Geraniums need proper fertilization for their blooms to shine. We have compiled all the important facts about fertilizing for you.
Pelargoniums (Pelargonium), popularly known as geraniums, are popular balcony and garden dwellers with their rich blooms in summer. The leafy South Africans are not only beautiful to look at, but also quite undemanding when it comes to their care needs. However, they need one thing in large measure: nutrients. However, especially with pot cultures, the plants have only a few opportunities to cover their nutrient requirements with resources from the soil. Therefore, there should be no lack of appropriate, regular fertilization. Otherwise your geraniums will lack the basis for the formation of their filigree coat of flowers. With the right fertilization, on the other hand, the plants not only show their lush flowers in maximum numbers, but also for a particularly long time and with intensive colors.
Geraniums are heavy feeders - no wonder, because the delicate plants only sprout properly in spring and form shoots, which then decorate them with countless colorful flowers. This vigor consumes heaps of nutrients. Accordingly, you should also attach great importance to the fertilization of your colorful exotic plants. So that your geraniums are literally drowning in colorful flowers, we will clarify the most important questions about fertilizing geraniums: What is the best way to fertilize geraniums? How often to fertilize geraniums and when?
When to fertilize geraniums?
Geraniums are fertilized with a long-term fertilizer such as mature compost in combination with horn shavings or horn meal when they are planted or when they are repotted. Alternatively, you can place your plants in geranium soil. This contains a starter fertilization that is perfectly adapted to the needs of these flowering wonders.
The first care fertilization is then due three to four weeks after the plant fertilization. Due to their high nutrient requirements, geraniums should be given liquid fertilizer regularly every one to two weeksirrigation water are fertilized. Even if you use a long-term fertilizer that you give around February/March in the spring, you should fertilize from time to time. Because the fertilizers release their nutrients over the entire growth phase, but this does not happen evenly. Especially in summer during the flowering phase, nutrient shortages can occur. Organic fertilizer variants are particularly well suited here. Due to the complex form in which the nutrients are present, these have a natural long-term effect and do not have to be chemically treated like mineral fertilizers in order to make them available. From September to October you can then reduce the fertilizer supply. In the winter quarters, fertilizer is then no longer applied. The plants are dormant at this time and therefore have little need for nutrients.
What fertilizer to use for geraniums?
When fertilizing geraniums, it is very easy and safe to use a special fertilizer for exactly this plant species. This offers a high nutrient concentration and a lot of iron for the hungry plants. But a fertilizer for flowering or balcony plants is sufficient and is usually even cheaper and more universally applicable. Geraniums are usually not the only flowers on the balcony at home. You should make sure that the potassium content is greater than the nitrogen content. Otherwise, your geraniums put most of their energy into developing shoots and leaves, but not into the blossom. In addition, a little phosphate - and the basic needs of your geraniums are covered. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is ideal for supplying your geraniums and other flowering plants. It offers extra potassium and phosphate for long, lush flowering and intense flower colors. In the process, predominantly organic components of impeccable organic quality are used in the production. As a result, the nutrients are released into the soil over a long period of time, because they first have to be converted by soil organisms. In this way you are doing them a favor and ensuring he althy soil life. And such, in turn, improves the soil quality and supports your plants twice over.
The supply of other minerals and trace elements is also important. Although these are usually present in sufficient quantities in the soil, pot cultures only have a limited storage volume and are therefore quickly depleted. This is particularly the case with iron and magnesiumdeficiency symptoms quickly occur. However, an iron deficiency is more often caused by incorrect soil pH than by an actual deficiency. Make sure that the soil pH value for geraniums is between 5.5 and 6.0. Here the iron is present in sufficiently large quantities in the form that plants can absorb. If the value increases too much, fertilizing with coffee grounds or Epsom s alt will help. The addition of Epsom s alt not only lowers the soil pH value, but also provides the plants with sufficient magnesium. This is needed to build chlorophyll, the green leaf pigment. The addition of magnesium not only ensures a lush green leaf, it also makes the plants less susceptible to diseases and pests.
Fertilize geraniums correctly: Instructions for ideal application
However, the right fertilization does not only include the choice of a suitable fertilizer. You should also choose the dosage, application and the intervals between fertilization professionally. Depending on the selected fertilizer - i.e. organic or mineral - there are some differences in handling to be considered.
Fertilize geraniums organically
Organic fertilization means doing something for the environment, because natural fertilizers such as compost or manure, but also organic fertilizers from specialist shops, are produced in a resource-saving and sustainable manner. They also provide your geraniums with the required nutrients much more gently than the mineral variant, but just as efficiently, because the ingredients are only gradually released in the soil through a conversion process. This reduces the risk of over-fertilization, which in the worst case can lead to the death of the plant. This makes organic fertilizers much easier to use. Nevertheless, you can't just randomly distribute a few hands in the bed here either. In order for the fertilization to be successful, we have put together instructions on how to use our Plantura organic flower fertilizer, which comes from almost exclusively organic sources, below.
- Before planting, work 100 - 150 g/m² (well-filled 0.2 liter glass) of our Plantura organic flower fertilizer into the top layer of soil
- Water the soil and freshly planted geranium well so that the granules can be easily loosened
- For maintenance fertilization in spring, you should fertilize another 80 - 120 g/m² (0.2 liter glass) per plant
Be careful not to wet the leaves and flowers when watering after fertilizing. The moisture provides an ideal soil for a fungal infestation. In poor soils it is advisable toimprove with rock flour. This is rich in minerals and trace elements. In this way, your geraniums are primarily supplied with the iron and magnesium that are important to them. Note, however, that rock flour raises the soil pH value. Therefore you should dose rather small.
Fertilize geraniums with minerals
Geraniums need a constantly high supply of nutrients. Mineral fertilizers can therefore be exactly the right thing for your geraniums in terms of their active principle. These fertilizers are highly concentrated and usually immediately available to the plant. However, you should bear in mind that the nutrients are not only quickly available to the plant due to their water solubility, but also quickly find their way into the groundwater. With this and the complex manufacturing process, they pollute the environment much more than the use of organic fertilizers. However, if you do want to use a mineral product, you should never ignore the manufacturer's instructions regarding dosage, even for plants with ravenous appetites such as geraniums. Otherwise, burns will quickly occur in the fine root area and your geraniums will suffer. When using blue grain, you should dissolve one tablespoon of the granules in 10 liters of water. You can then use this solution for watering once a week.
You can find more information about caring for geraniums in our special article.