It is difficult to find a grower who has never encountered room pelargonium. A beautiful, fragrant and brightly flowering plant with very juicy and lush greens leaves few indifferent. Today we will tell you about the varieties of pelargonium, caring for it and the characteristics of the reproduction of this plant. This article will be useful for both beginners and more experienced gardeners.
Description
Pelargonium is a perennial plant belonging to the geranium family. But do not confuse this plant with geranium itself, which is quite frost-resistant. It can be grown exclusively at home. Pelargonium, the birthplace of which is considered India and Africa, does not tolerate cold weather. For its beauty and a lot of useful properties, many flower growers fell in love with the plant, and therefore it has been grown for more than a century.
Pelargonium has bilaterally symmetrical flowers, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The fruits of this plant are oblong capsules, narrowing to the upper part, which is why they resemble the shape of a beak of a stork. That is why the plant was given such a name - from the word pelargos, which from Greek translates as "stork". Pelargonium leaves are whole, dissected and lobed.
Some varieties of this plant have a rather interesting ability. They not only accumulate and store moisture in the stems and roots, but also dump excess greens under adverse conditions. This allows you to reduce the area of evaporation and significantly save water consumption.
Varieties of pelargonium
To date, more than 280 species of this plant are known. In this section we offer to get acquainted with the most popular.
- Zone pelargonium. The flowers of this variety have two- or three-color petals marked with a dotted pattern. Sometimes on the petal you can find a pattern in the form of an egg print, which has a darker color than the main color. One of the most famous varieties of this variety are: Alice, Connie, Taskana and Flamenco. The height of the plant varies from 10 to 100 centimeters.
- Royal Pelargonium. Caring for such flowers is quite troublesome and time-consuming, but it is rewarded with chic flowering. Subject to constant warm air temperature of at least + 10 ° C and other care requirements, the plant is covered with large flowers with wavy petals.
- Pink pelargonium. About 170 varieties of this rather large plant are known (about a meter in height). This variety is characterized by large and dense leaves, as well as lush inflorescences, consisting of 12 flowers. This species has been widely used to isolate essential oil in 19th-century France.
- Fragrant pelargonium. A plant with a very pleasant and persistent aroma that exudes terry flowers of stunning beauty. Breeders bred varieties with aromas of needles, strawberries, roses and even coconut. This variety is bred just for essential oils, and not for the beauty of flowers.
- Pelargonium peliconium has dark green leaves that resemble ivy in shape. Inflorescences are semi-double and have a brush-like appearance. A fairly wide range of colors (from milky to almost black) makes this type of pelargonium more popular. Caring for it is not much different from other varieties.
Useful advice
When purchasing an adult plant, do not rush to immediately put a pot of pelargonium next to other flowers. First you need to carefully inspect the plant for infection with any pests or signs of the disease. Only after making sure that it is in good condition, is it permissible to set the pot in a permanent place and continue to care for the flower. If the plant is infected or sick, then first you need to treat it. In the following sections, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the conditions for growing pelargonium. Caring for it will not cause you much trouble, but will bring only pleasure.
Comfortable temperature and lighting
The optimum temperature limit for a comfortable growth of pelargonium is considered to be from +20 ° C to +25 ° C in the summer and from +12 ° C to +15 ° C in the winter. In addition, the cultivation of pelargonium requires constantly fresh and slightly moist air.
The plant is not only warm, but also photophilous, but on hot and sunny days it is better to remove the flower pot for a short time in the shade. This measure is taken to avoid burns on leaves and delicate petals. But in winter, on the contrary, it is important to organize additional artificial lighting. With a lack of light, the plant will begin to fade and dry, flowering will slow down or not begin at all.
The soil
The soil for planting pelargonium should be loose and light, able to let in fresh air and absorb water well. A small content of sand or pelit in the soil composition, the acidity of which should be neutral, is desirable. A slightly acidic soil is allowed, but with a small nitrogen content, which will cause excessive growth of greenery. For beginner gardeners, it is better to purchase a ready-made soil mixture, for more experienced gardeners, we advise you to prepare the following composition yourself:
- 10 parts of soil;
- 1 part chopped moss;
- 1 part of fine sand;
- 0.5 parts of humus.
Pelargonium as a whole is a fairly unpretentious plant, however, there are some features of its cultivation, which we will discuss later.
Watering and feeding
Depending on the season and weather conditions, watering pelargonium has different modes. For example, in the summer, in the phase of active growth, frequent application of water is required. Water the plant every day or every other day, so as not to over-moisten the soil - otherwise the root system will begin to rot and the pelargonium will die. Winter watering is reduced both in frequency and quantity by several times. Water the plant in the cold season no more than twice a month. Spraying flowers and leaves is also undesirable for this plant.
