completing this process, place the flowers in the room where you plan to leave them for the winter. If the climate is mild, you can postpone the shortening of the shoots until early November.
Important tips for geranium maintenance in autumn.
- When purchasing a geranium, it is important to choose the smallest one.
- Always buy healthy geraniums with no signs of disease or dry leaves.
- Grow geraniums in enriched sand and peat mixtures or in garden soil.
- Move purchased geraniums into spacious pots or containers.
- Geraniums can live for 40 years or more if we take care of them properly. For geraniums to bloom healthily, they need several hours of light. So, if you have a very bright balcony, take advantage of planting your geraniums in this corner. However, try to do it during the afternoon, so they receive some shade to avoid overexposure and eventual damage. The ideal temperature for this type of plant is between 18 and 20 ºC.
What is the sowing period for geraniums?
Between the end of February and the beginning of March, you can transplant your geraniums into fresh soil. It is preferable to use a special soil for geranium pots for this, in which seedlings or geraniums will be placed. At first, pelargoniums need a lot of nutrients, so you can add an additional dose of fertilizer to the soil. Place the pots in a corner of the windowsill so that they receive light.
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