How to make geraniums bloom profusely

Geraniums are among the most popular and sought after plants . If cared for properly, they give us beautiful and very colorful flowers. You will surely have seen balconies full of flowering geraniums, perhaps wondering why your geranium plant doesn’t bloom in the same way.

One of the most common reasons why geraniums stop flowering is their exposure to very cold temperatures, with frost or wind. Geraniums should be protected by placing them indoors during the coldest days. But this is not the only cause of your geraniums not flowering : below we list some tricks.

Put them in an area with light

These beautiful plants cannot flower unless they get the right amount of natural light i.e. sunlight. The light at home, the artificial one, is not intense enough to stimulate the growth of geraniums. But be careful: do not put geraniums in direct sunlight if they are in a shady environment, they could suffer the drastic change and die.

That said, it’s important to know that geraniums can flower even in partial shade (not in total shade), so don’t be discouraged if you live in an apartment that isn’t adequately exposed to the sun’s rays.

Give the plant the right space to grow

When we buy a geranium plant and bring it home, we have to assume that it has been in the same pot for a very long time. Precisely for this reason, the plant should be transplanted into a larger pot, to give the roots the right space and the possibility of obtaining nutrients from a greater quantity of soil.

As they grow, the plants must be transplanted into larger pots, otherwise the plant will not flower or even die.

Fertilize your geraniums

If your geraniums are planted in pots, it is recommended to fertilize them in spring and summer. Once they reach their maximum size (geraniums are relatively small plants), it will no longer be necessary to transplant them and it is precisely for this reason that they need fertilization, which can be:

• organic fertilizer : you can choose any of compost, humus, guano, manure, egg or banana shells. A handful is enough for each plant;
• chemical fertilizers : to make your geraniums bloom you can opt for fertilizers produced specifically for this type of plant.

Water only when it is really necessary

It may seem like generic advice, yet giving the geranium plant the right amount of water is essential for its flowering. Controlling the frequency of irrigation is not easy: there are many factors to take into account, such as the climate of the area where you live, the type of soil or the size of the pot.

Geraniums don’t like completely dry soil, but excessively moist soil could permanently damage them. The topsoil layer dries out quickly, while the one closest to the roots stays wet for a longer period of time.

For this reason it is important to check the humidity of the soil and this can be done by inserting a wooden stake in it.

Prevent the arrival of the geranium butterfly

The geeranium butterfly is an insect that causes a lot of damage to our favorite plants. During its larval stage it pierces the stems and eats the insides, blocking the growth and flowering of the plant.

There are targeted products to prevent and combat the geranium butterfly. Ask your trusted nursery.

Prune the geraniums

An excellent trick to preserve the health of geraniums is to prune them in late winter, to encourage the growth of more stems and, consequently, more flowers. These prunings don’t have to be drastic: just reduce the length of the stems by a few centimetres. Remember to use a clean, sharp knife or scissors.

Important: This website does not give medical advice, nor does it suggest the use of techniques as a form of treatment for physical problems, for which medical advice is required. In case you decide to apply the information contained in this site, the same does not assume responsibility. The intention of the site is to be illustrative, not exhortative or didactic.