Royal geranium or royal pelargonium is a magnificent home flower that, with proper care, pleases with luxurious, huge (15 cm in diameter) flowers of various colors. How to achieve long-lasting flowering of royal geraniums, what are the features of caring for an aristocrat plant.
Caring for royal geraniums consists in proper watering, timely pruning, providing winter rest, replanting as needed.
How to water geranium
It is better to water the royal geranium through the pallet, while the plant itself will regulate the amount of moisture needed. The water must be settled, at room temperature, it is allowed to use boiled water. Until the plant blooms, the leaves need to be sprayed periodically. The signal for watering is the appearance of a dry crust on the top layer of the earth. Excessive water leads to plant disease, and moisture deficiency leads to a lack of flowers.
Pruning geraniums for lush flowering
Winter pruning is an integral part of royal geranium care. The short days and lack of sunlight make the plant stretch. During this period, the geranium needs to be pinched, and the long shoots that have appeared should be cut off. In April, king geraniums will start blooming, so you need to stop pruning in March. To preserve the shape of the bush, pinching is carried out in the summer after flowering.
With the onset of winter, the plant hibernates. All that is needed is minimal watering and a well-lit, cool (with a temperature not higher than 15 degrees) place. At this time, the geranium is resting, gaining strength for the upcoming flowering.
Geranium transplant
Caring for royal geraniums involves transplanting. This procedure should be carried out in the spring, when the roots become cramped and they find a hole in the drainage system. The new flowerpot should not differ much in size from the old one, since geraniums are reluctant to bloom in large voluminous pots. Drainage must be placed on the bottom of the container. The soil can be purchased or prepared independently from sand, peat and earth. The planting mixture should not be tamped too much.
Why does geranium turn yellow
With good care of the royal geranium, it practically does not get sick. However, with poor watering or under prolonged exposure to sunlight, the lower leaves may turn yellow. Diseases characteristic of royal pelargonium: nematode, dropsy, rust, black stem rot.
To make geraniums bloom
To stimulate the appearance of flowers, you need to choose the right place for the plant. Royal geraniums love light, so the brightest places in the house are perfect for her. In addition, wintering in a bright, cool place, monthly feeding and spring pruning will ensure the appearance of large inflorescences.
How to propagate geranium
Taking proper care of royal geraniums will result in a healthy, flowering plant that you want to propagate. Geranium propagation method is cuttings. At the end of summer, it is necessary to cut the cuttings of 7-9 cm, hold them in the air for several hours, then plant them in a peat-sand mixture. Use a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect and make sure that the soil is always moist. Prepare a soil from sand, leafy and sod land and plant rooted cuttings.
