Herb geranium is a very unpretentious plant that can grow everywhere in temperate latitudes.
For this, it was appreciated by many flower growers who planted it in their backyards.
In addition, this culture is beneficial in protecting the earth from erosion and drying out.
Botanical description and history
Herb geranium is a perennial plant belonging to the family of Geraniahs.. It has grassy stems, woody at the bottom, which form an upright shrub 40–100 cm high. The geranium flower is a five-leaf flat calyx with 5 corolla petals located in one plane. 1 - 3 flowers form a peduncle. Geranium leaf plate have a palmate-lobed shape. Flowering time - the end of May - August.
Homeland plants are southern areas of England. Geranium with its current appearance and variety variety (more than 400 varieties are known) is obliged to flower growers and breeders in England and the Netherlands. Geranium was brought to Russia by Peter the Great in the early 18th century.
Appearance
Grass Geranium - Ground Cover Culture: its roots expand in width, not in depth. The diameter of its flower is 2.5 - 4.4 cm, the color of flowers is very diverse: white, blue and violet, etc. The leaves are trimmed with small hairs, have a peculiar smell and various colors: green, grayish, bluish. The plant to the cold keeps the decorative appearance due to openwork foliage with pointed and rounded edges.
Popular varieties
The popular varieties of herbaceous geraniums growing on the territory of Russia include:
- Meadow.
- Marshland.
- Balkan.
- Himalayan.
- Gorgeous.
- Georgian.
- Red-Brown.
- Roseanna
- Patricia and others.
Gray geranium (Renarda) is a perennial herb with a thick rhizome and weakly branched stems. The Caucasus is considered the birthplace of culture, with its sunny rocky slopes and mountain meadows. The plant is great for open ground in latitudes with a temperate climate.
This culture is a compact bush measuring 50 cm by 50 cm. The flowers are large, white or blue with purple veins. Leaves are gray-green, pentagonal, rounded in shape with wavy edges. The photophilous plant, grows on loose sandy soils. It blooms from June to August.
How and where to plant it?
Generally, gray geranium is an unpretentious herbaceous plantPerfect for landing in open ground. But there are a number of nuances that are worth considering.
Lighting and location
The soil and the place for planting are selected depending on the variety of herbaceous geraniums. Solar sites are designed for such varieties as Gray, Meadow, Himalayan, Magnificent. In addition, these species need abundant watering, in contrast to the red-brown geranium, which loves a lot of sun and does not tolerate excessive moisture. But the penumbra and constantly moistened soil will appreciate the Swamp geranium. Georgian geranium will decorate any alpine hill.
It is better to plant grassy geranium by islets, but due to the fact that the plant grows quickly, the distance between the bushes should be at least 30 cm.
Soil requirements
Herbal geranium prefers well-drained, loose, air - and moisture-permeable soil.
Mandatory components of the soil should be sand and peat. During autumn or spring digging, it is recommended to add mineral fertilizers and humus to the soil, and just before planting the plant, the soil can be slightly “acidified” by adding some citric or oxalic acid to it.
Landing time
Planting of a grassy geranium is carried out in early autumn or spring.when the ground is already warm to + 15C - + 18C, it is not bad if 1 - 2 spring rains pass before planting.
Instruction
- Prepare a landing hole. Its depth should be such that the entire root system of the plant plus a couple of centimeters is freely placed in it.
- The bottom of the landing pit must be filled with a layer of drainage (crushed stone, broken brick, pebbles), and then - the soil from the store or mixed with his own hands.
- The root system of the seedling is placed in the landing pit and gently covered with earth.
- Soil should be slightly tamped for better fixation of the plant.
- After planting, the geranium must be watered abundantly.
- It is also necessary to mulch the ground around the young plant.
Mulching - surface soil mulch (dry peat, compost, bark) to protect it and improve properties, for example, to prevent drying of the soil.
How to care?
Watering. Watering should meet the needs of a certain type of plants, which were discussed above. Most often it should be regular and moderate, especially if the soil around the seedling is mulched.- Top dressing. The first fertilization is carried out immediately after planting. In spring, preference should be given to nitrogen fertilizers, which contribute to the growth of hardwood and root mass. Starting from June, complex fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium is usually applied once every 2 weeks for lush and long-term flowering.
- Pruning. It is imperative to monitor the ornamental plants and systematically remove faded inflorescences and faded foliage. Do not forget also about cleaning the soil around the plant from weeds.
Watering. Watering should meet the needs of a certain type of plants, which were discussed above. Most often it should be regular and moderate, especially if the soil around the seedling is mulched.Common diseases and pests
Herbal geranium rarely gets sick. As a rule, the causes of these diseases can be:
- too dry air;
- insufficient lighting (for light-loving varieties);
- excessive watering.
A plant that is in uncomfortable conditions is at risk of contracting various infectious diseases. Among the most common:
- gray rot (gray-gray spots on the leaves);
- rust (spots on the leaves of a brown-rust color);
- Alternaria (brown spots on the plant);
- late blight (wilting and rotting plants).
Each of the diseases requires a review of the conditions of the plant, as well as the removal of the affected parts of the plant and the treatment of the geranium with fungicides:
- Fundazole;
- Vitarol;
- Rowral;
- Scoring etc
As for pests, geraniums are often attacked:
- aphids;
- whiteflies;
- ticks;
- caterpillars;
- termites.
Help to cope with pests such drugs as:
- "Marathon";
- "Monterey";
- "Messenger";
- "Spark";
- "Commander" and others.
Breeding features
The main methods of reproduction of grassy geraniums include:
- Rhizome division.
- Seeds.
- Cuttings
The simplest and most effective way is reproduction by division of rhizome.: In the fall, the dug out adult plant is divided into parts, each of which is planted separately in the ground or stored until spring in a container with sand in a cool place.
The method of propagation by seeds is not popular, because it requires a certain skill and requires time and labor.
- From December to the end of April, the seeds of grassy geraniums are sown on the moistened surface of the soil, the container is covered with glass or film, not forgetting about daily ventilation.
- Three weeks later, the sprouting of the seedlings is performed (seating them at a distance of 2 - 3 cm from each other).
- After the appearance of several true leaves, seedlings can be seated in individual pots.
One of the popular breeding methods among flower growers is grafting.
- During spring pruning, a healthy, with no visible damage, a non-flowering shoot about 10 cm long is selected, which is dried and processed with activated charcoal.
- Next, the cutting is placed on the rooting immediately into the ground. The cut and dried stem is dipped into the root stimulator, for example, “Kornevin”.
- Further, the shoot is deepened into moist soil for 3–4 cm, the ground around it should be well compacted for better fixation of the seedling.
- After 2 - 3 weeks the shoots will give the roots, then they can be seated in individual pots.
Many varieties of garden herbaceous geranium contribute to the fact that everyone can find the right look for their site, and, with a little effort, enjoy the bright colors of its flowers all summer.
