Royal geranium: pruning for lush flowering, care and reproduction at home. How to achieve lush flowering of royal geranium? What will help the plant, besides pruning? Pelargonium zonal bush formation pruning

Large-flowered pelargonium is a breeding species whose progenitors were brought to Europe in the 18th century from the tropics of South Africa. Thanks to the constant crossing of varieties, scientists managed to breed the Royal geranium. It differs from other representatives in large flowers that form a hat over greenery and a delicate aroma. In care capricious.

Royal Pelargonium is considered one of the beautiful flower hybrids. The homeland is the Cape region, located in southwestern Africa. The height of the bush does not exceed 50 cm, while the flowers are located at the level of foliage.

Inflorescences in diameter can reach 15 cm. The color varies from white to dark, similar to black. Basically there is a palette of scarlet shades. The petals are arranged in two, sometimes three rows. The top is distinguished by a bright saturated shade, often with a spotted pattern or streaks. Outwardly similar to pansies.

The leaves are dense, velvety, with wavy edges, sometimes in a small tooth. Arranged on cuttings alternately. The color is green. The stem is straight, latent. The root system consists of adventitious roots.

Varieties and types of royal geraniums

Scientists from Germany have bred more than a thousand varieties. The most common among flower growers are two types: Candy Flowers and Angels. Both with lush flowering, easy to care for.

Unusual varieties of royal geranium

Among the hybrids, scientists managed to obtain varieties with an unusual structure, bright colorful flowers.

Basic rules for home care

Royal geranium at home requires special care. The flower grower should make an effort so that the flower grows and blooms.

Features of summer care at home

Pelargonium blooms in summer. The flower only needs watering and feeding. If it is in the fresh air, then carefully monitor the temperature regime. At indicators below +22 ... +24 ° C, watering is reduced, below +10 ° C, the uniformity of drying of the earthen clod is regularly checked. Excessive moisture can lead to root rot and mold growth. Watering is recommended in the early morning before the onset of heat or in the evening, when the sun no longer bakes and goes into sunset.

For top dressing, fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content or its absence are used.

On the street, pelargonium is constantly checked for pests. When they are found, they are immediately treated with an insecticide so that the plant does not get sick and does not die. When choosing a location avoid direct light.

The rays of the sun can leave traces of burns on the foliage or it will change color to scarlet. Royal geranium does not tolerate a change of place, so it is advised not to plant it in open ground or do it together with a pot to protect the rhizome from insect attacks.

Features of winter care at home

In winter, geraniums have a dormant period. Pots are cleaned in a cool place with a temperature of + 10 ... + 14 ° C, watering is reduced, top dressing is completely excluded. Before this, pruning is done, this will allow you to get more lush and long flowering next season. The stem is shortened by one third, then all dry branches, buds, foliage are removed. During the rest period, newly appeared sprouts are pinched.

Landing of the royal beauty

Frequent transplants for Royal geraniums are a source of stress, so they are carried out only after the root system has completely filled the space in the pot.

The optimal time is the end of winter - the beginning of spring, before flowering. The dishes are chosen in diameter by 1.5-2 cm more. Drainage is laid out at the bottom, it is covered with a layer of cotton fabric on top. This will help hold the ground. The substrate can be purchased at the store. It is necessary to pay attention that there are no components that retain moisture in it. With self-preparation, peat, humus and sand (1: 1: 1) are used. Ash is added to improve the quality and form a slightly alkaline medium. The soil should be nutritious and loose in consistency.

If the flower was purchased in a store, then you need to wait until the end of flowering and give time to adapt in a new place. Only then proceed with the transplant.

The process begins with abundant watering, then the plant, together with a moist earthen clod, is placed in a prepared container. The free space is filled with fresh soil.

reproduction

Propagated in two ways: cuttings and seeds. The first is simpler, in the second case, flowering will be longer, the root system is developed and strong.

cuttings

For planting, use the upper shoots 7-10 cm long with 2-3 nodes on each, obtained during spring pruning. Dry them for two hours after cutting.

The resulting material is planted in the soil, not placed in water, where it can rot and not take root. The soil for planting is prepared in advance. For this:

• prepare a mixture of perlite and earth (1: 1);
• the resulting substrate is disinfected in the oven or using a solution of potassium permanganate;
• defend it for two days.

