We often admire beautiful pots of flowering pelargoniums on balconies and terraces but it is sometimes difficult to reproduce the same result at home. Follow our tips and you will get a result beyond your expectations!
The right exposure
Pelargoniums like warmth and a very sunny exposure. Place your pots in full sun to obtain a maximum bloom. In the south, Pelargoniums can tolerate a few hours of shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Don't forget that these plants are not hardy, at the beginning of the season protect them from night frost with a winter veil and in case of a big cold snap, bring them in under cover.
The container
The container should be large enough to accommodate the plant. It should have a hole in the bottom so that the water drains well and does not stagnate at the roots, which Pelargoniums fear. For the same reason, avoid containers with water reserves that retain too much moisture. Then you will just have to choose the material: terracotta, resin or wood, it doesn't matter!
The substrate
Pelargoniums are greedy. The substrate must be fertile. Mix a good commercial potting soil and compost. Add a few handfuls of crushed horn. Don't forget to provide a drainage bed at the bottom of the pot. It can be made of clay balls, gravel or even pottery shards.
Very regular watering
Leaves that turn brown or wilt are a sign of lack of water. To avoid this phenomenon, water your pelargoniums very regularly so that the soil never dries out completely between two waterings. Never leave water in the cups.
From May to September, add a special geranium fertilizer every 10 days after a copious watering in order to avoid burning the roots.
A necessary maintenance
To keep your pots looking good, remove yellowed or dried leaves. Cut off diseased branches and burn them. Don't forget to prune the faded flowers to avoid the exhaustion of the plant and encourage the birth of new flower buds.
To keep your plant compact and induce its branching, you can pinch the ends of the stems from time to time, but you will have to wait a little to see it bloom.
