How to and when it is possible to propagate geraniums at home?
Geranium has a rather attractive appearance, blooms beautifully and takes up little space on the window. Its popularity is growing every year.
If the geranium is already old, then reproduction will help rejuvenate it, which can be carried out in three ways.
Young shoots received in early spring will begin to bloom actively and delight you with bright, colorful flowers in the summer.
What is needed for this and how to properly carry out this procedure yourself? And also, how to look after a young flower then, you will learn from this article.
What is this plant?
Geranium is a famous indoor and garden plant. Differs in unpretentiousness in leaving, beauty and long flowering. The name of the flower is translated from Greek as "crane". This is due to the fact that the boxes with seeds formed after flowering are very similar in shape to a crane beak (you can learn how to collect geranium seeds at home and see how they look in the photo here).
Geranium grows in many parts of the world, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, you can grow a flower both on the street and indoors. It is not demanding in care, it is necessary to water regularly, periodically make top dressings and carry out prophylaxis from diseases.
When does it breed?
Reference. Geranium propagates in autumn and spring. But gardeners recommend this procedure in the spring, since at this time the cuttings have the maximum ability to take root, and quickly take root.This is due to the fact that their harvesting and germination is carried out immediately before the start of a period of active growth and development of culture.
Preparation for the process
If the reproduction of geraniums is carried out by processes, it is necessary to carefully prepare the plant. For this 2 weeks before the start of the procedure, fertilize the flower with ash solution. To prepare it, take 40 g of ash and 1 liter of water. After this, stop watering the flower and put it in a dark place. This will allow young and strong cuttings to develop, which subsequently quickly take root.
How does this happen?
How to propagate flowers at home? Reproduction occurs by cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds. Propagation by cuttings and dividing by the bush is preferable, since the seed method does not allow to obtain a plant with pure varietal characteristics.
We spoke in detail about the propagation of geranium by a leaf in our material.
Cuttings
The process of propagation by cuttings is reduced to compliance with the following actions:
- Using a sharp knife, cut the stalk out from under the leaves. The top should contain 2-3 healthy leaves. If the length of the stem allows, then the cuttings can be cut from the lower bare trunks. But then there should be non-awakening buds, from where a new plant will grow.
- There are situations when the cuttings are not pressed. This problem can be solved by a radical method. On a bare trunk, it is necessary to make incisions throughout the stem round-round 2 weeks before the branch is separated from the parent plant.
- Make them through the kidney. At the places of injuries, gum floats, and in it the rudiments of the roots are tubercles. Delenki root, and their growth is rapidly increasing.
- Dry the cuttings for 2-3 hours, and then treat the sections with activated charcoal or Kornevin. Due to this stimulation, root primordia form faster.
Pelargonium. Propagation by cuttings:
Dividing the bush
Geranium is conveniently propagated by dividing the bush. This is best done with a planned transplant. Once the bush has been dug up in the fall, it is important to carefully separate it into several parts. At the same time, you can trim, leaving a few stumps. In the prepared holes to plant new plants, sprinkle with earth and water. Next summer, geraniums will be able to give you the beauty of their flowering.
Seeds
If you want the plant to bloom by mid-spring, then it is worth propagating geranium seeds. Plant them in February. To do this, you need a nutrient substrate. Mix the peat mixture with perlite and immediately plant the planting material. Seeds do not need to be soaked in Kornevin or Epin, but each seed is best planted in its own container, and not in a common bowl.
Moisten the soil a little, place the seeds there, sprinkle with a substrate and spray it again with water from the spray gun. Cover the top with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect.
Germination dates for different varieties are different and may vary slightly.
On a note. The number of hatching seeds planted from one package is 98%. Within 10 days, all viable seedlings should germinate.If planting material was planted in a common bowl, then picking can be carried out immediately after the formation of two true leaves. It is necessary to prepare a container with a diameter of 8 cm. During a dive, free the root from an earthen coma, and transfer the plant to a new pot. Geranium will grow in it in the next few months.
Pelargonium (Geranium) from seeds - easy and simple:
How to root?
In spring, the reproduction of geraniums can be carried out at different times. If you root the plant in March, then in the summer you get a full flowering bush. If you carry out reproduction in late spring, then you will have to admire the colorful flowering next year.
For successful rooting, it is necessary to germinate the taken part of the adult plant in a special environment. The substrate must be sterile and airtight. The soil composition contains purchased soil, with the addition of 1/3 of vermiculite and sand. Spill the ground with hot water. Put expanded clay or polystyrene into the container, and pour soil on top.
Deepen the cuttings into the soil by 2 cm. Keep in an unlit place for 3-4 days, then put on a cool window with a shade of sunlight. Water the stalk only through the pan. Cover the plant with a jar if the leaves begin to turn yellow and the stalk withers. After 2-3 days, the tugor will recover. The main thing at this time is not to overdo it with watering.
Rooting geraniums can occur in water. This method is preferable, since the whole process takes place before our eyes.
Important! Arrange the dried plant with the lower leaves removed in a jar of water and activated carbon.Roots form after 2 weeks. When they grow, you can transplant the geranium into a pot in a permanent place.
Photo
Next, you can see a photo of the process of propagation of geraniums:
Flower care after the procedure
After breeding, care comes down to the following:
- Fertilizer application. Organic is not suitable for this flower. Use only nutrient mixtures that contain equal amounts of minerals. To improve flowering, it is necessary to use potash fertilizers.
To ensure sustainable growth after reproduction, trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and boron are important.
Note! During the heat, fertilizer should be used only in the evening, when the sun sets. In this case, first you need to water the plant, otherwise the fertilizer will burn the roots.Fertilize 2 times a month.
- Air humidity. For this flower, this parameter does not play a special role. Geranium perfectly tolerates any atmosphere.
- Watering. Moisturize the soil regularly. The earth must always be moist; drying out of the soil is not permissible. But zeal is not particularly necessary, since excessive moisture will lead to decay of the roots and the development of diseases.
Geranium - this decorative culture is popular among gardeners and ordinary people who like the incredibly beautiful flowering plants. We talked about how to renew (in the sense of propagating) a plant. Each of the breeding methods described has its own characteristics, so they must be taken into account when choosing the suitable option. Provide the flower with full care and attention, and he will answer you with long and bright flowering, which can not leave anyone indifferent.