Flowers in the countryside are not only a wonderful decoration of the garden. Thanks to their amazing aroma, gardeners and just relaxing people enjoy their stay in the country even more.
Today in Russia almost everywhere there is large-rhizome geranium. This garden perennial plant does not require special care, so it is very popular among flower growers and gardeners.
general description
A perennial herb may have a different type of root system (tubers or rhizomes) depending on the type of flower. At the same time, large-rhizome geranium can reach 60 cm. However, this does not mean that the flowers stick out of the earth with lonely sticks. The plant gathers in fluffy and beautiful bushes that do not need additional garter. Due to this feature, geranium is very popular among landscape designers.
The strong trunk of the plant is covered with dark or light green leaves of a bizarre shape, which was called palmate-lobed. However, foliage may vary depending on the subspecies of a particular flower.
If we talk about the flowers of large-rhizome geranium, then they can be collected in lush inflorescences with a diameter of up to 4.5 cm or distributed in a single order along the stem. Moreover, they can be of almost any color and shade. This is another reason why this plant is often used to create landscape compositions. In addition, geranium blooms almost the entire summer season, until the onset of severe cold weather. However, she practically does not suffer from pests and diseases.
It is also worth noting that there are hundreds of varieties of these colors. Large-rhizome geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is also called Balkan. This plant is most often grown in suburban areas. Such a garden flower has the largest root system.
Geranium Balkan
Just look at the photo of large-rhizome geranium to fully appreciate its beauty. This kind of fluffy flower first appeared in the Balkans, so the plant got its second name.
The main advantage of this type of geranium is that the flowers tolerate frost very well. A plant can retain its foliage even in winter. In addition, geranium smells delicious.
Thanks to its large root system, the Balkan flower coexists well on almost any soil. This plant blooms for more than 30 days, and some subspecies delight with beautiful inflorescences for almost the entire summer season.
If we talk about subspecies of this plant, then the most popular among gardeners are:
- Large-root geranium Spessart. This plant variety is characterized by rapid growth. Inflorescences of delicate white-pink color. In the autumn, the foliage of the flower changes color to golden red.
- Geranium Ingwersens variety. This variety is considered the most striking, since very lush inflorescences of a pale white hue are formed on the plant.
- Large-rhizome geranium Czakor. This variety has very bright colors of purplish red.
If you plant several subspecies of a plant nearby, you can create an excellent composition.
Slightly less often, forest geraniums are planted in suburban areas. Despite the fact that it tolerates cold much better, this plant is considered more wild. Most often it can be found in forests, glades and meadows. The root system of this subspecies is racemose, and flower growth can reach 80 cm. The most striking representative of a forest plant, which is sometimes planted in the garden by gardeners, can be considered large-rhizome geranium Album. This flower also pleases with very beautiful flowers in bright colors.
Also, to create a lush "living" cover in the summer cottage, flower growers plant other subspecies of geranium. When one variety fades, other plants only begin to delight with their beautiful inflorescences.
One of these subspecies is the large-rhizome geranium Bevan s variety, which grows very quickly in a suburban area. Moreover, this plant can be safely planted in the shade, as it calmly tolerates such "Spartan" conditions for any flower.
If we talk about the popular types of garden geraniums, then it is worth considering in more detail the process of planting and subsequent care.
Choose planting material
If we talk about reproduction, large-rhizome geranium is distributed by seeds or division of the rhizome. You can also not worry and just buy ready-made seedlings in any specialized store or agricultural company engaged in flower cultivation.
Experienced gardeners prefer to buy a rhizome, on which there are a large number of adventitious roots and a kidney of renewal. However, in this case, you need to be well versed in colors. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the roots are sufficiently elastic, and there is no damage to them.
The purchase of such large-rhizome geranium material is recommended in February. You need to store the harvest of roots in the refrigerator, dropping them into peat. So they will remain until the moment of disembarkation.
Choose a place to land
Although large-root geraniums are not capricious in planting and care, this does not mean that it is not necessary to think about where the flower will grow.
