Noble geraniums, Pelargonium grandiflorum: care from A-Z

With a sea of ​​trumpet-shaped flowers and a seductive scent, Pelargonium grandiflorum are a feast for the senses. The noble geranium delights as lavish houseplants and transforms the balcony into a floral summer fairy tale. The South African flower species has long made a name for itself as a floral talent factory for various balcony plants of the year. The following profile expresses the unique attributes of this noble geranium variety, which in 2006 even became the flower of the year in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. A practical guide for care from A-Z leaves no questions unanswered.

Characteristics

• Plant family cranesbill family (Geraniaceae)
• Genus scented pelargonium (Pelargonium)
• Name of the species: Edelgeranie (Pelargonium grandiflorum)
• Origin: South Africa, mainly in the coastal regions of Cape Town
• Vegetative characteristics: persistent, herbaceous and upright
• Height: 25 to 50 centimeters
• Leaves: green, structured surface, wavy or serrated edge, rich in essential oils
• Flowers: trumpet-shaped, up to 5 cm large, arranged in dense umbels
• Flowering period: April to October in white, pink to purple, often marked or flamed
• Location: sunny to shady
• Soil quality: sandy to loamy, loose, nutrient-rich, fresh to moist
• Hardiness: not hardy, temperature minimum 5 degrees Celsius
• Lime tolerance: Lime intolerant
• Toxicity: not toxic to humans, toxic to pets and small animals
• Use: houseplant, balcony box, tub, winter garden

There is a risk of confusion with the genus Storchschnabel (Geranium), which is also known as geraniums and, together with noble geraniums (Pelargonium grandiflorum), belongs to the cranesbill family. From a care point of view, however, the decisive difference between the two genera is the fact that noble geraniums are markedly sensitive to cold, whereas cranesbill species have a robust winter hardiness of up to - 23.7 degrees Celsius feature.

Location

The noble geranium makes its big appearance as early as April as colorful houseplants or decorative greenery in the winter garden. At the beginning of the flowering period, it is still too cold for the South African beauties outside, because temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius are by no means comfortable for the flowers. When the ice saints move out from mid-May for summer weather forecasts, the noble geraniums want a place in the bed or on the balcony. Cool nights in early summer are beneficial for a lavish bloom. The following conditions characterize the ideal location:

• Sunny to shady light conditions
• Indoor rooms with an ideal 20 degrees Celsius
• Outside temperatures not below 10 degrees Celsius (short-term temperature drops to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius are tolerated)
• On the windowsill with light shade in the blazing midday sun
• On the balcony and in the flower bed, like sheltered from the wind and rain

The geranium is a light sum bloomer. The more rays of the sun stroke the graceful flowers, the more opulent the abundance of flowers. The upright growth belies the fragility of the shoots. Strong winds break geranium shoots, like porcelain. Pattering rain sticks the colorful funnel-shaped blossoms together. A sunny, wind and rain-protected location therefore plays a key role when choosing a location.

Soil and substrate

Soil and substrate are home to the root ball, the engine of every noble pelargonium. The earth should be rich in nutrients. Good water storage capacity is just as relevant as reliable permeability to prevent waterlogging. Therefore, choose a place in the bed with humus, nutritious soil that has little or no lime content. A slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.0 is ideal. When buying substrate for boxes, tubs or flower pots, please leave cheap potting soil by the wayside. Instead, use special geranium soil or choose a high-quality compost-based potted plant soil.

Planting time

In good time before the start of flowering, garden centers have the first young plants on offer. By potting your noble geraniums in boxes, tubs or flower pots at the beginning of March, the flowers start a blooming season with a vital growth advantage. In the sunny, warm window seat, the graceful plants are decoratively staged until 15. May the cold Sophie gives the starting signal for the open-air season on the balcony and terrace.

If you have planned the young pelargoniums for cultivation in the bed, the time window for planting will not open until mid-May at the earliest. However, if your garden is in a harsh climatic region, you should schedule the planting time for reasons of caution at the beginning of June.

plants

As a houseplant, the geranium feels in good hands in the large flower pot if it has a volume of at least 10 liters. We therefore recommend a volume of 20 liters and larger for cultivation in the tub. This size offers enough space for several plants that create a decorative long-distance effect as a group on the balcony and terrace. Of course, noble geraniums show their most beautiful side in the 100 cm long and 20 cm deep flower box. The following information summarizes which properties the ideal planter should also have:

• One or more floor openings so that rain and irrigation water can run off unhindered
• In white or light pastel tones that reflect the blazing sun so that the root ball does not heat up
• Standing vessels with saucers, filled with pebbles to protect against waterlogging
• Hanging vessels with sturdy brackets that carry the heavy weight of plants and soil

When purchasing planters, think about holiday watering. In specialist shops, for example, flower boxes and pots with integrated water storage are available, from which thirsty noble geraniums can help themselves.

