Geranium Blog

Attack of the Budworms

Oh, the heartbreak! Actually, it's not that bad - only three zonal geraniums are involved and none of the scented geraniums. I sprayed all of them with BT on Friday. This article - Budworm--Bad Bug - suggests also using an insecticide with pyrethrin, changing the potting soil in the fall and handpicking the worms in the evening.

The Pelargonium in Winter

I've heard from a couple of people who wondered how to keep their geraniums over the winter. Unfortunately, I am blissfully ignorant of such matters. I overwinter my geraniums outside. Fortunately, I found a great article on the subject from the University of Illinois Extension:

Tips offered for keeping geraniums through the winter

"It is foolish to try to save diseased plants, but healthy and vigorous plants do have a good chance of surviving the winter with some care," says David Robson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

It turns out, the choices for overwintering pelargoniums in cold climates are three:

• Bring them indoors as potted plants
• Start cuttings indoors
• Make them go dormant

Read the article for the details.

Helpful Resources on Geranium Disease

Here are two interesting articles about diseases of pelargoniums:

Geranium Diseases - Identification and Control in Landscapes and Indoor Settings

Diseases of Geranium

Of course, nobody wants to think about this stuff. Unless you have a greenhouse full of geraniums, why bother? The thing that really caught my attention was the emphasis on prevention. These nasty problems can be so easily prevented with good plant culture:

• Start with clean pots and clean soil
• Leave room between plants for proper air circulation
• Water the soil, not the leaves
• Water early in the day
• Remove diseased plants and plant parts quickly
• Excellent drainage

March Geranium To Do List

March certainly did arrive like a lion, but I now feel confident of Spring's imminent arrival. Might as well do something constructive while enjoying the opportunity to get outside in nice weather! Here is my list of garden tasks for scented geraniums across the southern United States:

• Pruning and clean-up should be complete. If not, get busy! Remove any dead or unhealthy leaves and stems.
• Root cuttings from your prunings. You can ensure that you always have a lovely gift plant ready for the right occasion and prevent the tragic unexpected loss of a beloved plant by having backups.
• Repot or transplant as needed. If not repotting, add a bit of fresh potting soil to the pot to replace any soil that has washed out over time.
• Fertilize! Your pelargoniums need a boost of good nutrition to start growing anew. I use Miracle Gro 15-30-15 mixed 1 Tbsp/gallon water every 2 or 3 weeks. My mother swears by the time release plant food for her container plants. Follow the directions of whatever you choose to use and maybe use a little restraint.
• Visit the Links page. I have added new links for scented geranium recipes and crafts. You're going to say, "I could do that!"