In this video Mr Pelargonium offers some advice for those new to growing pelargoniums. Got some new plants from a nursery or Garden Centre then this initial guidance is right for you.
Brilliant. I did not realise how badly I have been caring for my many plants here in Auckland, New Zealand. I will start striving for improvement from now on. Thanks
I feel a bit cut off in Northern Ireland as there seems to be so much more available in mainland Great Britain. I have had an interest especially in the scented-leafed varieties since I was in charge of the school greenhouse as a boy, and have returned to my interest now that I can no longer work due to terminal illness, and I do find pelargonium care and propagation very therapeutic, and it's lovely to watch them grow and bloom (as many will also testify). I just joined the Society recently, but was thrilled to see this video. Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hi Colin, I’m sure there is a specialist scented leaf nursery in Northern Ireland scentedgeraniums.co.uk although I note their website doesn’t indicate where they are anymore, perhaps they’ve changed hands. Pleased that I can help both now and in the future and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. David
@@thepagsociety but it's quite a complicated ordering and posting process, with no clue to where they're situated. It would be lovely to go there in person to make purchases. Keep up the good work! 🙂
I inherited a geranium from my elderly neighbor who passed and I nursed it back to health and the blooms have the BEST SCENT!! I was so surprised how good it smells. Its one of my favs. Thanks for the great info! Oh and I subbed 😊
I’m assuming you mean bonsai types, no I don’t as in the main cultivars do not break well from very old woody stems. There are probably a number of species that may be more suited to this but growing species is a bit different to growing cultivars. D
Very helpful. Thank you. I hope you don't mind me picking your brains again.......I have a growing collection of regals which I have had in my unheated greenhouse the past couple of weeks. Now that it's set to get colder, esp. at nights, I am anxious for them. I've brought them indoors today working on the theory that they might be ok if it's above freezing point??, but as there are a couple of nights of minus temperatures ahead, I didn't want to chance it. How tolerant of cold are they? I am not growing for show, I just want a nice display and no deaths 🙂
Hi Fiona. You’re lucky in that Regals can withstand the cold much more than zonals. They should be fine in an in heated greenhouse from now on but when frost is forecast just cover them over with some cloth, coats etc and they should be fine. Obviously remember to uncover during the day. David
Thank you for good information. I am a beginner grower on geraniums. They bloom spring, summer, and fall outside here in Texas. I didn't know to prune them, so I ended up with a tall, leggy plant at the end of last year. I have alot to learn about these plants. Can I prune them back now that they are so tall? Thanks
Dear David, I’m really enjoying all your videos and learning such a lot. Thank you. I’ve just received my first order from fibrex in 6cm fibre pots. The selection I’ve chosen includes an angel, 3 dwarfs, a unique, 3 stellars and of course some zonals. Will 4 inch pots be suitable for them all at this time of the year or should I go bigger especially for the zonals?
Hi Mr P. My Fibrex order has arrived, and another on the way. I will be nipping the tips from quantock perfection and your very own Elsie Taylor but should I leave Australian pink rambler and Katie alone as they are climbers 🤷🏻♀️ just curious x
Thanks for making a video for us beginners! I was doing so well until I accidentally fed my pelargoniums 10 X the dose of Tomorite and they went ghostly white! So devastated and hoping they'll be okay after a thorough flushing out. Do you think it's still safe to feed and prune them?
Yes I suppose it depends on how long after you realised you flushed through. If you did it more or less straight away then they would have been fine, it sounds though like it was some time later. If they’ve survived then you can return to normal cultivation although perhaps don’t feed for a little while. You will be surprised though how tough they are and the punishment they can take. D
Hi there! Just seen this beginners video, which is great! Have subscribed to you! Excitingly, I have just received my first pellies from Fibrex. I have one angel (Berkswell Carnival) and one scented leaf (Sweet Mimosa) both supplied in 6cm biodegradeable pots. What size pots should I use, for both? (I'm aware that the angel shouldn't be overpotted). And would it be John Innes No 2 for the compost? Thanks!