In boxes and buckets

A sufficient water supply is the be-all and end-all in the care of the geranium. This already begins as part of the planting work. Place the potted root balls of your Pelargonium grandiflorum in room warm, soft water before you start the following steps:

• Spread out expanded clay balls or potsherds on the bottom of the vessel
• Fill in fresh substrate over this drainage up to half the height
• Repot water-soaked root balls
• Place the plants on the substrate with a planting distance of a hand's breadth

While you stabilize each geranium individually with one hand, fill in additional substrate with the other hand. Please make sure that the soil ends about 2 cm below the edge of the pot. More important than this pouring edge is that the previous planting depth is maintained as precisely as possible. Press the substrate on and pour thoroughly with lukewarm, well-stale water.

In the bed

Work the garden soil until a finely crumbly, weed-free structure is created. In the meantime, soak the potted root ball in soft water, just as it is advisable for your fellows on the balcony. This is how planting in the bed succeeds in an exemplary manner:

• Dig plant pits at a distance of 30 to 35 cm with twice the size of the root ball
• Enrich the excavated garden soil to a third with compost and horn shavings
• Then optimize the clay bed soil with a few handfuls of fine sand
• Pot the noble geraniums and plant them in the middle, maintaining the previous planting depth

Press the soil with both hands for a good connection of the roots without air holes. Generously water the freshly planted flowers with stale water from the tap or rain barrel.

to water

Pelargonium grandiflorum evaporates abundant moisture through their dense foliage. The sunnier the location, the thirstier the pretty plants. Water regularly as soon as the surface of the substrate or bedding soil has dried to the touch. A simple thumb test proves whether there is actually a need for watering. When regulating the water supply, please bear in mind that short-term drought is affected by the Noble geranium can be coped with without any problems, whereas waterlogging usually results in irreparable root rot pulls.

Due to their lime intolerance, scented pelargoniums respond better to stale tap water or rainwater. You should therefore only water the plants during the morning or evening hours and avoid taking a targeted shower with a water hose.

Fertilize

Characteristic of the South African flower beauties is a pronounced need for nutrients during the growth and flowering period. After 4 to 6 weeks, the nutrient stocks of the initial fertilization are depleted. From this point on, add a special liquid fertilizer for geraniums to the irrigation water every week. In care practice it has been found that commercial flower fertilizers also cover the needs of pelargoniums. You stop giving fertilizers between September and February.

Cut

If you continuously pluck withered flowers, the geranium will thank you for its care with a rapid replenishment of new buds and fresh flowers. Would you like the plants to have bushy, compact growth? Then cut off the shoot tips on young plants about 3 weeks after planting. Loosening the tips motivates the young shoots to branch out further, which results in a densely bushy habit.

At the end of the flowering period, cut all the shoots back to a length of 10 to 15 cm. Please measure the depth of cut so that at least 2 eyes per shoot remain. Your Pelargonium grandiflorum will sprout from this reserve after the well-deserved winter break.

Overwinter

Do not throw away your faded pelargoniums in autumn. If you overwinter the blooming summer flowers, you don't have to buy new specimens every year. The life force of the South African is sufficient for at least 2 to 3 years Perennials in the Central European climate. Timely clearing and careful preparation are just as important as suitable framework conditions in winter quarters. How to do it right:

• Allow when the temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius even at night
• Dig up bed geraniums, pot balcony geraniums
• Cut the plants back to 10-15 cm and remove all leaves and withered flowers
• Put in groups of 3 or 4 in pots with a mixture of potting soil and sand

In the bright location with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius, the geranium survives the cold season. The plants are not fertilized in their winter quarters. Water your floral winter guests sparingly so that the soil does not dry out completely. At the end of March you wake up the plants from hibernation by repotting your geraniums in fresh substrate. From this point on, the nutrient supply starts again.

Multiply

The best time for vegetative propagation with cuttings is when the noble geraniums thrive vigorously in early summer. This is how it works:

• Non-flowering head cuttings cut 10-15 cm in length
• Defoliate the shoots in the lower half
• Fill the propagation box with pricking soil, propagation substrate or a mix of sand and potting soil
• Spray the substrate with soft water
• Finally, place cuttings two thirds of their length in the ground

If you put the transparent lid on the propagation box, a beneficial, humid and warm microclimate is created inside. In the partially shaded location in the garden, on the balcony or on the windowsill, the rooting progresses quickly. Please ventilate the container daily and check whether the substrate is continuously slightly damp. Experience has shown that within 3 to 4 weeks a fresh shoot signals the successful course of propagation.

Diseases and pests

Too frequent watering and partially shaded lighting conditions call various diseases and Pests on the plan to make life difficult for the geranium, both in the bed and on the balcony. An infestation with geranium rust causes the leaves and shoots to turn yellow. Typical symptoms of the disease are also brown circles on the upper side of the leaves. In the early stages, the consistent removal of infected parts of the plant can bring about a cure. If all the leaves of a noble geranium are already infected, we recommend that the plant be disposed of completely, as geranium rust is highly contagious for other plants.

Noble geraniums weakened as a result of improper care are in the crosshairs of aphids. Please check your Pelargonium grandiflorum regularly for pests. With the classic soap solution of 1 liter of water and 50 grams of pure soft soap, the parasites are successfully attacked. The earlier you resort to this home remedy, the more effective the control success.