Latin name : Pelargonium x hortorum
Family: Geraniaceae
Motherland: South Africa
Growing: lung
Location: bright sunlight, including direct light
Temperature: moderate, not lower than 8° C
Watering: abundant in summer, moderate in winter
Bloom: from spring to autumn
Height: up to 50 cm
Transfer: May
Care: removing dry or faded parts of plants

About 250 subshrub tropical deciduous or evergreen species belong to the genus Pelargonium. Zonal or garden geranium ( P/ hortorum, P. zonale) is the most numerous group. Plants can reach 1.3 m in height. For these perennial plants characteristically located in the center of the leaves brown spots in the form of a horseshoe. Typically, geranium bushes reach 30-50 cm in height, but there are both miniature (less than 20 cm in height) and large (over 1.3 m) varieties. The flowers, which range in color from white to various shades of pink, salmon and red, can be single, double or semi-double. The leaves are also distinguished by a variety of colors: green, silver, golden, bronze, multi-colored. With careful care, this type of geranium can bloom all year round.

Growing. Zone geranium can be grown both indoors and outdoors. In regions with mild climates, these plants can be kept outside even in winter. In colder regions, with the onset of winter, geraniums are transferred to cool and dry rooms, where they are kept in wooden boxes, after removing the dried leaves. In March-April, with the onset of the growing season, branches are pruned. For potted plants, it is useful to partially renew the soil before the start of the growing season. Geranium needs a well-drained substrate consisting of two parts garden soil and one part peat or leaf humus, with the addition of three-component fertilizer. In the spring-summer period, a special fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation once every two weeks. flowering plants. In autumn and winter, the use of fertilizers is minimized. Geranium is often used as an annual, which is planted in the spring. open ground or placed in pots on balconies and terraces and removed with the onset of the first cold weather.

Location. Geranium prefers bright light, including exposure to direct sunlight, especially in regions with dry and windy climates.

Temperature. Geranium does not tolerate temperatures below 8° C.

Watering. In summer, geraniums require constant watering to avoid yellowing or scorching of the leaves. With the onset of winter, watering is gradually reduced, keeping the substrate slightly moist.

Transfer. Both planting and replanting of geraniums is carried out in May, using the soil recommended for growing this plant.

Care. To get repeated lush flowering. Dry or damaged leaves and wilted inflorescences should be promptly removed.

Reproduction. Geranium is propagated both by seeds and cuttings. Stem cuttings 8-10 cm long are separated between July and September. They are rooted in small pots filled with peat and sand, taken in equal parts. After rooting, young plants are transplanted and pruned to promote the development of side shoots. Seeds are sown in spring in honeycomb containers and kept at a temperature of 20-22° C. The seedlings are transferred to a lighted place and the temperature is maintained at 15° C. After three to four months, the plant will be ready to flower.

On a note. When choosing geraniums, you should pay attention to the spaces between the nodes on the stem. Which shouldn't be too long. Choose specimens without signs of wilting, with unopened buds.

Diseases and pests. Geraniums often (especially in spring) suffer from fungal diseases caused by stagnation of water or high humidity and accompanied by the appearance of gray mold, rust and root rot. In these cases, you should temporarily stop watering and treat the plants with fungicides. Viruses are transmitted by aphids and ticks. These pests are controlled using appropriate aphicides and avaricides.

Indoor geranium is a perennial shrub or herbaceous plant. from the geranium family. There are more than 400, growing all over the world, including in tropical areas. The flower got its name from the Greek word for “crane”, because of the shape of the fruits - in geraniums they resemble a crane’s beak.

In the 17th century, pelargonium was brought to Europe from Africa. Beautiful plant With bright flowers and its unique smell quickly gained popularity among aristocrats; over time, the plant began to spread among other classes. Pelargonium appeared in Russia in the 18th century and was also loved by gardeners.

What does it look like and when does it bloom?

Most varieties of indoor pelargonium are branched subshrubs j. It has a developed root system adapted to dry conditions.

