It is difficult to find a grower who has never encountered room pelargonium. A beautiful, fragrant and brightly flowering plant with very juicy and lush greenery leaves few people indifferent. Today we will tell you about the varieties of pelargonium, caring for it and the reproduction features of this plant. This article will be useful for both beginners and more experienced growers.
Description
Pelargonium is a perennial plant belonging to the geranium family. But do not confuse this plant with the geranium itself, which is quite frost-resistant. It can be grown exclusively at home. Pelargonium, which is considered to be the birthplace of India and Africa, does not tolerate cold weather. For its beauty and a lot of useful properties, the plant fell in love with many flower growers, and therefore it has been grown for more than a century.
Pelargonium has bilaterally symmetrical flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences. The fruits of this plant are oblong boxes, narrowing towards the top, which is why they resemble the shape of a beak.stork. That is why the plant was given such a name - from the word pelargos, which is translated from Greek as "stork". Pelargonium leaves are whole, dissected and lobed.
Some varieties of this plant have a rather interesting ability. They not only accumulate and store moisture in the stems and roots, but also shed excess greenery under adverse conditions. This reduces the evaporation area and significantly saves water consumption.
Pelargonium varieties
Today, more than 280 species of this plant are known. In this section, we offer to get acquainted with the most popular.
- Zonal Pelargonium. The flowers of this variety have two- or three-colored petals, marked with a dotted pattern. Sometimes on the petal you can find a pattern in the form of an egg print, which has a darker color than the main color. Some of the most famous varieties of this variety are: Alice, Connie, Tuscany and Flamenco. Plant height varies from 10 to 100 centimeters.
- Royal Pelargoniums. Caring for such flowers is quite troublesome and time-consuming, but it is rewarded with gorgeous flowering. Subject to a constantly warm air temperature of at least +10 ° C and other care requirements, the plant is covered with large flowers with wavy petals.
- Pink pelargonium. About 170 varieties of this rather large plant (about a meter in height) are known. This variety is characterized by large and dense leaves, as well as lushinflorescences, consisting of 12 flowers. This species was widely used to isolate essential oil in 19th century France.
- Fragrant Pelargonium. A plant with a very pleasant and persistent aroma, which exude double flowers of stunning beauty. Breeders have bred varieties with aromas of pine needles, strawberries, roses and even coconut. This variety is bred just for essential oils, and not for the beauty of flowers.
- Pelargonium ivy has dark green leaves, shaped like ivy. The inflorescences are semi-double and have a brush-like appearance. A fairly wide range of colors (from milky to almost black) makes this type of pelargonium more popular. Caring for it differs little from other varieties.
Helpful advice
When purchasing an already adult plant, do not rush to immediately put a pot of pelargonium next to other flowers. First you need to carefully inspect the plant for any pest infestation or signs of disease. Only after making sure that it is in good condition, it is permissible to install the pot in a permanent place and continue caring for the flower. If the plant is infected or sick, then first you need to treat it. In the following sections, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the conditions for growing pelargonium. Caring for her will not cause you much trouble, but will only bring you pleasure.
Comfortable temperature and lighting
The optimal temperature limit for comfortable growth of pelargonium is from +20 °С to +25 °С in summer and from +12 °С to +15 °С in winter. In addition, the cultivation of pelargonium requires constantfresh and slightly humid air.
The plant is not only warm, but also photophilous, however, on hot and sunny days, it is better to put the flower pot in the shade for a while. This measure is taken to avoid burns on the leaves and delicate petals. But in winter, on the contrary, it is important to organize additional artificial lighting. With a lack of light, the plant will begin to fade and dry, flowering will slow down or not begin at all.
Soil
The soil for planting pelargonium should be loose and light, able to pass fresh air and absorb water well. A small content of sand or pelite in the composition of the soil is desirable, the acidity of which should be neutral. Slightly acidic soil is allowed, but with a low nitrogen content, which will cause excessive growth of greenery. For beginner gardeners, it is better to purchase a ready-made soil mixture, for more experienced growers, we advise you to prepare the following composition yourself:
- 10 pieces of soil;
- 1 part crushed moss;
- 1 part fine sand;
- 0, 5 parts of humus.
Pelargonium as a whole is a fairly unpretentious plant, but there are some features of its cultivation, which we will discuss later.
Water and fertilize
Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, watering pelargonium has different modes. For example, in the summer, during the active growth phase, frequent watering is required. Water the plant every day or every other day, and so as not to overmoistensoil - otherwise the root system will begin to rot, and the pelargonium will die. Winter watering is reduced both in frequency and quantity by several times. Water the plant in the cold season no more than twice a month. Spraying flowers and leaves is also undesirable for this plant.
