Appreciated for its beautiful regular flowers throughout the summer and for its evergreen, fleshy, rigid leaves, from a beautiful soft to dark green, geraniums must be repotted – if you keep them for ‘one year after the next – so that they can develop properly and reveal all their beauty during the summer. If you don’t know how to do it, follow this little guide.
Which geraniums to report?
The geraniums that we are talking about here rather concerns pelargonium, wrongly commonly called geranium, although they are two distinct species. Pelargoniums are perennial plants native to South Africa, but in our latitudes, they do not withstand our harsh winters and are often grown as annuals. For this reason, to preserve them from one year to the next, many gardeners take care to bring their geraniums in before winter, in the fall, in a room that is sufficiently light, but cool (10 to 12°C). ) by watering them almost not, just the minimum so that they don’t die.
The perennial geranium ( Geranium spp. ), often used as a ground cover, braves both drought and cold since it resists down to -20°C. It is therefore often grown in the ground and therefore requires neither protection from the cold in winter nor repotting. We will therefore not be interested in him in this matter.
When to report your geraniums?
Pelargoniums bring an unrivaled decorative colorful touch to terraces or balconies, despite their somewhat outdated charm if you limit yourself to the most common varieties. Among the many cultivars available from nurseries and garden centers, you can find unusual geraniums with single or double flowers, variegated foliage with surprising designs, surprising scents in fragrant pelargoniums, and of course plain or two-colored flowers. , in a very rich color palette: red, pink, white, purple, purple, etc.
Of course, when they are planted in a planter or pot, after a few years, they may not only feel cramped, but above all lack nutrients, which will limit their flowering and therefore alter their beauty. In this context, repotting will have to be carried out.
The operation is particularly necessary if you noticed at the end of last season that the plant was no longer developing correctly, that its leaves had a tendency to yellow, or, quite simply, if you saw that its roots were coming out of the pot. These signs show that the dimensions of his current pot no longer suit his size.
Note that spring is ideal for repotting, this season corresponding to the resumption of vegetation. Take on this mission when you take your pots out of the outbuilding, garden shed, or garage where the geraniums spent the winter. Please note, that it is prohibited to do this during the winter because the plants are resting.
Before you start repotting the geraniums, check that they are still alive! It happens that some cannot tolerate wintering and freeze despite good protection: you will quickly notice this because they show no sign of recovery and if you unload them, you will have confirmation…
Choosing the right pot to report geraniums
Before starting the actual repotting, it is first necessary to choose the right type of pot. Its dimension must correspond to the size of the foliage. The plant must be able to remain in balance even in windy conditions. Generally, it is estimated that a plant should be in a pot whose diameter or height corresponds to 2/3 of the stem height, or approximately 2 to 3cm more in diameter than the previous pot. That gives you an idea. Do not go and buy an oversized pot, which will have an unsightly and disproportionate effect while providing nothing more since part of the substrate will not be used for the still-too-modest root system.
Unless you are planting several geraniums in planters, large pots, or bulky recycling containers, it is better to choose a terracotta pot model which offers better stability than plastic or resin pots.
Choosing quality potting soil for repotting geraniums
Concerning the soil, it must be adapted to the needs of the geraniums, which explains why garden centers sell “special geranium” soil! You can opt for this solution, but you also have the possibility of preparing your substrate suitable for geraniums, by mixing:
- 1/3 of good garden soil,
- 1/3 of ordinary potting soil,
- 1/3 of well-decomposed compost.
You will see that your geraniums will start again and grow wonderfully in this mixture, rich enough for the needs of the geraniums.
Report your geranium correctly
Once the pot and soil have been chosen, you can begin repotting, taking care to clean the pot well if it is a pot that you have already used: this will avoid transmitting diseases.
- Take the new pot then place a layer of gravel at the bottom to facilitate drainage.
- Then, fill the pot three-quarters with the previously prepared geranium soil, and form a hole with your hand.
- To get the plant out of the old pot,
- Hold the stem of the geranium between your fingers and turn the pot over, which should allow the plant to slide; you can tap the bottom of the pot or push through the hole in the pot, especially if the roots are sticking out. Gently pull the geranium, making sure to support the base of the stems.
- Loosen the roots slightly by carefully breaking up the clump, or use an old fork or claw.
- You can cut part of the roots if they are too large, so they will renew themselves, which also benefits the geranium.
- Place the plant in the shaped hole then add new potting soil to finish filling the pot. Be sure to pack it well because the watering you do afterward will lower the level of the soil.
- The last step consists of pruning the geranium to remove dry leaves and prune the stems in a balanced manner, to 10-12cm in height, even if shoots have already developed higher. Don’t worry, it won’t take long for several new shoots to appear harmoniously.
Before placing your pots in the sunny place intended for them on the terrace or balcony, give your geraniums a few days of adaptation by placing them in the shade and then partial shade before returning them to full sun.
