The homeland of the most common houseplant is geranium. Indoor geranium Houseplants and their homeland geranium

Geranium room

Geranium is the most famous houseplant. This plant is easy to care for and propagate it will not be difficult. There are many varieties and types of geraniums.

Geranium is an annual and perennial plant with stems about 50 cm high. The leaves of the plant are a bright dark green color. Geranium flowers are very beautiful and large, in some species they are collected in inflorescences. And geranium leaves have a refreshing, mint and lemon scent. The leaves have a pattern, which is in the form of a white border or stripes of various colors.

And now geranium is the most favorite indoor plant among the rest. In almost every family on the windowsill you can see this beautiful, unpretentious, hardy flower.

Geranium also grows wild. It can be seen in the meadows of the Caucasus and Europe, in the southern mountains. Almost all types of geraniums have an average moisture requirement. In order for geranium to grow normally, it needs constant watering and loosening of the soil. The best soils for geraniums are acidic, neutral and slightly acidic soils. The main condition for the growth of each type of geranium (except marsh) is the absence of stagnant water. Geraniums are frost resistant.

Geranium blooms very beautifully. Umbrellas of flowers are located on a thin stem, and the leaves are very similar to a human palm. If the geranium has little light, it will reduce its flowering itself, and the flowers and leaves will become faded.

Geranium care and reproduction

Care. In order for geraniums to grow well, you need to create the right flower garden. And only in this case, dense geranium bushes will not allow weeds to grow. In May - before mass leaves appear - weeding of geranium flower beds should be done. Also in May, you need to loosen the soil, add fertilizers to it, you can also add ash. Further care is regular watering. When the flowers begin to fade, be sure to cut off the faded shoots. Geraniums, in which the leaves do not hibernate, need to cut off the above-ground shoots in September. Some types of geraniums need garters.

Reproduction. Geranium reproduces in two ways: vegetatively and by seeds. Each species bears fruit well. When the fruits ripen, the seeds spread throughout the field, which makes it difficult to collect the seeds. If the seeds are harvested in August, then they can be sown immediately in the ground (in this case, the seeds will have time to form seedlings before the start of frost). However, the best time to plant seeds is winter, because that's when the soil has already experienced frost. In May, many shoots will appear, and after a year you can see seedlings.

Quickly appeared seedlings must first be planted in a nursery. When the bush is already fully formed, it can be transplanted into a flower garden with a distance of 40 cm from bush to bush.

But still, the simplest and easiest way to grow geraniums is to divide the bush. This method is the most successful for varietal geraniums. The division of the bush is carried out either at the beginning of spring or at the end of summer (the second option is most suitable). In summer, it is much easier for a plant to shake off the roots from the soil and calmly plant it in another place. The gardener should look at the renewal buds, because if they are loose, rotten and parched, then a transplant is not necessary. During September, young roots will form on the plots (they will overwinter with the plant). Many geraniums, with a few exceptions (Robert's geranium and others), are perennials. If the bush is not transplanted and does not divide, then it can please the gardener in the flower garden for about 12 years. And after 12 years, the geranium will show signs of aging, for example, dead parts will appear in the center of the bush. Therefore, without waiting for the aging of the plant, it is better to divide the bush 10 years after planting and transplant it to a new place.

The benefits of geranium

Geranium has a lot of useful properties for humans. For example, a plant releases bactericidal substances into the air. And these substances destroy various types of microbes, including.

For medicinal purposes, use grass, flowers, roots and leaves of geranium. Preparations from this plant contain gallic acid, starch, pectin, tannins and gum, due to which they have a tightening effect on the human body. Geranium is an obstacle to the secretion of fluids in the body. The plant is used for pharyngitis, nose and other bleeding as a hemostatic agent.

Geranium helps to get rid of, relieve fatigue, normalize the nervous system. Geranium tea is taken in case of bowel disorder or dysentery.

Essential oil of geranium

Taking the leaves of perennial geranium, geranium essential oil is obtained by steam distillation. The aroma of the oil is oily, warm, floral, slightly reminiscent of the aroma of a rose. The essential oil is light and fluid, colorless. Geranium treats inflammation of the ear, nose and throat, which is why it was called the “ear-nose-throat doctor” in the old days.

Geranium essential oil is a real antidepressant. It increases physical and even mental activity, relieves a person of feelings of inferiority. Geranium oil restores the skin after getting burns, various kinds of frostbite. They can treat rashes and dry eczema.

The oil has a property that normalizes blood microcirculation in the heart and blood pressure. It is used as a strong pain reliever. And also essential oil is successfully used to eliminate neuritis, radicular syndrome and neuralgia.

Geranium - oil for women! This is true, because this oil normalizes the hormonal process in the body, helps with premenstrual syndrome, relieves pain during menstruation. The oil also gets rid of. The same oil is used for inflammation of the mammary glands.

Geranium oil should not be used for more than 14-20 days. Never use it on an empty stomach!

