Growing Geraniums (2024)

FAQs

Do geraniums do better in pots or in the ground? ›

Geraniums love a full sun position in a well-drained soil. If your soil is a heavy clay or prone to waterlogging consider growing geraniums on mounds or in pots to improve drainage.

For success with geraniums, you need to know what kind you have so you can choose the best spot for planting. Most annual geraniums need a spot in full sun, except for the ivy geranium, which grows best in light shade. Perennial geraniums, on the other hand, grow in either sun or shade, depending on the type.

Geraniums like compost to dry out a little between watering. As mentioned, these plants hate to have wet feet and may turn up their toes if kept in chilly waterlogged compost. Water deeply once a week in spring, and more often in warmer weather. It's also smart to add a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.

In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.

Prune geraniums in spring or summer to encourage vigorous growth and flowering. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Cut back the stems by at least half to stimulate new growth and more blooms.

“If you feed Geraniums too much, you can end up with all foliage and no flowers.” Miracle-Gro All Purpose is another good choice; it is available in both granular and liquid forms. As soon as the flowering season gets underway, start to feed Geraniums with a high-potash formulation, for example a 5-5-10.

Rule 1: The ideal location for geraniums is warm and sunny

Geraniums originate in South Africa. That's why they like it warm and bright. If you give them a sunny spot, they will thank you with lots of flowers. No need to worry about blazing midday sun, as geraniums can even tolerate this intense heat.

The ideal location has morning sun, afternoon shade and well-draining soil. Choose a properly-sized area for your geranium flower beds. Appropriate spacing in between plants will reduce the risk of disease. Don't rush the planting season – geraniums are not cold hardy.

Geranium

They can handle dry weather and extreme heat. Anything that can bloom in a Phoenix summer is truly heat resistant. Still, your geraniums won't mind if you give them a home that has some shade in the late afternoon and evening.

Once the geranium is established, you can cut back the frequency of watering to 1 - 2 times per week. Check the soil moisture with your finger, and water when the top 1 - 2 inches feel dry. One of the most common errors in growing annual geraniums is overwatering. They are not thirsty plants and do not like soggy soil.

Can geraniums get too much sun? ›

Even though some can be sensitive to intense summer heat, deep shade is not the solution for helping geraniums avoid the scorch. Most still need adequate sunlight to thrive. Light afternoon shade is best, which is why The Southern Living Garden Book recommends partial shade and filtered sunlight for geraniums.

Prolonged deficiency may lead to death of leaf tissue (necrosis) between the veins and leaves tend to curl downwards. Magnesium deficiency can be corrected by using magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts). Mix Epsom salt at the rate of one pound per 100 gallons of water and use as a drench.

Geraniums need more water on days with very strong sunlight. You may have to water them daily, but be careful not to let them get waterlogged. The bigger problem is not usually temporary dryness, but prolonged wetness. If your boxes and pots are always completely saturated after watering, try using less liquid.

The roots are at the bottom – and they need the water. If you only wet the top layer of soil, the moisture evaporates without the plants benefititng.

When planted in the right conditions and given adequate water, geraniums can thrive with relatively low maintenance. They're not entirely hands-off plantings though. To keep them flowering, don't forget to remove spent blooms. Pruning and deadheading young plants can help with both shaping and prolonging blooming.

#1 Tip – Deadhead to Keep Geraniums Blooming

This is so super easy to do because they pinch off so easily. Just follow the bloom stem to the point it connects to the larger stem, and you will feel a slight nub. Break at the nub and remove the bloom. Dead Head from the base of the stem.

Geranium pinching starts in spring. Once a stem on a geranium plant has gotten to be a few inches (7.5 to 10 cm.), using a sharp pair of scissors, or even your fingers, snip or pinch 1/4 to 1/2 inch (0.5 to 1.5 cm.) off the end of the stem. Repeat on all the stems.