The leaves are usually round in shape Green colour with a pronounced reddish circle. Some other varieties may have other color options, for example, the leaf has a white border or the entire surface of the green mass is purple.

Geranium inflorescences are in the form of an umbrella; the flowers can be simple, dissected or double. The inflorescence reaches 15 cm in diameter, up to 20 cm in some varieties. Flowers correct form, five-leaved, color can be very diverse. Most often there are varieties with flowers in red tones, from burgundy to light pink. Various shades of blue and purple are also available.

The fruits of geranium are a box that looks like the beak of a crane or stork, inside which the seeds of the plant are stored.

Among all varieties indoor geranium The most popular are the following:

• Miniature varieties. These include plants whose height reaches no more than 25 cm. The most popular of these are “Francis Parrett”, “Jane Eyre”, “Pensby”.
• Medicinal geranium cannot boast the same spectacular appearance as decorative geranium. When growing, the main emphasis is on increasing the green mass.
• Pelargonium blue. Varieties with such original coloring include “Johnsons Blue”, “Himalayan” (read about the Himalayan “Plenum”).

You will learn more about the varieties of indoor and garden geraniums in.

Below you can see photos of indoor geranium flowers, including low-growing, blue and medicinal.

How to plant correctly?

Pelargonium is grown in two ways: from seeds and from cuttings.

Rules for sowing seeds

Planting indoor geranium seeds is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Usually this method of planting is used experienced gardeners exclusively for growing a new plant variety. Due to the fact that beginners often fail to grow a flower from seeds, it is recommended to start using seeds of inexpensive varieties.

1. To germinate seeds, soil of a loose consistency is required; to achieve this, you need to add humus and sand to the soil.
2. Seeds are planted in early March or earlier, provided the sprouts are provided with plenty of light. IN winter time The sprouts are illuminated with special phytolamps.
3. Before planting, the soil is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - this is necessary to disinfect the soil in order to avoid root diseases in the future sprout. After this, the seeds are sown in the ground, slightly deepened, but not sprinkled with soil on top.
4. Next, you need to cover the pot with film and send the future seedlings to a warm place to create a greenhouse effect. This will have a beneficial effect on seed germination.

Planting cuttings is a simple procedure, which even a novice florist can handle.

1. Before planting, cuttings must be prepared for planting in the ground. To do this, freshly cut cuttings are placed in water to form roots. It is important to maintain a high temperature in the room where the cuttings are germinated.
2. When the cuttings have roots, they remove it from the water and give a little time for the moisture from the surface of the sprout to evaporate.
3. The cuttings are planted in soil treated with manganese. As soon as the first signs of growth are noticeable, it is necessary to pinch off the top of the sprout.

Choosing a seat in the room

The main collateral good growth and the flowering of a houseplant is sufficient illumination. Geranium needs a lot of sunlight, so it is recommended to place a pot with this flower near a south-facing window.

Important! In case of excessively bright sunlight, for example, on a summer afternoon, pelargonium still needs to be shaded, otherwise the leaves of the plant may burn.

In the warm season, a flower pot can be sent to the balcony or veranda; fresh air is extremely beneficial for plants. In this case, the plant must be protected from wind and draft.

What kind of soil is needed?

When planting or during replanting, the most important point is preparation. the right soil for a plant. Good drainage is very important for geraniums., expanded clay or pebbles can serve as it.

Pelargonium does not require frequent replanting. It is necessary to change the pot only if root system has grown too much and the previous container has become cramped. If the flower is accidentally flooded with water, it is also recommended to replant the geranium.

Universal soil from a specialized store can be used as soil for pelargonium. You can also prepare the soil yourself by mixing turf soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 8:2:1.

All about diseases and pests

Geranium is resistant to unfavorable conditions , as well as most diseases and pests, but sometimes this flower suffers from some ailments.