From the beginning of spring to the end of autumn (vegetative period), pelargonium must be fertilized at least twice a month. Before feeding, the soil is moistened, and the fertilizer itself is preferably chosen in liquid form. To increase the growth of greens, nitrogenous and phosphorus fertilizers are used, and potassium is used to stimulate flowering.
Pruning
Pelargonium needs pruning to form and rejuvenate the bush, as well as to stimulate lush and beautiful flowering. The circumcision procedure is carried out until the shoots become too long and elongated.
The knife for trimming shoots must be very sharp and must be sanitized. The shoot is shortened by cutting at an acute angle above the nodule. Observe the health and proper development of shoots throughout the cultivation of pelargonium. With strong growth, they begin to interfere with each other. In addition, cutting young shoots, you direct their growth in the right direction.
Transfer
For long-term breeding of pelargonium at home, periodic transplantation is important. Young plants need a pot change every two years. This frequency is due to the active growth and development of the root system, which fills the entire pot and slows down the flowering process.
The plant is transplanted in the first half of March. Kai and when planting, pelargonium requires drainage and fertile soil. At the bottom of the pot, a layer of small pebbles is poured out, after which the pelargonium is removed from the old pot and placed in a new one with an earthen lump. To facilitate the extraction of the flower, slightly water it and gently tap on the bottom of the pot. After transplanting, moist soil is poured into empty places, the plant is watered and sent to a shaded place for several days. 6-7 days after transplantation, the plant returns to its usual place. The first feeding should be carried out no earlier than two months later.
Outdoor landing
For residents of warm regions, the cultivation of pelargonium in open ground is quite possible. But when designing a country or garden plot with blooming pelargonium, some features of the process should be taken into account.
The plant should be planted in well-lit areas, but the presence of slight shading will not be superfluous. The proximity of groundwater can be detrimental to the flower, as excessive soil moisture leads to its decay. The soil for planting should be quite loose, with a light texture and the presence of drainage.
In autumn, when loosening the soil, mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied to it. Drying of the soil is as unacceptable as excessive moisture. Therefore, watering should be regular, but moderate. For the winter, it is better to dig out pelargonium with its further transfer to the room for the entire cold period.
Seed propagation
For the propagation of pelargonium by seed, the most ordinary wooden crates or plastic containers are used. When planting in this way it is permissible to use purchased universal soil - it has all the necessary nutrients. Seeds are planted at a short distance from each other, the depth should not be more than a centimeter. After planting, the seeds are well shed with water and put the box in a well-lit and warm place. The optimum temperature for growing seedlings is an indicator not lower than + 20 ° C.
While waiting for the first shoots, systematically moisten the soil. The first shoots appear no earlier than a week after planting. When two or three leaves appear on each sprout, they are transplanted into separate pots.
Cuttings
Propagation of pelargonium is possible in yet another way. To prepare the cuttings, choose a strong and healthy plant that does not have a strong branching. Cuttings are cut before flowering, best of all - in March. Each stalk is cut at an angle of 90 °, and so that it has several nodules. Within ten hours, the cuttings are dried, after which they are planted in the soil and covered with a jar to create the effect of a greenhouse. To avoid the process of decay, it is important to maintain a temperature of about +23 ° C. Three weeks after planting, the cuttings are well rooted and ready for transplanting into separate pots. Pots for growing young plants should have a diameter of at least 14 centimeters. Pelargonium begins to bloom in the first year after planting.
Medicinal use
Due to the rich composition of nutrients, pelargonium is actively used in medicine and cosmetology. The high content of vitamins, pectin, tannins, phytoncides, tannins and essential oils makes this plant almost indispensable. Valuable substances are found not only in branches and leaves, but also in roots and flowers.
In the pharmacy you can find the extract of this plant isolated from essential oil and stems, which is sold in tablet form. Decoctions and infusions of pelargonium are often used to prevent and treat certain diseases. Among them: infertility, high blood pressure, problems with blood circulation and digestion, prolonged bleeding and inflammatory processes. However, essential oils should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.
Pelargonium extract is used to prepare serum that neutralizes snake venom. In addition, this plant helps to cope with insomnia and headache. And also its infusions are used to treat skin diseases and burns. It accelerates the healing of various wounds and skin lesions. A decoction of the leaves is used for colds, sore throats and otitis media.
In cosmetology, pelargonium is actively used in the fight against cellulite and to strengthen hair. Creams with geranium extract significantly rejuvenate the skin. And the softened leaves of this plant are used to combat ticks in pets.