Terry pelargonium: varieties, reproduction and care at home

It is difficult to compare modern varieties of pelargonium with bushes of "grandmother" geraniums, whose scarlet or pink umbrellas proudly appeared on the windowsills of city apartments, in the front gardens and on the balconies. Despite the fact that plants have not become more capricious, florists today have access to varieties that delight with long flowering of not simple, but densely doubled flowers, and the palette of inflorescences is unusually wide.

Terry pelargonium on the windowsill can be an excellent decoration for your home interior. Her lush and bright buds will help to create a cozy atmosphere in the summer on the balcony, as well as add notes of sophistication and charm to the atmosphere of your summer cottage.

Botanical Description and History

Terry pelargonium is an indoor (and garden) herbaceous plant of the genus Pelargonium of the Geranium family, which occurs in the wild in the form of shrubs and much less often - shrubs. Plants are both perennial and annual. In total, there are up to 350 varieties of pelargonium.

Among them, different varieties can be terry: royal, zonal, ivy (ampelous), etc. They are called terry because they have more than eight petals in one row, which are nested one in another, which makes them look very magnificent. The flower buds resemble the beak of a stork, therefore they got their name from the Greek word Pelargos - stork. In the people, due to the external resemblance, pelargonium is often mistakenly called geranium.

The birthplace of the flower is the territory of South Africa, as well as India. For the first time, pelargonium was introduced to Europe at the end of the XVIII century, and was immediately appreciated - it was actively cultivated and grown in many houses, garden beds and greenhouses. And soon, the plant was recognized as a symbol of the Victorian era and became a frequent attribute of home decor.

In Russia, the flower gained popularity much later, when in Europe they had already forgotten about it and considered its content a sign of tastelessness. For a long time, red and pink pelargonium flaunted on the windowsills of our grandmothers. However, European breeders got down to business and bred a variety of varieties. Whereby, the flower is a welcome guest in many homes to this day.

According to another version, the plant was grown in 1631 by an English botanist, John Tradescant. He grew three copies of a flower from the seeds of Indian geranium.

How much is a flower?

The cost of pelargonium in a pot (adult plant) varies within 200 rubles and more, the cost of seeds for planting is from 30 to 100 rubles.

Description of appearance and features

Terry pelargoniums have a large number of petals collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescencesresembling rounded hats. The underside of the petals is lighter, making the flowers look fluffy.

Plants have a straight and strong stem covered with lush foliage. Leaves are slightly velvety to the touch. Inflorescences are represented by a variety of colors and a tint palette: white, pink, purple, etc.

Pelargoniums have a tart smell of leaves, which is why some people have a headache (therefore, the plant is not suitable for everyone). This odor repels insects such as flies and moths. On other people, on the contrary, the pronounced aroma of the flower has a calming effect, relieves headaches and insomnia, and also has a beneficial effect in cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

The plant is photophilous, easily tolerates drought and is quite unpretentious in maintenance.

The most common varieties

Very popular are species such as purple terry pelargonium, white terry and terry angel.

Purple

Violet called many varieties of terry pelargoniumIn particular: Brookside Fantasy (delicate violet-lilac color, lush terry inflorescences), Amethyst (lilac shade), Lara Gem (lilac color), Bold Pixie (color from lilac to violet), PAC Icecrystal (violet-lilac).

White

White varieties of terry pelargonium can be attributed to: Granny Barter (in shape they resemble white bows of schoolgirls), Artic Princess (snow-white spherical inflorescences), Delta Pearl, PAC Blanca, Dowepoint, Destiny, etc.

Such varieties are suitable for lovers of classics and romanticism.will help create an atmosphere of simplicity and elegance in the room.

Angel

Pelargonium Angel deserves special attention. In appearance, the flower resembles royal pelargonium, differs only in the shape of a bush (the angel has a curly shape) and a small diameter of inflorescences and leaves (no more than 2 cm). The plant bush reaches 35 cm in height and needs constant pruning.

Characteristic features: inflorescences are similar to "Pansies", the color of which can be white, pink, lilac, purple, and may also have dark spots or stripes on the upper petals. The most famous varieties: Blueberry, Burgundy Red, Randy.

Photo

See below for a photo of terry pelargonium:

Where and how to plant a plant?

Cutting pelargonium through propagation is much faster and easier than from seeds. So, with proper care of the planted cuttings, for a short period of time, you can form a voluminous and beautiful bush.

