Try training a pelargonium
Try training a pelargonium as a standard, fan or bonsai with these top tips from our expert
The pelargonium's more versatile than perhaps growers are aware. The more popular shapes are standards and espaliers (fans) and these are the ones that I've grown with most success. Bonsai is also popular and a worthwhile challenge.
Training as a standard
You'll see scented leaf, zonals, angels and regals all successfully exhibited as standards at shows. Personally, I prefer zonals as they can be pruned and shaped better than most, once they've been established for a number of years.
To start, root a strong cutting from your selected variety. Once rooted, place into a 7.5cm (3in) pot and use a 30cm (1ft) cane to keep growth straight. Once the tip has reached the top of cane, move into a 10cm (4in) pot, replacing the cane with a taller one. Once the tip has reached the top, I pot into a 12.5cm (5in) and replace the cane with a 60cm (2ft) one. At this stage remove any growth from lower leaf axils and tie the stem into the stake for support. When growth has reached the top I then pot on into a 15cm (6in) pot and use a 90cm (3ft) green, plastic-coated metal cane as they're straighter and stronger. Continue removing any growth from lower leaf axils and tie in at regular intervals. It might sound like a lot of work but I find that the stem grows quicker and stronger by potting up in stages rather than planting the rooted cutting straight into a 15cm (6in) pot. When the height of the whip is where you want it to be, remove the growing tip, in my case that will be about 76cm (2½ft) from the top of the pot. Leave the growth in the top four leaf axils and remove the rest, leaving the leaves on until the head has begun to take shape. Stop the remaining growth at three sets of leaves and so on until you have the head the size that you want, then allow it to flower. I like to keep the height of my standards no more than 1.2m (4ft) plus the height of flowers as it makes it easier to transport to shows.
Establishing a fan
It can take quite a while to get a fan established but that depends on how big you want it. If you want to go big, regals or zonals make more of an impact. The first fan I did was of regal ‘Georgia Peach’. It looked great and after a show I was putting it into the boot of my car when I was offered £35 for it. I declined as I wanted to get it better the following year. But being naive, I cut it back as I did a pot plant, and guess what? It died! I could have been £35 the richer! I learned from that mistake and only lightly prune after flowering now.
To get a fan started, select a variety that has been rooted and worked up into a 15cm (6in) pot and stopped twice. Allow all the new growth to grow on without being stopped. You’ll need to set up a support system. I prefer to use the green, plasticcoated canes and galvanised wire mesh panels. Fix the mesh into place with the green canes and space the growth out and train until it reaches the edges. The growing tips are removed with any subsequent growth stopped at three sets of leaves until the mesh is covered, then allow to flower.
Have a go at bonsai
The plants I use for growing as bonsai are miniature zonals with small flowers such as ‘Golden Petit Pierre’, ‘Baby Harry’, ‘East Sussex’ and ‘Cardington’. Use plants that are about four or five years old and have lost shape with woody growth at the base.