Geranium diseases

Rarely, but still, geranium suffers from brown spotting and powdery mildew. So that the plant does not suffer from powdery mildew, it must be cut off after the flowering period (due to this, the new shoots will be stronger than the old ones). If the plant is sick with brown spotting, then you need to cut off the diseased leaves and burn them. Fungal diseases do not have a strong effect on the state of the plant itself.

Geranium treatment

Due to its enormous healing abilities, geranium is very often used in folk medicine. An infusion of the leaves of the plant helps with sore throat. A geranium compress is applied for osteochondrosis and sciatica. Geranium helps to cope with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and heart.

A decoction of herbs and geranium roots. He prepares easily. We take 1 tablespoon of dried geranium, pour 200 ml of boiling water and put on fire for 5 minutes. Then we cool everything and filter. The resulting volume of the broth must be brought to the original by adding boiling water. It is recommended to use the remedy 1-2 tablespoons at the time of eating 3 times a day. This decoction is taken for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Geranium juice for cataracts. If the cataract is at the initial stage, then geranium will help here. To do this, you just need to drip 1 drop of geranium juice into the corner of your eye every day. This juice will not only preserve, but also improve vision for many years to come. With suppuration and clouding of the eyes, this juice will also come to the rescue.

Honey water with geranium. If the eyelids become inflamed with this water, you should wash your eyes early in the morning and in the evening. It is very easy to cook it. To do this, take 10 pieces of geranium leaves and grind them. Next, take a glass of water and pour the leaves, add 1 teaspoon of honey to them. We mix everything well and leave it overnight on a full moon - so that the light from the moon is on the glass. With this water, we wash the eyes with inflamed eyelids.

Treatment of geranium otitis media

Otitis in both adults and children will help cure geranium. To do this, take 5-10 grams of geranium leaves, and mash them into a soft gruel. Now here we add 40-60 grams of flour (rye or oatmeal) and 1 tablespoon of camphor alcohol. Next, you need to knead the steep dough, roll it up with a roller and wrap it around the ear from the outside. And inside the ear you need to drip 1 or 2 drops of geranium juice. Next, the ear should be covered with compress paper and insulated with cotton wool. At night, do not forget to fix the compress with a bandage. And after three or four such light procedures, you will forget about the sore ear.

Contraindications to the use of geranium

Pregnant women should not take geranium, in whatever form it may be. Also, geranium is forbidden to be taken if there are chronic diseases. Geranium is contraindicated for the elderly.

Expert editor: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna| Phytotherapeutist

Education: A diploma in the specialty "Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship (2008).

Geranium is a wonderful houseplant. But it is also planted in parks, gardens, as it looks beautiful not only on the windowsill, but also on lawns. In nature, geranium can grow in the forest, in glades. Many people grow this plant at home, unaware of its real place of origin.

Geranium is also called crail. Often people are mistaken, calling this plant and pelargonium. Despite the fact that there are many similarities, but, nevertheless, some differences can be identified. To date, there are about 400 varieties of geraniums. They grow all over the world, the plant can be a shrub or herb. Geranium grows up to 60 cm. The leaves are covered with delicate hairs, and the inflorescence is of different colors. But where is the homeland of indoor geraniums?

Back in the 17th century, geraniums were brought to our area from Great Britain. Some people began to believe that this country is the birthplace of this amazing flower, but this is a wrong opinion. Geranium is a southern plant, and came to Europe from South Africa and India. It was brought in by the British. In the UK, other varieties of this plant began to be bred, which today many people grow at home. Geraniums decorate window sills, plant a plant in the garden.

Most of the geraniums are plants that have adapted to dry weather, so they have learned to accumulate a huge amount of moisture in their thick stems.

In the homeland of this plant, there are severe weather conditions. Most of the days of the year the scorching sun shines there. Often, droughts are replaced by heavy long rains that flood the land for several days.

About 10% of all geranium species grow in other areas.

• In Madagascar
• In Australia
• In California
• In New Zealand

As soon as geranium was brought to Europe, it began to be used as a decoration in houses, on windows, especially often this could be seen among the nobles.

Ladies in ancient times used inflorescences to decorate the neckline, hats. After some time, the plant gained popularity, so ordinary people began to breed it.

As already mentioned, geraniums originally grew in South Africa. But, often, sailors who visited various places were interested not only in culture, infrastructure, but also in plants that appear in a particular area. Therefore, such a flower as geranium could not go unnoticed. Naturalists drew attention to the amazing inflorescence that they contemplated in such a warm climate. After that, they had a desire to adapt the plant to new living conditions. So geranium began to spread to different parts of the world, it adapted to the diverse climate in which it fell. Because of this, people are now surprised by the fact that the birthplace of geraniums is a country where the weather is hot almost all year round.

The flower reached Russia somewhere in the 18-19th century. Some types of geraniums remained to grow in the wild, while they calmly endured cold weather. But many varieties of plants began to decorate people's rooms.

