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Do geraniums come back every year


How to Prune your Hardy Geraniums

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Hardy geraniums are known as the true perennial geranium, adored by gardeners everywhere because of how much they give compared to how much care they require. Hardy geraniums, such as Rozanne®, grow in most climates, take shade and sun in stride and often produce beautiful blooms until the first frost.

Hardy Geraniums vs. Pelargoniums

Hardy geraniums are not to be confused with pelargoniums. What is the difference between a geranium vs. pelargonium, you ask? They are both members of the same plant family, but just like some siblings, they couldn’t be more different.

Hardy geraniums can live through frost while pelargoniums cannot. True hardy geraniums are perennials that come back each year, while pelargoniums die in the winter and are frequently treated like annuals, re-planted each year.

 

Prune your Hardy Geraniums

Properly pruning your hardy geraniums will help keep them looking their best and encourage new growth. You can inspire repeat blooming in your hardy geraniums by properly pruning them as soon as the blossoming period is over. Most geraniums can be cut back twice in one season, allowing them to bloom at least three times in one season.

 

When to Prune

You’ll want to prune your hardy geraniums according to the season you are in. Spring, summer and autumn will require different trims for Rozanne. So, mark your calendar and follow our seasonal pruning guide to help keep your blooms lush and healthy.

What tools you need

It’s fairly simple to prune your geraniums. All you will need is the knowledge on how to prune, your favourite gardening gloves, a pair of sharp pruners and your favourite mulch. To see specific techniques on how to prune, watch this video.

How to prune

There’s no need to worry about hurting your flower as you prune her back. Most hardy geraniums need to be trimmed to keep them from overtaking other plants and to encourage new growth.

Once the plant has finished blooming or you notice old growth, trim it back to within a few inches of ground level, or about an inch above the main stem. Then, go in and remove any brown stems or yellow leaves.

Shortly after trimming, you will see new leaves emerge! Some hardy geraniums will even experience a second bloom. Keeping your plants properly pruned allows them to have new growth and prevents them from sprawling out across your garden.

What are your favourite pruning tips? Post a comment on our Facebook page sharing them with us!

If you’re not able to go garden shopping locally, there are also options for buying online. Click here to see a list of online suppliers of Geranium Rozanne and Friends® varieties!

Can I Save My Geraniums So They Will Come Back Next Year? | Home Guides

By Ruth de Jauregui Updated November 12, 2020

Ivy-leafed, scented and Martha Washington geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are among the showy "geranium" cultivars hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 12. In colder climates, consider digging up these tender perennials and then replanting the geraniums after winter storage. You can also plant the Pelargoniums in flowerpots and take them inside for the winter. True geraniums (Geranium spp.), also known as cranebills, are hardy perennials that can tolerate winter temperatures in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Tip

Plants in the Pelargonium species need protection from freezing temperatures or to be taken indoors for the winter. Replant them in the garden in spring. The true geraniums tolerate winter's cold and storms and, in general, don't need winter storage.

"Annual" Geraniums vs. True Geraniums

While the Pelargonium species are commonly called geraniums or storksbills, they cannot tolerate the colder winters that the true Geranium species survive with ease. Often labeled as annual geraniums, the Pelargoniums are perennials, but can't tolerate the freezing temperatures in USDA zones 8 and below and need a little protection from frosts in zone 9.

The Pelargoniums include more than 200 species and a multitude of cultivars that may sport ivy-shaped, green or variegated leaves, aromatic foliage, and bright single or double flowers. Martha or Lady Washington geraniums (Pelargonium x domesticum) are among the well-known cultivars, thanks to their intensely colored flowers that range from bright yellow to deep purple. Hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, the Martha Washington geranium's bloom time is generally in late spring, early summer and fall, because they need nighttime temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit to bloom, says the University of Minnesota Extension.

In contrast to the showy foliage and flowers of Pelargoniums, the majority of hardy geraniums have green foliage and small but pretty flowers. A few cultivars, like 'Midnight Reiter' (Geranium pratense) and 'Samobor' (Geranium pheaum) have deep purple or variegated foliage, explains Iowa State University Extension. 'Midnight Reiter' is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, while 'Samobor' prefers USDA zones 5 through 9. With more than 300 Geranium species plus their cultivars, there's a hardy geranium for every full sun or partial shade garden. Most hardy geraniums are evergreen, so there's no need to cut them back in the fall.