• Gray rot- a disease that affects the leaves of a plant with brown spots. To stop the spread, you must immediately remove all affected leaves and stop watering, then thoroughly treat the flower with an antifungal agent.
• Root rot- develops as a result of excess moisture in the soil. The reason is too much and frequent watering, as a result of which the earthen ball remains wet. If you accidentally flood a geranium with water, it is recommended to immediately replant the flower; if the roots are already damaged, it will not be possible to save the plant.
• Aphid- one of the few pests resistant to the specific smell of pelargonium. It can be found on the lower surface of the leaves. The best remedy spraying with insecticides for indoor plants remains against aphids.

Reproduction

At home, pelargonium is propagated by cuttings. In order to properly prepare cuttings, you must follow several rules:

• cuttings are prepared in spring;
• the top or side shoots are cut off;
• the length of the cut shoot should be about 5 cm in length, there should be 2-3 leaves on the shoot;
• After cutting, the cutting must be left in the air so that the cut area dries, and then begin the planting procedure.

Care indoor pelargonium does not require much experience. This plant is perfect for novice gardeners or people who do not have the opportunity to devote a lot of time to caring for flowers. Row beneficial properties geranium will be a pleasant addition to her pleasant appearance.

Useful video

The video below explains how to grow geraniums at home.

Indoor geranium is the general name for all geraniums grown at home. These plants have been cultivated on windowsills for a long time, which is why they are often called “grandmother’s flowers.” Many people mistakenly believe that geranium and pelargonium are two names for the same plant. In fact, this is different plants, although belonging to the same Geraniaceae family.

Description

Indoor geranium has strong thickened stems. Its leaves are slightly pubescent, with wavy edges. When rubbed in your hands, essential oils with a characteristic odor are released that can, for example, relieve a headache. Flowers are collected in inflorescences. They can be of various colors, terry and simple, plain and multi-colored. These plants are capable of growing up to 1 m in height, exposing the stem, but this should not be allowed.

Care

Geranium is an unpretentious indoor plant. He needs sunny place with slight shading in the summer heat. Watering during the growing season should be sufficient (without flooding and prolonged drying out); spraying is not necessary. It is necessary to feed periodically with a universal flower fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. In winter, the plant needs a cool, bright room and minimal watering.

Pruning and pinching young shoots

In the spring, after wintering, it is advisable to prune the plant to give it a compact appearance. Cuttings can be used for rooting. When young shoots begin to grow on the plant, they need to be pinched after the 4th pair of leaves for better branching and flowering.

Propagation by stem cuttings

Indoor geranium propagates in two ways: stem cuttings and seeds. The best cutting length is 7 cm. Lower leaves should be removed, leaving a few top ones and an intact growing point. Rooting is possible in a container of water or directly in the soil. In the first case, the cuttings should be placed in boiled, chilled water; the roots should appear fairly quickly. In the second case, the cut of the cutting must be dried for two hours and planted in a small container with soil. Cover the cuttings with bags or glass jar should not be used; there is also no need to use various phytohormones. When the cuttings take root and grow new leaves, then after 6-8 leaves appear, young plant needs to be pinched.

Propagation by seeds

Seeds are now available for sale different varieties And hybrid forms geraniums Since they are very small, they should be sown superficially. For a container with crops, you need to create conditions similar to those in a greenhouse. Seeds take a long time to germinate, sometimes more than a month. All this time, the crops must be ventilated and the soil moisture monitored. With the emergence of seedlings, the ventilation time should be increased. Young plants need to be watered carefully, without flooding them. At first, it is convenient to use a pipette.

Applications of geranium

Indoor geranium flower can help with various diseases, since all of it aboveground part contains many useful substances - essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, vitamins, carbohydrates. For example, if you have a runny nose, you should stretch the leaf in your hand and inhale the aroma. For diarrhea, it is recommended to chew a freshly picked and washed leaf.

Conclusion

Indoor geranium is a plant with a lot of advantages that should find a place in every home. It blooms brightly and for a long time, can help with various ailments, and also purifies the air in the room.

Pelargonium or indoor geranium- cute home plant. which decorates the balconies and window sills of most amateur gardeners.

This plant originates from South Africa, and came to Europe at the end of the 16th century and won the hearts of many flower lovers with its beauty, ease of cultivation and healing properties.

