They are the classic balcony flowers and are now available in numerous interesting varieties: geraniums. However, you should not confuse these with cranesbills (botanical: geranium), because the common term "geranium" is actually incorrect. Instead, they are pelargoniums that are originally native to South Africa. These can easily be propagated by cuttings or sowing.
After rooting, the young plants are planted in larger containers
In late summer: propagate geraniums by cuttings
Are you one of those balcony gardeners who buy new geraniums every year? You can save yourself these expenses, because the flowers can easily be propagated by cuttings. In this way, you can create numerous offspring from your proven favorite geraniums, which will lavishly beautify your balcony in the following year. The best month to propagate geraniums is August.
- Cut or break off side shoots of a geranium about 10 to 15 centimeters long.
- These should have neither buds nor flowers,
- as these rob the plant of its strength and make rooting more difficult.
- Remove all but the top two leaves from the shoot.
- Plant the cuttings in a pot with a soil-sand mixture,
- ideally in a ratio of 2:1 (2 parts flower or compost soil, 1 part sand)
- The cuttings should be about an inch deep in the substrate.
- Water them vigorously
- and put them in a bright and warm place (e.g. on the windowsill),
- at best in a greenhouse.
- Keep the substrate moist
- and overwinter the small geraniums indoors.
From February you can transplant the then rooted young plants into larger pots.
Do not use soft shoots
As a rule, geraniums should not be propagated by soft but half-ripe shoots - you can recognize them by their brown colour. Young geranium shoots that are still green rot quickly and are therefore not suitable for growing new plants.
For the patient: Grow your own geraniums from seeds
Anyone who enjoys growing their own plants from seed can grow both standing and hanging geraniums from seed. You can get the seeds from specialist retailers, but also from hardware stores and garden centers. Start growing in January, but no later than the beginning of February.
Sowing geraniums: step-by-step instructions
- Sow the seeds in potting soil.
- Geraniums germinate in the sun, so only cover them lightly with soil.
- Place the seed pots in an indoor greenhouse
- or cover them with clear film.
- Keep the substrate slightly moist
- and ventilate at least once a day.
- The optimal germination temperature is between 20 and 22 °C.
- Transplant the young plants into nutrient-rich compost.
tips
Do not put the young plants outside straight away in spring, but slowly get used to the unusual outside temperatures.