Growing Geraniums in Pots

Tender geraniums, or Pelargoniums, are often grown in containers, so it's easy to take them indoors when nighttime temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The Old Farmer's Almanac recommends using a well-draining potting mix in containers with drainage holes. Nestle the bareroot or potted geranium in the pot and fill in around the roots with moist potting mix, to the same level the plant was in the original pot. Tamp gently and water thoroughly. Ivy-leaf geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) may also be planted in hanging baskets or allowed to trail from window boxes.

To ensure blossoms, place the flowerpot or hanging basket where the geranium will receive four to six hours of sunlight daily. Morning sun and light or dappled shade in the afternoon keeps the leaves bright and keeps the flowers appearing.

The Iowa State University Extension recommends watering when the soil is dry to the touch. Water the roots and try not to wet the foliage, which encourages fungal diseases. Fertilize every two weeks with a half-strength liquid fertilizer. Pinch back as needed to keep the geraniums compact, and deadhead faded flowers regularly.

Overwintering Geraniums

When winter is on the way, trim the geraniums back to compact bushes and take them indoors. A bright, sunny south- or west-facing window or a grow light suspended above the plant will keep it growing through winter. Basically, winter geranium care requires light and reduced watering to avoid root rot. Don't fertilize until new growth appears in spring.

Alternately, take cuttings and strip the bottom leaves from the stem. Swirl in rooting compound and insert the cutting into moist potting soil; cover at least one leaf node, which is where the new roots will appear. Place it in a brightly lit location and keep the potting mix evenly moist. New roots develop in three to four weeks.

You can also store bareroot geraniums for the winter by digging up or removing the plants from their pots. Master Gardener Betty Hensley recommends shaking off the soil and hanging the plants or placing them upside down in a box. Store the bareroot plants at 50 to 60 degrees through the winter, then pot them up six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Cut back the stems to green growth with sterilized scissors or anvil pruners. New growth appears in two weeks, and the geraniums will be ready to return to the garden when outside temperatures rise above 60 degrees.

References

Writer Bio

Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. She writes a weekly garden column and authored 50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden. She continues to write nonfiction articles on gardening and other topics and is working on a second "50" book about plants that attract hummingbirds.

Pruning geraniums for lush flowering (autumn-spring) photo

Many people grow geraniums (pelargonium) both at home in pots and outdoors in containers or in the ground. Care for each has its own subtleties and secrets. One of these secrets is the correct pruning of geraniums for lush flowering and a healthy look of the flower. Pruning is carried out both in autumn and spring, depending on the goals pursued by the gardener or his capabilities.

My mother used to tell me that in her childhood, geraniums were cut in autumn and put under the beds. It was a long time ago, because now my mother is already over 80 years old. The beds were fitted with lace valances covering flower pots. There the plants remained until February without watering. So this kind of flower care has rather deep agrotechnical roots. nine0003

It is difficult for geraniums to keep their beauty in winter. For a beautiful full bloom in the winter on the windowsill, they simply do not have enough light. And if they are not illuminated with special lamps, then they will turn into long bare stems with stunted leaves at the top and one or two flowers. I don't have any lamps, just as there is no place for a winter garden, so I will agree with my great-grandmothers and give the flowers a rest.

Pruning geraniums in autumn

In order for the plant to have a beautifully formed lush bush and bloom profusely, it must rest. nine0003

The meaning of autumn pruning is in preparation for winter holidays. In winter, geraniums will rest from flowering, gain strength and give growth to dormant buds.

What are these dormant buds? Here is the trunk, there is a leaf on it, it grows from a leaf node. When the leaf dries and falls off, a scar will remain in its place.

Slightly above this scar is the sinus of the dormant bud, it is from there that the bud will hatch under certain conditions.

