Yaha!!! Geraniums are coming BACK!

6 years ago

I went back and removed the stems where I had deadheaded all the spent geranium blossoms, all the way down to the main stems. I snipped away any dead foliage of the verbenas and bacopa. I then transplanted the whole window box into a 7 gallon fabric grow pot filled with Hoffman container soil and tossed in some Osmo-Cote Plus. I then placed the grow pot on top of a 24" plant stand so it would catch more of the afternoon sun.

Behold! I've been getting new geranium and verbena foliage since I did that and TODAY, I am spotting some new geranium buds. Here is a picture I just took through the window. From this view, you can't see the numerous new geranium leaves, but they are there.

Featured Answer

Edie

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Esther, they look great! Patti, I don't like to toss out geraniums either. In autumn, I cut some back hard and repot into smaller pots so they fit the windowsill, then enjoy them as houseplants. This photo is from August 2017. The pale pink one was bought looking terrible, on clearance, and then rejuvenated. I still have the red one with the white-centered leaves; fancy leaved types are rare locally so I kept it.

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Comments (8)

User
6 years ago
Kewl! Yep, you can be downright "mean" to your geraniums, up to an' including chopping them back by half at mid-season. They'll relatively-rapidly regrow in a more-compact manner and reblossom.

Really, if you don't, they tend to get leggy, blossoming slows, and they get kind of ugly-looking. Sometimes I just replace them in July with something else if I'm not motivated.

Some newer varieties claim they get around this. I can neither confirm nor deny these claims.
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked User
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Took me a minute to realise this is an on going story. Could you add it to the original post so people can see your progress?
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
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Patti Chicago Zone 5b/6a
6 years ago
@ morpheuspa2. I would never replace geraniums with something else. They are only of the most expensive annuals around here so I like them to last the entire season. Geraniums are one of the last annual plants to die. It takes a snow to freeze them other than that they always look awesome for me. I buy many geraniums for Summer. This Summer we have had many downpours of rain so some of mine are small still. I try to not let them get too much rain but sometimes it can’t be helped. They love full sun and to be slightly dry.
@Ester. I am happy they bounced back for you. Enjoy your flowers for the rest of the season. :-). I understand how you too get disappointed when a flower goes downhill and you don’t know why.
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked Patti Chicago Zone 5b/6a
Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
6 years ago
Here is a further update on the comeback of my geraniums. Now they are once again flowering and adding lots of new leaves. They apparently like their new fabric grow pot, new potting soil, and being elevated 24" so they catch more sun. Please excuse the photo taken through a rain-stained balcony door with stuff piled behind it as a precaution against damage from Hurricane Isaias. I haven't been outside on the balcony yet today to put everything back. The verbena and the bacopa in the pot are also sending out new leaves.
Patti Chicago Zone 5b/6a
6 years ago
They look great! I hope they continue to grow and flower for you. 🌸
Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, Patti. It is so rewarding when one is able to bring back a failing plant, isn't it? And your geraniums are sooo pretty!
Edie
6 years ago
Esther, I'm glad to see your update. Thank you for sharing your success!
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked Edie