Before planting, the bottom of the shoot is sprinkled with Kornevin's preparation, then it is planted in prepared dishes, buried 2 cm into the soil. Leave in dim light and temperature + 14 ... + 16 ° C. Water through the pan so that the roots do not rot from excess moisture.

The planted shoot takes root within a week, then it can be transplanted into a pot. When the shoots are planted in prepared soil, they are not covered with a film, creating a greenhouse effect. To strengthen the rhizome, the emerging leaves are stopped so that the plant does not waste its strength on them.

To simplify the procedure for planting a cutting, a peat tablet is used. In this case, the pallet with them is placed on the windowsill, covered from the direct rays of the sun. Scalded with boiled water, settled for 3 days, for disinfection, after the moisture has been absorbed, the excess is drained. The cutting is dipped into the root system growth accelerator, for the Royal Pelargonium this condition is mandatory. Then the tablets are planted in the center, deepened by one third. The substrate is pressed tightly to eliminate excess water. A greenhouse is not created, spraying is not carried out, this is contraindicated. After the appearance of the roots, carefully make cuts on the sides with scissors and remove the tablet. Those places where the roots have grown into it, do not touch. The seedlings are placed in plastic cups where they continue to grow.

Reproduction material is purchased at the store. Sow at the end of February, before flowering. The substrate is prepared from peat and sand (1: 1), ash is added. Disinfect by calcination or a solution of potassium permanganate. Seeds are small, elongated. They are buried in the soil by 5 mm. Seedlings are covered with a film, create a greenhouse effect and put in a warm place with bright diffused light and a temperature of +21 ... +25 ° C.

In a month, the first sprouts will appear. As soon as they have released two leaves, they dive into separate pots with a diameter of 10 cm, a depth of 14 cm. A layer of drainage is laid out at the bottom. After the appearance of 5 leaves, pinching begins to give shape and get more side shoots for the splendor of the bush.

Mr. Summerman warns: possible problems when growing royal geraniums

Large-flowered geranium has its own nuances in care. If they are not observed, you may encounter a flower disease, a change in appearance. She won't bloom.

Geranium is one of those plants for which pinching is a vital procedure. Pelargonium grows very quickly and can reach a decent height if you do not pinch in time. Of course, a tall bush is also beautiful, but only if it also has enough side shoots.

However, in most cases, the geranium itself does not grow much. In addition, over time, the stems become lignified, flowering is reduced, and the inflorescences become smaller. Therefore, it is important to pinch in time to stimulate the development of new branches and get a compact bush instead of a tall bare stem with a green crown.

Do not confuse pinching with pruning! Pinching is the process of removing a growing point from a plant, while pruning removes almost the entire shoot.

Instrument preparation

For the procedure, you will need sharp nail scissors or a thin paper knife. They must first be disinfected with alcohol.

In the absence of alcohol, you can wipe the instruments with hydrogen peroxide.

You can pinch the flower with your hands, but it will turn out more accurately with the help of scissors.

When and how should pinching be done?

You should start when the young branches already have 5-6 leaves.

It is necessary to count 5 leaves on a branch and pinch off (cut off with scissors) the growth point along with the rest of the undeveloped leaves. In the future, new buds will appear from the sinuses, which will eventually turn into branches. By the way, the first flowering on them can be seen in 2 months.

If a shoot has appeared on the geranium at the roots, it can also be pinched - so the bush will be even more lush.

How to rejuvenate an old plant?

With the advent of summer, some flower growers plant geraniums in open ground, and in autumn only cuttings from it are rooted, thus renewing the flower. If this is not possible, or it’s just a pity to leave a beautiful bush on the street, you can update the plant with cardinal pruning.

It should be carried out after the end of flowering, but not later than December - remove dry leaves and peduncles and cut off the extended branches by a third.

The main pruning in order to form and improve the quality of flowering is carried out in March.

We pinch the geranium correctly - video

For some reason, when it comes to geraniums, there is an association with a village house, where the window sills are full of clay pots with blooming geraniums. White, pink, purple - they breathe beauty, peace and comfort.

