Geraniums are among the most appreciated and sought-after plants . If they are well cared for, they give us beautiful and very colorful flowers. You will surely have seen balconies full of flowering geraniums, perhaps wondering why your geranium plant does not bloom in the same way.
One of the most common reasons why geraniums stop flowering is their exposure to very cold temperatures, with frost or wind. Geraniums must be protected by placing them indoors during the coldest days. But this is not the only cause why your geraniums are not flowering: we list some tips below.
Place them in a lighted place
These beautiful plants can only bloom if they receive the right amount of natural light, that is, sunlight. Artificial house light is not intense enough to stimulate the growth of geraniums. But be careful: do not place geraniums in full sun if they are in a shady environment, they could undergo a radical change and die.
That said, it’s important to know that geraniums can bloom even in partial shade (not full shade), so don’t be discouraged if you live in an apartment that doesn’t get enough sunlight.
Give the plant the right space to grow
When we buy a geranium plant and bring it home, we must assume that it has been in the same pot for a very long time. Precisely for this reason, the plant must be transplanted into a larger pot, to give the roots the right space and the opportunity to obtain nutrients from a greater amount of soil.
As they grow, the plants need to be transplanted into larger pots, otherwise the plant will not flower or even die.
Fertilize your geraniums
If your geraniums are planted in pots, it is recommended to fertilize them in spring and summer. Once they have reached their maximum size (geraniums are relatively small plants), it will no longer be necessary to transplant them and it is precisely for this reason that they need fertilization, which can be:
organic fertilizer : you can choose between compost, humus, guano, manure, eggs or banana shells. A handful is enough for each plant;
chemical fertilizers : to make your geraniums flower you can opt for fertilizers produced specifically for this type of plant.
Water only when absolutely necessary
This may seem like generic advice, but giving your geranium the right amount of water is essential for its flowering. Controlling the frequency of watering is not easy: there are many factors to take into account, such as the climate of the region where you live, the type of soil or the size of the pot.
Geraniums do not like completely dry soil, but too much wet soil could permanently damage them. The topsoil dries out quickly, while the topsoil closest to the roots stays moist longer.
For this reason, it is important to check the soil moisture and this can be done by inserting a wooden stake into it.
Preventing the arrival of the geranium butterfly
The geranium butterfly is an insect that causes a lot of damage to our favorite plants. During its larval stage, it pierces the stems and eats the inside, blocking the growth and flowering of the plant.
There are targeted products to prevent and combat the geranium moth. Ask your trusted nursery.
Prune the geraniums
A great tip for keeping geraniums healthy is to prune them in late winter, to encourage the growth of more stems and, therefore, more flowers. These prunings don’t have to be drastic: just reduce the length of the stems by a few centimeters. Remember to use a clean, sharp knife or scissors.