HOT TO POT
Hardy and colourful, geraniums just love the sun, writes Henri Ham of Awapuni Nurseries
ANT TO inject some bright colour into a super sunny spot in your garden? How about planting some geraniums? These hardy, sunloving plants are perfect for those prime spots in your garden that often get too hot or are slightly too exposed for other flowers.
Geraniums are a cute lowspreading plant, with flowers that push above its foliage — like little posies. For your geranium seedlings, head to Awapuni Nurseries online shop. We currently have violet and Bullseye mix varieties available now. Our Bullseye mix blooms in pinks, reds and oranges. But if you’re after a classic white, in around March our ‘new to the nursery this season’ white geraniums will also be ready to order.
Now, to plant your seedlings. Choose a well-drained, moderately sunny spot — geraniums like four to six hours sun a day. I like to dig some compost or general fertiliser through the garden first, to give them the best possible start.
Dig small holes 8cm deep, roughly 25cm apart. If you’re after suggestions on what to grow with your geraniums, livingstone daisies, lobelia and alyssum are my top picks. They all like the same conditions.
Give your geraniums a good initial watering, and keep this up for the first few weeks to really help them get established. Once you’ve got them going, you can relax a bit more on how much you water.
In around four to six weeks you’ll start to see some colour coming through on top of their dark leaves. Deadheading your blooms will encourage more to come through. And pinching the stems will promote bushier rather than leggier flowers.
If you’re not sure what pinching is — it’s simply breaking off the top 2cm of the growing tip of a plant to encourage it to grow out wider, before it grows up. The same way you pinch off the very top of your basil (and other herbs) so it doesn’t go to seed.
Geraniums make great bedding plants but are also perfect for pots. If you plant in pots, always start with a fresh, good-quality potting mix. Adding stones or old broken pots at the bottom of the pot will help with the drainage. If your pots are in an exposed concrete area think about how hot they will get during the day. You can always elevate them on to some wooden batons or bricks so they don’t conduct as much heat.
Painting the inside of a pot can also help retain its moisture. Remember to check what sort of paint or seal you’re using first.
Geraniums also make for a lovely indoor pot plant. Place them near a window and if they’re given enough sunlight, they can flower all year long. Now that’s almost plant perfection.
■ www.awapuni.co.nz