But in order for the plants to always look neat and bloom luxuriantly, they need care and timely pruning.

Pruning for geraniums is a procedure for shortening elongated stems in order to stimulate the growth of lateral shoots.. As a result, the plant will acquire a compact form and will delight the owner with an abundance of peduncles and flowering splendor.

On each shoot of geranium there are so-called dormant buds, but they will remain unused without the intervention of the grower. Pruning will "push" the plant to the formation of new shoots and new flower stalks.

On a note! As a result of geranium rejuvenation, the florist receives planting material in the form of apical petioles.

The undeniable advantages of pruning include:

• compactness of form and aesthetic appearance of the flower;
• consolidated access of air and light to all parts of the plant;
• stimulation of the duration of flowering;
• disease prevention.

However, some caution should be exercised.

You can not cut a heavily overgrown geranium bush in one go .

First of all, diseased, depleted stems and strongly elongated shoots are cut. After 2 weeks, they return to the procedure and give the bush the desired shape. Otherwise, the plant will direct all its efforts to building up green mass, and flowering will be postponed indefinitely.

To carry out the procedure, you will need a clerical knife or blade. It is not advisable to use scissors (although at first glance, this is the most suitable tool) - they pinch the stem at the cut point.

You will need some disinfectant to treat the cutting tool. You can use alcohol, vodka or 3-5 minute boiling inventory. This is necessary in order not to bring infection into the wounds (and there will be many of them).

To protect sections from external factors, it is recommended to use crushed charcoal or activated charcoal.

Dried and yellow leaves are removed from the plant and, in fact, pruning begins.

How and when to prune geraniums for lush blooms

The dormant period of pelargonium lasts from mid-autumn to mid-February. This is a dormant period when the flower regains strength after lush flowering and prepares for the new season.

The green mass, increased during the spring-summer period, requires a lot of strength from the plant to ensure its vital activity. To help the flower cope with the load in the winter, spend autumn pruning .

Spring and autumn pruning

In autumn, the flowering of geraniums subsides and, having waited for the last inflorescence to wither, you can begin to rejuvenate the geranium. Usually this work is carried out in the 2nd-3rd decade of October.

If pelargonium was kept on the balcony during the flowering period, then it must be brought into the room no later than 2 weeks before pruning. The plant needs time to adapt to the conditions of detention.

Geraniums grown in open ground are transplanted into flowerpots and brought indoors in September, before the onset of the first autumn frosts.

Outdoor flowers tend to grow very luxuriantly, and after a period of establishment, they are subject to drastic pruning. It is dangerous to leave them in this form in the winter. The root system of geraniums is underdeveloped - it will not be able to provide the entire green mass with nutrients.

Geranium bushes with a large number of stems are cut in 2-3 doses, maintaining an interval of 10-14 days.

From November to February, geraniums are not fed, the plant is at rest. Care consists in rare watering and observing the temperature regime.

In short winter days, plants experience a lack of lighting, as a result of which the shoots are stretched and bent. Correct the situation spring pruning geraniums, which is held from the 20th of February to the 1st decade of March.

For reference. Late spring pruning of geraniums significantly delays the onset of flowering.

Thus, it is possible to determine the ultimate goal of each of the cuts.

• The autumn procedure removes excess load from the plant and provides optimal conditions during the dormant period.
• Spring shearing promotes the laying of new buds, stimulates the growth of side shoots, which leads to abundant and lush flowering.

It is important to carry out the procedure subject to certain conditions.

How to properly trim a geranium (diagram)

Pruning is preceded by a careful visual inspection of the plant and disinfection of the instrument.

1. Work should begin with the outer stems to allow easy access to the center of the plant.
2. First of all, diseased and damaged shoots are identified and removed, almost to the ground.
3. The next to be sheared are intertwined and thickening crown branches.
4. Too high shoots are shortened to the desired height, but not less than 3-5 leaf nodes from the base.
5. The main stem is cut to 1/3 of the height.
6. It is also necessary to remove the lower side shoots growing from the stem. The root shoot is left in order to obtain a new healthy stem.
7. Sections are treated with crushed charcoal (charcoal, activated) or sprinkled with cinnamon powder.

