CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. - One of my favorite houseplants isn’t actually considered a houseplant because it is used so much in flowerbeds and patios. I have seen geraniums in store windows, on patios, and greenhouses. Give them some sun, soil, and water and they will bloom. They are also survivors. One gardener dug hers up in the fall, shook off the soil, put it in a paper bag, and kept it in the basement until spring. It didn’t miss a beat when put back in the ground the next spring and started to bloom. Once I tossed my clippings from my geraniums into a damp shade area near my house. In the Fall, when I cleaned up the yard, to my surprise, I found the clippings had rooted and were growing!
Geraniums, Pelagonium genus, come in three
species 1. Zonal –most common type seen for sale and do well in pots and gardens.
2. Ivy – a type that vines and does well in hanging baskets. Less heat tolerant, they do well under a covered patio.
3. Scented – mimic the smell of other flowers, herbs, or fruits.
Most geraniums grow to 1 to 3 feet tall and wide but I have seen them much larger. They come in a variety of colors: red, white, purple, pink, orange and bi-colored. Some are grown for their multi-colored leaves: pleasant combinations of greens, white, and pink.
Growing:
1. You can grow them from seed but they are slow growers and will take three months to bloom.
2. Geraniums are known for their ease in making new plants from stem cuttings. Stems will root in water but soil works best. a. Choose a healthy branch on a mature plant 3 to 5” long. b. Cut the branch with a sterile clipper just above a leaf node. c. Remove all but the top two leaves. d. Fill a clean pot with good potting soil and use a pencil to make a hole in the soil. e. Place the cutting in the hole and tamp down the soil to keep the stem secure and upright. f. Place the pot in a warm spot with bright indirect light and keep the soil moist but not soggy. g. Roots and new leaves will start growing in 2 to 3 weeks.
3. Plants in bloom are found in most stores in summer. With proper care they will bloom all summer. If you find a special one you want to keep, follow the directions below.
4. Geraniums are not cold tolerant. In autumn, you have a choice of leaving them to die or bring them inside. There is more than one way to overwinter them.
a. If you just want to save them for next year’s flowers: Dig them up before the 1st frost, shake off the soil, and hang them upside down in a cool, moist basement. In spring, take the plant down, cut off two-thirds of the top and replant out side. Sometimes this option includes placing the plant in a paper bag. b. If you want flowering geraniums all winter: Before frost, decide which plants you will save and put them in pots. Trim back the plant to manageable size. If you want a lot of blooms, treat it like a houseplant with lots of sun, water, and fertilizer. c. If you just want to keep it alive and have the space: Do #2 above but instead of putting the plants in the house, they will do just fine in a cool, room with minimal light, water, and no fertilizer. In spring, plant them outside after frost danger.
Care:
Sun – Geraniums need sun to flower but in our intense sun, afternoon shade provides the best blooming.
Soil – In containers, use good, well-draining potting soil. In the ground, add compost and a mulch over the soil to hold moisture.
Water – Pots will dry out fast. Check them daily and if soil is dry to the finger 1” down, then water. Allowing soil to dry out completely before watering again encourages a greater number of blooms.
Fertilizer – Use an all-purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10 (Nitrogen-Phosphate- Potassium) every 24 weeks.
Dead-heading – Removal of spent blooms promotes more flowering. Geraniums are bothered by few bugs or problems: Caterpillars will chew on their leaves. They can be picked off or sprayed with a worm killer. Overwatering will cause fungus and root rot that is treated with an antifungal and decrease water.
Just to let you know Geraniums are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Edith Iwan is a Cibola-McKinley County Master Gardener who lives and works in Thoreau. As a Master Gardener she assists the County Cooperative Extension Service in providing accurate, research-based gardening information to county residents. If you have any gardening questions, please call the NMSU Cibola County Extension at 505-287-9266 or NMSU McKinley County Extension at 505-863-3432