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Geraniums
Hi All - have recently bought some nice old pots off some people
emigrating. One of these contains a big still flowering geranium. As these start to die off could anyone please tell me what I should do? I'm fairly new to gardening but if poss would like to see them grow back next year. Any resource info you can give will be a big help thanks. StaminaJ -- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 6 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- - |
Geraniums
wrote ... Hi All - have recently bought some nice old pots off some people emigrating. One of these contains a big still flowering geranium. As these start to die off could anyone please tell me what I should do? I'm fairly new to gardening but if poss would like to see them grow back next year. Any resource info you can give will be a big help thanks. At the risk of offending some, are we talking about the hardy Geraniums or about the tender Pelargoniums that are incorrectly still called geraniums (which they haven't been for decades) in the plant trade and that are used as showy summer bedding etc.? It will make a big difference as to the answers given. -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
Geraniums
wrote in message ... Hi All - have recently bought some nice old pots off some people emigrating. One of these contains a big still flowering geranium. As these start to die off could anyone please tell me what I should do? I'm fairly new to gardening but if poss would like to see them grow back next year. Any resource info you can give will be a big help thanks. Why don't you ask the people emigrating how they used to 'overwinter' the pots and the plants contained? From your description 'big, still flowering', I'd guess your 'geraniums' are not the hardy geranium type, which would probably have dies back by now, but pelargoniums. Pelargoniums are not hardy and, if left in the garden, normally die off over winter. I say 'normally', because I have known them survive outside over really mild winters. The best way to preserve them would, probably, have been to take cuttings in the late summer, and to keep the rooted cuttings on a frost free window ledge over winter. The old plants could then have been dispensed with or left to their own devices. Failing that, if you can get your pots into a frost free location where the temperature isn't going to get much less than 7 degrees C the plants should survive. If that's not possible, lift the plants and put them in a tray of compost and keep them in an unheated greenhouse or similar. I'd take the leaves off and cut the stems back to about 4 inches, myself. There's not a lot of need for watering, either, until you see new growth in spring. My grandfather used to lift some of his plants, let them dry, and then hang them upside down in his shed over winter. I don't think they all survived, but some used to show signs of life in spring, and he gave them a good soaking before potting them, and they mostly grew as good as new. But then, he had green fingers :-) |
Geraniums
"Charlie Pridham" wrote Their name changed to Pelargonium in the 1780's and they were only called geranium from 1750's Its odd how some names fade while others persist. You seldom now hear anyone call Hostas, Funkia (not even sure thats how you spell it!) It amazed me how the trade changed the name from Datura to Brugmansia for those that were split off into that name. Yet they still persist with geranium, mind you I overheard a chap talking to his wife at the RHS Wisley plant sales area and when she pointed out the Zonal Pels he said "no, I want the geraniums that look like that not those difficult things"! -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
Geraniums
Thanks for the excellent advice. Unfortunately we had to buy the
items in a hurry and the previous owners have now disappeared. I think what has confused matters is that this must be the hardy variety, whereas I have also had some of the showy non-hardy variety which have now died back... thanks again. -- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 6 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- - |
Geraniums
aaah writes
Thanks for the excellent advice. Unfortunately we had to buy the items in a hurry and the previous owners have now disappeared. I think what has confused matters is that this must be the hardy variety, whereas I have also had some of the showy non-hardy variety which have now died back... thanks again. Why do you say it must be the hardy variety? What are referred to as hardy geraniums are in the genus Geranium, the wild UK members of which are known as Cranesbill. They typically have blue or pale pink flowers, of darker pink (but never bright shocking pink) or white. They are usually grown in the ground - they are not so showy as specimen plants so aren't usually grown singly in pots. What are also colloquially known as geranium, but aren't, are in the genus Pelargonium. They tend to have much brighter flowers, red, or bright pinks. Never blue. And their leaves are thicker and stiffer than Geranium leaves. With the mild autumn we have had, there is no reason why they shouldn't still be in flower. I have one which has been flowering continuously for four years (in a pot in the porch). -- Kay |
Geraniums
-- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 6 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- - |
Geraniums
Thanks for that Kay. I'm not an expert gardener so I really don't
know. It is actually in a silver dustbin. It is indeed large with thick leaves and pale pink flowers. On the basis of what you are saying, should I bring it into my conservatory for the winter? I would attach a pic but not worked out how to do it yet though. I strongly believe that this is a pelargonium based on what everyone has said. aaah writes Thanks for the excellent advice. Unfortunately we had to buy the items in a hurry and the previous owners have now disappeared. I think what has confused matters is that this must be the hardy variety, whereas I have also had some of the showy non-hardy variety which have now died back... thanks again. Why do you say it must be the hardy variety? What are referred to as hardy geraniums are in the genus Geranium, the wild UK members of which are known as Cranesbill. They typically have blue or pale pink flowers, of darker pink (but never bright shocking pink) or white. They are usually grown in the ground - they are not so showy as specimen plants so aren't usually grown singly in pots. What are also colloquially known as geranium, but aren't, are in the genus Pelargonium. They tend to have much brighter flowers, red, or bright pinks. Never blue. And their leaves are thicker and stiffer than Geranium leaves. With the mild autumn we have had, there is no reason why they shouldn't still be in flower. I have one which has been flowering continuously for four years (in a pot in the porch). -- Kay -- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 6 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- - |
Geraniums
aaah writes
Thanks for that Kay. I'm not an expert gardener so I really don't know. It is actually in a silver dustbin. It is indeed large with thick leaves and pale pink flowers. On the basis of what you are saying, should I bring it into my conservatory for the winter? I would attach a pic but not worked out how to do it yet though. I strongly believe that this is a pelargonium based on what everyone has said. Bring it in for the winter. If it were me, I would let it alone (apart from watering it as needed) as long as it stays in flower, which may well be right through to next summer ;-) But other people have given you the standard line on overwintering them. You won't kill it, either way, so do what you would prefer. aaah writes Thanks for the excellent advice. Unfortunately we had to buy the items in a hurry and the previous owners have now disappeared. I think what has confused matters is that this must be the hardy variety, whereas I have also had some of the showy non-hardy variety which have now died back... thanks again. Why do you say it must be the hardy variety? What are referred to as hardy geraniums are in the genus Geranium, the wild UK members of which are known as Cranesbill. They typically have blue or pale pink flowers, of darker pink (but never bright shocking pink) or white. They are usually grown in the ground - they are not so showy as specimen plants so aren't usually grown singly in pots. What are also colloquially known as geranium, but aren't, are in the genus Pelargonium. They tend to have much brighter flowers, red, or bright pinks. Never blue. And their leaves are thicker and stiffer than Geranium leaves. With the mild autumn we have had, there is no reason why they shouldn't still be in flower. I have one which has been flowering continuously for four years (in a pot in the porch). -- Kay |
Geraniums
Ok thanks a lot for the advice K, I will bring it in and leave it
alone for now ! -- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 6 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- - |
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