This is a pruning option for the most common type of room geranium - zonal. The formation of other species has minor differences.

Pruning specifics for different types of geraniums

In addition to the classic zonal geranium, ampelous, royal, tulip-shaped, etc. geraniums are grown at home. All these plants also require the timely and correct formation of a bush.

Large-flowered royal geranium is unusually beautiful. Bright flowers, up to 5-7 cm in diameter, form lush caps of inflorescences of the most diverse colors with mandatory inclusions in the form of spots, stripes, nets.

Simple or semi-double corollas amaze not only with their size, but also with a diverse combination of colors and shades within one petal.But such beauty requires a royal attitude and punishes the owners with a lack of flowering with improper care.

The flowering period of royal geranium does not differ in duration, only 3-4 months per season. Therefore, compliance with the rules of maintenance and pruning for lush flowering is very important.

The main work on the formation of the crown is carried out before the plant enters a dormant period, i.e. in the middle of autumn.

1. Prepare and disinfect the cutting tool (clerical knife, blade or ordinary knife with a thin blade).
2. Visual inspection will help identify bare shoots, which are cut above the first leaf node at the base.
3. Cut leaves with yellowness and signs of deformation.
4. The main shoot, if necessary, is shortened by a third or pinched.

December-January is the time of complete rest of the royal geranium and it is not recommended to cut it, let alone replant it. In February, it is permissible to cut one stem, if it spoils the decorativeness of the plant.

On a note. Starting from mid-March, all manipulations to form the crown of the royal geranium are stopped.

The laying of buds begins in the month of April and by this time the plant should not think about anything other than flowering. It will be possible to start correcting the shortcomings of the aesthetic appearance of the royal geranium after the end of flowering.

Ampelous geranium is grown in flowerpots, tall flowerpots or hanging baskets both indoors and outdoors. To preserve the decorative appearance and prevent the bush from thickening, autumn pruning of the plant and spring pinching of elongated shoots are required.

1. After flowering, dry inflorescences are removed from the ampelous geranium and the shoots growing inside the bush are cut out.
2. Prune the shoots that have shed their leaves over the first node at the base.
3. Shorten healthy shoots by 1/3 of the length for lush flowering.

Having undergone stress during the pruning process, plants require increased attention and care.

Spring pruning ivy geranium video

Features of care for geraniums after pruning

Flowers that have undergone autumn forming pruning need additional nutrition and a certain temperature regime.

You should be careful and monitor the condition of the pruned shoot. In case of blackening of the cut, it is renewed and carefully treated with powder of crushed coal, cinnamon or smeared with brilliant green.

In the winter months, December-January, watering should be moderate - the cut geranium has lost a significant part of the leaf apparatus, which reduced the consumption and evaporation of moisture.After the spring adjustment of the geranium crown, the conditions of detention change dramatically.

As spring approaches, geraniums begin to awaken and prepare for nature's intended flowering period. And in order for it to be rich, long and luxurious, pelargonium will need a large amount of nutrients.

• The first top dressing after pruning is carried out with nitrogen-containing fertilizers to stimulate the growth of the green mass of the plant and the development of the root system.
• During the budding period, phosphate fertilizers are preferred.
• Potash fertilizers are applied to protect the plant from external factors and to stimulate the duration of flowering.

These are the three main elements that ensure the full development of geraniums. But to saturate the flowers with brightness and to maintain the foliage in a healthy state, the plant needs additional trace elements.

Complex fertilizers

Horticultural centers are full of colorful labels of balanced compositions for any kind of plant. "Multiflora Aqua", "BioMaster", "Gumi Omi" - contain iron, cobalt, boron, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum and humic acids in an accessible form.

Folk remedies

However, there are many folk remedies to stimulate the abundant and lush flowering of geraniums at home.

Iodine . An affordable remedy from a home medicine cabinet helps to accelerate the formation of buds and significantly increases their number. To prepare the solution, dissolve 1 drop of iodine in one liter of water. Watering is carried out on moist soil at the rate of 50 ml per root.

