Geranium

Family Geraniaceae. The name comes from the Greek 'geranion', a diminutive of 'geranos' — crane. Dioscorides already used this name for some members of the family and pointed to the shape of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane or stork.

Geranium is one of the gardeners' favorite plants. Note immediately that plants of the genus Geranium and plants of the genus Pelargonium should not be confused. They are often colloquially called geraniums and grown indoors, being moved outdoors in summer. In Germany geranium is called Storchschnabel, which means "stork's beak"; in England and the USA — Cranesbill, "crane plant". In Bulgaria geranium is called a "healer" for the medicinal properties of many species.

Description: about 300 species are known, distributed in the temperate zone, predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere and in the mountain regions of tropical areas. Annual and perennial rhizomatous, herbaceous plants. Stems 40–60 cm high, fork-branching. Leaves palmately lobed or palmately divided. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary, sometimes arranged in inflorescences.

For a long time gardeners showed little interest in cranesbills. However, in recent years the situation has changed and there is even a fashion for geraniums. The beauty of the plant's inflorescences and leaves is highly valued, and new varieties and shades are appearing. It is important only to provide the minimum conditions necessary for their successful growth. Mostly, large rhizomatous and tuberous plants with beautiful leaves and bright flowers have been introduced into cultivation.

Location: most recommended geraniums are plants of the subalpine and alpine meadows of the mountains of Europe and the Caucasus. An alpine meadow is bright sun, humid air, fertile well-drained soil and a rather short growing season, even in southern mountains. Most described species of geraniums are light-loving. These include magnificent geranium, Himalayan, Georgian, Dalmatian, Endrass, large-rhizome, small-stamened, ashy, flat-petaled geraniums and Renard's geranium. Some can grow in sunny places and in partial shade (shade-tolerant): blood-red geranium, meadow geranium, marsh geranium. Shade-loving geraniums, preferring places dominated by shade, moisture and moderate temperatures, are those associated with forests: reddish-brown geranium, woodland geranium and Herb-Robert geranium.

Most geraniums, like other meadow plants, have a medium moisture requirement. The most moisture-loving species is the marsh geranium — a plant of wet meadows and pond banks. Among the most drought-tolerant plants, which tolerate temporary lack of moisture well, are the rock geraniums: Dalmatian, Endrass, large-rhizome, ashy and Renard's geranium. Experience has shown that all the described geraniums tolerate excess moisture in wet years reasonably well, provided there is no stagnant waterlogging, and tolerate moisture shortage during dry periods.

Soil: for normal growth and abundant, long flowering, all geraniums need loose, well-drained fertile soils. Most geraniums grow well on acidic, slightly acidic and neutral soils. But Dalmatian geranium, Endrass geranium, blood-red, ashy and Renard's geranium prefer lime-rich soils with a pH of around 8. The only thing important for all geraniums, except the marsh geranium, is the absence of stagnant moisture. On heavy, nutrient-rich clay soils, succulent geranium and meadow geranium grow well. Slightly acidic peaty soils suit the black-eyed geranium.

Temperature regime: although most described geraniums are plants of southern regions, they are quite hardy. Only geraniums with overwintering leaves (blood-red geranium and reddish-brown geranium) experienced some premature dieback. However, in spring young green leaves grew and flowering was as abundant as usual. Geraniums flower more profusely in years with a warm spring and hot summer.

Care: in a properly arranged flowerbed geranium quickly spreads, and its dense bushes suppress weed growth. Therefore care of geranium plantings is quite simple. It consists of thorough weeding of flowerbeds in May before the leaves develop en masse. At the same time the soil is loosened and granular complex mineral fertilizers are scattered into it. Geranium also responds well to wood ash application. Further care consists, if necessary, of watering, and after the flowers fade the spent shoots should be cut off. In autumn, at the end of September, geraniums without overwintering leaves have their above-ground shoots cut and laid in a compost heap. Geraniums with overwintering leaves should not be cut. The black-eyed geranium requires staking. Meadow geranium may sometimes bloom again in autumn after summer pruning.

Diseases and pests: occasionally affected by brown spot and powdery mildew. To avoid powdery mildew, cut back the plant after flowering or at the beginning of the wilting period. After cutting, subsequent shoots will be stronger. New leaves will appear, some of which will partially overwinter. Large bushy species can be mowed after flowering. They will regrow and most often bloom a second time. With fungal diseases manifesting as brown spots on the leaves, those leaves are cut off and burned. Cases of fungal disease occur in wet, cold years and do not have a decisive impact on the condition of the plants.

Propagation: geraniums are propagated by seed and vegetatively.

All geraniums fruit abundantly. But the gardener will face difficulties here. When the fruits ripen the seeds are scattered, and it is hard to catch the best moment to collect them. Seeds collected in August can be sown fresh into the ground so they have time to form seedlings before frosts. But more reliably, sow the seeds before winter, when the soil has already been touched by frosts. In that case the seeds will germinate in spring at a time convenient for them. Mass germination appears in May, and already in the following year the seedlings flower. But often we buy seeds in stores, so they must be sown in March into pots with subsequent pricking out. Seeds can be sown in April into still-cold soil. Seedlings that appear quite quickly are first grown in a nursery. It is recommended to plant already formed young bushes into the flowerbed, preferably two-year-old plants. Since we then expect to grow the plant for many years without division and transplantation, the distance between bushes should be at least 40 cm.

Faster and easier is to grow geranium from divisions. For propagating cultivated varieties this is the best method. Geranium reproduces easily by dividing the clump and by pieces of rhizome with a renewal bud. Division can be carried out in early spring before active leaf growth begins, and in late summer. Of course, the second period is more favorable. At that time the plant is almost dormant and the roots and rhizome can be well shaken free of soil and planted in the new place without hurry. The main thing is to pay attention to the condition of the renewal buds. They must be firm, not rotten, not dried out. During September young roots form on the divisions, with which the plants will overwinter. A feature of the recommended geraniums (except Herb-Robert) is their longevity. A bush without division and transplant can decorate the flowerbed for up to 10–15 years, becoming increasingly decorative. Only after 10–12 years do signs of aging become noticeable: the appearance of dead parts in the center of the clump. But it is better not to wait for this, and to divide 9–10-year-old clumps and plant them in fresh soil.

Seasonal features:

Spring. Geraniums wake from winter dormancy later than many other plants. Their growth begins only when stable average daily temperatures of about 5 °C are established. The renewal bud, wintering slightly below soil level, appears at the surface and unfolds. The emerging "fist" of rolled leaves looks like a fluffy round ball. Then it opens, and rapid leaf growth begins. As a rule, this phenomenon in the middle zone of Russia is observed in the first ten days of May. By the end of May most leaves have fully formed and reached the normal size typical of the species. However, new leaves in geraniums continue to appear and grow throughout the season. This provides the bright freshness of the clump all season long. By the end of May almost all geraniums produce shoots with buds.