Our Guide to Geraniums

November 15, 2023

In our long experience, few plants captivate the eye and heart quite like geraniums. So many gardeners have the memory of growing these with a grandparent or like our grower, Ian, with his father, Marvin. With their vibrant blooms, rich green foliage, and versatility, geraniums have become a beloved addition to gardens, patios, and window boxes everywhere. We’re always excited to talk about geraniums, because they’re part of our history and though it is always hard to pick, they’re one of our very favorite flowers! We want you to discover the beauty of geraniums and learn how to properly care for these hardy plants.

Geraniums, botanically known as Pelargoniums, have recognizable five-petaled blossoms that range from soft pastels like Apple Blossom (in this blog post’s header) to bold, head-turning hues like Shocking Pink (below) and Violet, making them a versatile choice for any garden or landscape. The plant’s foliage is equally appealing. The scalloped leaves release a distinctive fragrance when touched. We carry Zonal Geraniums that have a mounding, upright habit and Ivy types (like the Rose-colored above) that cascade. Both work beautifully in planters and hanging baskets. We love geraniums because they offer stellar color, have a long blooming season, and they’re also salt-tolerant and great for coastal plantings. Geraniums are resilient and adaptable! Florida transplants from all around the country may find comfort in knowing Geraniums can thrive here, too!

Our first tip for geranium care is that dead-heading is key. And before you decide that this makes geraniums too high-maintenance, consider that we source varieties with a bloom that lasts for a long time and the dead-heading demands are not high. Plus, as folks who do maintenance on thousands of geraniums a month, we promise that it’s quick, painless, and even a little bit meditative. Here’s how to do it right: bend back the bloom stalk until it breaks at the node so you get a nice clean break from the stem. (See the photos just above for reference.) Geraniums will happily shoot more flowers when they are dead-headed as needed. Do this when the bloom is spent, as we say, that is when it no longer looks fresh and gorgeous.

Our second care tip is make time to water geraniums in the morning so the flowers and leaves dry off by night. Geraniums don’t like to be wet after the sun goes down. Do your best to direct water into the soil, more than at the plant. If the leaves of your geraniums are turning yellow and looking limp, we’re going to guess they are getting more water than they’d like. Dial back on the water, or change the time of day you’re watering and see if the look of your plants improves. Remember that an unhappy plant is more prone to decline and disease. Plant geraniums in a spot where they receive good airflow to reduce the risk for any fungal infections.

For the best show of flowers, plant geraniums in full sun. If you follow these simple tips, your geraniums can grow for more than one year like Ian’s did. This said, we know that geraniums are tricky in the summer with the super high heat and humidity. If you plant your geraniums in containers, move them to a spot that offers some shade or at least a break from afternoon sun in May and try to keep them on the dry side. If you’re planting geraniums in a bed, we recommend planting them in an area of your garden that you’ve amended to include well-draining soil like Marvin’s Magic Mix.

In colors like Purple, Salmon, Dark Red, Apple Blossom, White, Shocking Pink, Violet, and Strawberry Sizzle there isn’t a garden that won’t be made more glorious with at least a handful of these beauties. If you’ve been a friend of Pinder’s Nursery in Palm City for a while then you know that we have been growing Geraniums for over 50 years and we have made it our business to choose the best varieties for your garden! We could share at least a dozen more glorious photos here, but the best way to see the Pinder’s favorite is in person!

Our Guide to Geraniums

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