2 Reasons for Red Leaves on a Geranium

When cool temperatures aren’t the cause of red leaves on a geranium, it may be time to think about your watering habits. Geranium plants have low water requirements and red geranium leaves are often caused by overwatering. Geraniums can also produce red leaves from insufficient watering.

1 – Excessive watering

• Red leaves on a pelargonium plant are often a sign that it is receiving too much water. These plants need very little water and should be planted in well-drained, low-moisture soil.
• Pelargoniums in a pot with a saucer under the pot often suffer from waterlogging and will develop red leaves. If overwatering or waterlogging is not corrected, pelargoniums will drop leaves and die.

2 – Stress

• Red leaves on a geranium are a sign that the plant is stressed in some way. While the bright red coloring of stressed geraniums can be very attractive, it is a sign of concern. Red geranium leaves can be a symptom of minor problems, such as over or under watering, nutrient deficiencies or cool temperatures. However, geranium leaves turning red can also mean more serious problems.
• The most common reason for red leaves on a geranium is cool temperatures. This can happen in spring or fall when these heat-loving plants are shocked by fluctuating temperatures and cold nighttime temperatures. In the spring, this problem will often manifest itself as temperatures begin to warm up. However, pot-grown geraniums may need to be brought indoors when low temperatures are expected and geraniums in beds may need to be covered. In fall, red-leafed geraniums can be left for added fall color. However, if you want to overwinter geraniums, you need to remove the red leaves and move the plant indoors.