Milk formula and 100 ml of milk and 1 liter of water will protect homemade geraniums from diseases. Such watering alternates with watering with clean water.

baker's yeast contribute to the active development of the root system and the growth of green mass as a result of the formation of nitrogen and potassium in the soil. To prepare the composition, you will need 20 g of yeast and 1 liter of warm water. The solution is left to ferment for 2-3 hours, and brought to a volume of 6 liters. Top dressing is carried out 2-3 times with a frequency of 7-10 days.

On a note. Feeding geraniums with industrial preparations is carried out only on wet soil and with a frequency of 2-3 weeks.

It would be useful to listen to the advice of experienced gardeners on growing geraniums at home.

To achieve the lush flowering of geraniums in the spring, you need to know the "character" of the geranium and its preferences.

1. Geranium is a light-loving plant and should be kept on the southern windowsills or provide additional illumination during the flowering period.
2. Geranium is more of a drought-resistant plant than a moisture-loving one, so excessive moisture leads to rotting of the root system. Watering is carried out 2-3 times a week as the top layer of the earth in the pot dries up.
3. The temperature of the content should not fall below 13-15⁰С. At lower rates, pelargonium stops laying buds.
4. Timely autumn pruning will allow you to grow a compact geranium bush, which will delight you with abundant flowering in spring.

Spring geranium pruning - video

How to prune geraniums for the winter. Autumn pruning of pelargonium - video

Outside the window is the beginning of March, and if you have not yet pinched the geranium shoots stretched out over the winter, then now is the time to do it. And after 2-3 weeks, pelargonium will open bright flowers and bring the joy of awakening nature into the house.

What to do if a mistake is made?

The most common mistakes flower growers make when pruning geraniums are:

• Violation of deadlines. Strict adherence to the timing of pruning plants is a necessary condition. Due to the procedure in the winter, the inflorescences will begin to fall.
• Incorrect trim level. If you cut high above a leaf node, the excess part of the stem will dry out, as a result of which the entire shoot may die.
• radical pruning. If too many shoots are removed at once, the plant will stop growing and flowering, restoring strength after the stress it has received.
• Too frequent pruning leads to a slowdown in the development of new kidneys.

Advice: The main rule when pruning geraniums is to comply with the deadlines for the procedure. If the geranium is cut incorrectly, it is necessary to provide the plant with good care and provide it with the optimal level of watering, fertilizing and lighting. Do not disturb the plant and give it time to recuperate.

Conclusion

Geranium is one of the favorite flowers of almost all flower growers.. Caring for her is not difficult, and even a beginner can handle it. The main thing is to observe the plant, the appearance of which itself will indicate the need for pruning and pinching. If you follow all the recommendations, these procedures will not cause difficulties and will help you get a beautiful, lushly blooming flower.

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Geranium is not in vain loved by many gardeners. It is easy to care for, undemanding to the soil and watering. But there is something that is obligatory in the formation of a beautiful lush pelargonium bush and its long-term flowering. It's cutting and pinching. If you do not perform these operations with geraniums in a timely manner, then very quickly the flower will lose its shape, bare shoots will stretch out, and the number of inflorescences will come to naught. When and how to cut and form a flower crown correctly? Here's what experienced geranium growers advise.

How to prune geraniums in autumn

The purpose of the autumn pruning

There are many varieties of geranium: it is a house or garden plant, with lodging or climbing stems, tall or short, bushy or ampelous. For each flower, you need to choose your own pruning method, comparing it with the desired shapes that you would like to give the pelargonium.

The ultimate goal of pruning geraniums is to get a beautiful bush with luxuriantly flowering inflorescences. Accompanying - the improvement of the bush.

For all types of geraniums, it is important to adhere to the main requirement: pruning and control over the shape of the bush should be done regularly. It is impossible to trim once and get the intended design. It is necessary to engage in the formation of a beautiful type of geranium constantly, starting immediately after planting it. You do not need to wait a year or two for the stems to grow to great lengths and become bare, with only a few leaves at the very top. Pruning leads to increased growth of side shoots and stimulates the conception of new inflorescences.

