How to transplant geraniums, how to plant a flower step by step
Content:
Geranium is jokingly called the symbolism of the Soviet era. At that time, practically in every window there were bright "balls" of pelargonium. An indoor flower was given as a birthday present to a woman and a family for a housewarming. They exchanged shoots with each other, collecting different shades. The plant does not lose its popularity even now. But not everyone knows how to transplant geraniums correctly so that it takes root.
Process features
Pelargonium is unpretentious in care, but as soon as it is transplanted, the plant turns into a real sissy. Due to the resulting stress, the leaves lose their turgor and turn yellow. If you approach the process correctly, relocation can be made more or less comfortable.
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What to look for:
- First of all, you should make sure that the geranium needs a transplant. It is better not to injure the plant once again.
- It is important to choose the right time for this process, taking into account the biological characteristics of the flower and the stages of the growing season.
- The main conditions for comfortable movement and further cultivation are correctly selected capacity and soil substrate.
If the soil in the old pot is good, and the root system does not get sick, then it is better to transfer pelargonium to a new container with an earthen clod. This method is considered sparing for plants and allows them to adapt more easily.
Care after planting:
- the plant is immediately removed in partial shade to exclude direct sun exposure to the flower;
- watering the transplanted geranium not at the root - water is poured along the side of the pot;
- loosening is carried out neatly and shallowly so as not to harm the roots.
It is better to carefully remove withered, yellowed leaves so that the plant does not waste energy on them. If the geranium transplant was carried out during flowering, then the buds are also broken off.
Pelargonium transplant
One of the watering is recommended to be carried out with a growth stimulant ("Kornevin", "Heteroauxin"). With the right approach to agricultural technology, after 2-3 weeks, pelargonium will come to life, and the foliage will again turn into a rich green color.
Conditions for transplant at home
Some growers keep pelargonium in one pot for several years, periodically plucking cuttings from the bush for propagation. If possible, pelargonium is moved to courtyard beds for the summer, and then returned to the house again.
In any situation, it is important to know how to plant geraniums correctly. The resettlement technique for indoor plants is standard, but it also has its own nuances.
How to plant a flower
Transplanting pelargonium is often used to propagate a flower by divisions if an adult bush has become too large. The procedure for planting geraniums looks like this:
- the day before transplanting, the plant is watered abundantly, it is easier to remove it from the pot;
- freeing the geraniums from the pot, shaking off the ground from the roots and examining the processes;
In the process of relocation
- rotten, injured and overdried roots should be cut off; the sharp blade of a knife or scissors is disinfected beforehand in an alcohol solution or over a flame;
- the bush is divided into several parts so that on each division there is an area with healthy recovery buds;
- drainage is laid in prepared pots (gravel, crushed stone, broken ceramics, brick chips, foam pellets or expanded clay) with a layer of 1-2 cm;
- pour a little soil and plant new bushes;
- moistened soil is poured into the space between the plant and the walls of the pot and slightly compacted.
Do not fill the container with earth to the very brim. It is necessary to leave small sides of 2 centimeters. This will prevent water from flowing out of the pot during watering.
The first irrigation of the substrate is carried out on the 4th day. An excess of moisture negatively affects the adaptation of pelargonium.
If the plant is not planned to be divided, then a small adjustment is made to the algorithm for how to transplant geranium step by step at home. The soil is not removed from the roots - the bush is transferred into a new container along with a lump directly onto the drainage layer.
The transplanted plant is kept in partial shade for the first week. Then the flower should be returned to its permanent place - geranium does not like to change window sills.
Transplant timing
The most suitable time is chosen for planting geraniums. Plants tolerate the procedure best in spring (March - first decade of April). After winter dormancy, the flowers are more active in increasing the green mass.
Sometimes emergency situations arise when they do not look at the time of year:
- geranium withers due to illness;
- mold has appeared on the ground and sides of the pot;
- the roots were bare.
In the latter case, some growers add fresh soil to the pot. But you should not do this - the roots that have crawled out signal that the plant is cramped in the container. For this reason, the bush sometimes does not give color.
The plant needs resuscitation
With the appearance of mold and flower disease, it will be necessary to change not only the container, but also the soil.
Experienced flower growers tie planting work to the lunar calendar. Plants are sensitive to the influence of the night light. Choosing the right transplant day will ensure an easy and quick establishment.
Agrotechnology of relocation to another pot
When deciding how to transplant geraniums, they pay attention to every moment. The choice of a suitable soil, the size of the new container and the material from which it is made, depends on how well the transplant will take place.
Soil selection
Pelargonium needs light, loose soil, rich in useful microelements. Of the substrates available in the store, begonias are best suited. Summer residents can use the fertile soil from under the trees of their own garden, diluting it with sand.
Home growers recommend making such a batch:
- 1 part sand from the river;
- 2 parts of sod land and humus.
It is better to take sand of a coarse fraction, this will provide the necessary looseness of the soil. You can mix it with a little peat or replace it entirely with vermiculite.
