Pelargoniums Pelargoniums can be associated with the times of our great-grandmothers, while new, attractive varieties have a chance to become a hit of the modern flower market. New varieties with star-shaped flowers, picturesquely mottled or two-color break the schematicity of plant decorations of balconies and terraces.Among the hundreds of different forms of these photophilous and persistently flowering plants, pink, purple and red geraniums are in fashion.
Filigree, star-shaped geraniums from the Stellar group, whose petals are narrow and pointed at the end, are now in the "first league" of balcony plants.Their openwork, spherical inflorescences rise high above the leaves, and the whole creates an impression of unexpected lightness. Since the flowers are delicate, they do not look as impressive from a distance as the popular bed (striped) or ivy-leaved geraniums, which create impressive cascades in the boxes.
An equally sought after group of geraniums is the recently bred Angeleyes series. The flowers of its varieties are characterized by an interesting pattern, they are often two-colored and resemble butterflies. They bloom all summer. The plant habit is compact, hemispherical, height does not exceed 25 cm.In contrast to most geraniums, they do not tolerate intensive fertilization.It is enough to feed them every 2 weeks with a solution of liquid compound fertilizer at a dose twice lower than that indicated on the package.
An absolute novelty is the geranium 'Mosaic Purple' from the discount group, derived from the striped pelargonium P.zonale. Its striped and speckled petals, red and pink and white in color, appear to be painted. This variety is planted singly and paired with verbena.
New breeding achievements can also be noticed in the group of large-flowered geraniums, also known as English ones. Until now they have been treated as houseplants, but now it is not unusual to put them outside in summer.They bloom in March and then their fascinating flowers decorate window sills, but in the second half of May they start to appear outdoors.
The success of their outdoor cultivation largely depends on the course of the weather. Relatively cool nights are needed for them to bloom continuously until the first frost. Just in our latitudes, fulfilling this condition is usually not difficult.
Proper care of geraniums is half the battle
Geraniums like sunny and semi-shaded places. The more light and warmth it will flower, the more it will bloom. Large pots or boxes (20 x 100 cm) with a water tank are best for balcony geraniums.
This container can fit 5 plants. Its height should be about 18 cm for the roots to have good access to water and nutrients.The mailboxes can be stocked in the second half of the 19th century. May. A good quality substrate or a special substrate for geraniums is used.
Geraniums will bloom profusely if we feed them with a multi-component liquid fertilizer solution every 8-14 days. Removing faded flowers stimulates the production of new buds. Watering should be done only when the ground surface is dry. What geraniums dislike are "wet feet".
If we want to emphasize all the advantages of new geraniums varieties, we should plant them together with companion plants. We have to use a larger pot, which will also contain verbena or plectrant.The following are also suitable for pelargoniums: blue brachykomeBrachycome multifida,Peruvian violet heliotropeHeliotropium arborescens,Yellow SanvitaliaSanvit alia procumbensand silvery hairy hellessessHelichrysum petiolare.
Although the selection of geraniums varieties is huge, new arrivals are delayed.In addition, plant "inventions" are subject to registration, which prevents producers from reproducing them without purchasing a license.The more interesting are certainly varieties with two- or three-colored leaves, such as 'Frank Headley' ( green), 'Vancouver Centennial' (red-green) or 'Contrast' (white-red-green).
