Time To Awaken Geraniums

Saturday, February 20, 2010 03:45 AM

With the warming temperatures and longer days there are many green thumbs just itching
to get ready for gardening!

It may only be February but already you can start on doing some of your gardening chores. If you have saved Geraniums from last year now is the time to get them out of their winter rest.

Geraniums that have been kept in their pots should be trimmed to one-third their original height
and then placed in a warm (20-25 Celsius) south facing window or under fluorescent lights. Begin to increase on the water allowing the soil to go slightly dry before each time you water and fertilize with 12-36-12. As soon as there are signs of new growth the plant should be taken out of its pot have the excess soil shaken off and replanted into a new pot that is just large enough to hold the plants roots. If you need to add any soil, use a good quality
potting soil. Water the plant and continue to fertilize and in the next few weeks the plant will produce new shoots.

When the new shoots reach a size of 3-4 inches long they are ready to be made into cuttings. To make a cutting, using a sharp knife cut the new shoot on an angle just below the leaf node.
Remove the bottom leaf and then dip the cut end into a rooting hormone which will help promote roots, before placing the cutting into a container filled with ‘starter mix’. Place the newly planted cutting in a warm sunny location and keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize twice a month with a weak solution of 10-52-10. When the plant has rooted and is beginning to show signs of growth begin fertilizing with 20-20-20.

To produce a bushy plant the growth tip should be pinched out to encourage the plant to branch out. When the plant becomes too large for its container it should be transplanted into a larger container using an all purpose potting soil.

Geraniums that were stored over winter by removing the soil from the plants roots and
having them either hang upside down in the basement or placed in a paper bag
can also be planted up in February/March.

These plants should be trimmed back to where there is green showing in the stem and then potted into containers filled with a good quality potting soil. Water the soil keeping the soil evenly moist but not wet and place the plant in a warm sunny location.

After a few weeks the plant will begin to show signs of growth. Continue to give lots of
light and if it is in a window sill rotate the plant every few days so that it receives even light and will not grow lopsided. Fertilize with 20-20-20 and in early May switch to a flowering plant fertilizer such as 15-30-15.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres n Prince George,