Thanks for your support and enjoy your plants. Yes the key is always never over potting. I would recommend a 4 inch for the Angel and a 5 for the Sweet Mimosa at this time of year when the plants are actively growing. You can use JI 2 but it’s quality varies massively between brands, try and find one that’s a bit lighter, some seem to be almost fully soil heavy. However you must also add additional drainage materiel such as perlite, hort sand and hort grit or even a mixture of all three. The drainage should make up around 25% of the total mixture, this should serve them well. Always remember to go light on the watering when newly potted. Sorry I seem to have rambled a bit here but I hope this helps. D
In terms of recommendations the main feed that top growers use is Chempak 3, the balanced feed version, although it is quite expensive to buy as individual packs. I buy it wholesale which works out much cheaper but is only available from Horticultural wholesalers. Any balanced feed will generally be okay. D
Thanks
So excited about this series!!Thank you!!!
Brilliant. I did not realise how badly I have been caring for my many plants here in Auckland, New Zealand. I will start striving for improvement from now on. Thanks
So glad I found this channel. Off to buy some seeds.
I feel a bit cut off in Northern Ireland as there seems to be so much more available in mainland Great Britain. I have had an interest especially in the scented-leafed varieties since I was in charge of the school greenhouse as a boy, and have returned to my interest now that I can no longer work due to terminal illness, and I do find pelargonium care and propagation very therapeutic, and it's lovely to watch them grow and bloom (as many will also testify).
I just joined the Society recently, but was thrilled to see this video. Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hi Colin, I’m sure there is a specialist scented leaf nursery in Northern Ireland scentedgeraniums.co.uk although I note their website doesn’t indicate where they are anymore, perhaps they’ve changed hands. Pleased that I can help both now and in the future and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. David
@@thepagsociety Thank you David, yes, I did discover that by googling
@@thepagsociety but it's quite a complicated ordering and posting process, with no clue to where they're situated. It would be lovely to go there in person to make purchases. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Thanks for that. Some great tips. Every time I see that coloured leaf standard in the left of the picture, the leaf colour looks more amazing.
I inherited a geranium from my elderly neighbor who passed and I nursed it back to health and the blooms have the BEST SCENT!! I was so surprised how good it smells. Its one of my favs. Thanks for the great info! Oh and I subbed 😊
Thanks Bobbie 👍. D
love your talk on Pelargium I am in Cape Town
Ahh thanks, the home of pelargoniums 😃
Thank you for shering your knoleds with us and hapy growing. Vida
Thank you for this and all of your amazing videos! Your pelargoniums look gorgeous! Have a lovely day.
Thanks. D
Thank you David, some great tips there.
Thanks David! Beautiful plants 🌸, good tips for me from your video 🙌
Well done................
Wow, I love Geraniums ❤️ I subbed immediately. Thank you in advance ☺️
That's great thank you David.
A whisker of taking on board your thoughts Patrick 😉
Can you please show us exactly how you water? How much water, how often, how long do you leave the water in the saucer etc? Thanks!
Noted, will do Annice. D
@@thepagsociety Yes. You seem to water from the bottom only.Am I correct?
Tonight l was wishing for a geranium with yellow flowers. Oh well, we can't have everything!
Have a look at some of the Zonartic varieties which have blooms in shades of yellow. D
@@thepagsociety Thank you!