A young shoot will form from the bud, capable of producing lush geranium blooms by May June. nine0003

How to prune geraniums

The soil should not be wet before pruning. The plant is left without foliage and will have nothing to evaporate moisture. Wet soil will create good conditions for rot, and the flower can be lost.

  1. How and with what to cut
  2. How high to cut geraniums
How and with what to cut

Proper cutting is done with a sharp tool - a knife, blade, sharp disposable cutter, pruner. This is important, since a dull blade of scissors or secateurs flattens the stem a little, and it tightens worse. nine0003

The cut surface must be even and perpendicular to the trunk, then it will easily form a film on it, which will tighten and dry the cut surface.

The cut should be made 5-10mm above the dormant bud.

This is a short and maximally clear video:

What height is the geranium cut to? more shoots for spring rooting. So it's more of a matter of reproduction. And geraniums, cut off “under the stump, are more often used in the future as an independent updated lush bush. nine0003

And so: Autumn pruning is done before bringing it into the cold (basement, veranda). They get it in January - the buds wake up and begin to grow, give material for cuttings, cuttings are planted in February. During autumn pruning, geraniums are also cut into pots, in which case they will bloom earlier.

What to do after autumn pruning

Pots with cut geraniums are stored until January or February in cool places, watering is severely limited or not watered at all. nine0003

Why before January or February. December is the month when the light lengths of day and night are compared, this is the time of astronomical winter. Geraniums do not have enough natural light in such a short period and they sleep. After the winter equinox, daylight hours begin to increase. By January, there will be enough daylight hours to awaken dormant buds. Therefore, the pots are taken out into the light and into heat and begin to slowly water. Water moderately, remembering that while there are no large leaves, the plant will not be able to evaporate moisture. nine0003

Where pots are stored

Cut cuttings can be rooted in pots, simply placed in water to take root (you won’t believe it, but this method works, many cuttings will have excellent roots by spring), or put at home in vases for beauty, especially since pruning occurs on still flowering plants. nine0003

In January, when the day lengthens, the pots are warmed up and watered, having previously pierced a clod of earth in several places.

This geranium was brought from the cellar in January

Shoots of such an overwintered geranium (called a mother plant) are used as propagation cuttings or left to bloom on their root.

Preparing ground, balcony and room geraniums for pruning

It's Indian summer now, and geraniums are blooming luxuriantly, blooming so that you don't even want to think about pruning. Such a beauty. nine0003

But in order to preserve beauty and youth, we women know for sure that without care and rejuvenation procedures, any beauty will fade rather quickly.

If the geranium grows in the ground in the garden

Geranium that grows in the ground is usually dug up and transferred to pots or containers. Before pruning, she is given a week, another to get used to a new place. As a rule, only those plants are transplanted whose variety or color the gardener wants to keep for the next year. The rest bloom like annuals. nine0003

If the geranium grew on an open balcony or terrace in containers

Geranium from the balcony can be transferred in the same way into one large container, or separate pots, if available.

If the geranium is indoor

Domestic, indoor geranium does not need to be transshipped anywhere. You need to prepare for pruning those specimens that you want to rejuvenate.

Any fall pruning will result in strong new shoots for lush flowering in late spring and summer. nine0003

In spring, you can plant the resulting shoots in pots or leave them on the mother plant, correcting the shape of the bush, by spring pruning.

Alla Sivak has an excellent video of cardinal pruning of geraniums for lush flowering under the stump and what to do after pruning. In winter, her flowers stand at home in the light, in warmth.

The video is not long, but if you need it faster, then there is such an opportunity. There is a wheel icon in the bottom right corner of the video. Click on the wheel, in the drop-down menu, find the word "speed". You can select speed 2 and watch videos twice as fast. nine0003

My way to keep my balcony geraniums indoors in the winter

Every year before the onset of cold weather, and here it happens in October or November, I bring my geraniums into the house. This is not easy, because I have about 40 bushes. Therefore, I bring them not for flowering, but for wintering.

They hibernate in a compact form. I transfer several bushes into a couple of three large pots so that they do not take up much space and put them "in the far corner. " Previously, the far corner was a wide window sill behind a curtain. And now it is a large shelf in the corner of the insulated balcony. It's not very bright and not very warm. nine0003

Unfortunately, I don't have a cold, dark basement and wide, illuminated windowsills. And I don’t want to put it under the beds, as my great-grandmother did, and the beds themselves have changed a lot since then.