Cherenkov method

1. The cutlery is best harvested in spring: it is necessary to cut a small shoot (5-7 cm) from the lateral or apical shoots of an adult plant.
2. Remove the lower leaves from the stalk, leaving only the upper leaves (2-3 leaves).
3. The cut stalk should be air dried for several hours. Places of cuts on an adult plant and process must be treated with fungicide or sprinkled with charcoal.
4. Choose a small container for planting (a plastic cup will do), make small drainage holes at the bottom of the cup and add fresh soil there.
5. To disinfect the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate (0.1% solution of manganese sulfate: 1-2 drops per half a glass of water).
6. Next, a slightly dried stalk should be planted in a prepared container with soil.
7. Put the plant in a bright place (but without direct sunlight).
8. Water a little, as needed: watering should be done by adding fluid to the pan. Thus, water will seep through the openings at the bottom of the tank (cup).
9. Ensure a temperature of at least + 15 ° C.

Usually, after 3 or 4 weeks, rooting of cuttings occurs.

The best time to land is March, April, August and September.

Transfer the sprout to the pot

1. For better plant growth, it is advisable to choose a small clay pot (no more than 10 cm in diameter).
2. Carefully remove the plant from the container (with a small earthen lump), being careful not to damage the overgrown roots.
3. Water a young flower with a narrow-spout watering can.
4. If it is cloudy outside, turn on the lamp.

Lighting and location

Pelargonium loves bright sunlight, and if it is lacking, it can begin to fade and shower leaves. Therefore, the south side of the window will be the most suitable place to grow the plant. In winter, it is recommended to use a lamp as an additional light source.

Soil requirements

Planting soil must meet the following requirements:

• should be fertile and loose;
• the universal composition of the soil with the addition of peat and sand is suitable;
• in addition, you can add mineral fertilizers to the soil (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.);
• make a drainage layer from large expanded clay (lay on the bottom of the pot), which can be purchased at any flower shop (for easy flow of water through the holes).

How to care?

In order for the plant to maintain health and bloom throughout the year, it is necessary to adhere to some care requirements:

1. When exposed to direct sunlight, the flower should be shaded, in winter - use artificial lighting.
2. Maintain a temperature that is comfortable for the plant (in summer: from +20 to + 25 ° C, in winter: from +12 to + 15 ° C).
3. Humidity should be moderate.
4. Water abundantly, but not often (once every two days, or as the soil dries up). In winter, you can water less often, without adding any fertilizer.
5. To feed twice a month (from spring to autumn) with liquid fertilizers that need to be applied to moist soil. In order for the foliage to maintain a bright green color, use fertilizers with nitrogen. To ensure flowering - with potassium and phosphorus.Recommendation! It is possible to purchase Pelargovit liquid top dressing, and use it at that dosage and with the frequency indicated on the package.
6. Remove wilted inflorescences.

Disease

Pelargonium can become ill in case of improper care of diseases such as:

• Root rot (occurs with excessive watering). For a flower, this is deadly. The affected plant should be destroyed and the soil replaced.
• Gray mold on the leaves. You can deal with it as follows: suspend watering, cut the affected leaves, spray with an antifungal agent and put the flower in a sunny place.
• Blackleg - there is a defeat of the stem. The reason is waterlogging or soil contamination. In this case, the plant and the earth must be disposed of. However, cuttings can be left for planting. To avoid this problem again, the new soil must be sterilized and waterlogging should be avoided.
• The stems are stretched and exposed - This is due to a lack of lighting. The flower must be rearranged in a place more saturated with light.

Pests

Pelargonium can host pests such as whiteflies and aphids. They need to be fought by spraying foliage with insecticidal preparations (Confidor, Fufanon, Zubr, etc.).

Features of reproduction from seeds

If you decide to use the seed propagation method, certain conditions must be observed:

1. Seeds are sown from mid-November to mid-April. It is advisable to use purchased seeds.
2. Prepare the soil mixture with the addition of peat.
3. If the seeds are collected from flowering plants, for better germination, they need to be rubbed with sandpaper (fine-grained).
4. Plant the seeds in the soil on a shallow layer, moistening with water from a spray bottle (there should be a distance of at least 5 cm between the seeds).
5. A pot of seeds should be covered with a film.
6. Maintain a comfortable temperature - up to 20 ° C.
7. After 7-10 days, the first sprouts will appear.
8. When the seedlings grow a little and up to four leaves appear on them, it will be possible to transplant them into separate containers.

Terry pelargonium is truly a colorful plant. For its cultivation and planting, you do not need to be a specialist florist, you just adhere to simple rules. Do not forget to take care of the plant, and it will become the pride of your home or summer cottage.

Useful video

Watch a video about terry pelargonium:

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