As a result, breeders developed geraniums, who began to breed different varieties. Each plant has a different color, shape. But even in its homeland, geranium continues to please the eye, in appearance it is the same as a houseplant.

The care of this home plant is directly related to the birthplace of geraniums. Her countrymen are chlorophytums, sanseviers and other plants. Geranium loves warmth and light, so she could only survive at home. Many years have passed since the plant was first brought to Europe, so during this period it managed to adapt to new conditions. But, nevertheless, people who decide to plant geraniums at home should choose a place that is well lit. Windows should be south facing.

In summer, geraniums can easily be on balconies. The plant will please with its beauty if it is placed where there will be direct rays of the sun. But do not overdo it. In extreme heat, it is better to hide the flower in the shade.

The soil of the geranium should be moist, but, again, you need to remember the measure. Water the flower should be once every 2 days. In order for the plant to grow well, drainage should be made of pebbles. With it, excess moisture will leave, so the roots will be safe, they will not rot.

But in winter, you can do without abundant watering, as the plant is dormant until spring.

Geranium does not require frequent repotting, it should be done only when the roots will make their way out of the hole. The plant does not require special soil, for this it is enough to use ordinary soil. The number of flowers may decrease if the geranium grows tall. Because of this, it is recommended to systematically prune branches. From this, the bush will become splendid, and there will be many inflorescences.

If you follow all these rules, geraniums will delight you with their beautiful flowers for a long time. But the reproduction of the plant is generally simple. To do this, the torn branch is placed in a container of water. It can be planted when the first roots are visible.

But geranium is not only beautiful, but also a useful plant. Substances are released from its leaves, they clean and disinfect the air. The smell that comes from the plant has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It is believed that geranium is able to give a good and sound sleep. Therefore, the plant is recommended to be placed in the bedrooms.

Geranium contains tannin, flavonoids, essential oils, etc. Even in ancient times, priests, sorcerers, healers were interested in this plant. This flower drove away evil, protected a woman during pregnancy.

Geranium is endowed with medicinal properties. It is often compared with plantain, which is often used in medical practice. If a person is injured, he is advised to attach a piece of paper to the affected area. As a result, the blood will stop, the wound will not rot, it will heal quickly.

In addition, geranium has other properties. It was used to eliminate poisons, relieve stress, remove pain in the head. From this plant, oil is extracted, which is valued by doctors. With its help, even in ancient times, in the homeland, plants strengthened muscles, removed pain in the spine. An oil-based compress was also made, it was applied to the wound so that it healed faster, pus was pulled out in this way. With a runny nose and pain in the ears, oil was dripping. It was also mixed with whiskey, such a drink was drunk, after which the headache passed. This even lifted the mood, depression disappeared.

They made an infusion from the inflorescence or leaves. Honey was added to it, after which a medicine was obtained, which was used to wash the eyes, which were festering. A decoction of the leaves of the plant is of great benefit. It was used to treat diseases of the stomach. Such a drink will be especially valuable for gastritis, diarrhea.

To prepare a decoction, first you need to chop the leaves of the plant. They will need to take one tablespoon, a glass of boiling water is added to it. The mixture should be heated in a water bath for five minutes. After that, the broth is considered ready. It should be consumed 3 times a day on a spoon half an hour before meals.

Even geranium roots have medicinal properties. They are used to prepare an infusion that raises blood pressure. To prepare it, you need to chop the root. It is poured with boiling water. The mixture should stand for about 8 hours. Strained infusion is drunk before meals throughout the day.

An infusion of the leaves can help get rid of bad sleep as it has a calming effect. Geranium leaves themselves relieve inflammation, restore cells.

Even in ancient times, in the homeland of geranium, it was used for medicinal purposes. But today this flower is grown in different countries, so every person who has this amazing plant in his house can take advantage of its healing properties.

In addition, geranium is also used as a talisman. The plant is also believed to have magical properties. But this is just a theory. One thing is known for sure, geranium is able to purify the air, which is important in the current course of life.

Surely everyone is well aware of the red geranium in a pot - the favorite of our grandmothers. I must say that this generally recognized attribute of petty-bourgeois comfort still adorns the window sills not only of the inhabitants of our country, but also of Europeans. That's just the correct name of this flower - pelargonium, and anyone can envy the variety of its modern varieties and their color. In addition, it is now customary to grow it not on the windowsill, but in the garden or on the balcony.

Geranium and pelargonium belong to the geranium family. But geranium is a resident of the middle lane, and most varieties of pelargonium come from the savannas of South Africa. Therefore, this flower loves the sun and easily tolerates a lack of moisture.

Both the names "geranium" and "pelargonium" come from the Greek language. The first of them is translated as “stork”, and the second as “crane”, since the shape of the fruits of these plants resembles the beak of a stork in its appearance.

In its current “cultural” form, this flower first appeared in Holland in the 16th century. In Europe, pelargoniums appeared at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries. But if then it was just an African exotic, then in the 18th and 19th centuries, pelargonium became one of the most popular flowers, with about a thousand varieties. She gained particular popularity in Great Britain, becoming a symbol of the Victorian style of “good old England”.

