How to transplant geraniums at home and in the open ground: an algorithm of actions in summer or winter step by step with a photo, as well as how to properly conduct subsequent care

Many gardeners mistakenly believe that home geraniums do not need a transplant. She only needs to periodically cut the branches and this procedure is quite enough. In addition, it has not been cultivated for several years, updating old bushes to new ones grown by means of cuttings.

But as practice shows, such an opinion is erroneous, and a flower without transplantation can become dead and even die. In this material, we offer a detailed understanding of why.

What kind of flower is this?

Geranium is a representative of the geranium family, a flower that has long been a favorite of fans of indoor floriculture. To grow geraniums at home, you do not need to have any special knowledge in the field of crop production. It is only necessary to carry out care, following the useful recommendations that will especially help beginners.

Reasons for a Transplant

ATTENTION: For any flower, the moment comes when it needs a transplant.

Let's look at the reasons for geraniums:

The plant became small pot. Roots began to appear from the drainage holes, you began to water the geranium more often. The appearance of yellow leaves is also possible.
Rotting of the roots.
Unsuitable soil. You noticed that the geranium has stopped growing, although it receives top dressing and proper care. This is a clear signal.
Landing in open ground and vice versa.

If there is no good reason to transplant a geranium, leave it alone. This plant will feel better in the old place of residence. From an unreasonable move there will only be problems.

What periods can I do?

In the spring

The best option. The plant just woke up from hibernation, and all the processes gradually return to their previous rhythm. You can start transplanting starting in March. It is logical to combine the transplant with planned pruning, division and rejuvenation of the geranium bush. Transplanting a flower in spring, you will enjoy its abundant flowering all summer.

Summer

Summer is a period of abundant flowering of geraniums. If nevertheless you have a need to disturb a flower, give preference to the first month - June.

Fall

A change of place of geranium in the autumn months is usually associated with the end of the summer season. In open ground, geranium feels comfortable until the first frost. Therefore, it is worth thinking about a transplant from mid-October to November, depending on the weather.

In addition to all of the above, at any time of the year, transplant geraniums after purchase.

Algorithm of actions step by step

Pot selection

The key to a healthy appearance, constant growth and abundant flowering of geraniums is a pot of optimal size. It is not difficult for beginners to make mistakes in the assortment of materials, shapes, colors and volumes. It should be understood that a pot that is small will not allow the roots to grow well, the flower will fade and even fertilizers will not save it.

When planting geraniums in a very large pot for her, you also will not achieve a good result. At first, noticing the growth of a large number of shoots, you may be mistaken that the flower is comfortable. However, this one is completely different. When the room geranium is too spacious in the pot, it begins to gain root and side shoots. Which will lead to a long absence of flowering.

Thus, experts recommend choosing a pot of a slightly larger diameter than the one in which your beauty was sitting earlier. There is still the option of planting several individuals in one oblong container for placement on the veranda or balcony. In this case, the optimal distance between the bushes is no more than 2-3 cm.

IMPORTANT: An important condition for all pots for geraniums is a good drain of water and the presence of holes in the bottom.

More information on how to choose a pot for geraniums is described in our material.

Soil selection

Today in the assortment of flower shops there are widely represented soils specially made taking into account the peculiarities of geranium. In their structure, they are friable, which this type of flowers like so much. However, they will also grow comfortably in the soil from your garden, just add river sand there to create porosity. You can also independently compose a soil mixture of peat, sand, a small amount of wood ash.

To be sure that the resulting soil will definitely like the beauty of geranium, we give the recipe:

Humus - 2 parts.
Sod land - 2 parts.
River sand - 1 part.

Home Action Plan

First of all, drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot. Well proven as drainage: expanded clay, red brick, broken pieces from clay pots. If there is nothing of all of the above, you can take polystyrene torn into small pieces.

The plant before transplantation is abundantly watered for better removal from the pot. Then it is carefully taken out with a lump of earth and transferred to a new pot. Empty edges between dishes and geraniums are covered with moistened soil until the voids disappear. The first watering after transplantation is carried out on the fourth day.

Watch a video about transplanting geraniums (pelargonium) at home:

How to plant in open ground and return to the room?

The garden is also a favorite place of your geranium. Of course, as after the usual procedure for transplanting into a new pot, she is a little "ill". This is manifested in yellowing of the foliage, falling off is also possible. However, do not be discouraged, after a while she will get accustomed and take root. Having gained a little strength, she will please you with a long and plentiful flowering.

In the open ground, the bushes grow much faster and grow more than in indoor conditions in pots.. Geranium is unpretentious in street conditions, however, when choosing a place, it is worth giving preference to partial shade to avoid direct sunlight on the leaves. You should also avoid areas with stagnant water, otherwise it is fraught with infection of the plant, such as a "black leg".

We also suggest considering the nuances of the procedure for transplanting geraniums back from the street to the pot. The day before, you need to shed plenty of soil around the plant. After the water is absorbed, you need to carefully dig out the bush along with a sufficiently large lump of earth and transship it into a pot of a suitable size.

TIP: If the bush has grown and does not fit in its former pot, you can take cuttings from the plant and grow a new, young plant. Or divide the bush into several and plant them in several pots.

Then geranium again goes into the category of indoor plants. When transferring from open ground to the house, the death of part of the leaves is a completely natural and inevitable phenomenon. This is how the plant adapts to new conditions.

Watch the video on transplanting geraniums from open ground into a pot:

Nuances in the case of a flowering bush

Any plants during flowering spend a lot of energy on the formation of a bud and the ripening of seeds. In such a period, it is better to regret geraniums, intensify top dressing, and not subject them to additional stress (how to feed geraniums with iodine and hydrogen peroxide, read here, and from this article you will learn how to fertilize a plant for lush flowering). Otherwise, the flowers will first fall, then the leaves will turn yellow. The plant may even die. It is recommended to wait for the end of flowering and after 5-10 days transplant indoor geraniums.

If there was an urgent need to transplant geraniums into a new pot at the time of flowering (a plant was dropped or damaged, the bush became sick), then you can still do it. You need to try to transfer the pelargonium into a new tank without damaging the rootswithout destroying the earthball. Flowers will fall off, of course, but geraniums will survive.

Follow-up care

The geranium transplanted into a new pot does not need to be fed for the first two to three months. She will take all nutrients from fresh soil. Therefore, a geranium bush needs only timely watering as the soil dries. It is important to ensure optimum temperature performance and proper lighting. After the appearance of new leaves and the growth of the rooted cuttings, the pelargonium is pinched so that it does not stretch upward, but shrubs.

Read more about proper care of geraniums here.

Key points

Thus, we have examined the main aspects of transplanting indoor geraniums (read about caring for indoor geraniums here). We focus on the main points so that your beauty continues to delight you with her healthy and vibrant appearance:

The best time for transplanting is spring. However, if necessary, a transplant can be made in summer or autumn.
Inspect the plant: does it really need a transplant.
Choose a small pot with drainage holes.
We use loose soil with the addition of sand and peat. As a drain we use brick chips or polystyrene.
After transplanting, geranium does not require watering for 2 weeks.
It is possible to transplant blooming geranium, but it is recommended.
Geranium grows well in open ground until the first frost.

We wish you success in breeding indoor geraniums!