Having a large number of essential oils in its arsenal, pelargonium perfectly refreshes and purifies the air. Pelargonium is unpretentious, blooms profusely and for a long time from summer to mid-winter.

Pelargonium, geranium or crane's nose?

There are pots with this plant in every home where flowers are grown. In most cases, this plant is called geranium. And it really belongs to the geranium family.

The origin of the name of this plant comes from the Greek word “geranos”, which means “crane”. Subsequently, botanists realized that these plants differed from geraniums and separated them into a separate group called pelargonium. But the name of this group comes from the word “pelagros”, which means “stork”. In old books on floriculture, pelargonium was called crane's nose.

And all these names are not accidental; the fact is that the columns of pelargonium flowers after pollination take on a look very similar to a crane’s beak. Pelargonium differs from geranium in the structure of the flower and the different opening of the fruit valves.

Plants in slides with lush flowering, which are grown by amateur gardeners at home on window sills and balconies, is still correctly called pelargoniums, and not geraniums.

Types of pelargoniums.

There are several types of pelargonium, which have some differences in appearance and approaches to growing conditions.

1. Zonal (garden) pelargonium is the most common type of plant. It got its name from the white border along the edge of the leaves (“zonatus” - girdle). This group of pelargoniums includes greatest number varieties with flowers different shapes and colors.

2. Variegated pelargonium is valued not for its flowering, but for its unusual variegated leaves. Some gardeners even trim the flowers so as not to disturb the foliage's beauty.

3. Large-flowered (domestic) pelargonium has small teeth along the edges of the leaves. The flowers have a special color - each petal has a different shade. This group is appreciated for decorative effect, but at the same time she needs more careful care.

4. Fragrant pelargonium It has a pleasant smell, for which flower growers fell in love with it, but its flowers are unsightly in appearance.

5. Ivy-leaved (ampeloid) pelargonium is very spectacular plant With beautiful flowers and drooping leaves. This group is also called thyroid pelargoniums.

6. Succulents are pelargoniums with fleshy, thick leaves and stems. Their flowers are inconspicuous, but their appearance is quite bizarre and attractive.

Of course, these are only the most common types of pelargonium and, moreover, new varieties and new species of this plant are developed every year.

Caring for pelargonium.

Pelargonium loves light very much, so it is best to place pots with the plant on eastern and southern windowsills.

Watering should be sufficient, but not too much. From high humidity and low temperatures the plant may die.

The soil for pelargonium is formed from equal parts of leaf, sand or turf with humus and peat.

Use phosphorus or potassium fertilizers, but avoid nitrogen ones. If the soil is too fertile, leaves and stems will grow, and the flowers will become smaller and less common.

In winter, pelargoniums will feel better at low temperatures of +10-12 degrees.

Formation of the crown of home geranium.

IN winter period pelargoniums become paler and taller. The stems grow tall, and the leaves are small and sparser. Thus, after winter, a plant that was cute last year turns into an ugly one with long bare stems.

The best option to correct the situation is to annually update pelargoniums by growing them again from cuttings. Don't turn long-suffering plants into monsters by keeping them in cramped pots for decades.

Decide for yourself what you prefer to have: a neat bush or a pretty tree?

To form a plant in the form of a tree: you need to cut off all the stems with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving one of the most beautiful and powerful ones. On the remaining stem, trim off the lower side branches. If the stem is too long, then cut off a little of the top, then the side buds will grow and a crown will form, like a tree. To make your pelargonium tree thick and branchy, also trim the overgrown side branches. The result will be a small home tree on a small trunk and with a spherical crown. This way you can shape the shape of the plant to your taste.

If pelargonium has crooked or no long stems at all, you can create a beautiful and fluffy bush from it. To do this, cut off all the stems, leaving stumps five to eight centimeters high. Use the remaining cuttings for propagation. And in a couple of months you will have an excellent, cute bush with young leaves and a beautiful shape.

When cutting branches, make sure that the buds above which you cut are looking in the right direction - to the side or in the opposite direction from the main stem. This way you can shape the growth of the plant in the right direction and create real living masterpieces!

