When it comes to scented plants, especially those with fragrant leaves, scented geraniums are top-notch. Now, I know, strictly speaking, they're scented pelargoniums, but here in the UK, we commonly call 'em geraniums, so let's stick with that for this blog, yeah? The brilliant thing about these plants is that just a wee brush against their leaves releases scents of lemon, oak, pine, roses, or even chocolate. And what's more, they’ve got stunning flowers too – a proper win-win, I reckon.
Today’s blog/video is all about potting up these scented delights from plug plants. You might be wondering why plugs rather than seeds. Well, many scented geraniums can’t be grown from seed; instead, you’ve got to grow them from cuttings. And unless you’ve got a plant to take cuttings from, you’ve got to start somewhere, right? Plug plants are often the most cost-effective way to do just that.
What You'll Need:
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Your scented geranium plug plants.
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Some multi-purpose compost – a good quality, free-draining one.
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A pot to plant your plugs into. 9cm to 13cm pots are spot on for this.
Let's Get Potting:
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Prep Your Pots: Fill each pot with compost, leaving a bit of space at the top. A good tip is to gently tap the base of the pot on the table once it's filled. This helps the compost settle and gets rid of any air gaps. If the compost sinks a lot, just top it up a bit.
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Make the Hole: Now, make a hole in the centre of the compost, slightly bigger than the plug's root ball. This’ll let you gently place the plug in.
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Planting Time: Take each plug plant and place the root ball into the hole. Don’t squash it in; just gently place it. Once the plug’s in, “tuck in” the root ball to make sure the compost’s snug around it. This’ll help secure the plant.
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Watering: Give your plants a good watering. Now, it’s not entirely true that you can’t overwater at this stage, but the first watering when you pot something into fresh compost is crucial. Gently water the compost and wait for it to sink in. Repeat until water comes out the base of the pot.
Once You've Potted Your Scented Geraniums, Some Tips:
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Scented geraniums aren’t frost hardy. In the UK, the earliest you’ll want to put them outside is late May. The good news is they make wonderful houseplants. Grow them on a bright windowsill or in a conservatory until the weather warms up.
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Don’t be shy about feeding your scented geraniums. A light feed with a balanced plant food during the growing season will give them a boost.
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Remember, the leaves aren’t just for smelling; you can use them to flavour sugars in cakes and even make teas.
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Scented geraniums are a brilliant plant to grow at home, and following these tips will help you get the most out of these wonderfully fragrant plants. As always, feel free to ask any questions.