The geranium itself, without human intervention, does not throw out additional side stems. But dormant growth buds are located at each node. Their growth should be provoked. After pruning, the plant begins to grow compactly, without jumping out bare and ugly branches. In addition to lateral shoots, flower buds are also activated. Such geraniums bloom longer and more magnificently than their groomed counterparts. After flowering is completed, the bush gives high-quality planting material, which allows you to propagate your favorite variety of pelargonium.

Time spending

Pelargonium is a smart plant. She will tell you when to start pruning. Geraniums are pruned after flowering stops on the bush and the last inflorescences withered. If the plant is planted in open ground for the summer or remains in the garden all year round, then half the height of the stem is removed. If the flower spent the summer outdoors, it should be kept in the room for ten days before pruning, so that it gets used to the new living conditions. Removing the excess crown improves air exchange, the lower leaves open to sunny color. This reduces the risk of fungal diseases.

Winter is a dormant time for a plant, but not for a grower. It is necessary to observe the condition of the cuts. If the cut has turned black, has become an unnatural color, it is necessary to repeat the pruning, removing the non-healing wound on the stem.

Features of the procedure for different types of pelargonium

You can determine whether a particular plant needs pruning by its appearance. If the bush is compact, the branches are neat, then pruning can be postponed until spring. For example, zonal geraniums often grow obscenely, exposing the bare trunk of leaves. Then, of course, pruning is required. Ampelous pelargonium is beautiful with long shoots, but decorated with foliage and flowers. If the type of plant is quite presentable, then it is better not to touch the bush until spring.

Variegated geraniums are under severe stress after pruning, so if you can not cut, then do not do it. There is an interesting variety - mini-pelargoniums. The name itself indicates their miniature size. Therefore, pruning is a rare event for them. Is it just to remove something suddenly protruding from the overall compact design. Royal geranium needs pruning after the bush has grown. In autumn, everything superfluous is cut off, leaving only a small shoot with buds.

Scheme of work

It is necessary to carry out the removal of geranium shoots with a disinfected tool. This is a sharp knife (kitchen or stationery) or blade. Scissors are not suitable for this procedure, as they pinch the stem. Cut off the geranium trunk above the leaf node in three to five millimeters. The cut is made at an acute angle. You should choose nodules directed to the outside of the bush. With the growth of shoots from such a bud, the shoots will not lead to thickening of the crown, as they will tend to separate from the center of the bush.

Step-by-step instructions for autumn pruning geraniums

1. Remove yellowed or damaged twigs, leaves and any faded inflorescences. Thus the bush will reveal its true form.
2. Prepare tools. You will need a sharp knife, blade, in extreme cases, pruners or scissors. You can disinfect the instrument with alcohol by wiping their working surface. Another way: ignite over a flame or boil in water for 10-15 minutes.
3. Make an incision above the leaf node. If the branch directs its growth into the bush, it is better to remove it. Crossing shoots should also be cut off. Weakened branches are pruned without pity.
4. It is necessary to start pruning from the outer stems, gradually moving to the center of the bush. If it is necessary to remove about half of the bush, pruning should be carried out in two or three passes. Between each approach, allow a two-week respite for the plant.
5. You can trim the tips of the stems after four to five leaf nodules. Here new sprouts with peduncles will form.
6. Treat the sections with a disinfectant (ash, coal, cinnamon, alcohol solution).
7. Apply nitrogen fertilizer to support the plant. Create appropriate thermal and light conditions for wintering.

Video tip

Features of care for geraniums after pruning

The place where the geranium stem was cut must be disinfected. Activated charcoal works well for this. It needs to be crushed into powder, and then sprinkled on the cut. Another remedy is wood ash. It is also a good antiseptic. Cinnamon powder is considered a natural stimulant for wound healing. They can also process the cut.

The treated plant must be fed with nitrogen fertilizers. This vitamin complex will help to cope with stress and stimulate the growth of shoots and greenery.

Watering should be reduced. Since there will be very little green mass left, excess moisture will not be able to evaporate. This can lead to disease and death of the plant. It has already been weakened by the experience.