Since there are a lot of flowers, I do not bring all of them, but only those that I definitely want to leave as a mother plant for getting planting material by spring. And from the rest I take cut cuttings and distribute them to my neighbors, or simply put them in jars of water. It sounds rather strange to leave the shoots in the water until spring, but it works for me. By spring, some of the shoots are growing big roots, and I plant ready-made cuttings with roots. nine0003

In the "far corner" I water the plants once a month. And so on until January. I start watering once a week in January. Young shoots become plump, I use them as cuttings for seedlings, later they will give a good lush flowering. And also I divide the entire long stem into cuttings and root them too. More about this in article Propagation of geraniums.

Basically, I'm doing spring pruning of geraniums.

Geranium pruning in spring

Geranium pruning in spring has three options

Due to the lack of light, any geranium will lose its appearance by spring. Cosmetic pruning of elongated stems will help shape the bush. Pruning should be carried out in the same way as autumn pruning, above the leaf bud, only cut off the upper stems. nine0003

If the flowers overwintered on the windowsill without illumination:

Friends, do not forget that the video can be watched in accelerated mode. Click on the wheel icon in the bottom right corner of the video and select a speed.

If wintered in the cold in the dark:

Method of pruning geranium stems and roots - storage in the refrigerator-review:

For the formation of a beautiful bush after the winter torment of plants in warmth without light, to stimulate the growth of side shoots. nine0003

Friends, pruning geraniums for lush flowering is a creative process. This was decisively proved by Natalya with her extraordinary reading of an English book on gardening. You can equally get excellent results by pruning geraniums in the fall, storing them in the refrigerator, in the basement or on a cool windowsill, or leaving them in the "far corner" to cut cuttings from warmly overwintered unpruned geraniums.

Using common sense, taking into account the length of daylight hours, considering that stems without leaves do not evaporate moisture, and therefore do not require watering, and knowing what a leaf node and a dormant bud are, pruning geraniums for lush flowering will become a simple and understandable process. nine0003

Geranium, begonia, Decembrist and violet: a story, how to care for

Plant and grow

Poster Daily for anyone interested in flowers. Afisha Daily publishes (with slight cuts) an excerpt from it.

Generation Z and millennials seemed to cross out the plants that had been grown on windowsills for decades before them. Uzambara violets, geraniums, balsams, Decembrists, ordinary chlorophytums turned out to be forgotten - to a large extent because, for some reason, they were branded with vulgar flowers. Partly, the fact is that they most likely grew up with our grandmothers on the windowsills and fell into the same company with the Yugoslav wall, kombucha and sagging chairs. Nevertheless, the mushroom under the guise of fashionable kombucha, that the Soviet armchairs that are found in the garbage dumps and dragged, and then sold at exorbitant prices, are returning (it’s good that the Yugoslav walls have not yet been resurrected). It's time to return to "grandmother's flowers" - especially since these boycotted plants have a huge number of non-standard varieties and species that not only look noble, but also can lay the foundation for an excellent collection. nine0003

Geranium

Unfortunate geranium, aka Pelargonium, native to South Africa. It was brought to Europe in the 17th century - of course, in order to extract fragrance from it for French perfumes. Gradually, she became the absolute favorite of the European public. In 1795, several types of geraniums were brought to England from the Cape of Good Hope with the help of the British Navy. Romantic English sailors fell in love with the scents and how practical they were - they disguised themselves as a variety of plants, fruits and vegetables. The 18th-century Britons began to put geranium leaves everywhere, from laundry sachets to saucers of water for washing fingers. In 1871, the Prince and Princess of Wales planted bright geraniums and verbena on the grave of their deceased son - since then the geranium has established itself in its rights. In Victorian England, she was a mandatory item in all bouquets. Although not the most noticeable at first glance: small flowers, modest leaves, but the rich aroma made her a star. “No bouquet is complete without fragrant geranium foliage,” wrote horticulturist Louise Beebe Wilder in book 19.32 years old "The Fragrant Path". She suggested that homegrown florists and florists use geranium leaves as a sweet pea wrap or combine pelargonium and nasturtium for a truly mind-blowing scent.

