Pelargonium (Pelargonium) or geranium is one of the most popular and favorite flowering herbaceous plants among flower growers with a long flowering period and a bright palette of colors and shades. Hanging pots with geraniums decorate any indoor and outdoor spaces and areas. Not only flowers look very beautiful, but also juicy green leaves. With proper care, a capricious culture will reward every plant lover with a generous lush flowering.
Types and description of ampelous geranium
Pelargonium ivy (Pelargonium peltatum) - one of the most famous and popular types of ampelous geranium. This species has South African roots and grows in the wild on hillsides, decorating vast areas with its flowing shoots. The average length of shoots is about 90 cm.Ampel geranium consists of fleshy leaves with a smooth surface of a green or variegated shade of about six centimeters in width, long peduncles and inflorescences - umbrellas, consisting of three dozen simple or double flowers of white, pink, purple, red shades , as well as with various spots, strokes and dots. The flower is shaped like a cactus or an asterisk.
Caring for ampelous pelargonium at home
Location and lighting
A place for growing ampelous geraniums must be chosen open sunny, the flower perceives direct sunlight positively. Pelargonium will need reliable protection from a slight cold snap, although severe cold will harm it less.
Watering
Surprisingly, geranium responds well to watering with milk water. Regular cow's milk must be diluted with water and watered with flowers. A drainage layer should be mandatory when growing geraniums.
Air humidity
The plant can survive the lack of moisture in the air and in the soil, but excessive moisture is contraindicated for it and can lead to death.
Important! It is strongly not recommended to wet the plants by spraying. Drops of water falling on the leaf plates will lead to rot and various infectious diseases.
The soil
A favorable soil for ampelous pelargonium will be a light fertile soil mixture (loamy) with a high content of potassium and a minimum content of nitrogen. Excess nitrogen in the soil will lead to a build-up of the leafy part of the plant and will inhibit the flowering process.
The most suitable composition of the substrate: fine river sand - one part, leafy soil, sod land, peat (lowland) - in two parts.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Additional plant nutrition in the form of complex mineral fertilizers should be applied regularly every 7-10 days, starting from the first week of March and ending with the last week of August. The nutrient solution should be diluted at a low concentration.
Transfer
The transplant is recommended after 2 years.The flower container is replaced as needed, but it is worth remembering that geraniums like to grow in a cramped pot. Instead of replanting, you can change the upper part of the substrate to a new nutrient soil.
Ampel pelargonium in winter
During the winter months, pelargonium is dormant. The aboveground part is usually removed, and the container is transferred to a bright, cool room with a temperature of about 7-8 degrees Celsius. Care consists in rare moderate watering. Two waterings per month is enough.
Geranium can continue its growth and development in the winter, if it is provided with proper conditions of detention. This requires a room temperature of 20-23 degrees Celsius, full lighting for 10-12 hours a day, soil moisture and remoteness from heating devices or central heating batteries.
Reproduction of ampelous pelargonium
Ampel geranium is a rather capricious flower and it is troublesome and laborious to grow it from seeds. The seed method of propagation is not considered popular among novice florists, it is more suitable for professionals. Cuttings are more popular.
The cut cuttings must be left for a day so that the slices dry well, after which they are treated with charcoal or activated carbon powder and planted in the soil mixture. It is recommended to pre-calcine the soil in the oven or spill it with boiling water for disinfection. The distance between plantings is 2 cm. In about a month, full-fledged roots will appear, and in the next summer season, geraniums will bloom.
