PELARGONIUM BORDER
I think zonal pelargoniums (often erroneously called geraniums) are one of the most giving plants that I grow. Every year, in very early spring, I take cuttings from my old plants and grow them on, discarding the old woody plants if they look too woody or leggy. From buying just a few different coloured plants, about 6 years ago, I now have so many I have to give them away. I grow them in a small border (as below) and I grow them in troughs. They are great in tubs and in hanging baskets too, or you can put them in individual pots hung from fencing. I've seen them trained up posts too. However, they demand sun and warmth to do well - they originate from South Africa, I believe. This year, as we have had such a dreadful sun-lacking year in West Yorkshire, it took quite a while before my pelargoniums got their act together and started flowering as they usually do.
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I put my pelargoniums outside permanently once the danger of frost has passed but if the days are relatively mild before then, I will put them outside in their pots to enjoy natural light and harden off (which means getting them used to the outside temperature rather than exposing them suddenly to lower temperatures and sending them into a state of shock!).
You know, I have never tried them as cut flowers but if you look at the top photo, at the sturdiness and length of the stems, I bet they would do ok. I will have to try it and see. Another thing, I have never seen any insect infestation, or disease on them. Aren't they amazing?
This is a BBC link which will show you how to take the cuttings. I always take more cuttings than I really want but the problem is, they all seem to survive! That's not really a problem, is it?
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| Many pelargoniums in a narrow, shallow border between concrete slabs |
If you were to buy a tray of mixed coloured pelargoniums for a few £s or $s, you could taking cuttings from the mature plants, indefinitely. Important though, I do have to bring mine indoors over winter as they are not very frost hardy, which is a bit of a nuisance but what I do is to gather the best just before the frost arrives (although I have seen them cope with a touch of frost) and stick them in large plantpots on the kitchen window bottom. I keep them just slightly damp over winter then in very early spring I take the cuttings which are ready to be planted out a month or so later. I don't use hormone powders, and I use a general potting compost. I don't fuss with them. However, they don't like to be too wet in pots and they like as much light as they can get. I have known my pelargoniums flower all winter long on a sunny window bottom. How can you get better than that?
.JPG)
I put my pelargoniums outside permanently once the danger of frost has passed but if the days are relatively mild before then, I will put them outside in their pots to enjoy natural light and harden off (which means getting them used to the outside temperature rather than exposing them suddenly to lower temperatures and sending them into a state of shock!).
You know, I have never tried them as cut flowers but if you look at the top photo, at the sturdiness and length of the stems, I bet they would do ok. I will have to try it and see. Another thing, I have never seen any insect infestation, or disease on them. Aren't they amazing?
This is a BBC link which will show you how to take the cuttings. I always take more cuttings than I really want but the problem is, they all seem to survive! That's not really a problem, is it?