Geranium (aka pelargonium) is one of the most popular plants among growers around the world. Reasons: its non-capricious "temper", a variety of shapes and colors, and useful properties. Geranium produces special phytoncides that purify indoor air, which has a beneficial effect on our health.
Pelargonium care is quite simple, but in order to enjoy its flowering almost all year round, you need to follow some recommendations.
Why carry out the procedure at home?
Geranium planting is just one of the important and necessary conditions for your plant to have an attractive appearance and remain healthy and strong. Geranium can grow up to 10 years - Of course, during this time it grows into a large bush. Rejuvenation of the bush helps to give it a more well-groomed appearance and cause abundant flowering.
In addition, they resort to seating, when you need to get new plants. After all, geraniums do not happen much! Pelargonium can be decorated not only with a window sill or balcony. In the summer geranium will look great in a bed in the garden.
Early spring is considered the best time for this procedure - by the summer the plant is already adapting and will delight you with bright colors.
You can also plant geraniums after a period of active flowering. - this is September-October.
How to get new plants?
There are two main ways to get a young plant: to plant a part of an old plant with a root, or use a cutting.
The recommendation on the choice of soil and a flowerpot for a plant in both cases will be the same:
- A pot with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm, the height of the pot should also not exceed these dimensions. It is best to choose ceramic vases, preferably not covered with glaze. There must be drainage holes in the bottom. Naturally it is preferable to take a new pot. If this is not possible, it is desirable to keep the old pot in a solution of potassium permanganate or bleach. Then rinse thoroughly, scald with boiling water and dry.
- Geranium loves a loose soil, light. Therefore, the usual soil for indoor plants from the store should be mixed with river sand or perlite. Well add peat or humus.
- At the bottom of the pot make a layer of drainage. This may be expanded clay, pieces of brick or washed river pebbles. 1-2 cm layer
- Fill the soil to ½ the volume of the pot.
- Planted geranium, sprinkle, not very tamping the soil.
- We water plentifully.
- We place on the window so that there is no direct sunlight. A week later, you can put on a bright sun.
Where to get seedlings?
Dividing bush
- We plentifully water a bush which needs to be planted.
- The next day, take it out of the pot, neatly divided into several.
- When dividing the roots, it is better to cut off, and not to break off. The knife is pre-wiped with medical alcohol. Root root cuts can be processed with crushed activated charcoal or regular cinnamon.
- Then we plant a shoot in a new pot.
- Well shed the soil.
- While pelargonium survives, we protect it from too active sun.
Rooting cuttings in water
- From an adult bush we cut off a young twig (crown). The stalk should be no more than 10 cm. We make it with a sharp knife 1 cm below the place from which the leaf grows.
- We leave on top a cutting of 3-4 leaves, the rest is deleted.
- We put in the settled water, add the drug Kornevin. To avoid rotting of the cutting, you can also dissolve a tablet of coal. If the cutting did start to rot, we cut off the damaged tip and again put it in fresh water. Water must be changed every two days!
- We are waiting for the emergence of the roots and then planted in the ground. Usually this process takes 2-3 weeks. Be careful - do not break off the tender roots!
Rooting cuttings in the ground
- Cut stalks can be planted directly into the soil.
- Dry slightly our stocking (1-2 hours). We do this at room temperature and in the shade.
- Sow stalk in the prepared container with the ground. In this case, it is better to take a very small pot, you can use an ordinary plastic cup. Instead of soil, you can take pure peat or river sand.
- Water and put on the window.
While rooting the roots, do not let the bright sun!
Which method of grafting to choose depends largely on the type of pelargonium. In the water it is good to keep the zonal. Royal and fragrant rooted only in the soil.
It is not recommended to propagate geranium seeds - it has such a feature: plants grown from seeds are significantly different from their "mummies".
Care
In order for a young plant to take root quickly and flourish, several recommendations should be followed:
- Need timely watering - make sure that the soil does not dry out. It should be produced on the edge of the pot. Do not pour water on the stem and leaves of the plant.
- You can water it once a week with a solution of Kornevin - this drug stimulates the growth of the equine system.
- Geranium light-requiring. As soon as the young plant takes root, it should be put on the brightest windows.
- Top dressing is made in three months after disembarkation. Until this time, pelargonium will have enough nutrients directly from the soil. Avoid fertilizers with a high nitrogen content - they lead to a violent growth of greenery, but deprive you of desirable colors.
- After the appearance of new leaves, you need to pinch the pelargonium to form a beautiful lush bush.
- Do not be alarmed if, after transplantation, the leaves of the pelargonium are pale. Yellowed and dying off is better to remove. The plant will gradually recover.
If you want to have on your windowsill an attractive and richly flowering bush, do not neglect the timely rejuvenation of pelargonium. Even a beginner florist can cope with the procedure of seating. The main thing is to follow our simple recommendations. And geranium will thank you for your care and decorate the interior of your home with its bright colors.