Gardening Tips

Geranium care

Geranium care

Geranium is one of the most common decorative plants in gardens. Different species can be found but, in all cases, it is a very aesthetic plant due to the numerous and showy flowers, which can range from more common colors such as red, pink and white, to others less common such as purple, yellow or even orange. It is a plant that also has uses in natural cosmetics, so its oil is very common in the treatment of skin problems or ailments due to bumps and bruises.

if you want to know what are the care of geranium and also some of its main characteristics, keep reading Green Ecology because in the following lines we show you a complete and practical guide for the care of these plants.

Geranium Plant Types

The scientific name of geranium is geranium, whose original name comes from the Greek. This name is that of the genus of plants that encompasses all species of geranium, but there is a great variety of them, as well as their relatives of the genera pelargonium Y Sarcocaulonamong others, all of which belong to the family of Geraniaceae (Geraniaceae). Some of the best known species are:

  • geranium columbinum L.
  • Geranium dissectum L.
  • Geranium dolomiticum L.
  • Geranium lucidum L.
  • geranium molle L.
  • Geranium nodosum L.
  • Geranium phaeum L.
  • geranium pratense L.
  • geranium pusillum L.
  • Geranium pyrenaicum Burmese.
  • Geranium robertianum L.
  • Geranium rotundifolium L.
  • Geranium sanguineum L.
  • Geranium sylvaticum L.
  • Pelargonium angustifolium L’Hér. former Harvey. & Sound.
  • Pelargonium graveolens L’her.
  • Pelargonium cotyledonis (L.) L’Hér.
  • Pelargonium sidoides (L.) L’Hér.
  • Pelargonium citrosum Voigt ex Sprague
  • pelargonium insularis
  • Pelargonium hortorum L.H.Bailey
  • Sarcocaulon camdeboense Moffett
  • Sarcocaulon ciliatum Moffett
  • Sarcocaulon crassicaule rehm
  • Sarcocaulon currali Heckel

You can learn more about the different types of geraniums by reading this other article.

Once some of the most seen species in homes and parks have been introduced, we explain in a practical way the geranium care in the following sections.

light and location

Geraniums are plants that need too much sun. Regardless of the type of geranium in question, it is essential that they are located in full sunboth during the summer and winter months. Likewise, during the coldest periods it is important that they are adequately protected from low temperatures and especially from frost.

In this sense, it is recommended that, in the case of living in a place where the winters are especially cold, the geraniums are brought into the house during these periods of colder temperatures, so in these places it is better to always have them in a pot. Once inside the house, it is essential to place them near a window with plenty of light.

We advise you to take a look at this guide on How to plant geraniums.

Geranium Care - Light and Location

Geranium irrigation

Regarding irrigation, it is important water them often, especially during the summer months, when evaporation from the ground is greater. They generally tolerate moist soils well, although it is recommended not to flood the pots to avoid the possibility of their roots rotting.

We recommend reading this guide on When to water plants.

fertilizer for geraniums

It is also important to keep in mind that the geranium is a plant that needs a frequent subscriber if you want the flowers of the geranium, as well as the plant itself, to be strong and to look bright. To do this, it is best to dilute a little natural fertilizer suitable for geraniums in the irrigation water every 15 days or once a month, mainly in the spring and summer months.

pruning of geraniums

The geranium plant It needs pruning with certain frequency. There are two times a year in which the pruning of the geranium plant is going to be especially important, which are at the beginning of spring and autumn early or mid. In spring to get the plant to gain strength with a view to the new flowering season, and in autumn to remove the remains of branches and dry flowers.

Likewise, it must be taken into account that the geranium flower It usually dries up after a few days. When this happens, it is important that these dry flowers are pruned separately from the rest of the plant, as this will be the best way for the geranium plant to concentrate all its strength on new flowers and grow healthy and strong.

Here we tell you more about Pruning geraniums: how and when to do it.

Geranium care - Pruning geraniums

Geranium diseases and pests

Pests on geraniums are very characteristic. It is common to find defoliating caterpillars, which are easy to recognize, both because of their size and because of the bitten leaves they leave behind after eating. You can also find the famous geranium butterfly, ants, aphids, whitefly and red spider, which are pests on geraniums that can kill them quite quickly. For this reason, it is important to apply some type of organic insecticide as soon as they are detected, since they can irreparably damage the geraniums.

Here you can discover much more about pests and diseases of geranium.

Geranium care - Geranium diseases and pests

Geranium Meaning

To know the meaning of the geranium, you must first think that it is in the word geranium Where does its main meaning originate? Although there are different interpretations about the meaning of his name, since in Greek it could mean literally “that beautiful flower”, most of the interpretations that are currently made affirm that his name means “crane”. This meaning of the geranium would come from its fruit, whose shape would remind the beak of the crane, which would be the origin of the name in Greek, from where it would have passed into Latin and, finally, into Spanish.

Regarding the language of flowers, that is, the cultural meaning that we give them, we find that geranium can have different meaningsaccording to the color of its flower:

  • Red: I prefer you or I like you.
  • Dark red or maroon: melancholy.
  • Pink: affection and harmony.
  • White: purity and happiness.
  • Yellow and orange: joy and positivity.

Geranium essential oil

One of the uses of geranium is found in its essential oil, which has properties similar to rose oil but being much cheaper for geranium as its production is cheaper. The geranium essential oil It has different uses, among which it is worth noting that it is a good facial toner to care for and treat the skin due to conditions such as acne or atopic skin.

Likewise, when applied directly to the skin after a blow or bruise, it has the ability to reduce pain and inflammation. Finally, the essential oil of geranium is also an excellent tonic that serves to moisturize the skinand that can be used both on the face and on the rest of the body.

More specifically, between properties of geranium essential oil and its benefits and uses we find:

Properties

  • Analgesic
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antibacterial
  • antiseptic
  • Astringent
  • Haemostatic
  • stimulates circulation
  • Restorative and tonic
  • spasmolytic
  • vulnerability
  • nervous or relaxing
  • Febrifuge

Benefits and uses

  • Facilitates relaxation.
  • Relieves muscle pain and neuralgia.
  • Helps stop minor bleeding.
  • Improves menstrual and premenstrual cramps.
  • Improves circulation.
  • Relieves pain from varicose veins.
  • Relieves tired legs.
  • Reduces fatigue.
  • Helps lower fever.

If you want to read more articles similar to Geranium carewe recommend that you enter our category .

Bibliography
  • Allaway, Z., Leendertz, L., Hendy, J., Jarrin, T., Rodriguez, X., (2011), Gardening Encyclopedia. Ideas to grow practically everything. Royal Horticultural SocietyBarcelona, ​​Spain, BLUME.
  • Cebrian, J., (2012), Dictionary of medicinal plantsBarcelona, ​​Spain, Integral RBA Books.
  • Worwood, VA, (2018), Essential Oils and AromatherapyMadrid, Spain, Gaia Editions.

About the author

Niraja

Leave a Comment