Pelargonium beloved and popular

Send

Pelargonium is a favorite and very popular houseplant. Pelargonium (Pelargonium) Is a genus of plants of the geranium family. Pelargonium is often called geranium in everyday life. South Africa is considered to be the birthplace of pelargonium, from where it came to Europe and then to Russia from the savannah several centuries ago. Pelargonium (geranium) immediately took root in the homes of nobles and other nobles, and then spread among the people. The plant has established itself as unpretentious, cold-resistant and, most importantly, blooming most of the time with beautiful lush inflorescences. Since that time, this plant has taken its rightful place on the windowsill.

Pelargonium at home

However, pelargonium grows not only behind glass, but also serves as a decoration for balconies and even garden beds. Growing on the windowsill, it delights the human eye with its beautiful colors, and also releases bactericidal substances into the air, which destroy harmful microorganisms that multiply so actively in our apartments. Essential oils contained in the leaves of Pelargonium have a beneficial effect on human health, soothe their psyche, reduce pressure and normalize heart rate, support for depression and menopause. Pelargonium leaves well help as a compress for radiculitis, otitis media, osteochondrosis, migraine.

Varieties of some pelargonium have a pleasant aroma that carries apple, orange, lemon and other pleasant fragrant motifs, which makes it even more beloved, and there is no need to talk about the splendor of inflorescences and the diversity of their color. It is impossible to enumerate all the color schemes, it is only worth noting that there is no pelargonium of real yellow and blue.

Pelargonium cultivation

Propagation of pelargonium

To grow pelargonium under the power of any person. It is propagated by stem cuttings that can be harvested year-round, but pelargonium is best established in spring and summer. Cuttings are cut from the tops or from the side shoots, and the latter give roots much faster. The stalk should have at least three leaves and be about 5-10 cm. Pelargonium cuttings are placed in water or stuck in wet sand a few hours after the cut, and the first roots appear within a week and a half.

You can plant the stalk immediately after cutting to a permanent place in a convenient pot. Pelargonium soil is suitable from a mixture of turf, sand, humus and leafy soil. Everything is taken in equal parts, with the exception of sand, it takes half as much. Large and small pebbles are laid at the bottom of the pot. This will serve as a ballast, and will not allow stagnation of water in the bottom of the pot.

Which pot to choose for pelargonium?

Pelargonium pot should be selected small, this will contribute to rapid flowering. On the contrary, a large pot will lead to the fact that pelargonium will begin to intensively develop shoots with large leaves, but practically will not bloom. Pelargonium does not like transplants and can grow in the same pot for many years.

Pelargonium Care

Pelargonium care is not complicated. It must be systematically and abundantly watered, but at the same time not waterlogged land.

In winter, pelargonium is watered much less often and kept in a cool place. The optimum temperature at this time of year for pelargonium is about + 15 degrees. Coolness, diffused light and peace stimulate pelargonium for rapid flowering throughout spring, summer and autumn.

With the advent of spring, pelargonium is transferred to a warm sunny place where it begins its intensive growth. Usually, the pelargonium bush reaches a height of 50-60 cm. The tops of the pelargonium must be pinched. This will give the growth of side shoots, which will allow to create a bushiness of the plant. In addition, inflorescences with very large flowers will immediately begin to form on the side shoots.

In summer, pelargonium is recommended to be taken out to the balcony, to fresh air. It should be noted that it is not worth spraying the leaves of pelargonium with water. This plant does not like such wet care. Systematically, pelargonium needs to remove yellowing leaves and wilted inflorescences. Pelargonium is responsive to soil loosening, while the root system is strengthened.

Pelargonium Disease

Pelargonium is rarely sick, diseases usually develop due to abundant watering and lack of fresh air. At the same time, a dark spot forms near the rhizome, which softens the stem tissue. In this case, the plant is destroyed. To prevent the development of gray rot, blackfoot and other fungal diseases, pelargonium should be treated with a fungicide once a year.

Pelargonium is good for everyone! And she will never go out of fashion, no matter how hard they try to force her out of the window-sill newfangled indoor plants. Pelargonium can even be called an old-timer among indoor flowers. And if you do not have this interesting plant at home, then it's time to start it. Do not disappoint! That's for sure!