In England, France, the USA, Australia, societies of pelargonium lovers are organized, which annually organize exhibitions where the best varieties are exhibited. In 1960, the Geranium Garden was created in Orleans.

In the last century, a lot of breeding work was carried out to develop numerous hybrids and varieties. Variegated plants were obtained, dwarf forms, varieties with white and two-color, as well as double flowers were bred.

IN Russia Pelargonium became widespread in the 19th century. It is known that in the greenhouse of the Alexander Garden, the most significant in Moscow, in 1858 20 species of South African geraniums were grown. IN Crimea pelargonium was planted in flowerbeds in the palace park of Count Vorontsov, in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden.

At the end of the 19th century, other flower cultures began to come into fashion, and pelargonium received the insulting nickname "philistine flower" and for a while fell out of sight of flower growers.

Now the former glory has returned to the geranium and it can often be seen on the windowsills in modern apartments. Maybe you have a pot with this plant on the window.

As a medicine, geranium has been known since ancient times.

Traditionally, it was planted near the house to protect against evil spirits.

The geranium plant was very loved and revered by the working people, especially artisans, because of its ability to purify the poisonous air of tin and shoe shops, absorb waste and dampness. Modern research has confirmed that geranium actually absorbs toxic substances and radionuclides from the air, and also copes well with viruses and bacteria.

If you put pelargonium leaves in jars of jam, then it will not be covered with mold.

According to ancient beliefs, geranium with pink flowers attracts love, it is used in love magic, but white geranium increases fertility.

Pelargonium oil (most commonly Pelargonium graveolens) is widely used in aromatherapy. For the first time, geranium oil was obtained in 1819 by the French chemist Recluse. Here is this type of geranium:

Article date: 06/25/2007

Family: Geraniums (Geraniaceae).

common name: Geranium.

Homeland: predominantly in South Africa.

Bloom: depending on the species from spring to autumn.

Height: fast.

Light: bright. The plant tolerates direct sunlight.

Temperature: summer - room. In winter, pelargoniums are kept as cool as possible, at a temperature of 8-12?.

Watering: moderate, as pelargoniums do not like waterlogging. In winter, the plants are watered very sparingly.

Air humidity: does not play a significant role. On hot days, you can spray.

Top dressing: 2-3 months after transplantation, pelargonium is fed with superphosphate, which stimulates flowering. Plants do not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers well.

Pruning: yellowed and drying leaves must be cut off, leaving the lower part of the petiole on the stem.

rest period: from November to February. The plant is kept in a cool (8-12°C) place, watered very carefully.

Transfer: young are transplanted annually, adults - as needed.

Reproduction: seeds, cuttings.

Pelargonium ( Pelargonium L'Her) is one of the most common and beloved indoor and balcony plants, often incorrectly called geranium. Natural species of pelargonium, and they number from 280 to 350 plants of the geranium family, are distributed mainly in South Africa.

These are herbaceous plants and subshrubs, rarely shrubs, sometimes succulent, with leaves of various shapes - whole, lobed or deeply dissected. The flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences.
Unlike true geraniums (genus Geranium ), in which the flowers are absolutely regular (i.e., with several planes of symmetry), the flowers of pelargonium are bilaterally symmetrical (have one plane of symmetry).
The fruit - a long narrow box, thinning towards the top - resembles the shape of a stork's beak, hence the name of the genus (from the Greek pelargos - stork).

Many species - widespread ornamental plants, are represented in the collections of botanical gardens; some are valuable raw materials for the extraction of essential oils used in the perfume and soap industries. A number of species are suitable for growing indoors.

Some people (precisely some - a number of people suffer from the smell of pelargonium, it all depends on the characteristics of the body), inhaling the smell of the plant, calm down, they have insomnia. Pelargonium helps with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases. It also has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract, the endocrine system and sexual potency. In folk medicine, a decoction of pelargonium leaves is used to treat headaches. Preparations from pelargonium relieve headaches, normalize sleep. An infusion of herbs is drunk for dysentery, acute and chronic enterocolitis, and water decoctions are used for pulmonary hemorrhages, tonsillitis, they are washed with festering wounds, and they relieve aching joints.
Pelargonium essential oil, obtained by steam distillation, contains substances that have a detrimental effect on certain pathogens (therefore, it is used to treat infectious diseases). Essential oil refreshes the air, cleans it from harmful impurities.
Compresses with crushed pelargonium leaves are made sick with sciatica or osteochondrosis.
During the hot summer months, pelargoniums repel flies.

