Geranium with Brown leaf edges. - Ask Extension (2024)

FAQs

Geranium with Brown leaf edges. - Ask Extension? ›

Expert Response

The browning could be due to several things. Evidence of it along the edges may be an indication of watering issues. While most geraniums like it slightly dry, Martha Washington geraniums tend to like a little more water so the soil needs to be kept evenly moist.

Geraniums do not like a lack of nutrients

If there is a lack of nutrients, their metabolism shuts down and they do not develop to their full potential. Geraniums are suffering from nutrient deficiency when their leaves turn pale yellow or reddish, and they may even fall off.

Generally, on overwatered plants, the bottom portions of geraniums have yellow leaves. They may also develop pale looking water spots. If this is the case, you should immediately stop watering and allow the plants to dry out. Remember, geraniums are drought-tolerant plants and they do not like too much water.

Water plants heavily and repeatedly to flush built-up salts out the soil and prevent tip burn. If plants start to show brown tips as soil thaws in spring, salts may have hit during winter months. Flush the soil through heavy watering before tips get worse.

Brown tips on houseplants can be a sign of a problem, but they're not always cause for concern. If the brown tips are only affecting a small portion of the leaf, you can trim them off without worry. However, if the problem is more widespread, it's important to address the root cause of the issue.

When leaves are held up to the light, the spots will have dark centers with translucent borders. They may be circular or they may run together resulting in a blighted appearance. Leaf spots are soon accompanied by yellowing, often in a V-shaped pattern.

Geraniums are likely to become tall and lanky by late winter. In March, prune back the plants. Cut the geraniums back by one-half to two-thirds. The geraniums will begin to grow again within a few days and should develop into attractive specimens by May.

~If you place your geraniums into dormancy for overwintering or if you live in an area where geraniums die back some over the winter, the best time to prune geraniums is in early spring. Remove all of the dead and brown leaves from the geranium plant. Next trim away any unhealthy stems.

Should you water geraniums every day? ›

Make sure the soil has a chance to dry out between waterings to keep the plant healthy. Plants in containers will need to be watered more frequently than those in the ground. During the summer months, water containers every 2-3 days or whenever the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

The most common problem that geraniums with brown leaf edges have is a lack of water. Most garden stores sell little probes that tell you whether the soil is dry or wet. The yellowing of the leaf, between the healthy (green) and dead (brown) tissue is called chlorosis, or a lack of nitrogen.

Re: Geraniums leaves drooping and floppy

It could be environmental stress caused by over or underwatering. Nutrient deficiency in the soil could also be a reason for the plant to wilt. The only other cause could be a fungal infection. Have a look at the base of the plant and see if it is very damp.

Inconsistent watering, in particular allowing plants to dry out too long between waterings, will cause leaf edges and tips to turn brown. Excess salts can build up in the soil when too much fertilizer is applied which can also lead to brown leaf tips. Water and fertilize appropriately to prevent further browning.

Those sunken brown spots are caused by bacterial leaf spots. It often occurs in the warm wet season. I recommend removing the damaged leaves and spraying the plant with Yates 200ml Liquid Copper Fungicide.