Wintering conditions: table

crown formation

It is necessary to form a geranium crown almost immediately after planting the cutting. The main actions to achieve this goal are pruning and pinching. If the geranium is pruned in the fall, then in the spring you can cut or pinch it. What is the difference? Pinching is the removal of the growth point of a plant. In its absence, the geranium throws out side shoots and turns into a small branched tree. The first pinch is made over 8 or 10 leaves. The time of its holding is the end of February-March. Lateral shoots are also pinched as they grow. It is not worth delaying with spring manipulations with geraniums. The later the pinching is done, the longer the time before the flowers appear.

Spring pruning is a cut of large stems at the level of the second or fifth leaf from the root. The time of the operation is autumn or early spring.

The basics of proper crown formation

• Carry out all manipulations with geraniums only with treated tools and clean hands.
• First of all, remove (cut or pinch) the shoots growing inside the bush to prevent thickening.
• With a large distance between pairs of leaves, the stem is cut immediately above the leaves, indenting up to five millimeters.
• First of all, diseased shoots are removed, capturing up to five centimeters of the healthy part.

Step-by-step instructions for spring procedures

Spring work with geraniums is very similar to autumn pruning. The first three steps are exactly the same. But it also has its own nuances.

1. Carefully examine the plant and carefully consider what kind of result you would like to get.
2. Remove yellowed or damaged twigs and leaves.
3. Prepare tools. You will need a sharp knife, blade, in extreme cases, pruners or scissors. You can disinfect the instrument with alcohol by wiping their working surface. Another way: ignite over a flame or boil in water for 10-15 minutes. For pinching, wash your hands thoroughly.
4. Cut off all the stems, leaving the most healthy and beautiful. It is necessary to remove the lower side shoots from it.
5. A stem that is too tall must be shortened by removing part of the top. Lateral buds will grow and the geranium will turn into a small tree on the trunk (or a ball on a stick).
6. Pelargonium stems that are too long or crooked can be cut off, leaving stumps up to ten centimeters. In a few weeks, fluffy bushes will appear in the pot instead.
7. Pay attention to the direction of growth of the kidney. It should tend to grow in the opposite direction from the main stem.
8. Treat the sections with a disinfectant (ash, coal, cinnamon, alcohol solution).

Geranium crown formation (video)

Spring pruning and pinching perform an important agrotechnical function - they stimulate the formation of new buds, branches and inflorescences.

It is important to remember: after spring pruning and / or pinching, geraniums will bloom later.

The explanation for this is simple, the flower needs time to recuperate. Therefore, you need to decide what you want to achieve: early flowering or its splendor and longevity. Given that pinching is a more gentle procedure than pruning, then in the spring you can stop at the first option. It is necessary to pinch young shoots not only in spring, but also as the plant grows.

Without urgent need, pruning in the spring can be omitted. You can only cut up to 20% of all shoots. Large thinning can significantly shift the timing of flowering. Also, the plant can spend all its energy on recovering from stress and not bloom at all this season.

Care after work: table

Geraniums that have undergone spring pinching or pruning need the most favorable conditions.

Pruning: necessary or useless procedure?

Of course, geranium pruning can be omitted. Only now, will a beautiful flowering bush turn out from a plant? Probably not. Geraniums tend to stretch their stems. The elongated stem is not covered with foliage and does not throw out inflorescences. The plant will grow, but there will be nothing to please the eye. Some flower growers suggest not to suffer with old plants, pruning and pinching them. They consider it the best option to cut the old bush in the fall, discard the root, and root the cuttings and get a young plant.

If you save the old faded geranium, then it is important not to forget that pruning is the strongest test for the plant. Therefore, it is better to carry it out with an increase in long daylight hours, that is, at the end of winter or the beginning of spring. Autumn pruning is worse tolerated by pelargonium and the plant may not have enough strength to recover.

Mistakes when pruning geraniums at home

Pruning geraniums is not such a difficult process. The only thing that must be observed is the timeliness of its implementation. But improper pruning will lead to an unplanned result or the death of the plant.

Geranium pleases the human eye with beautiful flowers and a peculiar aroma. Every grower can create a well-groomed pelargonium bush. To do this, it is enough to prune the plant in time and provide it with proper care. Lushly blooming geraniums need to be fed with potassium. This is where all the secrets of creating a spherical crown or a fluffy geranium bush end. Have a nice sight for your eyes.