Potting Up Pelargoniums vs. Geraniums
This week I’m showing you the differences in potting up Pelargoniums and Geraniums. While the physical act of potting up the plugs is the same, the preparation and post-potting care these plants require is very different!
Pelargonium, Please.
We've recently started a campaign called Pelargonium, Please which aims to help educate people on the differences between Pelargoniums and Geraniums. For many years, Pelargoniums have been commonly known as Geraniums, despite the fact they are entirely different plants.
Geraniums as hardy perennial plants that are perfect for your borders, and will provide an amazing return on investment year-on-year.
Pelargoniums are tender, typically grown as annuals in pots and baskets, but they will flower and flower all summer long, providing the amazing burst of colour that most gardens are looking for.
What You’ll Need:
-
Pelargonium or Geranium Plug plants
-
A Pot
- Water
- Compost: with slow-release fertilizer if growing Geraniums, without if growing Pelargoniums
Step-by-Step:
- Start by filling your pot with compost almost to the top.
- Make a hole with a finger, just large enough to drop your plugs in.
- Drop the plugs in, there's no need to push them down.
- Fill in the gaps around the plug.
- Water
- If growing Geraniums, they are ready to go outside! They are frost hardy and will have no issue living out in the cold.
- If growing Pelargoniums, depending on where you live, you might need to keep them inside for a little longer, until all chances of frost have passed.
Aftercare:
Growing these plants in the same way is going to make one of them very unhappy, and can easily kill them. Keep your Pelargoniums warmer and away from frost for an unstoppable wave of colour all summer, and let your Geraniums harden up through the winter for plants that come back every year.
2 comments
Hi wow I have just learnt some new from you today
About geraniums and Patagonians like most people I thought they were exactly the same now it has answered my question that the Patagonians I lose most years though I covered them up unfortunately I do not have a greenhouse to put them in to winter but thank you so much. I always get my plants from you and they are absolutely wonderful..
Really useful information,