Featured Plant: Geranium

Potted geraniums are Ontario’s third most popular potted plant and the world’s favorite indoor/outdoor potted flower. All over the country, geraniums flaunt their red, scarlet, rose, pink, purple and white blooms with a gay abandon that few other plants can rival. In planters on city fire escapes and rooftops, in window boxes on suburban and country houses, in tubs and pots on terraces and patios, and in hanging baskets on summer cottage porches, they are beloved and cherished plants.

Even if you choose no other plants, you could have a varied potted indoor or outdoor garden of single and double zonal, fancy-leaved or variegated, scented-leaved, ivy and Lady or Martha Washington geraniums (also called show or fancy geraniums), not to mention a few oddities of cactus and climbing types.

Prospects for success when growing geraniums indoors depend largely on having enough light to promote flowering. Geraniums thrive in full sunlight. In the absence of a bright, sunny window, supplemental fluorescent tube lighting kept 10 to 12 inches from the plants will help growth. Fluorescent lights can be used from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to supplement natural light.

Over watering will cause geraniums to rot. Feel the soil to determine when to water. If it’s dry to the touch, water thoroughly. If it feels moist and cool, don’t water. Geraniums tolerate dry soil conditions better than excess moisture.

Geranium pots can be either clay or plastic, but must have drain holes. Saucers placed under the pots to collect water should be emptied a few minutes after watering. Do not allow the roots of the plant to sit in water.

To maintain even plant growth, turn containers from time to time. Pinch yellow leaves, faded blossoms and new growing points to keep the plant stocky and well-branched.