Geranium love for bright and long flowering. The plant does not need special care and is capable of pleasing the eye of the household for a long time with numerous buds, and with proper care, flowering continues throughout the year. But sometimes the colors become small, or they disappear completely. Then the florist asks the question: why does he not have geraniums in bloom, what reasons could there be for this and what to do to eliminate them, because if the plant is bad, there can be no question of its beauty.
When produces inflorescences and how long does this period last?
If geranium is located on a loggia or windowsill and gets enough sunlight, flowering begins in early spring and ends by the middle of winter. Then 2-3 months the plant is resting and gaining strength for the new flowering. However, there are varieties that can produce new inflorescences all year round.
Reference! Geranium is very responsive to proper care. Any variety can be made to bloom long and magnificently, following simple rules.
Peculiarities of flowering During the flowering period, geranium actively consumes the energy it receives in the process of photosynthesis. Also consumed minerals: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, salts.
Geranium throws flower stalks alternately. When one inflorescence begins to fade, another is actively blossoming. So geranium provides continuous flowering for several months. A plant can have simultaneously from one to one and a half to two dozen inflorescences - this depends on the nutrition of the plant and its age.
Necessary conditions and care
Geranium - unpretentious plant. But there are some conditions under which it will bloom long and magnificently.
Necessary conditions for flowering:
- Sufficient lighting.
Geranium loves the light and with its lack of it feels bad. The best place for geraniums is a window facing east or south. Before planting geraniums in the garden, you need to find a place with sufficient lighting, protected from strong winds.
- Good watering.
Do not overdo it in watering, you need to keep a balance. The plant is resistant to drought, however, it is impossible to allow excessive drying of the soil. On sunny hot days, or during the period of active heating, it is necessary to water the geranium daily, if the land in the pot is dry. In the absence of heating, on cool, cloudy days it is enough to water 1 time in 2 days.
- Comfortable temperature.
In a room where geranium dwells, the air temperature should not fall below 12 ° C, otherwise the plant will cease to bloom. If in winter the leaves of the plant become red, this is a clear sign of freezing. It is necessary to move the geranium away from the ice window.
- Timely pruning and plucking.
This technique allows to increase the branching and increase the number of buds.
Why does not house plant bloom at home, and gives only foliage?
There are many reasons why the plant refuses to produce flower stalks.
Possible reasons for the lack of flowering:
- low room temperature;
- unsuitable poor ground;
- illiterate watering;
- too big pot;
- untimely pruning or lack thereof;
- diseases and pests.
Why leaves stretching violently up?
The reason why geranium grows but does not bloom may be a lack of light. Geranium is sick if it is lacking in sunlight and with all its strength reaches for it. Without sunlight, the plant can not get the power for abundant flowering, hence the long, bare stems.
If geranium has grown noticeably, and the leaves have become rare, the reason should be sought in watering. Excessive watering provokes root rot and fungal infection.. In such conditions, geranium can not bloom, and its leaves and stems become lifeless and soft.
For a long time does not bloom that geranium, which has not been transplanted. The root system is growing actively, and a moment comes when the roots are so crowded that they are shown from the drain hole. Another mistake florist - too spacious pot. The transplanted geranium will not bloom until the entire volume of the pot is rooted, which takes a lot of time.
Too fertile soil also prevents flowering. In such a substrate, the plant will emit a large number of shoots, grow quickly and acquire leaves, but not flowers.
Stems do not branch, but grow in length with no pinching or pruning. Such a geranium has no power to bloom, since all the energy goes to the violent growth of stems and leaves.
Why not grow?
During the period of hot summer, geranium may cease to form inflorescences and shrub. Growth stops. Like cold, extreme heat does not benefit the plant..
Another reason for the lack of growth and flowering - pests. Geranium affects mites, fungi, mealybugs, because of which it stops growth and flowering. If the plant is not transplanted and treated with a special preparation, it will die.
Geranium is resistant to drought and the lack of watering does not die, but its growth and flowering stops.
The lack and incorrect balance of mineral fertilizers negatively affects the health of the geranium - it stops growing and blooming. The plant suffers from a lack of substances in the old soil, and from an overabundance of minerals.
How to feed?
In the period from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, geranium needs fertilizing with fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be in balance for the simultaneous growth and development of inflorescences, stems, leaves and roots. For example, mineral fertilizer should not be allowed to contain more than 11% nitrogen, otherwise geranium will not bloom.
In the warm season it is advisable to put the pot on the balcony - the abundance of light together with the difference in day and night temperatures stimulates abundant flowering. As soon as the inflorescence begins to fade, it is worth breaking it off or cutting off. So you can achieve a longer flowering.
In winter, during the rest period, it is impossible to feed a roomless blooming geranium, and watering should be no more than 1 time in 10 days.
Reference! Geranium is very sensitive to habitat change. Frequent change of place and position of the pot has a negative effect on flowering.
We invite you to watch a video about feeding geraniums:
Trimming and transplanting
In early March, when the rest period ends, geranium needs pruning to form a dense crown and stimulate abundant flowering. It is necessary to cut off the old leaves, and on each shoot leave no more than 5 buds. Shoots growing out of the leaf sinuses are removed.
It is necessary to change the substrate to a new one every year. You can leave the old pot, or buy a pot a little larger than the old one. You can not repot the plant in a too large pot, otherwise the geranium will stop flowering for a long time.
Transplanting in open ground has a beneficial effect on plant health.. However, it is possible to land only when the probability of strong changes in day and night air temperature disappears. After staying in the garden, the geranium must be returned to a pot with fresh soil and cut.
We offer you to watch a video about pruning geraniums:
We invite you to watch the video about transplanting geraniums:
What to do to bloom?
Rules for stimulating flowering:
- If the pot in which geranium lives is large enough, it is worth changing it in favor of a small one. The plant will bloom in a small-sized pot, where it will not have to develop the root system for a long time.
- To stimulate flowering experienced growers advise to change the soil 1 time per year. Replacing old soil with fresh and nourishing gives a powerful impetus to flowering.
- The plant needs sunlight. The pot should be placed on a window sill or balcony lit by sunlight. To prevent burns from direct sunlight, you can cover the glass with white paper.
- Watering should be moderate. It is necessary to water only when the earthen room in a pot is already quite dry.
- For abundant flowering, magnesium sulfate is recommended to be applied to the soil. This fertilizer helps to increase the number of inflorescences. Iodine water is also popular: 1 drop of iodine is added to 1 liter of water. 50 ml water the plant with this solution. Flower growers note that iodine stimulates wild and prolonged flowering. You can feed only from the beginning of spring until the end of summer.
- During the flowering period, water droplets on the buds are unacceptable, it is also forbidden to treat the plant from pests. These actions contribute to the imminent completion of flowering and a long break.
- The temperature difference has a stimulating effect on geranium. The plant that lives in the summer on the balcony or loggia, blooms magnificently and long. In summer, the air temperature in the place where geranium is located should not fall below 12-15 ° C.
- A good winter holiday will give its "fruits" in the form of abundant flowering. In winter, the geranium pot should be kept cool. You can water no more than 3 times a month.
Geranium is more than a houseplant. Geranium lovers note that bright flowers and delicate leaf fragrance have a beneficial effect on mood and well-being. For geranium to be healthy and fluffy in bloom, you do not have to make serious efforts. Simple rules will help turn this plant into a beautiful and useful decoration of an apartment.