Pelargonium propagation.

Pelargoniums are propagated mainly by cuttings. They do this in September. Cuttings are cut with two or three nodes from shoots that do not have buds, so as not to reduce the decorativeness of the shoots.

Pelargonium cuttings are cut with one or two leaves. They take root well with sufficient light in sand or perlite. In the first 2-3 days they are not watered, and then watered moderately. You can't spray plants!

The healing properties of pelargonium.

IN medicinal purposes Pelargonium oil is used. Geranium essential oils are used in oriental medicine in the treatment of certain oncological diseases.

Pelargonium oil is widely used in aromatherapy.

The famous English aromatherapy specialist Joan Redford wrote about the many beneficial properties of geranium oil in her book “Family Aromatherapy”. For example, that geranium oil helps with menopause, and also relieves premenstrual syndrome, which is useful for skin diseases such as burns, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, that the oil is used as a sedative and has the property of improving mood, raising vitality , helps cope with sudden mood changes, tearfulness, and depression.

This oil is used in baths, massage, and cosmetics.

But be careful! Pelargonium in the room can negatively affect patients suffering from asthma.

Geranium (Geranium)- a genus of perennial, less often annual herbs and subshrubs of the geranium family, more than 300 species growing in various regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Used in decorative floriculture and as a medicinal plant.

• Family: geranium.
• Motherland: areas with temperate climate Worldwide.
• Rhizome: branched, rod-shaped in some species.
• Stem: hard, erect or creeping.
• Leaves: dissected or lobed.
• Fetus: box-shaped.
• Reproductive capacity: propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds.
• Illumination: light-loving, shade-tolerant.
• Watering: moderate to abundant.
• Content temperature: frost-resistant.
• Flowering duration: May-June or July-August.

Description of geranium

Rhizomatous herbaceous plants or subshrubs, 40-60 cm high, growing in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate zones and in the mountainous regions of the subtropics.

The root system of most geraniums is branched and often has thickenings at the ends, which perform a storage function in case of lack of moisture. Some varieties form thick superficial rhizomes, like bearded irises, while others, mainly growing in the Alps and Pyrenees, form very long roots, which allows them to adapt to a variety of growing conditions, tolerating both waterlogging and drought.

There are species whose roots, during unfavorable periods, are covered with something like nodules that store moisture and nutrients, and, if necessary, also being reproductive organs. If mature plant dies, unable to endure extreme external conditions, when normalized environment it sprouts again from the nodules preserved in the ground.

A number of geraniums growing in the mountains have a taproot, practically unbranched root system.

The structure of geranium - leaves, roots, seeds, fruits and flowers

The leaf structure of representatives of the genus is equally diverse. They have long petioles and a dissected shape, but the pattern sheet plate for each species, and sometimes also variety, is unique. It can be almost whole, slightly incised and heavily cut, rarely pinnate with 3-5 leaves. In many varieties of geranium, the leaves are covered with soft hairs and are not only green, but also grayish, bluish, red in color, sometimes with spectacular spots.

Geranium flowers are usually large, purple, white, blue or violet, solitary or collected in racemose inflorescences, 1-3 on a peduncle, with a 5-leaf flat calyx and 5 corolla petals, almost round, located in the same plane. Flowering time: late May - August, depending on the species.

Geranium seeds are formed in August-September. The capsule-shaped fruit has long valves, which, when ripe, curl upward in an arched manner, scattering the seeds.

The shape of the fruit resembles the beak of a stork or crane, which is why the plant gets its name “geranium”, from the Greek “geranion”, or “crane”. The first mention of this name is found in the works of the ancient Roman naturalist Dioscoreus, who gave this name to a flower found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. IN different countries it is called differently: in England and America - Cranesbill, “crane bird”, in Germany - Storchschnabel, or “stork nose”, in Bulgaria, for its many beneficial properties, “health resort”, in Russia they use the Latin name, geranium.

