Geranium, or pelargonium, is an unpretentious plant that many flower growers are happy to grow. It is suitable for growing both in pots on the windowsill and in the garden on a flower bed. In order for a fragrant flower to please with lush green leaves and lush flowering, you need to know how to properly and how to fertilize geraniums.
Short description of geranium
Geranium is an unpretentious perennial plant. There are approximately 250 varieties of this flower, which are divided into two types: shrubs and grassy. The plant, in addition to external attractiveness, also has healing properties, its smell favorably affects people who have had a stroke.
Experts say that geranium came to us from South Africa, so the plant is extremely thermophilic and can grow rapidly only at a temperature of +20 ° C.
What is feeding necessary for?
A tight pot, loosening, moderate watering is the basis for the care of geraniums, which contributes to normal development and growth, and only after observing these rules it is worth resorting to fertilizers. If you notice sluggish or yellowed leaves on your geranium, this is the first sign of a lack of minerals in the soil or various diseases that are inherent in indoor residents.
This problem can be easily fixed by using top dressing, the result will not make you wait and positively affect the brightness of the color and density of the buds, extend the period of their flowering and help the plant harden the immune system.
Important! You can not water the geranium with top dressing, prepared on the basis of organic fertilizers, since this negatively affects the appearance of the plant, it becomes yellowish and stops growing.
When to fertilize a plant
It is possible to fertilize geranium constantly with the right dosage of fertilizer, depending on the season. Thus, in spring and summer, top dressing should be applied to the soil 1 time in 2 weeks. In winter, it is recommended to limit yourself to only one addition of half the usual portion in the middle of winter.
If you notice that your flower has acquired a pale green color, and the stalk has begun to become bare, you should transfer it to the most lighted place in the house and stop feeding the plant for several days. Before transplanting the plants into another pot, you should stop adding fertilizer for 14 days. And the soil in which you are going to place the geranium must be mixed with fertilizer for 7 days according to the transplant procedure.
Did you know? In eastern countries, it is customary to put pots with white geraniums on the doorstep of a house. It turns out that snakes do not tolerate the smell of this flower, and it serves as a kind of protection against reptiles.
Features of iodine fertilizer
One of the most effective and affordable fertilizers for geraniums is iodine fertilizer. Iodine helps to eliminate harmful bacteria, prevents sudden root decay of the root system and directs life-giving components to flower growth and thickening of the geranium stem.
With regular use of iodine as top dressing, after 2 applications you will notice a good result: the color and brightness of the buds will become much more saturated.
How to make a solution and how to water
Any fan of home plants will be surprised to learn the answer to the question of how to feed your favorite geranium. After all, everything is extremely simple: you need to dilute 1-2 drops of pharmacy iodine per 1 liter of water (preferably rain or long-standing). And in the process of adding such top dressing, you should adhere to some rules:
- pour ordinary earth at room temperature in a pot;
- wait until the soil on top dries a little;
- water the plant with 50 ml of solution closer to the wall of the pot;
Important! The plant can easily get sick with the wrong dosage of fertilizers, so when adding them, it is important not to overdo it and use in a moderate and recommended amount.
Possible consequences
The trace elements contained in iodine are completely natural, because they are extracted by evaporating sea water, so you do not need to give arguments from scientific research, because you can trace the benefits of a solution of iodine yourself at home. With the addition of such top dressing to the soil, changes such as:
- rapid growth and development;
- constant flowering (or its renewal after flowering);
- the appearance of new leaves and buds, shine on them;
- the disappearance of signs of disease (yellowed leaves, lethargy and pallor, root rot);
- lack of harmful insects in soil and buds;
- enhancing the aroma of the plant.
Geranium does not tolerate spraying and negatively reacts to such procedures, but if you add a few drops of iodine to warm water for spraying, you can treat the plant leaves with it once a month. This will help get rid of the yellowness at the edges and make prevention from eggs of harmful insects.Did you know? In Japan, red pelargonium flowers were a sign of the unfaithfulness of a wife who did not wait for a warrior from a long trip. It was believed that the flower left in the bedroom simply could not bloom if the wife was faithful.
Features of iodine as a fertilizer can revive even that plant, which, it would seem, will never please its appearance. Therefore, such valuable top dressing can be used both for prolonged flowering, maintaining a good state of geraniums, the prevention of diseases, and for their quick treatment. Observing the simple rules for adding iodine to the soil, you can ensure a long life for your favorite plant, and yourself a good mood from observing it.
