How to cultivate geraniums to make them bloom
Let me introduce how to cultivate geraniums to make them bloom and share some tips on caring for geraniums. Let's learn about it together.
Geraniums are flowering plants that, when well cared for, can bloom all year round. Among the potted flowers we know, geraniums have the most variety of colors and types, and they are relatively easy to care for. They can also be found in the flower market, so many people want to grow a pot. As long as you visit the flower market and see their beauty, you will want to buy one. However, for新手 friends who are just starting to grow geraniums, they may find the leaves turn yellow and the plant dies shortly after purchase. What is the reason for this? Xiaoqi will tell you that as long as you follow the method and do these "4 points" well, even if you are a beginner, you can grow them to fill the pot completely.
1. Do not buy yellow soil seedlings
The price of geraniums is not very high. When buying seedlings, remember not to buy yellow soil seedlings. Don't save a few dollars. Buy those grown in nutrient-rich soil. Because yellow soil seedlings do not have much nutrition when cultivated indoors, they consume a lot of nutrients while growing and flowering. If you can't supply enough fertilizer, it will lead to yellow leaves and stunted growth. Moreover, yellow soil is prone to compaction, which can prevent water and fertilizer from penetrating and also cause stunted growth and yellow leaves. Generally, we grow them indoors, and if you water once with yellow soil, it won't dry for ten to half a month, leading to root and leaf rot. Therefore, if you want to buy seedlings, choose those grown in nutrient-rich soil. If you want to use garden soil, you need to have an outdoor environment. Otherwise, don't buy yellow soil seedlings, as they will bloom initially but later turn yellow and become stunted.
2. Do not wash the roots when repotting
Some friends buy ready-made potted seedlings that come with a simple pot. After successfully acclimating the seedlings, you need to repot them. Should you wash the roots when repotting? Xiaoqi tells you not to wash the roots. You should observe the root system and directly remove it from the pot to see if the roots are growing densely around the soil. If they are very dense, you can directly repot into a pot one or two sizes larger and fill it with nutrient-rich soil.
If you find few new roots and mostly soil when you take it out, you should remove some soil, preferably one-third, to expose most of the roots. Then repot it into a pot that is about the same size or one size larger, fill it with soil, water thoroughly, and let it acclimate for three to five days. When the leaves look good and the top buds are growing normally, you can gradually increase the light and care for it as usual. Geraniums are herbaceous plants, and washing the roots can cause them to die. You can keep some of the protective soil and remove some, but don't wash all the soil away.
3. Choose the right pot
When growing geraniums, you must choose the right pot. There are two taboos: the pot should not be too large or too tall. Therefore, choose a shorter pot that is the right size. What does "right" mean? When you buy a plant to repot, choose a pot one or two sizes larger than the original, avoid using deep pots, and if you have a terracotta pot or a clay pot, that is fine. Try to choose pots with more drainage holes, like green mountain pots, to ensure no problems. Beginners with poor indoor ventilation should not use gallon pots, as they can easily cause root rot. Since most plant roots do not grow too deep, the top may be dry while the bottom is still wet. If you water again, the new roots at the bottom will rot, leading to problems with the entire plant. Therefore, choose the right pot and use well-draining soil to ensure the roots fill the pot and absorb enough nutrients for rapid growth and flowering.
How to cultivate geraniums to make them bloom
4. Reasonable care
Caring for geraniums is relatively simple. They are light-loving plants, and they need plenty of light throughout the year, even in the summer when temperatures are high. Never place them in overly dark areas. Sufficient light will make the stems stronger and prevent leggy growth. Only with enough light can they ensure flowering. Some friends find that new leaves are completely white when growing geraniums in the summer. What is the reason? It is because the location they placed the plant in the summer has weak light, and the high temperature prevents it from growing. With weak light, the new leaves will turn white, and due to the lack of nutrients in the soil and the absence of trace elements, the leaves will also show this condition.
With sufficient light, ensure reasonable watering and fertilizing. As a herbaceous plant, it cannot be short of water. Lack of water will cause the leaves to wilt, and watering will also cause the leaves to become burnt. Generally, water when the potting mix is half dry. If it has just been transplanted, water when the surface of the soil is dry to ensure good ventilation. Choose the right fertilizer. As a plant that keeps growing and flowering, the fertilizer should have a high phosphorus content without lacking other elements. The commonly used "Flower多多二号" is fine. You can also sprinkle some balanced, multi-element slow-release fertilizer or well-fermented sheep manure on the surface of the potting mix every six months. This way, the nutrients will not be lacking, the roots will fill the pot, the main stem will be strong, and the flowering performance will be even better.
If you remember these four points when growing geraniums, don't buy yellow soil seedlings, don't wash the roots when repotting, choose the right pot, and follow Xiaoqi's method to care for them, as long as the temperature in winter does not drop below ten degrees and the environment has sufficient light, they can bloom continuously throughout the year.
The above sharing on how to cultivate geraniums to make them bloom and the specific introduction of tips for caring for geraniums hope to bring some floral knowledge to plant enthusiasts.