Plants shedding leaves during dormancy:

Pelargonium fluffy (Pelargonium crithmifolium sm.)- photo. The plant is native to South and Southwest Africa. Succulents, forked, shrubs, with creeping shoots up to 1.5 cm thick. Leaves are pinnately lobed, 5-8 cm long, slightly pubescent or smooth, glaucous. Flowers 4-6 are collected in umbrellas, white, with red spots of the throat; pedicels 1-2.5 cm long. Grow well in moderately warm rooms. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Pelargonium quadrangular (Pelargonium tetragonum(L.f.) L'Her.). Homeland - South Africa.a Bushy plant 30-70 cm high, with stems branched at the base, erect or decumbent, consisting of three-tetrahedral segments 6-8 mm wide of various colors - from light green to green-gray. The leaves are alternate, on long petioles, slightly pubescent, 2-5 cm wide, usually dry up and fall off in winter. The leaf blade is heart-shaped with a red-brown border. In spring or summer, flowers appear on the plant, resembling a butterfly in shape, with a color from white-cream to pale pink, with 3 large upper petals and 2 small lower ones. It grows well in a lighted and ventilated room with a temperature of at least 10 ° C. Watering in the spring-summer period is plentiful, in autumn-winter - limited. The soil is nutritious with good drainage. Propagated in spring-summer, cuttings from the central part of the stems, rooted in a sandy, almost dry substrate.

Evergreen shrubs and shrubs:

Pelargonium angular (Pelargonium angulosum Mill.). It is found in the southwestern part of the Cape Province (South Africa). Plants up to 1 m tall. The leaves are oval, 3-5-angular-lobed, broadly cuneate at the base, pointed. The petiole is short. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered umbel. The flowers are bright red. Blooms in August-October. As part of parental pairs, it was used in works on breeding garden pelargoniums (as a result of crossings with P. grandiflorum).

Pelargonium capitate (Pelargonium capitatum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. It lives on wet soils on coastal dunes in the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreens, shrubs 0.5–0.6 m tall, densely pubescent; shoots are straight, widely spread. Leaves 3–5-obtuse, serrate; stipules broadly heart-shaped, dense. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered umbel. Flowers are sessile, purple-pink - photo. Blooms in July-August. Leaves with a pleasant aroma; essential oil is extracted from them, reminiscent of the smell of rose oil. It is a house plant.

Pelargonium curly (Pelargonium crispum(P. J. Bergius) L'Her.). It grows in the southwestern part of the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreens, shrubs 0.3–0.6 m tall, strongly branched. The leaves are two-row arranged, small, almost heart-shaped, 3-lobed, curly at the edges, unevenly serrated, hard, with a pleasant lemon aroma. Flowers collected in 2–3, on short pedicels - photo. Blooms in July-August. It is a house plant.

Pelargonium klobuchkovy (Pelargonium cucullatum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The homeland of the plant is the Cape Province (South Africa). Highly branched shrubs, shoots densely pubescent. Leaves are kidney-shaped, densely pubescent. Umbrellas are multicolored. Flowers purple-red. Blooms in August-September. Form Flora Pleno has double flowers. As part of the parent pairs, it was used in the breeding of garden varieties of pelargonium.

Pelargonium grandiflora (Pelargonium grandiflorum(Andrews) Willd.). The homeland of the plant is Southwest Africa, the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreens, branched shrubs up to 90 cm tall. Leaves are reniform-round, more or less 5–7-lobed or dissected, glabrous or slightly silky-hairy, coarsely serrated along the edges; stipules free, ovate. Peduncle with 2-3 flowers. Flowers 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter, white, with reddish veins. Blooms in April-June. As part of the parental pairs, it was used in the breeding of large-flowered garden pelargoniums.

Pelargonium fragrant (Pelargonium graveolens L'Her.). It grows in the southern and southwestern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). Shrubs strongly branched, up to 1 m tall, with short glandular hairs. Leaves 5–7-lobed; lobes deeply notched (almost pinnately notched), pubescent on both sides, with a pleasant strong aroma. The flowers are collected in multi-flowered umbrellas, pink, dark pink. Blooms profusely in summer.

Pelargonium soiling (Pelargonium inquinans(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The homeland of the plant is Natal (South Africa). Shrubs up to 1.5 m tall; young shoots are more or less fleshy, pubescent. Leaves are round-kidney-shaped (sometimes finely lobed), glandular-pubescent; stipules broadly heart-shaped. The flowers are collected in umbrellas, on short pedicels, scarlet-red. Blooms from May to autumn, sometimes in winter. It is one of the ancestral forms of garden zonal pelargoniums.

Pelargonium fragrant (Pelargonium odoratissimum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The homeland of the plant is the Cape Province (South Africa). Shrubs with a short, 15–22 cm tall trunk, branched; branches are short, grassy; the crown is rounded. The leaves are heart-shaped, rounded, 2.5–5 cm wide, blunt-toothed along the edges, softly silky pubescent, with a strong pleasant aroma; stipules triangular, small. Flowers 5-10 are collected in umbrellas, white to pink. Blooms in summer. Widespread in culture, suitable for growing in rooms.

