Geranium - a plant that can grow freely on the window sill in a pot, and in the open air. Very often flower growers who have a dacha take their beautiful plants there and plant them in the garden. But before planting a geranium, it is necessary to choose the right place and soil.
Geranium can grow both in the shade and in the sun, depending on the variety, but absolutely all species of this plant like light permeable soil through which air and water pass.
Is it possible to grow outside?
Consider whether it is possible to plant a plant in an open area. Absolutely all varieties of geraniums feel great in the open field., only the place needs to be picked up correctly. It looks great in landscape design. This plant is often used as a smooth transition between shrubs, which differ in color and shape of bushiness.
Interesting fact! Geranium in the open field plays a role not only decorative nature. The fact is that the root system of a plant is superficial, and it seems to cover the top layer of soil, thereby preventing the growth of weeds and the drying out of the soil.
In addition, the flower contributes to air and water aeration and is suitable for land reclamation.
Preparation of plants, soil and conditions
Usually planted in open ground cuttings from a healthy adult bush. But you should not “stick” a freshly cut stalk into the ground, since it can simply die. First of all, seedlings are prepared - the sections are treated with activated charcoal or ash, and then the cutting is kept in the solution, which stimulates root growth.
It turns out that the stalk must be separated from the adult bush for three weeks before planting in the ground. As for the adult plant, the preparation is not needed, it is simply carefully removed from the pot and transferred to the prepared place.
The soil is prepared as follows:
- In the fall, while digging mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil, if there is such an opportunity, you can add humus and then dig.
- Before planting geranium in open ground, the soil is acidified - you can apply citric, oxalic acid or ferrous sulfate.
- The soil must be provided with good drainage.
- In a hole laid in layers: peat, sand, garden soil. If you can't cook such a mixture on your own in the store, you can buy it ready-made.
The geranium pit is dug out from the root system - Roots should be located freely. In addition, it is better to choose a light area, but on which direct sunlight does not fall.
Terms of moving to the ground
Planting of plants produced after the danger of morning frost has passed, it is about the middle or end of May. In addition, it is desirable for the first rain to pass — the soil is saturated with moisture, and geranium will very easily survive the adaptation time.
If the street is hot, sunny weather, it is better to postpone the landing on an early morning or late evening.
The most suitable varieties for the garden and their photos
There are many species of this plant, but among gardeners the following are very popular.
Meadow
Dense shrub that can grow up to 1.2 meters in height. It blooms purple-lilac, while the plant will please buds by mid-summer.
Balkan
This culture creates real creeping thickets of bushes 30 cm tall. Flowering begins in June, the plant forms a reddish or purple carpet.
Marshland
Excellent culture for growing in the garden. Stems erect, branched up to 70 cm in height, form a compact, dense bush, with the beginning of flowering in the month of June.
Great
Bush grows up to 50 cm tall. Differs in its decorative qualities, such as, as soon as the buds bloom, the color of them is light purple, and closer to the fall they change their color to a brick shade.
Large-flowered
The bush grows up to 50 cm in height, the leaves are round, large on the legs, which can grow up to 10 cm. The diameter of flowers in the uncool state is 5 cm. The culture is very decorative with proper care with violet flowers, on which red streaks are pronounced.
Georgian
Magnificent variety that does not need to be transferred to indoor ground for the winter, in one place the plant feels good for 12 years. This sort of geranium is quite unpretentious to weather conditions. A beautiful plant whose bush during flowering is completely covered with purple flowers.
Blood red
A beautiful, ornamental plant with double buds resembling roses. A perennial flower that grows in one place for more than 15 years, and all this time it blooms profusely and develops. The culture does not tolerate direct sunlight and is suitable for areas that are in partial shade.
Step-by-step instruction
Movement into the soil rhizome
It often happens that after the winter period, the geranium stems are strongly drawn out - it loses its decorative appearance. There is a way out - transplant the plant into the open ground, cutting off all the shoots, leaving 5-10 cm of hemp. You need to act as follows:
- Use a sterile instrument to trim the geranium.
