Saturday, November 19, 2011

I am killing my geranium......?

I don't know how to keep it alive.....I do water it so it's not that! Please help. The plant is called Willamena and as it has a name, I'd be commiting an offence if it died.

I am killing my geranium......?
keep it inside, give it plenty of light and try putting coffee grounds in the pot
Reply:What area of the country do you live? I normally cut mine down to a few leaves and the main stem in the winter and bring it into my garage which doesn't get cold enough to freeze. When it starts warming in the spring I bring it out to the warm sun, but wait until the last freeze to leave it out. Greaniums are heat loving plants, and a freeze will kill them.
Reply:It's coming to the time of year when it will die off naturally....it should bounce back in the Spring though!
Reply:Keep it in a cool frost free place over winter - don't over water it - but keep the soil damp - it should survive the winter. .
Reply:Miine come in during winter in zone 8. They'll tell you when to water, might want to aerate too. Otherwise they thrive on neglect. You can root cuttings in water.
Reply:I pity you!
Reply:I'm guessing that Willamina is a pelargonium rather than a geranium. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, it's preparing for winter (not dying) and overwatering might in fact do more harm than good.





Put the plant and pot in a cool dry shaded place inside the house (cellar is good) and keep the soil just moist until spring.
Reply:All oudoor geraniums have a dormant period when they tend to loose alot of leaves, (they go yellow first and then rusty brown), unless it is a really hot climate.


Firstly take off all the brown and yellow leaves. Give it a good shake to get rid of bugs and then if it is a large plant cut it back to a pair of stronge green shoots / leaves on each stem and get it out of the cold / wet. Reduce watering to once every couple of months during winter.


If it is small enough then bring it indoors and treat as a house plant until spring.


Also take some cuttings. Just take a sharp knife and cut about 2 inches, (5cm) off a green shoot, remove the lower leaves and any flower and just put it into a pot of compost. Dampen with some water and stand on your window sill. They grow really easily and I can almost guarantee that the cuttings will survive.


Good luck.
Reply:The thing that kills most plants is overwatering. You only need to water it when you can stick your finger in the pot and it feels dry: make sure the saucer under the plant is not full of water, so the plant is standing in it, the top of the soil can feel dry and the bottom still be soaking wet. Give it as much sun as you can because they will not thrive without plenty of light. They do go somewhat dormant in winter. Their thick stems store moisture sometwhat like succulents, so overwatering is very bad for geraniums. I have found if you cut them back below the bottom leaves, they will not regrow new leaves.


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