Geraniums: Workhorse of Hot Weather Gardening
© Tara A. Spears
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Versatile Plant: Geraniums make popular bedding plants in the garden but they’re also commonly grown indoors or outside in hanging baskets. Once established, geraniums require little care. Space plants about 8-12 inches apart and plant at the same depth as their original planting pots. Mulching the plants is also recommended to help retain moisture. When watering outdoor plants, it’s best to avoid overhead irrigation, as this can lead to pests or disease issues. Geraniums are drought tolerant plants and they do not like too much water. They prefer full sun and a well-drained, moderately rich soil. They can handle partial shade, but become more prone to mildew if kept damp. Geraniums are not particular about soil pH, but a neutral to slightly acid soil is ideal. (5.8 – 7.0)
There is a great deal of variety in the geranium genus, but most of the commonly grown varieties are low growing, dense carpet-like plants. The velvety leaves may be rounded, but more often they are serrated or lobed and quite attractive. Slightly hairy stems appear on some species. The flowers are small (1″) and cup-shaped, attracting plenty of butterflies and bees. Thin stems hold the flowers above the foliage. While the bloom period varies with the species, count on geraniums from early summer on with repeat blooms throughout the growing season-which is all year long in the Riviera Nayarit area.
Pest problems are minimal with geraniums: slugs are attracted to this plant but that is easy to control. Simply place lids of beer around the plants to prevent damage. Always keep fading flower stalks removed to reduce botrytis-a gray rot fungus, which can be a problem during wet seasons. Proper plant spacing will help, because it provides good air circulation, works to minimize botrytis. Bacterial blight can be a serious problem on geraniums–usually evident when the plant or single leaves wilt for no apparent reason. Unfortunately, no sprays are available, therefore if you notice one of the above conditions, remove the plant from the site immediately.
Ivy geranium
Scented geranium
For years I had 10-12 varieties of geraniums in my garden. I particularly like the scented species, not only for the exotic fragrances-chocolate being a favorite- but because the blooms are exquisite. The ivy types also have a bicolor flower and pointy leaf that I find attractive. Scented geraniums are fragrant-leaved, woody-based, tender perennials of the genus Pelargonium. Scented geraniums were widely grown in the Victorian era for use in perfumery, potpourris, and occasionally for cooking. Among modern herb and cottage garden enthusiasts the scented geranium is in vogue and make easy-care, fragrant houseplants and bedding plants, readily propagated by cuttings and adaptable to containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets. One of the parents of the modern bedding geranium, this species is an upright, woody-stemmed, branched, hairy sub-shrub to 6′+ tall, bearing thick 2-3″ rounded to triangular leaves, hooded or cup-shaped, toothed or sometimes lobed. Their margins are often tinted in red and they are pungently scented.
To maintain bright leaf color and a profusion of blooms, fertilize once a month. I use the time release pellets that are readily available at the Thursday market and local nurseries. Even without a fertilizer, the tough geranium plant will grow well for a year with proper watering.
Simply choose your favorite color, plop a geranium into a sunny spot, and sit back to enjoy the vibrant blooms.
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