From the beginning of spring to the end of autumn (vegetative period), pelargonium must be fertilized at least twice a month. Before fertilizing, the soil is moistened, and the fertilizer itself is preferably chosen in liquid form. Nitrogen and phosphorus supplements are used to increase the growth of greenery, and potassium supplements are used to stimulate flowering.
Cutting
Pelargonium needs pruning to form and rejuvenate the bush, as well as to stimulate lush and beautiful flowering. The pruning procedure is carried out until the shoots become too long and elongated.
The cutting knife must be very sharp and must be disinfected. The shoot is shortened by cutting at an acute angle above the knot. It is necessary to monitor the he alth and proper development of shoots throughout the cultivation of pelargonium. With a strong growth, they begin to interfere with each other. In addition, by cutting young shoots, you direct their growth in the right direction.
Transfer
For long-term cultivation of pelargonium at home, periodic transplantation is important. Young plants need a pot change every two years. This frequency is due to the active growth and development of the root system, which fills the entire pot and slows down the process.flowering.
The plant is transplanted in the first half of March. Kai and when planting, pelargonium requires drainage and fertile soil. A layer of small pebbles is poured onto the bottom of the pot, after which the pelargonium is removed from the old pot and placed in a new one with an earthy clod. To make it easier to remove the flower, water it a little and gently tap the bottom of the pot. After transplanting, moistened soil is poured into free places, the plant is watered and sent to a shaded place for several days. After 6-7 days after transplantation, the plant returns to its usual place. The first feeding should be carried out no earlier than two months later.
Landing in open ground
For residents of warm regions, growing pelargonium in open ground is quite possible. But when decorating a summer cottage or garden plot with flowering pelargonium, some features of the process should be taken into account.
The plant should be planted in well-lit areas, but a little shading will not be superfluous. The close location of groundwater can be detrimental to the flower, as excessive soil moisture leads to its decay. The soil for planting should be sufficiently loose, with a light texture and the presence of drainage.
In autumn, when loosening the soil, mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied to it. Drying out the soil is just as unacceptable as excessive moisture. Therefore, watering should be regular, but moderate. For the winter, it is better to dig up pelargonium with its further transfer to the room for the entire cold period.
Reproductionseeds
For the propagation of pelargonium by seed, the most ordinary wooden boxes or plastic containers are used. When planting in this way, it is permissible to use purchased universal soil - it has all the necessary nutrients. Seeds are planted at a small distance from each other, the depth of occurrence should not be more than a centimeter. After planting, the seeds are well shed with water and put the box in a well-lit and warm place. The optimal temperature for growing seedlings is not lower than +20°C.
In anticipation of the first sprouts, systematically moisten the soil. The first shoots appear no earlier than a week after planting. When two or three leaves appear on each sprout, they are transplanted into separate pots.
Cutting
Reproduction of pelargonium is possible in another way. For the preparation of cuttings, a strong and he althy plant is chosen that does not have strong branching. Cuttings are cut before flowering, best of all - in March. Each stalk is cut at an angle of 90 °, and so that there are several knots on it. For ten hours, the cuttings are dried, after which they are planted in the soil and covered with a jar to create the effect of a greenhouse. To avoid the process of decay, it is important to maintain a temperature of about +23 ° C. Three weeks after planting, the cuttings are well rooted and ready to be transplanted into separate pots. Pots for growing young plants should have a diameter notless than 14 centimeters. Pelargonium begins to bloom in the first year after planting.
Medicinal uses
Due to the richest composition of nutrients, pelargonium is actively used in medicine and cosmetology. The high content of vitamins, pectin, tannins, phytoncides, tannins and essential oils makes this plant almost indispensable. Valuable substances are found not only in branches and leaves, but also in roots and flowers.
In the pharmacy you can find an extract of this plant, isolated from the essential oil and stems, which is sold in the form of tablets. Decoctions and infusions of pelargonium are often used to prevent and treat certain diseases. Among them: infertility, high blood pressure, problems with blood circulation and digestion, prolonged bleeding and inflammation. However, essential oils should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.
Extract from pelargonium is used to prepare a serum that neutralizes snake venom. In addition, this plant helps to cope with insomnia and headaches. And also its infusions are used to treat skin diseases and burns. It also speeds up the healing of various wounds and skin lesions. A decoction of the leaves is used for a runny nose, sore throat and otitis media.
In cosmetology, pelargonium is actively used in the fight against cellulite and to strengthen hair. Creams with geranium extract significantly rejuvenate the skin. And the softened leaves of this plant are used to control ticks in pets.
