Magnificent Geranium is a shrub whose height reaches 60 cm. The peculiarity of the plant is that the bush grows quickly, covering new areas. Geranium Magnificent - demanding on light and fertile soil.
How and where to grow this plant and how to care for it will be discussed in this article.
Botanical description and history
This plant includes about 400 species. Lives in areas of Europe, Asia and America. All varieties of magnificent geraniums differ in shape, size and color of leaves.
The plant is resistant to adverse weather conditions.. The leaves are very lush, and when the sun's rays fall on them in the fall, then their surface seems to shimmer with different colors - from light green to bright green. The length of the sheet plate reaches 10 cm, along the edges there are notches.
The diameter of the blooming buds is 3 cm. All flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences with sparse ends. The color of flowers can be red, crimson, purple. Bloom lasts for a month.
The magnificent geranium has a long and powerful root system., thanks to which the plant spreads very quickly throughout the site.
Popular varieties: description with photo
Among all the variety of magnificent geraniums, the varieties listed below are in special demand. Here you can see their description and photos.
Alan mayes
This is a bush whose shape resembles a hemisphere. Its height reaches 40 cm and width - 35 cm. The flowers are blue in color with dark blue veins. In diameter, the blooming bud reaches 4.5 cm.
Blue blood
This plant has the appearance of a dense bush round shape. Its height and width is 30 cm. The flowers are blue in color with black veins. The diameter of the flower is 4.5 cm.
Mrs. Kendall clark
This geranium grows in the form of a lush bush, whose height is 60 cm. Flowers are blue-gray with pink tint.
Rosemoor
The plant is presented in the form of a bush of medium size. Its height is 45 cm, and width - 35 cm. The inflorescences are presented in lilac-blue color with dark blue veins. The diameter of the blooming bud reaches 5 cm.
Landing
Gorgeous geraniums are grown in open field in the form of single landings on the lawns. Since the plant is sterile (does not give fruit and seeds), the planting work is carried out only by dividing the rhizome.
Procedure:
- Pour a mixture consisting of peat, earth, sand in equal proportions into the prepared depressions.
- Plant the plants observing a 40 cm interval between them.
- Slightly wet the soil and lay a mulch of sawdust.
Lighting and location
For the full growth and development of plants requires compliance with the temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Culture does not tolerate direct exposure to sunlight, so it is better to plant it in partial shade. The ideal place is lawns, flower beds, garden plots.
Soil requirements
In its composition should be peat and sand, which have a positive effect on the growth of the flower.
Care
- Watering. Magnificent geranium prefers moderate but regular soil moistening. This is especially important in the first months after transplantation, when the culture needs a lot of strength to root in the new place.
Watering the plant is necessary as the drying of the top layer of soil. In summer, the amount of moisture increases. For these purposes, use only distilled and warm water. This flower does not need spraying.
Loosening and mulching. After planting it must be mulched. This will reduce the number of loosening. You can do without mulch, if you plant ground cover plants between flowers.However, the ground should always be loose and light, so after watering every 2-3 weeks, it is necessary to work the land with a tool. Also, from time to time you need to pour the mulch, which makes the process of evaporation of moisture slow.
- Top dressing. It is necessary to make nutrients once every 2 weeks. Start doing it in March, and finish in November. The ready-made nutritional composition for geranium, which is sold in a specialized store, is suitable for feeding. You can use traditional medicine:
- Dilute 1 drop of iodine in 1 liter of water. Make a composition of 50 ml at a time. The dosage is better not to increase, as this can burn the rhizome.
- In 1 liter of water dissolve 100 ml in milk. The resulting solution is used for watering the plant. Perform the procedure once a month, alternating with regular beer.
- Combine 20 g of ash in dry form with the ground or diluted in 1 liter of water. This supplement replenishes stocks of potassium.
- In the pharmacy you can buy vitamins B1 and B6 in ampoules. To prepare the solution, you must first take B1 and dissolve in 2 liters of water. The resulting solution is used for irrigation of soil with geraniums. After 2.5 weeks, you must use vitamin B6, which is also diluted with water and water the plant.
It is impossible to use organic matter for fertilizing the geranium, as it does not love it.
- Transfer. Gorgeous geranium does not like transfers, although it does not really need them. It is recommended to do this only when the roots begin to show from the drain hole of the pot.
Geranium transplantation should be carried out in early spring, when the plant begins the growing season.
The pot should be 1-2 cm more than the previous one. If you take too large capacity, the plant will give a lot of branched shoots, but the flowering will be absent.
- Pruning. With the onset of autumn, the magnificent geranium must be cut. All stems that grow not from the root, but also from the shoot, are removed. Also cut the foliage, leaving only 7 leaves. If a lot of foliage has formed in winter, then in the spring you will also need to prune. With the beginning of the growing season it is necessary to carry out pinching after the 4th leaf. No pruning in winter.
Loosening and mulching. After planting it must be mulched. This will reduce the number of loosening. You can do without mulch, if you plant ground cover plants between flowers.Common diseases and pests
The following diseases can strike a magnificent geranium:
- Rot. This is a disease resulting from improper watering. You can recognize it by the presence of brown spot on the surface of the sheet plate. To overcome the disease, you need to remove the affected parts of the plant, and then process it with fungicides.
- Tomato wilting. The disease manifests itself in the form of annular spots. To eliminate the disease it is necessary to use Fundazol. If the damage is extensive, it is better to remove the plant by burning, and then treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The following insects are dangerous from pests:
- Aphid. To combat the parasite used Commander, Aktara, Corado.
- White fly. The drug Spark easily fights with it.
- Caterpillars. To remove them will require manual collection.
Breeding features
Magnificent geranium multiplies by dividing rhizomes. It is better to hold these events in spring.
For this you need:
- Separate a part of the bush and transplant it in advance prepared soil.
- Compost and peat fertilizer must be applied to the soil.
- One month after planting, the plant can be fed for the first time.
Magnificent geranium is a decorative culture that is perfect for gardening and decorating any site. An ideal place for a flower is a flower bed and a flower garden, where it can be placed in the front or in the background. Suitable culture for microboxers, where it can be cultivated with other plants.
