Pelargoniums: The Perfect Window Sill Decoration

Pelargoniums, also known as geraniums, will decorate every windowsill.

Pelargoniums, commonly known as geraniums, are perhaps the most widespread plant adorning window boxes on windowsills.

Pelargoniums have a tremendous advantage in that even a single window box planted with these plants can beautify an entire house.

Thanks to their undemanding cultivation requirements and versatility in placement, pelargoniums can truly be grown by anyone. The selection is enormous.

In this article you can read about: classification of pelargoniums, cultivation, winter care, spring care, growing from seed, diseases and pests

Pelargoniums

Succumb to the charm of pelargoniums too. Your own cuttings will delight you.

Pelargoniums (lat. Pelargonium) belong to the Geraniaceae family of plants. The pelargonium genus is very broad and contains approximately 240 - 300 plant species growing mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.

The majority of pelargonium representatives grow in South Africa. It was in South Africa that pelargoniums caught the attention of seafarers who brought them to Europe around 1600. Here, over time, pelargoniums became widely distributed.

The same happened in our region. The zonal pelargonium (lat. Pelargonium zonale) gained particular popularity.

Classification of Pelargoniums

Pelargoniums are divided into several groups. We distinguish upright pelargoniums, trailing pelargoniums, regal (royal) pelargoniums, and scented pelargoniums.

Upright Pelargoniums

As the group name itself suggests, these pelargoniums grow upright. The leaves are slightly hairy, with a darker band on the leaf blade. Upright pelargoniums grow to a height of approximately 30 - 60 cm.

Upright pelargoniums are cultivated for approximately 2 - 3 years, after which the plant is renewed using cuttings. The reason is the relatively rapid woodiness of the stems and subsequent unsightliness of the plants themselves.

Upright pelargoniums can be grown in window boxes on windowsills as well as in larger containers and pots. The flower color of upright pelargoniums is most commonly red, pink, purple, and white.

Trailing Pelargoniums

Trailing pelargoniums have cascading stems, their leaves are smooth and slightly lobed. The trails of some pelargonium varieties can be up to a meter long. Trailing pelargoniums are popularly planted in window boxes on windowsills and on various low walls.

Regal Pelargoniums

Trailing pelargoniums won't obstruct the view from your window, yet the view of your windows will be enchanting.

English pelargoniums, also known as regal pelargoniums, differ from the previous two groups in their flowers.

The flowers are much larger and more colourful compared to classic upright pelargoniums. A distinctive dark spot inside the flower is typical.

English pelargoniums are slightly more delicate and require some experience with growing pelargoniums. They grow relatively slowly, so plant renewal using cuttings is only carried out after several years.

Scented Pelargoniums

Plants from the scented pelargoniums group will enchant growers with their fragrance. Most commonly, these pelargoniums have a lemon scent. Growing them is more demanding, but with a bit of experience, it's possible to cultivate beautiful scented pelargoniums.

Scented pelargoniums are grown indoors; in winter, they need a cooler location where they can rest.

Growing Pelargoniums

The most commonly grown type of pelargonium is the zonal pelargonium (lat. Pelargonium zonale). Ivy-leaved pelargoniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are also popular and can be successfully grown indoors.

Both these types of pelargoniums are perennial, so they can be grown for several years. Mass production of cheap pelargonium seedlings in supermarkets makes it easier for growers to care for these plants.

They don't need to worry about overwintering and for a few pounds, they can buy new seedlings every year.

Nowadays, it's only worth overwintering less readily available types of pelargoniums - for example, plants from the regal and scented pelargoniums groups.

Pelargoniums need a sufficiently bright location for vigorous growth; they don't mind direct sunlight either. With increasing amounts of sunlight, increased amounts of water must also be provided.

On hot days, pelargoniums need to be watered almost daily. Self-watering containers are ideal, as they also slightly increase humidity around the plants.

The good news is that pelargoniums can recover even after missing several days of watering. Although plants will survive substrate drying out, it may damage the plants and reduce flowering.

Vigorous growth and abundant flowering must be supported by regular feeding with special fertilisers for geraniums. Supporters of natural homemade fertilisers use compost tea or heavily diluted chicken manure extract.

Quality substrate and sufficient nutrients throughout the entire season will ensure truly abundant flowering on vigorous pelargonium plants.

Pelargoniums in Winter

If you decide to overwinter pelargoniums, you must provide them with a cooler environment so the plants can rest after a demanding season. The overwintering location for pelargoniums should be as bright as possible.

During winter, pelargoniums are not fertilized and watering is reduced to a minimum. Resting pelargoniums tolerate drought better than waterlogging.

In spring, it's necessary to cut back elongated shoots and remove dead shoots and leaves. After winter, overgrown shoots are shortened, from which you can obtain cuttings approximately 10 cm long.

Repot overwintered pelargonium plants into fresh substrate in spring. With increasing light, pelargonium plants slowly begin to wake up. During this period, watering is gradually increased and the first fertilization is carried out.

Pelargoniums are susceptible to frost damage, so move them to an outdoor location only when there's no risk of frost.

Growing Pelargoniums from Seeds

Nowadays, pelargoniums are very rarely grown from seeds. The easy availability of mature seedlings doesn't favor seed sowing. Growing from seeds is a lengthy process, but in the case of cultivating less common pelargonium species, it's certainly worth taking this challenging path.

Sow seeds into sterilized sowing substrate at the turn of the year. Place the sowing container in a bright location, preferably on a windowsill or under grow lights.

Keep the substrate constantly moist. The temperature in the sowing container shouldn't fluctuate too much. Seeds will germinate approximately 2-3 weeks after sowing.

The first transplanting of seedlings is done when the plant develops its first pair of true leaves. Transplanted seedlings are allowed to root well and then repotted into larger pots.

The final transplanting follows after several weeks, when the plants are ready for planting into window boxes.

Diseases and Pests on Pelargoniums

Don't be afraid of growing pelargoniums, it's easy! You can purchase everything you need in our e-shop.

Even pelargoniums cannot avoid diseases and pests. Prevention is essential, requiring regular inspection of plants to check whether they're affected by any disease or pest.

Among pests, pelargoniums are most commonly attacked by aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Affected plants must be treated as soon as possible to prevent pests from spreading further. Waterlogging can lead to the development of fungal diseases.

Damage to pelargoniums can also be caused by overheating of window boxes during hot summer days. A preventive measure is shading the window box with, for example, a board.

Wishing you much joy in growing pelargoniums, LenkaZ