In the 17th century An exotic South African plant was brought to Europe, called Geranium africanum. Its appearance is in many ways similar to European geraniums, which is why Carl Linnaeus combined them into one genus in his treatise “The System of Nature”. However, heat-loving African and cold-resistant unpretentious European geraniums have different flower structures and a number of other differences, therefore modern classification Geranium africanum has been classified into a separate genus called Pelargonium. But until now, these plants, grown in our climate as indoor plants, are called geraniums.

The smell and shape of geranium flowers

The beautiful flowers and unusual smell of African geranium have made it very popular in decorative floriculture; breeders have created thousands of varieties with different colors and the shape of the flowers.

It is currently common indoor culture, known and loved in all countries. It blooms for a long time, reproduces easily, does not require complex care, but is heat-loving, can only be outdoors in the summer, and is moved to a warm room for the winter.

Garden geranium, unpretentious and frost-resistant, was not interesting for gardeners for a long time.

Her new discovery as ornamental plant happened 35-40 years ago in England along with the advent of fashion for gardens in a natural style. Now garden geranium is becoming increasingly popular. It is valued for its undemandingness to growing conditions, winter hardiness, disease resistance, beautiful leaves and attractive flowers. In cultivation, most varieties are grown with large, bright flowers and beautiful leaves, growing in the subalpine meadows of the Apennines, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans and Caucasus. Below are photos of some types of geraniums used in floriculture.

Beneficial properties of geranium - use for medicinal purposes

Although the use of the crop in ornamental gardening began only in the middle of the last century, medicinal properties geraniums have been known for a long time. In the Middle Ages, the plant was considered healing; it was credited with the ability not only to heal wounds, stop bleeding, cure stomach diseases, but also to heal fractures, and even heal from cancer. Currently, a number of species are used in folk medicine as a disinfectant, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Infusions from the aerial parts have the property of dissolving salts when urolithiasis and gout, help with diarrhea. A decoction of the roots is used for the same purpose. Externally used in the form of local baths, lotions and washes in the treatment of skin diseases accompanied by itching, purulent wounds and ulcers, and used for diseases of the ear, nose and throat.

In addition to the beneficial properties listed above, geranium various types have additional healing qualities. Thus, blood-red geranium is not only an astringent and analgesic, it also lowers blood pressure and has a calming effect. The rhizomes contain a small amount of radium, so they are used to treat cancer. Meadow geranium helps with insomnia and epileptic seizures, neuralgia and pulmonary diseases. Preparations from it, depending on the concentration and dose, can inhibit or stimulate the functions of the central nervous system and at the same time have low toxicity. Alcohol tincture Forest geranium is drunk for heart disease. Large-rhizome geranium stimulates the nervous system, and is also used in cooking to flavor dishes and drinks.

All types contain a large amount of essential oil, which determines the bactericidal properties and specific smell of the plant. Geranium essential oil is a valuable product used in the cosmetic and perfume industries, as well as for aromatization. confectionery. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic effects, calms and improves mood. It is a colorless, yellow or greenish-yellow liquid with the scent of geranium and hints of mint and rose aromas. It is used externally as part of various ointments, mixed with vegetable oils for massage, cosmetic purposes and treatment of skin diseases, in aromatherapy to relieve fatigue and nervous tension, reduce blood pressure, for insomnia and depression, orally for various pain syndromes, colitis, ENT diseases, etc.

When using aromatic oils internally, due to the high concentration of active ingredients in them, you must be careful, use no more than 1-2 drops, dissolving them in honey, jam or vegetable oil.

Geranium oil was first isolated by the French scientist Recluse in 1819 by steam distillation of the green parts of the plant. Currently, its main producers are France and African countries (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria). The highest quality product is obtained from garden geranium (P. graveolens) and rose geranium (P. roseum), belonging to the genus Pelargonium.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the Bulgarian essential oil geranium, which differs from the usual one in properties, smell and appearance. It has been produced in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia since 1950 by steam distillation of Geranium macro-rhizomatous, or “toast”. The product has a scent reminiscent of iris, sage and especially rose, greenish color and semi-liquid consistency, sometimes used to adulterate rose oil.