Thomas Jefferson brought geraniums to his garden in Monticello, and it was an incredible success. In the United States in 1908, the 780-page book Household Discoveries: An Encyclopedia of Practical Recipes and Technologies was published, where, in particular, it was recommended to make sachets with geraniums to repel insects from linen. Geranium has firmly established itself in the household of decent American women: recipe books were full of recommendations to add geranium to syrups and pies, to flavor sugar with it. Then the fashion began to fade, and geraniums moved from the kitchen shelves to the beds - they magnificently framed the paths in the gardens and hung from the balcony boxes. Perhaps it was then that she received an unpleasant assessment of the vulgar. nine0003

However, in the early 2000s, plants with dark leaves, such as geyhera, became fashionable. Geraniums also caught up: breeders began to actively breed varieties with unusual leaf color and maximum contrast between leaves and inflorescences. For example, there is a geranium
with practically chocolate leaves or at least stripes. One of these varieties is ‘Black Velvet Rose’ with dark chocolate colored leaves with a thin bright green border and bicolor acid pink flowers.

Geranium aromas can be very delicate, or they can knock you off your feet with a strong spicy spirit. They were grown for bouquets with a variety of smells: pink, cinnamon, lemon, lime, nutmeg, apple, anise, musky, lavender, mint and even oak. So when choosing a plant, sniff it - some people can't stand the smell of geraniums.

Geranium is not at all difficult to grow: nutritious, well-drained soil, maximum sun and a little coolness at night - these are the conditions in which it will feel ideal. nine0003

During flowering, geraniums should be regularly pinched and dead buds removed to encourage new buds to form. Feed every two weeks during flowering with a liquid flowering plant fertilizer, but add twice as much water as the directions recommend.

When choosing geraniums, you need to look for compact varieties: geraniums tend to stretch if they do not have enough light. Well, in principle, this is its immanent property. So be prepared to pinch it, cut it, and generally keep it in check if you don’t want to get one “long legs”. nine0003

Plant your geranium where it gets four to six hours of direct sun a day to ensure it never stops blooming. Geraniums need good ventilation, but at the same time protection from the wind, as it can break delicate stems. Geranium loves well-drying soils and terribly dislikes getting wet: if you forget to water it, it's okay, it will hang leaves, but after watering it will go away, but if you pour too much, it will die.

Geraniums are ideal for growing in containers and hanging planters. However, it is important to consider good drainage. And they are also good to combine with lobelia, verbena and periwinkle. nine0003

Begonias

Another distinct and forgotten flower that collectors love is the begonia. In 1931, the American Begonia Society opened in the United States. During the Great Depression, there was little time for the scientific study of begonia hybrids, and many species were not bred in principle, but the few lovers of this flower with all their zeal undertook to fill in the gaps, and much that is now done in the world of begonias was due to them.

Begonias are excellent simulants: they can represent the leaves of ivy, ferns, aralia grasses, peperomia. Actually, for this decorative effect of the leaves they are loved. nine0003

The soil for begonias needs to be slightly sour, and also with the content of baking powder such as perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss. There is a special soil for begonias - it will also work.

Begonias like bright places away from the scorching sun and good ventilation. The soil between waterings should not dry out, but also turn into a swamp. Begonias, like violets and Gesnerias, will benefit from wick watering.

Many begonias will need a base light. Begonias have a shallow root system, so they prefer shallow pots. They do not like transplants, so you should take such an extreme measure only if you are sure that the pot is really cramped. And do not increase the volume of the pot much - it should be perfect in size, without a margin. The pot must have a drainage hole. Plant begonias (exceptions - rex, rhizome and nodule) deeper than they were planted before. nine0003

Begonias love moist air - many even manage to successfully grow them in terrariums. Begonias look great in hanging structures and are a cool option for balconies and small porches. They should be placed in pots lined with moss or coconut coir, but hanging pots with a plastic liner inside, where water can stagnate, should be avoided.

