For three centuries, fragrant geranium has been living in our houses and apartments on window sills. And although we, like our grandmothers, are used to calling it geraniums, the real name of the plant is pelargonium. Together with field geranium, which blooms with blue-violet flowers, it is part of the Geraniev family. At home, caring for fragrant geraniums is simple. Among the variety of its varieties, everyone can choose a plant according to their preferences.
General information
Pelargonium stands out among all kinds of geraniums. Amateur gardeners appreciate this elegant herbaceous plant for openwork foliage and a characteristic pleasant aroma. At the slightest movement from the breeze or from touching the leaves, a light spicy smell spreads around the plant.
For the first time, Europeans discovered a wonderful plant on the distant South African coast. Three hundred years passed after this discovery.
Breeders bred many varieties. They differ in the shapes and sizes of leaves, have different colors of flowers. But all of them are united by the peculiarity of pelargonium to emit a smell, due to the presence of specific glands located on the leaves. Fragrant geranium in the room releases volatile. They have an antimicrobial effect and help improve sleep.
Essential oils, various organic acids, flavonoids with antioxidant properties, and other compounds that are contained in the plant, have found application in medicine, perfumery, even in cooking.
Perennial is a fairly tall branched herbaceous bush. Its height reaches about one meter. The fibrous root system is dense and strong. The leaves are carved, strongly dissected, of a beautiful light green color.
Some varieties of fragrant geraniums bloom very rarely at home. Small flowers have a pale pink color. Breeders carefully preserve varieties with the smell of roses, herbs, citrus fruits.
Fragrant Pelargonium Varieties
To enhance the natural odor, hybrid varieties were bred. With the lightest touch from delicate leaves, it smells delicious like peaches, apples, tart nutmeg, lemons or mint. There is a variety even with a coniferous smell.
Varieties of fragrant indoor geraniums have a variety of leaf colors, attract shades of flowers, fascinate with aromas:
- Mabel Gray (lemon). The variety has a strong lemon flavor. The plant has rough leaves, pronounced veins. On the inside of the leaflets pubescence. This is a flowering variety. It is decorated with umbrellas of small lilac-pink inflorescences.
- Hot peppermint. A sprawling plant has thin carved leaves of gray-green color. It blooms with medium-sized pale pink inflorescences. Exudes a bright mint aroma. Responsive to good care and nutrition.
- Apple Cider A compact variety blooming with tiny white flowers. Small leaves are rounded and have fold edges. It has an unusual aroma of apples. He likes regular watering.
- Enchanting. This variety will fit perfectly into the garden composition. The spectacular shrub surprises with the golden edges of large leaves. It has a wonderful lemon pink summer smell. Indoor, this fragrant geranium grows reluctantly.
- Lady Plymouth. An elegant plant is great for garden containers. Openwork light green crown consists of leaves with a white border. It smells of fresh aroma of a blossoming rose. Watering should be moderate.
In the open ground
Fragrant pelargonium is grown both at home in pots and in the garden in the open ground. Growing plants at home is not at all troublesome, but caring for fragrant geraniums planted in the garden requires a transplant every fall. Originally from Africa, the plant does not tolerate Russian cold weather. Carefully dig out the bush and store in a cool place at + 10 ˚C all winter. But geraniums in the garden grow into a large bush over the summer. It is difficult to transplant without breaking the fragile branches. Experienced flower growers dig a plant in the spring in a flower bed in a pot. This will help relocate pelargonium in the fall.
Geranium loves the fresh air. As soon as the temperature permits, it is rearranged on a glazed balcony or insulated terrace.
Houseplants
Scented geranium gets good care at home.
The photo shows the beauty of this grateful, very unpretentious plant.
The recommendations of experienced gardeners will help grow a beautiful indoor plant:
- Although geraniums are photophilous, they can easily be placed on the north window or at a distance from the window. Nevertheless, the western or eastern windows would be the best place for them. In winter, plants are better to light up with lamps. Pelargonium branches are stretched from a lack of lighting, and the leaves turn pale.
- A distinctive feature of geranium is that it can accumulate moisture in its stems and leaves. But it does not tolerate excessive moisture. Therefore, pelargonium does not need to be sprayed. Watering is carried out as the soil dries.
- In winter, the plant is best placed on a cool windowsill, where the temperature is about 16 ˚C. From spring to autumn cold weather, pelargonium will feel great on an open balcony or terrace.
- When a plant lacks nutrition, it becomes lethargic, pale. The leaves grow smaller, flowering stops. Fragrant geraniums are fed with liquid complex fertilizers. Do not apply fresh organic matter to the soil.
- To make a bush more magnificent will allow the correct pruning. The elongated stems are pinched, while leaving a couple of leaves.
