Pelargoniums were counted in the genus “Geranium” until the late 18th century. This name has persisted to this day. The difference: geraniums are hardy garden perennials, while pelargoniums are perennial but not frost-resistant.
Watering tips for balcony geraniums (Pelargonium)
A very important aspect of caring for balcony geraniums is correct watering. Also or precisely because pelargoniums cope well with blazing sun, they need to be watered regularly. They can actually store water in their thick stems. Nevertheless, they need plenty of fluids for rapid, he althy growth. If the plants receive too little water, this will affect their ability to bloom. In other words, they then become lazy to bloom.
They must not dry out completely, especially in midsummer. Then it may even be necessary to water in the morning and evening. At the same time, they must not stand in water either. This means that waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. A constantly slightly moist soil is ideal. If it happens that the soil is completely dry, the first step is to immerse the pot in the water until no more air bubbles appear.
Finding the right size when pouring
Geraniums should always be watered carefully. Although they need plenty of water, they cannot tolerate waterlogging. While too little watering will result in growth or flowering problems, too much watering could cause diseases to develop or the geranium to begin to rot. The balcony geraniums should also be fertilized every two to three weeks when watering - provided no long-term fertilizer was added to the soil when planting. In this way, the nutrient requirements of the pelargoniums can be adequately covered. Both special geranium fertilizers and normal liquid complete fertilizers for flowering plants can be used.
Always water from below
Even if wet leaves cannot really be prevented when it rains, unless the geraniums are under cover, the water should always be poured into the soil from below when watering. Watering over large areas - perhaps even over the leaves - should definitely be avoided. This can have dire consequences, such as bacterial wilt. If the balcony boxes with geraniums are on a south-facing balcony, it is recommended to water them twice: in the morning before the sun shines on them and in the evening shortly before the sun goes down again.
Better look twice
If brown rings can be seen on the leaves, this may be an indication of incorrect watering. In this way, pest infestation of geraniums can also become noticeable. Especially if the plants grow in balcony boxes, they can dry out quickly if watered irregularly. A quick change between too wet and too dry can cause such brown and sometimes reddish rings on the outer edges of the leaves.
Good drainage is important
Geraniums usually don't mind if they aren't watered enough. In order to prevent permanent waterlogging, good water drainage is important. Flower boxes and pots must definitely have openings in the bottom. Saucers can sometimes be out of place when it comes to good water drainage because they prevent the water from escaping properly and the plants still have wet feet.
