Royal geranium - conditions for flowering
Content:
Pelargonium flower often grows on windowsills and balconies of many people, but most of them believe that they are caring for geraniums. These plants are similar to many, they differ in rather unpretentious care, and therefore are popular. Royal geranium is quite rare among them, although it is one of the most beautiful varieties with lush flowering, but it also differs in its whimsicality.
Royal geranium - what is this flower
South Africa is home to the geranium flower, while pelargonium comes from England, where many breeders crossed it. The plant is distinguished by a lush bush, the short stems of which are completely covered with green leaves. Lush bloom does not rise above the green, but goes on a par with it.
Royal geranium
The stem is thin, upright, leaves on separate petioles, covered with small hairs, extend to the sides. The plant has a pleasant aroma. After pollination, flower petals take the form of a crane or stork beak, hence the popular name of geranium - crane.
Pelargonium royal has English roots. A well-known Dutch professor of botany found the nodule variant as early as the 17th century on the slopes of Table Mountain, located near Cape Town, from where he later transported it to a botanical garden in England. A century later, large-flowered pelargonium was taken from England to Europe, where they began to work on it further. The current royal pelargonium was bred in the 19th century by the French breeder James Audier.
Geranium and Pelargonium
Few people know that pelargonium is grown on their windowsills, not geranium. These flowers are very similar to each other, so it is not surprising that they can be confused. From a scientific point of view, these plants are different, but in everyday life, few know what the difference is between geranium and pelargonium.
The main differences are:
- Growing environment: geraniums are most often settled in plots, and pelargonium is used to decorate an apartment.
- Pelargonium has larger inflorescences, and geranium looks like a wildflower.
- Plants have different frost resistance: pelargonium comes from southern countries, so the Russian cold can be dangerous for it. Geranium is a more unpretentious plant, therefore it grows even in unfavorable conditions.
- Flower structure: 5-8 geranium petals have perfect symmetry, but in pelargonium they are symmetrical only along one axis.
Variety of royal geranium with white and purple flowers
Varieties of indoor plants with names, what they look like
Depending on the variety, you can get pelargonium of various colors. Each variety is especially admired by flower growers, and therefore, despite the difficult nature of flowers, many lovers want to buy a royal in their home.
"Mandarin"
The fiery red or orange flowers of the Mandarin Royal Pelargonium are often more than 6 cm in diameter. In the middle, the color fades noticeably to a creamy white color. From the core to the edges of the petals, there are thin stripes of purple. The flower is semi-double with wavy edges.
Mandarin
"Mona Lisa"
Early flowering variety. Large white flowers have crimson spots in the core. The edges of the petals are wavy. Blooms for a long time compared to other varieties. Inflorescences reach 5 cm in diameter.
Mona lisa
"Morvena"
The plant is quite compact with large burgundy-black inflorescences that look beautiful against the background of bright green foliage. The plant blooms for a long time, grows well, while maintaining decorative properties.
Morven
"Elegance Jeanette"
Another early variety of the royal species of pelargonium-grandiflora. Elegance Janet has large flowers, they are lilac-pink with darker spots. The variety is quite compact, green leaves, blooms in the cold season for 1.5 months.
Elegance Jeanette
Clerion Bright Ed
The variety belongs to the multiflora variety of royal pelargonium. The flowers are medium-sized, curly, cherry-red with a black spot at the base of the petals.
The variety blooms profusely and for a long time, while it does not require cool maintenance in winter, since it blooms in summer.
Clerion Bright Ed
Home care for royal geraniums for beginners
Caring for royal geraniums at home justifies its name - it is quite difficult, despite the fact that the plant will delight with its flowering less than other species. But even the capriciousness of a flower does not stop many growers.
Proper cultivation implies compliance with certain rules for caring for a flower. With their help, it will not be difficult even for a novice florist to grow beautiful royal pelargonium. However, you will have to try to make the landing and leaving pay off.
Illumination and temperature conditions
Geranium is a light-loving plant, so it is recommended to grow it closer to the window. However, direct sunlight can burn leaves and flowers, so the light should be scattered. Keeping in a dark room will contribute to the stretching and thinning of the stems. In winter, this will result in the plant not blooming at all.
Caring for royal pelargonium involves constantly playing with the temperature regime. The plant loves warmth, therefore, in the summer, the conditions of the middle lane are absolutely suitable for it. The most optimal is the air temperature in the range of 22-27 degrees. In winter, it is worth keeping the plant at 10-15 degrees, and therefore it is better to take it out to a heated loggia or balcony.
Watering rules and humidity
Watering is adjusted depending on the air temperature. Hot weather forces the grower to water the plant twice a day - before 10 and after 18 hours. If the flower is indoors, then this number can be reduced to 2 times a week.
However, in the cold season, it is worth reducing this amount by half. Waterlogging of the soil contributes to root rot and the appearance of powdery mildew. Watering should be done with boiled, settled or rainwater at room temperature in a pan so as not to compact the soil.