Taller plants are suitable for flower beds or large flower beds. Dwarf flowers look great as frames for garden paths and playgrounds.
If the choice fell on perennial geraniums, then it is better to choose a well-lit place for it, so that the plant better tolerates strong winter frosts. Especially in cold weather.
If you look at the photo of large-rhizome geranium, you should pay attention to the fact that it often grows in the forest. However, it is better to plant it on a certain elevation.
Preparing the ground
At this stage, no special preparatory work is required, as it was mentioned earlier that geranium is not capricious. However, like any other plant, this flower will grow much better on fertile and nutritious land.
The only thing necessary to ensure geraniums is good drainage. Thanks to this, it will be possible to get very lush flowers.
Before planting, it is necessary to dig up the area reserved for geraniums. Experienced gardeners also add some peat and compost to the soil.
We plant geranium
It is recommended to plant a perennial plant in a flower bed or in a flower bed at the end of May. A few days before this, you need to prepare the soil and sprinkle it with sand. Rotten compost should not be added, as it can burn the roots of a young plant.
To plant geraniums, you must also prepare the corresponding holes. The depth of the landing pit should be 20 cm deeper than the length of the roots. Between the holes you need to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm. So the bushes will be very lush, you need to provide the plant with sufficient space.
At the bottom of the landing pits, material for drainage is laid. This is necessary so that the roots of the plant do not rot in the event of a rainy summer, when the water stagnates for a long time in the soil. This is especially true in areas where loam predominates.
A little soil mixture of peat and sand is poured onto the drainage layer. After that, you can lower the flower into the hole and drop it. Also, do not forget about the abundant watering of a newly planted plant.
Watering
Geranium must be moistened sparingly, but regularly. Especially the plant will need watering in the first months after planting. During this period, the flower will collect all the necessary mineral components and nutrients for subsequent flowering.
If the foliage of the plant began to fall, then this indicates that it is necessary to increase the volume of water. It is also recommended to moisten the root system of geraniums during periods of dry weather. If it rains all summer, then the volume of water needs to be reduced.
Loosening and mulching
In order not to worry about loosening the soil, immediately after planting it is recommended to mulch the soil. It also eliminates the need for periodic weeding of flowers and frequent watering. In order not to loosen the soil too often, it is easiest to plant any ground cover crops between the flowers of geranium.
How to feed
Geranium gets all the substances and components necessary for growth from water and soil. Therefore, you can not worry about making additional fertilizers for this flower. However, in order to obtain more abundant flowering, compost and peat can be added to the ground when planting geranium sprouts in open ground.
Also on sale you can find a large number of mineral fertilizers for geraniums. It is best to choose complex formulations. Feeding is recommended at a time when the plant is in the process of active vegetation, that is, when the buds have already begun to form.
Pruning
To perennial geranium for a long time pleased with abundant flowering, it is necessary to periodically remove wilted buds. If they are left they will pick up nutrients. After removing dead parts, geranium directs all its energy to the formation of new buds. Thanks to such a simple procedure, you can significantly extend the flowering period of a beautiful plant.
With the onset of autumn, some leaves of geranium turn yellow and dry. They are also recommended to be removed so that they spend extra nutrients. However, this is not necessary, since in any case, the plant will tolerate winter well.
Transfer
It is worth noting that plants of this species tolerate such procedures rather negatively. Geranium can perfectly bloom in one place for more than 10 years. But if you try to move it, the plant will begin to hurt. Therefore, do not experiment and leave the geranium in its usual place.
Diseases and Pests
Geranium rarely suffers from ailments. However, if improperly maintained, she may develop bacterial rot. In this case, unpleasant dark spots appear on the leaves and stems of the plant. To cure geranium, you need to get rid of diseased plants and treat the remaining flowers with specialized products that can be purchased at any store for gardeners.
Of the pests, the plant attacks aphids. In order to get rid of it, it is enough to use an insecticide. Also, geraniums sometimes begin to devour whiteflies. To frighten away the voracious pests will help the specialized tool "Iskra".
If the plant began to devour caterpillars, then it is easiest to collect them manually and destroy them.