Pelargonium corymbose (Pelargonium peltatum(L.) L'Her.). Homeland - Southeast Africa. shrubs; branches branched, drooping, glabrous or with small hairs, slightly ribbed. Leaves are shield-shaped, 7–10 cm wide, 5-obtuse, entire, glossy green, glabrous, sometimes finely pubescent, fleshy. Flowers 5-8 are collected in umbrellas, pink-red, white. Blooms from spring to autumn. There are many forms. As part of parental pairs, it was used in works on breeding garden pelargoniums. Often used as an ampelous plant, grows well in rooms.

Pelargonium pink (Pelargonium radens H. E. Moore ( P. radula(Cavend.) L'Her.))- photo. Grows on mountain slopes, along river banks on sandy soils in the southern and southwestern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). Branched shrubs, up to 1.5 m tall, with stiff short hairs. The leaves are deeply divided; the lobes are linear, densely covered with hairs above and softer hairs below, with curved edges, with a strong pleasant aroma. Inflorescence of 4-5 small flowers. Peduncle densely pubescent. The flowers are pale purple, with dark veins - photo. Blooms in summer.

Pelargonium zonal (Pelargonium zonale(L.) L'Her.). Synonym: Geranium zonal (Geranium zonale L.). Occurs in the shrubby semi-savannah in the southeastern and southern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreen shrubs 0.8–1 (1.5) m tall; shoots fleshy, pubescent. The leaves are heart-shaped, rounded, entire or slightly lobed, glabrous or (only a few) soft-haired, with a brown or dark brown stripe on top - a girdle. Stipules wide, oblong-heart-shaped. The inflorescence is multi-flowered. Flowers sessile, carmine red. It blooms for a long time - from May to September (October). It is one of the main ancestral forms of garden hybrid zonal pelargoniums propagated vegetatively.

Pelargoniums, widespread in indoor floriculture:

In culture, hybrids and varieties are widespread. Pelargonium grandiflorum hybridumhort., Pelargonium peltatum hybridumhort., Pelargonium zonale hybridumhort. They have found use as potted plants and are also used ( P. zonale hybridura hort.) in floral arrangement.

Pelargonium large-flowered hybrid, or P. english (Pelargonium grandifiorum hybridum hort. ( Pelargonium domesticam bailey, P. grandiflorum short.)). Shrubs and subshrubs with rapidly woody shoots, mostly single shoots. Leaves without a brown belt on the upper surface, not dissected or only slightly lobed, serrated along the edges, with a slight aroma when broken. The flowers are collected in umbrellas on long peduncles, simple, large, 5 cm in diameter, red, pink or white, with dark spots on the petals.
Some of the varieties:
Enzette Anna Melle- bright red flowers;
Enzette Perle- light carmine-pink flowers;
autumn haze- orange and salmon flowers;
Destiny- white flowers;
Geranimo- bright red flowers;
Mont Blanc- flowers are white, in dark purple spots;
Perle von Clemstal- flowers are white, with a pinkish tint, in red spots;
Symphonic- flowers are pink, with a lilac tint and black spots.

Pelargonium zonal garden (Pelargonium zonale hort.). Plants with thick shoots, woody with age, especially below. The leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, slightly lobed along the edges, pubescent, with a more or less prominent reddish or pale yellow rim. The flowers are collected in umbrellas, red, pink, white, sometimes lilac, simple, semi-double and double.
In ornamental horticulture, the species is represented by numerous hybrids and varieties. It is the main industrial crop, used in flower decoration in all countries.
From varieties P. zonalehort. The following are widely used:
Dresdener Rubin- scarlet flowers, semi-double; used for
casing and as potted;
Enzett Richards Schrader- salmon-pink flowers, terry; early-blooming variety;
Westfalenstar- flowers ruby ​​red, semi-double.
Radio- scarlet flowers, semi-double;
Salmon Irene- salmon flowers, large, slightly double;
Erfolg- salmon flowers, terry, densely leafy; used for planting, as a pot and for decorating balconies;
meteor- scarlet-red flowers, terry, etc.
In culture there are hybrids between - Pelargonium zonale And Pelargonium peltatum .
Varieties Pelargonium zonale short. valued for variegation, abundant and long flowering throughout the growing season in open ground; are widely used for planting on borders, rabatki and flower beds, they are also bred as potted plants for rooms.

Pelargonium thyroid garden ( Pelargonium peltatum hort.). Shoots hanging or creeping. The leaves are thick, smooth, glossy, sometimes finely pubescent, almost round, 5-lobed or 5-angled, entire, more or less ciliated, green, sometimes with a brown zone. The flowers are simple, semi-double and double, red, lilac, pink, white.
It is widely used for decoration of balconies and as a pot-and-ampel plant.
Common varieties:
Amethyst- purple flowers;
Lachskonigin- salmon-pink flowers;
Ville de Paris- salmon-pink flowers;
Holstein- pink flowers;
Galilee- salmon-pink flowers; and etc.