Great video…looking forward to this series…really love pelargoniums…do you grow the caudex types
I’m assuming you mean bonsai types, no I don’t as in the main cultivars do not break well from very old woody stems. There are probably a number of species that may be more suited to this but growing species is a bit different to growing cultivars. D
Very helpful. Thank you. I hope you don't mind me picking your brains again.......I have a growing collection of regals which I have had in my unheated greenhouse the past couple of weeks. Now that it's set to get colder, esp. at nights, I am anxious for them. I've brought them indoors today working on the theory that they might be ok if it's above freezing point??, but as there are a couple of nights of minus temperatures ahead, I didn't want to chance it. How tolerant of cold are they? I am not growing for show, I just want a nice display and no deaths 🙂
Hi Fiona. You’re lucky in that Regals can withstand the cold much more than zonals. They should be fine in an in heated greenhouse from now on but when frost is forecast just cover them over with some cloth, coats etc and they should be fine. Obviously remember to uncover during the day. David
@@thepagsociety Very many thanks
Thank you for good information. I am a beginner grower on geraniums. They bloom spring, summer, and fall outside here in Texas. I didn't know to prune them, so I ended up with a tall, leggy plant at the end of last year. I have alot to learn about these plants. Can I prune them back now that they are so tall? Thanks
Yes you can, you just delay the flowering a bit. Ensure the plants are dry before doing it and don’t water much for the few weeks after cutting. D
Dear David, I’m really enjoying all your videos and learning such a lot. Thank you. I’ve just received my first order from fibrex in 6cm fibre pots. The selection I’ve chosen includes an angel, 3 dwarfs, a unique, 3 stellars and of course some zonals. Will 4 inch pots be suitable for them all at this time of the year or should I go bigger especially for the zonals?
No keep it slow. I would suggest that the 4’s are fine initially but the Unique could probably handle a 5 inch. D
Thank you so much.
Hi Mr P. My Fibrex order has arrived, and another on the way. I will be nipping the tips from quantock perfection and your very own Elsie Taylor but should I leave Australian pink rambler and Katie alone as they are climbers 🤷🏻♀️ just curious x
Hi Kimmy, yes I would leave those to grow on and use sticks to support them. D
@@thepagsociety Thanks ever so much Mr P 🌸 You’ve give me the pelargonium bug, your videos are inspirational x
Thanks for making a video for us beginners! I was doing so well until I accidentally fed my pelargoniums 10 X the dose of Tomorite and they went ghostly white! So devastated and hoping they'll be okay after a thorough flushing out. Do you think it's still safe to feed and prune them?
Yes I suppose it depends on how long after you realised you flushed through. If you did it more or less straight away then they would have been fine, it sounds though like it was some time later. If they’ve survived then you can return to normal cultivation although perhaps don’t feed for a little while. You will be surprised though how tough they are and the punishment they can take. D
@@thepagsociety That's reassuring - thanks for your kind advice.
Hi there! Just seen this beginners video, which is great! Have subscribed to you! Excitingly, I have just received my first pellies from Fibrex. I have one angel (Berkswell Carnival) and one scented leaf (Sweet Mimosa) both supplied in 6cm biodegradeable pots. What size pots should I use, for both? (I'm aware that the angel shouldn't be overpotted). And would it be John Innes No 2 for the compost? Thanks!
Thanks for your support and enjoy your plants. Yes the key is always never over potting. I would recommend a 4 inch for the Angel and a 5 for the Sweet Mimosa at this time of year when the plants are actively growing. You can use JI 2 but it’s quality varies massively between brands, try and find one that’s a bit lighter, some seem to be almost fully soil heavy. However you must also add additional drainage materiel such as perlite, hort sand and hort grit or even a mixture of all three. The drainage should make up around 25% of the total mixture, this should serve them well. Always remember to go light on the watering when newly potted. Sorry I seem to have rambled a bit here but I hope this helps. D
@@thepagsociety thankyou so much. That's great info. I have some grit already so will grab the rest tomorrow.
I am a beginner can I take cutting when it is over 100 degrees
Hi David. What liquid feed would you recommend?
In terms of recommendations the main feed that top growers use is Chempak 3, the balanced feed version, although it is quite expensive to buy as individual packs. I buy it wholesale which works out much cheaper but is only available from Horticultural wholesalers. Any balanced feed will generally be okay. D
Does anyone know where you can find rose scented geraniums in the US? I had one years ago and lost it. No one has any scented ones near me.
The only nursery I know in the US Barbara is geraniaceae.com based in California. Have a look at their website. D