Indoor geranium: description
Pelargonium (geranium room) is a herbaceous plant and a shrub, less often a shrub, sometimes succulent, with various leaves - deeply dissected, whole, lobate. Flowers are concentrated in umbellate inflorescences. Flowers pelargonium symmetrical two-sided (one plane of symmetry), in the present geranium flowers are regular (have several planes of symmetry).
The pelargonium fetus is a long narrow capsule that thins to the apex, - resembles the beak of a stork in shape, hence the name of the genus (from the Greek Pelargos - stork).
Most species are widespread ornamental plants, which can be found in the collections of botanical gardens. Some species are considered a valuable raw material for the extraction of essential oil used in the soap and perfume industry. Some species are suitable for indoor growing.
Some people calm down, inhaling the smell of the plant and fall asleep (insomnia leaves them), and some have an allergy to the smell of pelargonium.
Pelargonium can help with cardiovascular disease, hypertension. It was noted beneficial effects on metabolic processes, sexual potency, endocrine system, secret GIT function.
In folk medicine a headache is treated with decoction of pelargonium leaves. In addition, pelargonium preparations can normalize sleep.
Infusion from Pelargonium is advised to drink in dysentery, as well as chronic and acute enterocolitis. Water decoctions are recommended for angina, pulmonary hemorrhage. The broths are washed with festering wounds. In addition, broths are able to relieve aches in the joints.
Pelargonium essential oil is obtained by distillation with steam. Pelargonium essential oil contains substances that are detrimental to certain pathogenic microorganisms (therefore, oil is used to treat infectious diseases). Pelargonium oil cleans the air of harmful impurities, thereby refreshing it.
With radiculitis or osteochondrosis apply compresses with finely chopped leaves of geranium. Plant geranium can scare away flies, especially on hot summer days.
Care of the plant
Pelargonium is a photophilous plant that carries sunlight, so it is better to grow it near the glass on the southern window. But plants can tolerate the eastern and even northern windows, but lack of light in the winter will lead to the extension of the plant.
In winter, pelargonium should be illuminated with fluorescent lamps. It is better to place the plant in a well-ventilated room. In the summer months, the plant is best placed outdoors. Taking Pelargonium in the open air, do not remove the plant from the pot, in order to dig it into the ground, it is enough to slip the plant into the ground together with the pot, this will not allow the plant to grow at the expense of flowering.
From September to October, with the approach of frosts, Pelargonium is best transferred to the premises.
In summer, the temperature should be at room temperature. In winter, the plant is better kept in a cool room at a temperature of approximately 8-12 ° C with a plus sign.
The winter months until April are considered decisive for further flowering, because for 3 months at a temperature of 10-13 with a plus sign, the flower buds are laid. This time is characterized by a short day, for pelargonium this factor is significant, since it is assigned to plants of a short day.
Pelargonium should not be waterlogged, so watering should be moderate. Watch the top layer of the substrate, as soon as it dries, the plant should be watered.
In winter, pelargonium should be watered very moderately, this will help with a lack of light in winter to contain the growth of the plant so that it does not stretch. If in winter the plant is kept in a cool place and is abundantly watered, it will lead to wilting of the leaves, as well as decay of the roots and root neck.
Indoor geranium is a plant that easily tolerates dry air, so no constant spraying is required. In the summer, periodic sprayings do not interfere.
If after a transplantation 2-3 months have passed, then the plant should be fed with superphosphate, which stimulates flowering. Pelargonium poorly tolerates fresh organic fertilizers.
Drying and yellowing leaves should be cut off, and the lower part of the petiole should be left. Their tearing can lead to the decay of naked tissues.
Decayed parts must be cut immediately to living tissue, the slice should be sprinkled with charcoal powder.
In March of each year, young plants are transplanted to a new land. Young plants are severely cut off at this time, only 5 buds are left on each shoot, in this case you will get lush, low, abundantly flowering specimens.
If the pot is too small for Pelargonium, it can be transplanted.
The substrate should be slightly acidic (pH about six), or neutral, light, well permeable to water and air. The composition of the substrate can consist of equal parts of peat, turf, humus, leaf earth and sand with low addition of charcoal. This plant should have good drainage.
Indoor geranium: reproduction
This houseplant multiplies by seeds. This method is well used for breeding purposes, since there is a splitting of parental traits.
But most often pelargonium is propagated by apical cuttings with five leaves, in February-March, and in July-August. And lovers cut the zonal pelargonium in September.
Plants of zonal and thyroid pelargonium, grown from spring cuttings, begin to bloom in July-August.
Pelargonium large-flowered begins to bloom on the second, and even in the third year.
The trimmed Pelargonium blooms more moderately, so the uncircumcised plant is more abundant. In the premises begin to bloom earlier plants grown in August from rooted cuttings.
Rooted cuttings do not sit down for the winter. And with the onset of spring they must be planted in small individual pots, do not pinch and then they will bloom more quickly.
Pelargonium (geranium) is affected by aphids, whitefly.