Pot size and material
When choosing a container for geraniums, take into account the size of the bush. The diameter of the container should be only a couple of centimeters wider than the dimensions of the rhizome.
When dividing a bush, it is recommended to take a container with a diameter of 10-12 cm and a height of no more than 15 cm for layering with one root. In the future, when changing the pot, the new container should be larger than the previous one by only 1.5-2 cm.
As for the material of the pot, geranium feels more comfortable in uncoated ceramics. Irrigation water may stagnate in plastic containers, despite the drainage holes. While the ceramic walls will absorb the excess.
Is it possible to transplant flowering geraniums
Flowering requires a lot of energy from the plant. Therefore, it is worthwhile to think once again whether it is possible to transplant flowering geraniums.Not every pelargonium during this period is able to cope with stress. If there is no urgency, then the plant should be left alone and wait for the inflorescences to wither. After 7-10 days, the transplant is started.
Resettlement of flowering geranium
When it is necessary to take emergency measures to heal the bush (or the pot has broken), the flowering geranium is moved to a new container, following the algorithm described above. But the inflorescences will have to be cut off immediately so that they do not interfere with adaptation. So in the current season, collecting seeds for breeding will not work.
Transplant as a way to rejuvenate
Young geraniums can be kept for 3-4 years in one container. Then the bush becomes not only cramped, it begins to lose its shape. In this case, the transplant will be an excellent way to refine and rejuvenate pelargonium.
How to rejuvenate geranium
| Option | Features of the |
| Pruning shoots | In mid-spring, the shoots on the bush are shortened, leaving columns with 5 growth points. As a result, the plant will give side shoots, and the geranium will acquire a beautiful crown. In the future, a large number of lush buds will appear. |
| Dividing the bush | The method of rejuvenation is based on the geranium transplant technique described in the subsection "How to plant a flower" |
| Seminal* | This option is rarely used - it is longer and more troublesome. First you need to get a seed from pelargonium in order to grow a new plant from it. |
Bush rejuvenation
* Not every geranium species reproduces in this way. Even if the breeding hybrid produces seeds, they are not genetic.
Planting geranium cuttings in a pot
Cutting is one of the types of propagation of indoor plants. Sometimes this is the only way to transplant a diseased flower in which the root system is affected by rot.
Novice agrarians are worried about how to plant geraniums in the ground, if it does not have roots, will it take root. If the procedure is carried out in the spring, when the plant's organism is active, then a cutting stuck in fertile soil can easily take root. Although, for the sake of fidelity, it is recommended to pre-root the shoot in one of the ways.
Geranium rooting options
| Way | Features of the |
|---|---|
| In wet sand | Coarse river sand is poured into a small container and moistened (but not filled with water). The shank is buried a little and not covered. Periodically, the sand is watered with a small amount of water, trying to prevent the liquid from getting on the leaves and stem; · If you use a plastic cup, you can see when roots appear on the shoot. After giving them 2 weeks to grow, the seedling is moved to a permanent pot |
| In water | A settled warm liquid is poured into a glass container, into which the cuttings are placed. To make rooting go actively, add a growth stimulator (3 ml per 1 liter of liquid) or a couple of succinic acid tablets. Water needs to be changed every 3 days |
Rooting in the ground
When deciding which method of rooting cuttings to choose, take into account the type of pelargonium. So, zonal geranium is good at letting roots in water, and fragrant prefers soil. The royal species also takes root better in the soil. But, compared to ivy pelargonium, this variety will take not 2 weeks, but a whole month.
Harvesting cuttings
Before planting geraniums for rooting, it is necessary to make the correct harvesting of shoots. In the process, the following recommendations are followed:
- on the bush, twigs 5-7 cm long are chosen, bearing at least 2 leaves;
- clipping is performed with a sharp knife at right angles to the shoot;
- the cuttings are allowed to lie down for 2 hours so that the slices dry out;
- then the place of injury is sprinkled with activated crushed carbon (to prevent decay).
Harvesting cuttings
The next step is rooting in one of the described ways. Until the cuttings have taken root, the container is kept away from bright sunlight at a temperature not lower than + 20 ° C.
Follow-up care
As soon as the fresh roots on the cuttings get stronger, the seedlings are placed in flower pots (as described above).The roots of the shoots are still weak, so it is more difficult for them to adapt. The main care comes down to the following points:
- the plant is transferred closer to the light, but a diffused stream is provided;
- Pelargonium is not watered often - as the soil dries up;
- in the room maintain the air temperature of about + 23-25 ° С;
- if necessary, open a window and ventilate the room, exclude drafts;
- the first 2 months of fertilization under the seedlings are not applied - geraniums have enough minerals of the fresh substrate.
When new leaves appear on the seedling, pinch the top. This will prevent the pelargonium from reaching up and stimulate it to bushiness. Taking into account all the recommendations described, it will not be difficult to grow geraniums at home.
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