Blooming Easy (Geranium)

Member Name: Zmugzy

Product:	Geranium
Date:	03/01/08 (172 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to grow

Disadvantages: Somewhat susceptible to pests and mould

~~ Introduction ~~
A popular flowering plant that can be grown outside or indoors. Overall I would say that it's an easy plant to grow for beginners. Geraniums are ideally grown in pots or can be placed effectively in the centre of hanging baskets or in a hanging arrangement depending upon the variety. The plant belongs to the family Geraniacea and there are a multitude of varieties. Nowadays Geraniums come in a variety of colours, but reds and pinks remain the most common. The flowers give a generous bloom during the summer months and often remain in flower well into the autumn.

~~ Pests and Diseases ~~
Some geranium varieties are a favourite food for caterpillars and are also susceptible to greenfly attack. Look out for organic pesticides to deal with this or simply pick the caterpillars off. The plants are also prone to diseases such as mould. This can easily be remedied with a light spray of fungicide.

~~ Feeding ~~
Plants can be fed with a liquid feed every two weeks or so but they should develop quite nicely in fresh soil without feed.

~~ Lifespan ~~
Most well cared for plants should last several years, but older plants do tend to get woody after a while which might not be to everyone's taste. Geraniums though are easy to look after and will even survive mild droughts. The only thing to be aware of is to make sure the soil is not over watered or does not become waterlogged after heavy rainfall. Soggy soil will lead to root rot.

~~ Getting A Plant ~~
You can buy geraniums can be purchased at most garden centres or from gardening catalogues and magazines. As an alternative you can take cuttings if you know someone who has a fully grown plant. Cuttings are best taken in Spring from established plants by cutting off a part of the stem with one or two leaves attached. Add a dab of root powder to the cut end and plant this in fresh compost. As long as you keep the soil moist, the cutting should take root within a month or so.

Summary: Easy plant to grow indoors or outside