Geranium Planting
Do you know these? Here are some experiences and details about geranium planting:
In recent years, I've become fascinated with geraniums, but unfortunately, my balcony only has one window that can be opened and has poor lighting, which is not ideal. I'm just sharing my own experiences in geranium planting with you all, and it may seem like showing off in front of experts.
First, lighting: Geraniums actually prefer a lot of light, especially in autumn. We should try to provide full sunlight. Due to the balcony's arrangement, my plant stand needs to be adjusted with the changing light in each season. If possible, we should also provide as much light as possible in winter, and in summer, they should be placed in a bright location to avoid sunburn.
Then the planting pot: Although geraniums are not large plants, a small pot is not suitable, especially for trailing geraniums. It's best to choose a taller pot, and the soil surface should be slightly higher than the pot opening to avoid breakage from the weight as they grow, which acts as a small support. For upright types, a pot of about 20 centimeters is ideal, but for 'Angel's Eye', a pot of over 30 centimeters is needed for better growth.
Then fertilizer: I'm not sure about the effect of fertilizers sold on the market as I've never used them. My fertilizer is made by getting some chicken manure from the market and letting it compost in an oil drum. In autumn, I dilute it, using a 5:5 ratio, and water the plants with it every two weeks for 2 to 3 times. If the seedlings are small, a bit less should be used.
Then soil: I haven't used high-quality soil or leaf mold soil. The soil I use is dug from the garden and composted myself (burying pruned branches and leaves and watering thoroughly when the soil dries). Of course, pure garden soil is not suitable, so I mix the so-called bulk orchid soil with garden soil, adjusting the ratio depending on how well the garden soil retains water.
Then watering: There is no set schedule for watering because the temperature, pot, and soil vary from place to place, so it can't be said to water at fixed intervals.
Then surviving the summer: Many flower friends say it's hard to get through the summer, but I think there are two points. One is the soil issue; some friends use pure nutrient soil and high-quality soil, which I believe can easily dry out in summer, causing the plant to lack water. Mixing in garden soil can help retain moisture. Second, water should be given once a day when it's hot. Although the soil may not look dry on the first day, the remaining water in the pot may not last until the next watering, leading to a lack of water. Third, during the rainy season in summer, do not water. Make sure the plants are watered before the rainy season arrives, and during the rainy season, it's better to let the soil be a bit dry than to water constantly, as this can cause the roots to rot.
In winter, there's not much to say. I just put mine on the balcony and close the window. During the day when it's warm, I open it for some ventilation. Also, if the geranium leaves become dry, it's irreversible, and they should be removed in time to avoid nutrient consumption.
Pests: I haven't seen any, so I'm not sure about them. As for diseases, besides root rot, I haven't seen any either.
The above () introduces the specific content of geranium planting (summarized by flower friends). If it can be of help to you, remember to visit the website often!