Plant care:

Plants are photophilous, tolerate direct sunlight, it is best to keep them on the south window near the glass. Plants tolerate both northern and eastern windows, however, with a lack of light, they stretch out in winter. In winter, pelargonium can be illuminated with fluorescent lamps. The room with pelargonium must be ventilated.
In summer, plants are recommended to be placed outdoors. When taking plants outdoors, they should not be knocked out of their pots to dig into the ground, but rather buried in the ground with a pot so that they do not grow too violently to the detriment of flowering. In September - October, when frost approaches, the plants are transferred indoors.

The temperature in summer is room temperature. In winter, pelargoniums are kept as cool as possible, at a temperature of 8-12?. The winter period and the period until April are decisive for the subsequent flowering, since the laying of flower buds occurs at a relatively low temperature (11 - 13?) for 2.5-3 months. This period is characterized by a short day, which is also significant, since pelargoniums are short-day plants.

Watering is moderate, as pelargoniums do not like waterlogging. Watering should be done after two to three days, after the top layer of the substrate has dried. In winter, the plants are watered very moderately to restrain growth during the winter lack of light and prevent them from stretching. In addition, waterlogging of plants in winter with a cool content often leads to wilting of leaves and rotting of the root neck and roots.

Pelargonium does not require constant spraying; the plant tolerates dry air well. On hot summer days, periodic spraying of the plant will be beneficial.

2-3 months after transplantation, pelargonium is fed with superphosphate, which stimulates flowering. Plants do not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers well.

Yellowed and drying leaves must be cut off, leaving the lower part of the petiole on the stem. If they are cut off, then rotting may begin on the exposed tissues. The rotten parts are immediately cut to living tissue, and the sections are sprinkled with charcoal powder.

Every year in March, pelargonium is transplanted into a fresh land mixture of young plants. At the same time, they are heavily pruned, leaving 2-5 buds on each shoot, in order to subsequently obtain low, lush, abundantly flowering specimens. Overgrown pelargoniums are transplanted only if necessary (when the pot becomes cramped). The substrate is selected neutral or slightly acidic (pH about 6), light, well permeable to air and water. May consist of equal parts of soddy, leafy soil, peat, humus and sand with a small addition of charcoal. Good drainage is a must.

Pelargoniums can be propagated by seeds. When propagated by seeds, the splitting of parental traits is obtained, therefore sowing by seeds is used for breeding purposes.
Seeds are sown in spring in boxes or in bowls in a substrate composed of sod, peat soil and sand in equal volumes. At a temperature of 20–22? shoots appear after 12 days. Seedlings dive into 5-centimeter pots, and after weaving a clod of earth, transshipment into 9-centimeter ones is given. Seedlings bloom in a year, but more often after 14 months.

Pelargonium is propagated most often by apical cuttings with 3-5 leaves, in spring (February-March) and summer (July-August). The cuttings are cut from the apical and lateral shoots with 3-4 nodes, making a cut obliquely under the bud. The cut cuttings are slightly dried for several hours, the slices are dipped in charcoal powder (one crushed tablet of heteroauxin is mixed into 100-150 g of powder), and then planted several times in a pot or bowl, placing them along the edge of the dish.
To form a lush bush, pinch the apical bud. The planted cuttings are exposed to a well-lit place (without direct sunlight) and at first (before rooting) they are moistened carefully, only by spraying. Cuttings take root in 2-3 weeks.
Rooted cuttings are planted in pots one at a time, without pruning, so that they bloom more quickly. The smaller the pot, the more abundant the flowering will be. Plants grown from cuttings cut in August bloom as early as April, and during spring cuttings, flowering occurs only in mid-summer.

Some amateurs cut zonal pelargonium in September. Cuttings with 2-3 nodes are cut from shoots that do not have buds, so as not to reduce the decorative effect of the plant, they are dried, and then all large leaves are removed. The lower cut of the cuttings is sprinkled with charcoal powder. The cuttings are planted in a box filled with a mixture of peat (or greenhouse) soil (1 part) and sand (2 parts). During the rooting period, the cuttings are watered moderately, and the room is regularly ventilated.
After the formation of 4-5 normal leaves, the cuttings are transplanted into 7 cm pots or paper cups. The earthen mixture is made up of soddy soil (8 parts), humus (2 parts), sand (one part) and a little flower mixture with micronutrient fertilizers is added. Seedlings are watered with warm water.
In early February, the plants are pinched, after which young shoots quickly grow and buds appear. By the end of April - beginning of May, the plants bloom.

Thyroid pelargonium cuttings, cut with 1-2 leaves, take root well in coarse sand in good light. In the first 2-3 days they are not watered, and then watered sparingly. Plants must not be sprayed.
They take root in 2-3 weeks. Rooted cuttings are planted one or two in 7-centimeter pots, then transferred to 11-centimeter ones. The nutrient mixture is prepared in the same way as for zonal pelargonium cuttings.

Pelargonium plants of zonal and thyroid, grown from spring cuttings, bloom in July - August. Two- and three-year-old plants bloom well. Pelargonium grandiflora blooms in the second or third year. Without pruning, it blooms more abundantly than pruned. Plants grown from cuttings rooted in August bloom earlier in the rooms. Rooted cuttings are left unplanted for the winter. In the spring, they are seated in separate small pots and, so that they bloom faster, do not pinch.