Schlumbergera

Schlumbergera, or the Decembrist (also called the Christmas cactus), comes from the tropics of Brazil. At home, of course, it blooms from April to May and is not called any Decembrist, but in the northern hemisphere, flowering occurs around the New Year and Christmas. nine0003

Decembrist is a relatively new plant for Europe: it was discovered in the 1800s by Allan Cunningham, and by the 1900s several hybrids had already been obtained. They were, of course, conceived as Christmas-day-thanksgiving gifts. This is accompanied by a touching legend about how the Jesuit missionary Father Jose tried to convert the Bolivians to his faith, but, despite an inspired sermon, he did not succeed. The Bolivians, though not converted to Christianity, greatly appreciated his efforts and decided to please him. When he was preparing for the next Christmas service in the church, his failed parishioners rehearsed hymns, and the children solemnly brought in a strange thorny plant with beautiful flowers to the singing. It was a Schlumbergera, with which the children decided to decorate the altar of a diligent missionary. nine0003

Schlumbergera is both a cactus (albeit a forest one) and an epiphyte. In the wild nature of Brazil, it grows on trees in a substrate of moss and fallen leaves, so it would be good for her to build something similar at home. Schlumbergera grows well in very cramped conditions, loves well-fertilized soil and does not like drying out.

Likes indirect but bright light. The trick that is used to make the Schlumbergera bloom is based on two pillars - light and temperature. The Decembrist blooms in cool times, when daylight hours decrease. Therefore, in order to provoke the appearance of new buds, you need to keep it in this mode for at least a week: 16 hours in the dark, 8 hours in the light. At the same time, there should be no drafts. Schlumbergera will bloom, but don't be surprised if there are more buds on the side that faces the window, and there won't be any at all on the side that looks into the dark room. It means you did everything right. When it blooms, increase watering. nine0003

Saintpaulia

Saintpaulia, or uzambara violet, is called so because: a) it comes from Africa (it was found in the region of the Usambara mountains), b) its flowers look like violets. The plant was discovered by Baron Walther von Saint-Pol in 1892 and immediately transferred his find to the botanical gardens of Berlin to the botanist Hermann Wendland, who immediately described it and named it after the baron. The original Saintpaulia of the Baron was very difficult to grow at home, and until some point it was not popular. nine0003

However, in 1925, the Los Angeles greenhouse Armacost & Royston decided to develop new varieties that would bloom longer, be less fussy and easily reproduce. They succeeded: American housewives passionately fell in love with saintpaulia, began to breed it, and so it stuck to window sills around the world. Every year since 1930, more and more varieties with flowers and leaves of different colors and shapes have appeared, and more and more buyers have appeared.

But the real, large-format popularity of the uzambara violet came only after the war. The first Saintpaulia exhibition was held in Atlanta at 1946: the popularity was so explosive that the city had to stop the movement of cars and call the police for help to regulate the crowd - such a stir and uncontrollable queues formed to look at the outlandish bushes. Then the uzambar violets came to the UK and there in the 1960s and 1970s they also became extremely popular. Partly because of Dr. David Hession, who wrote a textbook about houseplant care. The book quickly became a bestseller (and is still being reprinted), and Hession explained in it that even such whimsical things as Saintpaulia do not need any outstanding or very difficult care. nine0003

Never put saintpaulia in direct sun: it needs periods of rest, and when you want it to bloom again, move it to where it is lighter. Optimal - western windows. On the southern and eastern, it needs to be shaded.

Usambara violet does not like moisture on the leaves, this significantly spoils their velvety appearance, so it is better to water from a watering can with a very thin spout under the roots, either from below, or even switch to wick watering. The same problems with leaf tenderness arise when it comes to the humidity of the environment: spraying and a humidifier are not an option, they also spoil the leaves. When feeding Saintpaulia, try to choose a fertilizer with a high potassium content. nine0003

If you are seeking or maintaining flowering, feed every two weeks (two to four times less than what is recommended on the package). But if the saintpaulia is in the shade, do not waste fertilizer: it will not absorb it.

Mature uzambara violets do not need to be repotted as often, moreover, a cramped pot will stimulate flowering.

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