Royal pelargonium on the street
If the indoor air is dry, spraying the air next to the flower pot is allowed.However, do not allow moisture to get on the leaves and flowers of the geranium, since it is difficult for it to tolerate.
Top dressing and soil quality
Before choosing a fertilizer for a flower, it is recommended to look through its description - it may need some kind of fertilizer. If there is no such mark, then it is recommended in the spring to introduce nitrogenous substances into the substrate, which will help the flower wake up and start growing.
When flowering, it is recommended to assist fertilization in the formation of new buds with the help of phosphate fertilizers. In winter, it is not at all recommended to introduce any top dressing, since this can harm the formation of flowers.
Flower container size
Pelargonium grandiflora loves tight pots. Therefore, for several years, you can not worry about transplanting a plant, since it will feel normal if top dressing is done on time and with high quality. Each transplant implies an increase in the size of the pot by a couple of cm in diameter.
Pruning and replanting
Pruning should be done annually during the dormant period. The plant needs to be cut by 1/3 or 2/3. This will allow you to subsequently get a more lush flowering, preserve the decorative appearance of the flower. It also normalizes air circulation inside the bush, protects it from the appearance of insects and diseases.
In autumn, this procedure is required for all varieties and types of plants, and in spring, each grower must decide for himself whether it is necessary or not.
Autumn pruning geranium
Frequent transplanting of the plant is not required as this is detrimental to the health of the flower. It is recommended to carry out the procedure if the pot is completely filled with roots. The optimal time for this should be considered the period from February to April. The newly acquired plant should be quarantined for 2 weeks, wait for the moment when it fades, and then transplant.
Features of winter care
The varieties of the Angels group do not need wintering; they can be kept at room temperature at any time of the year.
For other varieties, at this time the air temperature drops to 10-15 degrees, and the amount of watering also decreases. It is necessary to stop the introduction of dressings.
Features of flowering plants
Depending on the variety of geranium or pelargonium, flowering occurs at different times of the year. But if in ordinary geranium this period lasts about 5-6 months, then royal pelargonium is stingy, so you can admire its flowers for 3-4 months.
With the right content, you can achieve year-round flowering of pelargonium, however, in this case, the inflorescences will be smaller than they could be. For them to become normal, it is necessary to give the flower a rest. After a dormant period, the abundance of flowering will increase.
Types and shape of flowers
Breeders have developed a large number of hybrids and varieties, the shape, color and leaves of which have distinctive features. The room type is divided into several groups.
- Ivy
Ivy-leaved pelargonium is an ampelous species of herbaceous plants. Fragile cascading shoots can reach a length of 1 m.
The group began to be called for a reason - its leaves resemble ivy. Double and semi-double flowers can reach 5 cm in size. The color varies from pure white to deep black.
Ivy geranium
- Angel
Outwardly, the inflorescences of this type of pelargonium resemble "pansies". Plant height can reach 35 cm.
Geranium Angel is unpretentious in care, blooms throughout the summer. Flowers can be white, pinkish, lilac, lilac.
- Unique
This type of plant is one of the oldest. It was bred by crossing the royal and brilliant varieties. Has a light spicy smell.
The flowers are smaller than those of the royal geranium and are white or red in color.
Flower propagation by cuttings
The fastest way to propagate geraniums is by cuttings. It is available at any time of the year. The stock of cuttings should be done during spring pruning, they take root better than others. Twigs should be cut off at least 5 cm in length, which have about 3 leaves and 3 internodes. If there are inflorescences, they should be cut off.
The cut should be treated with activated carbon, left to dry at room temperature for a while. It is recommended to plant cuttings in separate small pots. They can be plastic cups with cut drain holes. Drainage should be placed at the bottom, and sand should be added to the ground.
It is advisable to disinfect the soil by watering it with boiling water or a manganese solution. It is necessary to give the substrate a day to cool down. Before planting, it is worth treating the planting material with a root formation accelerator.
The stalk must be deepened into the substrate by a couple of centimeters, and the containers with plantings must be taken out in a dimly lit room for 5 days. After this time, you can put it on the windowsill and continue to care for it like a regular plant.
Royal geranium cuttings
Growing problems, diseases and pests
The most common diseases are:
- Black leg, characterized by tissue softening. It is impossible to save the flower, so it is better to destroy it. Appears due to abundant moisture.
- Rust. It is characterized by the appearance of brown spots on the leaves, which lead to drying and falling of the leaves.
The most common pest on geraniums is the whitefly. The insect looks like a reduced size white butterfly (about 2 mm). When it appears, yellow spots appear on the leaves.
How to deal with them
It is quite difficult to fight insects - you need to remove the plant in an environment with more humid air, water with "Aktara" 3 times at intervals of a week. To save a flower from rust, it is necessary to treat it with such fungicides as Topaz and Fitosporin. But you should first cut off the infected areas.
Following the care guidelines step by step will help you grow healthy and beautiful Royal Pelargonium. She is quite capricious, but it will definitely delight the lover of indoor plants with abundant and bright flowering.