Precautionary measures:
all parts of plants of some species of pelargonium are slightly poisonous: they can cause contact dermatitis.

Possible difficulties:

Due to the lack of light, the lower leaves may fall off, the stem is stretched and exposed; the plant blooms poorly.

The lack of flowering in pelargonium.
Can be caused by a warm winter, provided the plant is healthy.

The lower leaves turn yellow, and their edges dry out.
The reason is lack of moisture.
Due to lack of moisture, the edges of the lower leaves turn yellow and dry.

The lower leaves turn yellow, while they wither or rot.
The reason is an excess of moisture in the soil. Remove rotting leaves and sprinkle them with crushed charcoal. Watering should be done after two to three days, after the top layer of the substrate has dried.

The blackening of the stem at the base indicates a black leg disease that destroys the plant. Cut off the healthy part and root it. In the future, observe the watering regime. If the plant is severely damaged by the disease, then it can no longer be saved by the plant and the earth is thrown away. The pot after the diseased plant should be well disinfected.

Due to waterlogging of the soil, small swellings on the leaves may occur - watery soft pads (edema). Follow the watering schedule.

Due to waterlogging of the soil on the plant, gray rot may occur.

Materials used in the article:

Saakov S.G. Greenhouse and indoor plants and care for them. - L.: Nauka, 1985. - 621 p.

Indoor floriculture / R. Milevskaya, Yu. Vies. - Minsk: Book House, 2005. - 608s., ill.

Cacti and other succulents: a Handbook / D. Beff; Per. from Italian. I.V. Artyushina; Phot. K. Dani. - M .: AST Publishing House LLC: Astrel Publishing House LLC, 2003. -335, c .: ill.

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Indoor geranium is a perennial semi-shrub or herbaceous plant. from the geranium family. There are more than 400 growing around the world, including in tropical areas. The flower got its name from the Greek word "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. A beautiful plant with bright flowers and a peculiar smell quickly gained popularity in the circles of 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 room pelargonium are branched subshrubs to. It has a developed root system adapted to arid conditions.

The shape of the leaves is round, usually green in color with a pronounced reddish circle. Some other varieties may have other color options, for example, there is a white border on the sheet or the entire surface of the green mass is colored purple.

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

Geranium fruits 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 of indoor geraniums, the following are the most popular:

• 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 - can not boast of the same spectacular appearance as decorative. When growing, the main emphasis is on building up green mass.
• Pelargonium blue. Varieties with such original coloring include "Johnsons Blue", "Himalayan" (read about the Himalayan "Plenum").

You will learn more about room varieties, as well as garden geraniums, at.

Below you can see a photo of room geranium flowers, including undersized, blue and medicinal.

How to plant?

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

Rules for sowing seeds

Planting indoor geranium seeds is a laborious and lengthy process. Usually, experienced gardeners resort to this planting method 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 with seeds of inexpensive varieties.

1. To germinate seeds, soil of a loose consistency is required; in order to achieve this, it is necessary to add humus and sand to the soil.
2. Planting seeds is done in early March or earlier, provided that the sprouts are provided with a large amount of light. In winter, the sprouts are illuminated with special fitolamps.
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 that, the seeds are sown in the ground, slightly deepening, but not sprinkled with soil from above.
4. Next, you need to cover the pot with a film and send the future seedlings to a warm place to create a greenhouse effect. This will favorably affect the germination of seeds.

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

1. Before planting, the cuttings must be prepared for planting in the ground. To do this, freshly cut cuttings are placed in water to form roots. In the room where the stalk is germinated, it is important to maintain a high temperature.
2. When the roots appear at the cutting, it is removed from the water and given a little time for the moisture to evaporate from the surface of the sprout.
3. The stalk is 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 a room

The main guarantee of good growth and 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 the windows on the south side.

Important! With 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 a 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 transplanting, the most important point is to prepare the right soil for the plant. Good drainage is very important for geraniums., expanded clay or pebbles can serve as it.

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

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

All about diseases and pests

Geranium is resistant to adverse 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, and then carefully treat the flower with an antifungal agent.
• root rot- develops as a result of excess moisture in the ground. The reason is too abundant and frequent watering, as a result of which the earthen ball remains wet. If the geranium is accidentally flooded with water, it is recommended to immediately transplant the flower, but if the roots are already affected, 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 underside of the leaves. The best remedy for aphids remains spraying with insecticides for indoor plants.

reproduction

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

• cuttings are prepared in the spring;
• 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 up, and then proceed to the planting procedure.

Caring for room pelargonium does not require much experience. This plant is perfect for beginner gardeners or people who do not have the opportunity to spend a lot of time caring for flowers. A number of useful properties of geranium will be a pleasant addition to its pleasant appearance.

Useful video

The video below shows how to grow geraniums at home.

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