Geraniums are perennials or sub-shrubs belonging to the Geranium family. In the wild, they occur mainly in South Africa. They came to Europe in the 19th century and have been extremely popular ever since ornamental plants.
If we want to enjoy their beauty, we must take proper care of them. This also applies to the appropriate time for waking up after winter. When is the best time to do it and how to do it?
Geraniums are popular ornamental plants with an erect or hanging shape. They are charming and come in a variety of colors, including white, pink or red. Their wintering in Poland requires appropriate conditions – the right temperature and a bright place. A basement with a window or a garage works best.
The temperature in the room should be around 5-8 degrees Celsius, with multi-flowered geraniums they prefer a slightly higher temperature – between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius. During the winter of geraniums, watering should also be limited to a minimum to avoid root rot. Just water them once every 3-4 weeks.
Providing plants with such conditions allows them to enter a state of rest, in which they gain strength before the next season. However, when spring approaches, geraniums should be slowly awakened. The ideal time for waking up geraniums is the turn of February and March.
Waking up after winter, it involves moving the plants to a brighter, warmer place (preferably, the initial temperature should be 2-3 degrees Celsius higher) and shortening the shoots. We prune them by 1/3 or even to a height of about 5-10 cm, which will encourage the plants to thicken. We also remove dried leaves and any diseased parts.
The frequency of watering should be increased gradually so that the soil is constantly slightly moist. Fertilization can be started about 3 weeks after the start of waking up, but it should be light at first. We should also transplant geraniums into fresh, fertile soil with good drainage.
Before placing them on a balcony or terrace, geraniums must be properly hardened. We put them outside for a few hours a day. They can only go there permanently after the frosts stop – usually in the second half of May.
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