Zonal Geranium
- Botanical Name
- Pelargonium x hortorum
- Hardiness
- Tender annual
- Height
- 12 to 20 inches
- Width
- 12 inches
- Flowers
- Summer till frost: reds, pinks, white, coral, bi-colored, salmon
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained
- Planting & Care
- Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart
- Deadhead to encourage continual bloom
- Mulch to keep roots cool
- Geraniums can be wintered indoors. Take 3 to 4 cuttings and root in moist vermiculite or a well-drained potting mix. I find setting the pot in a plastic bag left open increases the humidity to encourage rooting without leading to rot. Once rooted, they can be moved to their permanent container, placed in a sunny location and grow as a houseplant.
- You can also bring the whole plant indoors and raise it like a houseplant. Grow in a bright, sunny window or under artificial lights and keep the soil moist. Don't be alarmed if the plant drops most of its leaves. It will soon send out new leaves more suited for its indoor location.
- A third, but less successful method for overwintering geranium, is dormant storage. Place plants in a cool dark location for winter. In spring place them in a warm, sunny location. Prune back to four inches, water and wait to fertilize until new growth appears.
- Problems
- Bacterial leaf spot, black leg, botrytis blight, stem rots, rust, oedema
- Varieties
- Freckles - pink with dark rose centers, compact, 1991 AAS winner
- Black Magic Series - chocolate colored leaves
- Bulls Eye - dark green with light green edged leaves, 14-16"
- Ivy Geranium - P. odoratissiumum
- Scented Geraniums - P. odoratissimum, P. graveolens, P. tomentosum
- Regal or Martha Washington - P. domesticum
Related Content
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL
April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI
April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now
May 4, 2024
Garden U 2024
New Richmond, WI
Register now
May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now
May 11, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 12, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 1, 2024
Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Caring for Hydrangeas
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 5, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Under-Appreciated Pollinators
Register now
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More