If you love pelargoniums, chances are they’ve been tucked away in the greenhouse over winter… and may be looking a little sad and sorry for themselves right now. In this video, Debi shares her simple TLC routine to get them looking fresh, healthy and ready to sparkle for spring.
Give your pelargoniums some TLC
Read the transcript
Overwintered pelargoniums can look a little sorry for themselves by spring. Unlike hardy perennial geraniums, pelargoniums are tender. Keep them somewhere bright and frost-free over winter, such as a greenhouse, porch or conservatory. Growing them in pots makes them easy to move.
Check for grey mould. Look for a dusty, grey coating on the leaves. Grey mould, or botrytis, thrives in damp, humid conditions with poor ventilation, especially in a closed greenhouse. It can spread between plants, so snip off dead, dying or affected leaves and stems. Throw infected material away and keep it out of the compost heap.
Repot in fresh compost. Take the plant out of its pot and gently tease away loose compost. Wash the pot to remove any lingering spores. Refill with fresh compost and put the plant back. I use Richard Jackson’s Easy Compost and add a little Root Booster with mycorrhizal fungi.
Water at the base. Water from below or directly onto the compost. Keeping the stems and leaves dry helps discourage grey mould. Leave the pot somewhere bright and warm and look forward to new growth in spring.
