How to change the care of geraniums in the spring so that a bunch of umbrellas bloom magnificently by summer

Fiery fireworks, fellow flower growers!

Zonal pelargonium (in the world - just "geranium") was, is and will be plant favorite from Russian lovers to decorate a house, balcony or garden with beautiful flowers. I even feel a little offended when, with a certain amount of disdain, they call her "grandmother's flower".

I am sure that in the 21st century, pelargonium is able to give heat to newfangled ornamental plants due to its exceptional beauty combined with the same exceptional unpretentiousness... And if you also take a little care of the bush in the spring, then by the summer it will be covered with numerous umbrellas, relentlessly replacing each other.

Yes, geranium is a plant with a dormant winter period, and this fact cannot be ignored. In the spring, with the return of the active sun, the life of pelargonium changes radically. And our task, comrades, is to become a reliable assistant who knows the seasonal flower wishes. Actually, my today's publication is dedicated to them.

A beautiful crown is not only a tribute to aesthetics. But also room for new and new inflorescences

If I was asked: "Which of the spring events is the most important for a beautiful geranium?", I would not hesitate to answer: "Definitely, pruning.". Unfortunately, many owners of pelargonium "It is a pity" to cut their beauties, especially if they have buds. And therein lies a big mistake.

And calling geranium after winter "Beauty" can only be a stretch. The shoots are stretched, the leaves turn yellow and fly around. And only trimming will return decorativeness to the bald krakozyabra:

• prune geraniums, leaving hemp from several internodes;
• it is advisable to leave some leaves so that your favorite plant continues to participate in photosynthesis and continues to evaporate moisture in order to avoid flooding;
• root the cuttings to get new bushes, give to friends or plant them on a flower bed in summer;
• be sure to reduce watering, since due to the loss of the crown, pelargonium will evaporate moisture several times slower.

Remember that the more young shoots, the more space for inflorescences.

To transplant or not?

Zonal pelargonium is tolerant to poor soil, but in fresh soil it grows more actively and blooms more luxuriantly. I advise 2 weeks after pruning to transplant the plants into a new pot, which is 2 cm larger than the old one, and a nutritious soil.

If for some reason you do not want to change the geranium's place of residence, then in the second year of life in the same soil, focus on regular feeding. This will replenish soil resources, stimulating growth and flowering. I believe that 2 years is the maximum that geranium can hold out in a pot without loss without replacing the soil.

Water and nutrients for geraniums - nowhere without them

I have already emphasized that watering is reduced immediately after pruning. Then, as the crown grows, the soil is moistened more and more often. I water the geranium when the soil dries out by 1-2 cm - it depends on the volume of the pot.

Pelargonium planted in a nutrient soil can not be fed for the first 3 months.

But nitrogen fertilization will help to build up green mass, of course. The easiest option is to buy a complex mineral fertilizer for decorative leafy plants in liquid form. I use them from the time of pruning or transplanting to... around May (focusing primarily on the state of the geranium - how does it, dear, grow enough or not).

And then, in May, the period of preparation for flowering begins. Now we need mineral fertilizers with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium - these two elements perfectly stimulate the active growth of buds.

The main fertilizer for any zonal pelargonium is sunlight. Without it, all activities are in vain. Find your darling a worthy place with sufficient lighting!

Do you like geraniums and was the article interesting to you? Please put "Thumbs up" in response, my dears! Thanks everyone ❤ And for all fans of orchids, I suggest reading important information: How to choose a pot for an orchid to keep it healthy and blooming. I share 4 points ✅