Geranium, Pelargonium X hortorum

Geranium (Pelargonium X hortorum), commonly known as Zonal Geranium, is a popular flowering plant admired for its vibrant blooms and round, scalloped leaves. This versatile plant is perfect for adding a splash of color to gardens, patios, and indoor spaces.

Key Features:

• Vibrant Blooms: Geraniums produce bright, eye-catching flowers in a range of colors, including red, pink, white, and purple, making them ideal for adding visual interest to your space.
• Distinctive Foliage: The plant features rounded, green leaves with a unique dark “zone” or band, giving it its name, Zonal Geranium.
• Compact Growth: Geraniums are compact and bushy, growing between 12 to 24 inches in height, making them suitable for containers, borders, and window boxes.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

• Light: Geraniums thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hot climates.
• Soil: They prefer well-drained, moderately fertile soil.
• Watering: Water moderately, allowing the topsoil to dry out between watering sessions to prevent root rot.
• Temperature: Geraniums enjoy warm temperatures but can be grown indoors during colder months or as annuals in regions with frost.

Care Tips:

• Pruning: Regularly deadhead spent flowers and prune leggy stems to encourage more blooming and maintain a neat shape.
• Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season for best results.
• Pest Control: Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Treat them promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Uses:

• Outdoor Gardening: Geraniums are perfect for garden borders, hanging baskets, and window boxes, adding vibrant color throughout the growing season.
• Indoor Decor: They can be grown indoors as potted plants, brightening up rooms with their cheerful blooms.

Geraniums are loved for their hardiness, easy care, and ability to bloom all season long, making them a favorite choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.