It happens that the lush and beautifully growing plants weaken, grow worse and do not want to bloom. What are the reasons for this and what to do to make geraniums bloom profusely? Here are the most common mistakes in the cultivation of pelargonium, which also affect its flowering.
Contents:
- Incorrect temperature
- Too little sun
- Improper fertilization
- Wrong watering
- Diseases of geraniums
- Plants too densely planted
Incorrect temperature
Geraniums need 20-30oC during the day and 15oC at night to grow properly. Many varieties of geraniums begin flowering in early spring and continue to bloom until daytime temperatures are too high for them. So if the plants do not want to bloom, it could be caused by too cold spring or premature heat
Too little sun
Pelargonium is an extremely light-loving plant that needs 4-6 hours of full sun a day. The best position for pelargoniums is the southern and western exposures. With too little sun, the plant will be weak and tall, and the number of flowers will be limited.
Improper fertilization
Geraniums, like most abundantly flowering plants, have high nutritional requirements. However, if we overdo it, we get a lush green plant with a small amount of flowers. It is enough to feed the plants in the containers once a month with the appropriate dose of multi-component fertilizer for flowering plants.In the ground, geraniums need even less feeding - every 4-6 weeks. If we are not sure if we fertilize the plants often enough, remember that it is better to use too little fertilizer than too much.
Wrong watering
Geraniums have average water requirements. In moderate temperatures, it is enough to water them 2-3 times a week. In summer, when it is hot, we increase the frequency of watering up to 2-3 times a day. Plants like moist soil, but watering too much can prevent flowering. If the water around the roots of the plant is constant, the roots will not be able to take up oxygen and the plant will suffer from this.
In the case of English geraniums, the exposure of plants to rainfall is also important. Plants do not like it exceptionally, reacting by withering leaves and flower buds.
Diseases of geraniums
Gray mold (B otrytis cinerea), the most common fungal disease affecting geraniums, can affect plant flowering.Symptoms of mold on geraniums can develop on any part of the plant. Concentric spots appear at the edges of the leaves and spread deeper into the leaf blade covering an increasingly larger V-shaped area. Plants affected by the stunted disease turn yellow, lose both leaves and flower buds.
Plants too densely planted
Geraniums in boxes should be planted at least 20 cm apart. Too high a density weakens the plants, making it difficult to obtain the necessary dose of water and nutrients. This has an effect on their flowering. Plants that are too compacted have a problem with ventilation and are more likely to develop fungal infections, which in turn may lead to reduced flowering.