Proper care will help the plant to develop harmoniously and magnificently.
Proper fit
To transplant pelargonium, you need to choose a flower pot according to the size of the root system of the plant. It should be only a couple of centimeters wider than the previous one.
In a spacious pot, geraniums will develop poorly, there will be a risk of overmoistening. Possible root decay.
To prevent moisture from stagnating, a claydite layer is placed at the bottom. After transplanting, it is well watered to shrink the soil mixture.
Fragrant pelargonium differs from other types of geraniums in that it does not like acid soil. Peat is contraindicated to it.
Properly selected soil composition will ensure good development of the plant and its abundant flowering.
Planting soil
Soil for landing should:
- good air and water permeability;
- be with the addition of fine expanded clay, sand, moss;
- have a neutral reaction;
- contain a small amount of nitrogen.
An inexperienced grower can buy in the store a ready-made mixture intended for geraniums.
For self-preparation of the landing mixture is recommended:
- garden land - ten parts;
- chopped moss sphagnum - one part;
- calcined sand - one part;
- humus - 1/2 part.
Frequent transplantation of fragrant pelargonium is not required. Soil and capacity change after a year.
Breeding
There are several ways to propagate fragrant geraniums:
- sowing seeds;
- using cuttings;
- dividing the bush.
Growing fragrant pelargonium from seeds is a laborious process, and quite a long one. For sowing use a shallow capacity. The earth is shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Seeds do not need to be sprinkled with soil, they germinate in the light. It is necessary to provide high humidity, covering the crops with a film. When seedlings appear, the film is removed. Seedlings dive after the appearance of three or four leaves. With this method of reproduction, maternal properties are not always transmitted. It is possible to get original plants.
For cuttings, the tops of the shoots with two internodes are cut. Cuttings are easily rooted in water. New bushes inherit all the properties of the former plant.
In spring, the propagation of fragrant geraniums is possible by the fastest method - dividing the mother bush.
It is taken out of the pot and cut so that independent bushes with a root system are obtained.
Food for fragrant geraniums
When caring for pelargonium, it is necessary to make mineral fertilizers. In the spring, the bush is fed with liquid fertilizer for flowers, containing all the necessary nutrients and trace elements. In the period of buds, before flowering, top dressing is repeated. In the fall, preparing the plant for a dormant period, potash fertilizer can be added. Or feed with ordinary ash.
Winter season
In winter, top dressing is not applied. Watering is reduced. The plant ceases to bloom, and it needs to provide a period of rest. In the photo, fragrant geranium is prepared for winter: pruned, flowers with dried leaves removed. The pot is cleaned away from heating appliances, preferably in a darkened room.
Protection against diseases and pests
Fragrant geranium is a very healthy plant. But with poor or improper care, she can get sick and die.
With excessive watering, there is a risk of fungal diseases:
- spores of gray rot form plaque on leaflets and buds;
- root rot with excessive soil moisture destroys the roots;
- stem rot is visible on the cuttings as black wet spots. If it affects the cuttings, it is impossible to cure them. The plant is destroyed, and the soil is sterilized in the oven.
For treatment, “Fundazol”, “Fitosporin-M”, “Topaz”, “Gamair”, “Bactofit” are used.
In dry air and heat, spider mites are found on the leaves. Invisible at first glance, they suck the juice from the plant. Such leaves begin to turn yellow, and then dry, twisting into a tube. Transparent mites are easy to spot upon close inspection.
A soap solution is prepared with which pelargonium and the earth beneath are moistened plentifully. After a couple of hours, the plant is washed with clean water. The Fitoverm and Antiklesh drugs will help the pest.
In the summer, geraniums attack thrips and whiteflies in the open air. To protect against them, plants are treated with “Aktara”, “Aktellik”, “Confilor” preparations.
The use of pelargonium
The air around fragrant geraniums is filled with volatile essential substances. They have a calming effect. Pelargonium is also an excellent antiseptic. The plant has healing properties:
- with lumbar or joint pain, crumpled leaves applied as a compress will help;
- fragrant geranium juice heals wounds and cuts on the skin;
- infusions or decoctions will relieve sore throat with angina, pain with otitis media;
- the smell of geranium is a powerful antidepressant (a pleasant aroma normalizes sleep, relieves fatigue, and relieves irritability).
Fragrant pelargonium is used as a raw material in the production of geranium oil. It is widely used in perfumery, cooking and pharmaceuticals.
But preparations that include fragrant geranium or its oils should not be used:
- pregnant women and children;
- people prone to allergies;
- patients with a stomach ulcer and gastritis;
- people with low blood pressure.
Scented geranium is considered a talisman for the family hearth. Get this plant in your home. You will notice how psychological comfort and atmosphere of coziness settle in it.