- Treat sections with antiseptic.
- Moisten the soil in the pot.
- Prepare a bed and dig holes that match the size of the root system.
- Carefully remove the geranium along with the earthy ball.
- Lay the roots in the hole and sprinkle with earth, slightly compacting the soil around the bush.
- Pour warm water.
Seedlings
Seedlings of geraniums are planted in open ground in mid-May.when the probability of morning frosts is minimal. Plants are planted at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other in a prepared bed and watered abundantly. The first 2 weeks seedlings pritenuyut from direct sunlight, it must be followed then that the soil in the garden did not dry out.
Seeds
In order to sow the seeds you need:
Prepare a container for seedlings and the corresponding soil - you can buy in the store the soil for seedlings.- At the bottom of the box pour a good drainage, then a layer of soil.
- Seeds are distributed over the surface at a distance of 5 cm from each other and sprinkled with a small layer of earth.
- Moisten the soil with a spraying method and equip a small wig by covering the box with plastic wrap.
- After 2 weeks, the first shoots will appear, the film at this time needs to be removed and the container with the seedlings should be placed in a warm, bright place, but without direct sunlight.
Prepare a container for seedlings and the corresponding soil - you can buy in the store the soil for seedlings.As soon as the time of landing in the open ground is suitable, seedlings are planted as described earlier.
How to move from the pot to the street?
Consider how to plant a plant from a pot to the ground. Once all the preparatory work has been done, you can start planting geraniums in open ground. When transplanting an adult flower, the rhizome is pre-treated with a stimulating substance. You can buy in a flower shop, while you need to use strictly according to the instructions. The algorithm of action when planting geraniums in open ground is as follows:
- The earth must be dug to a depth of 35 cm.
- Distribute the compost in a layer of 10 cm over the entire surface of the dug bed, and mix it well with the top layer of soil.
- The pit should be a certain depth - at least 25 cm. At the same time, attention should be paid to the roots of the plant.
- At the bottom of the hole lay a mixture of peat, garden soil and sand - you can buy ready-made in the store.
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot, taking care not to damage the root system.
- Place the geranium roots in the prepared hole and sprinkle with earth, slightly compacting the soil around the bush.
- Moderately pour warm water.
When planting a number of plants is to observe the distance between the bushes - optimally from 45 to 60 cm, depending on the type of geranium.
Further content of the flower
It should immediately indicate that the first 14 days after transplantation in an open ground the plant needs to be relieved from direct sunlight, that is to pritenit a bed with landings. In addition, it is necessary to observe the following rules of care for geraniums after transplantation:
- Remove weeds around bushes.
- The optimum temperature of the soil should be within 15-20 degrees - it can not be overheated and overmoisten.
- Insecticides should be used to protect against pests.
- In no case should the leaves be sprayed.
- Top dressing is carried out 1 time in two weeks - to apply mineral fertilizers.
- Before you carry out the application of liquid fertilizers. Geranium is well watered - otherwise there will be a burn of the root system.
- If the plant remains in the ground for the winter, before frosts need to produce pruning - each stem is shortened by 5 cm.
What if something went wrong?
If, after planting, the plant began to weaken on the leaves, spots began to appear - perhaps the plant was struck by insect parasites. In this case, it is necessary to subject the plant to treatment with insecticides.
There are cases when, after a geranium transplant under normal weather conditions, frosts occur. Replacing geraniums in pots is not advisable - extra stress for the plant, can lead to his illness and long recovery. It is worth simply to insulate the plant. Soil around the bush to cover with mulch, and the bush covering material.
It is worth noting that the correct and phased actions, which are recommended to be carried out by experienced flower growers regarding the preparation of the plant for transplantation and subsequent care after it, no problems will arise. It should be understood that the first 2 weeks the flower is especially vulnerable to pests, temperature extremes and soil conditions, you need to take good care of it.
Geranium is a versatile plant that feels great both in a flowerpot and in the open field in the summer. Geranium in landscape design has been used for a long time and this flower has worked well as an ornamental plant, undemanding in the care.
