Best Tips For Growing Pelargonium at home

Pelargonium grown as an annual is very much popular among home gardeners. It blooms all the year and comes in red, pink, purple color. Leaves are almost round and thicker than normal. Pelargonium is ideal for garden beds, hanging baskets and containers. It can be grown outdoors as well as indoors. In winter, it can be brought inside and grown. Pelargoniums are grown as perennial where it doesn’t freeze.

Propagation

Pelargonim is propagated from seeds and cuttings. April is ideal for sowing seeds. Prepare garden bed by tilling and adding compost to it. Tilling loosen up the soil so that it becomes easy for roots to grow faster. A layer of compost will add nutrients in the soil which is used by the plants. Do not bury seeds deep in the soil as they need light to germinate. Sprinkle water to make soil moist. In case of containers or pots sow 2-3 seeds per container and thin out (keeping only healthy plants) them later.

Pelargoniums are easy to grow by cuttings too. Start taking cuttings in spring (March-April). Cuttings can be taken in autumn too. Select a healthy looking 5-6 inches long stem having minimum two nodes (place where leaf comes out on stem). Make a cut just below the lower node and clip off all leaves but 2-3 at top. Cut the stem tip and remove any bud present on the cutting otherwise they will consume most of energy of the plant. Dip cutting in rooting hormone or in honey to promote rooting faster. Make a 2-3 inches deep hole in the soil with help of pencil or any other object. Place the cutting in the hole, water it and cover with a plastic bag to help in retaining moisture. Place the container in shaded place where it is not getting direct sun light.

Pelargonium can be rooted in water too. Take around 6 inches long stem cutting, remove all but top leaves. Put it in a water filled jar and place the jar in bright location but not in direct sun. 

Container

Decide the size of container depending on the Pelargonium variety. Container should be well cleaned. It should contain drainage holes to ensure smooth passage of water as Pelargonium doesn’t like to stand in water. If you are using old container then wash it properly before use.

Soil

Pelargonium grows in almost any kind of soil. Add compost to enrich it with nutrients. You can add a layer of mulch (dried leaves, straws etc) to keep environment around plant moist.

Sun / Temperature

Pelargonium needs 5-6 hours of sun light to grow. However it can be grown in shaded place too where it is getting enough light exposure. 

Watering

Allow soil to dry out before watering again. Scratch the soil surface with finger, if the soil is barely moist or dry then plant needs water. Cut down watering in winter as that time plant is not growing actively. 

Fertilizer

Use solid granular fertilizer at starting of growing season. Or you can use liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength in every 2-3 months. Plant doesn’t feed fertilizer in winter.

Caring

Clip off dead flowers (deadheading) to increase blooming. Prune Pelargonium in fall (November to January end) to encourage bushiness.

More tips : How to grow Impatiens at home.

Best Tips for growing Impatiens (Balsam) at Home

If you are looking for low maintenance, easy growing and multi colored blooms then you should try Impatiens (Balsam). The best thing about Impatiens is that it can be grown under low light conditions. The name Impatiens comes from its seed bursting nature on a touch. The slightest touch to Impatiens ripe pod (fruit) can induce bursting of seeds out of the pod. Impatiens grows 12- 18 inches tall generally. They come in different shades of red, orange, pink and white.

Propagation

Impatiens can be propagated from seeds and stem cuttings. Sow seeds in a small container having good potting mixture and water it.

Impatiens can be rooted in water also. Take a 3-6 inches stem cutting having at least two leaf nodes (joint on stem where leaf comes) and remove all leaves except 2-3 leaves on top. Pinch the stem tip and remove buds if present on the cutting. Now place the cutting in a vase of water and keep the vase in bright location which receives indirect sunlight. Change the vase water every other day. Once the rooting has occurred, transplant the sapling in container.

To root Impatiens cuttings in soil, take a stem cutting as mentioned above. Make a hole using a pencil or finger in potting soil to insert cutting easily. Before inserting, you can dip cuttings in rooting hormone or honey. Water it and put the planting tray or container in bright location. It will take couple of weeks to a month to get cuttings rooted.

Impatiens cutting can be rooted in water too.

Container

Impatiens makes a good container or hanging basket plant. Select a small to medium sized container as Impatiens doesn’t grow much tall. Make sure that the container is having adequate numbers of drainage holes to let water out of the container as Impatiens doesn’t like to stand in water.

Soil

Impatiens likes well drained, humus rich moist soil. Loamy soil is ideal for planting. You can add perlite and peat moss to loosen up the soil. 

Sun / Temperature

As mentioned , Impatiens is the houseplant which can be grown under low light conditions outdoors and requires moderate light when grown indoors ( inside the home). They can’t stand low temperature (frost), that’s why they are grown as annuals. 

Watering

Water them regularly. Keep the soil moist but don’t make it soggy by over watering it. Water until water runs out the container and water again when soil feels dry on touch. 

Fertilizer

Feed Impatiens with liquid fertilizer used for flowering plants once a month. Some gardeners prefer feeding twice a month with liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Never over fertilize as it will result in more foliage and less blooms.

Caring

Keep an eye for spider mites, aphids etc. Pinch the branch’s top to take out stem tip; it would induce formation of side branches and give the plant bushy look which will result in more blooms ultimately.