FEATURESTORY
Geraniums are a Great Greenhouse Plant
◆ ◆ Fruit
Common Name: Geranium
Light Needs: High light, with full sun during win-
ter.
Best Temperature: Average room temperature.
Water and Humidity Needs: Allow the soil to dry
between waterings and for best results, use distilled
water or rainwater.
Growing Guidelines: Use heavy, sandy mix in
small pots and re-pot in spring as needed. Fertilize
monthly from spring to summer only.
Common Problems: Low light or too much or too
little water can cause leaves to yellow. Over fertilizing
can prevent the flowers from blooming.
Propagation: Tip cuttings in summer.
Additional: They bloom best when slightly pot
bound.
Fun Facts about Geraniums
◆ ◆ Their leaves often smell of peppermint, chocolate
or other fragrances but the flowers can also be
odorless.
◆ ◆ Geranium can reach from 6 inches to 3 - 4 feet in
height, depending on the species.
◆ ◆ Geranium develops elongated, palmately divided
leaves with serrated edges. Most species of gera-
nium have green leaves. Some varieties develop
yellow, orange or red-colored leaves.
◆ ◆ Geranium produces individual flowers that can be
white, red, pink, purple or blue colored. Some va-
rieties of geranium produce double blooms (flow-
ers with 2 or more rows of extra petals).
◆ ◆ Geranium blooms from early spring until the late
autumn. The flowers are a rich source of nectar
which attracts bees, bumblebees, flies and beetles,
which are responsible for the pollination of these
plants.
36
of geranium is elongated capsule with a
beak-like tip. Capsule is filled with 5 seed. It
resembles the crane’s bill, hence the nickname
“cranesbill”. Ripe fruit splits explosively and ejects
seed away from the mother plant.
◆ ◆ Geranium propagates via seed and cuttings.
◆ ◆ Flowers of geranium are good source of essential
oils that can be used for the removal of scars from
the surface of the skin. The root of geranium con-
tains compounds that are effective in treatment of
excessive bleeding, conjunctivitis, retinal disorders
and hemorrhoids. Root also has antiseptic proper-
ties (prevents growth of harmful microorganisms)
and ability to relieve symptoms of diarrhea and
irritable bowel syndrome. Extract of geranium root
is available in the form of capsules and tinctures.
◆ ◆ Flowers of some types of geranium have rose-like
scent. Essential oils extracted from those plants
are used for the manufacture of artificial rose oil
in the perfume industry. Rose-scented geraniums
can be also used as flavoring agent for jellies and
cakes.
◆ ◆ Leaves of geranium can be used for the prepara-
tion of tea.
◆ ◆ Citronella-scented geranium repels mosquitoes
and can be used as natural insect repellent, in-
stead of chemical, industrially manufactured insec-
ticides.
◆ ◆ Geranium belongs to the group of low-mainte-
nance plants. It is frequently cultivated in gardens
because of its ornamental, colorful flowers.
◆ ◆ Geranium grows as annual (lifespan: one year), bi-
ennial (lifespan: 2 years) or perennial plant (lifes-
pan: more than 2 years), depending on the species
and climate.
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
November 2018