geranium - Super Floral Retailing

blooming PLANT
geranium
BOTANICAL AND COMMON NAMES
There are four main categories of
geraniums:
1. Pelargonium x hortorum
Zonal geranium, Common geranium,
House geranium, Bedding geranium,
Fancy-leaved geranium, Fish geranium
(Zonal geraniums are also available in
dwarf/miniature varieties, and some
varieties have scented leaves.)
2. Pelargonium x domesticum
Regal geranium, Martha Washington
geranium, Pansy-flowered geranium
3. Pelargonium x peltatum
Ivy-leaved geranium, Trailing geranium,
Hanging geranium
4. Pelargonium species and hybrids
Scented-leaved geranium
(Common scents include rose, lemon,
orange, apple, apricot, strawberry,
coconut, almond, peppermint/mint,
eucalyptus, clove, anise, nutmeg,
chocolate, citronella and pine.
This category also includes birch-,
oak- and maple-leaved geraniums.)
AVAILABILITY
Many species of geraniums are available
year-round in warmer parts of the country, but generally the peak season is April
through July.
seed versus
propagated
 Seed geraniums are grown from,
well, seeds while propagated geraniums are grown from cuttings.
 Seed geraniums are typically smaller, shorter and more compact
plants than propagated geraniums,
which grow taller and more upright.
 Seed geraniums have smaller
blooms and leaves, and the flowers
are more prone to shattering and
falling off.
 Seed geraniums are more heavily
branched.
 Seed geraniums grow slower and
take longer to bloom.
 Seed geraniums are less expensive.
 Seed geraniums’ lifespan is about
one year only.
in-store and
consumer care
LIGHT Indoors, provide as much light as
possible, even direct sunlight; exposure
from south and west windows is best.
Outdoors, direct sunlight is essential.
WATER Overwatering is a common mistake
with these plants. In fall, spring and summer, water plants thoroughly, then allow
the top half-inch to 1 inch of soil to
become dry before watering again.
Reduce watering frequency in winter, but
do not allow the plants’ soil to dry out
completely. Water with nonchlorinated
water, if possible, to prevent plants from
producing phytotoxins.
TEMPERATURE Indoors, these plants prefer
relatively cool temperatures, 60 F to 75 F,
during winter, spring and summer. In the
fall, they like six to eight weeks of lower
temperatures, 50 F to 60 F.
HUMIDITY These plants do not require
high humidity levels, so do not mist the
blooms or leaves.
FERTILIZER Zonal and ivy-leaved geraniums:
Feed plants every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer that contains
micronutrients.
Regal geraniums: Feed every two weeks
from late summer through spring with a
high-phosphorous fertilizer to produce
masses of blooms. (Nitrogen-rich fertilizers will stimulate too much leaf growth).
Do not feed these plants in early summer.
Scented-leaved geraniums: Feed every two
weeks from spring through summer with a
balanced all-purpose fertilizer that includes
micronutrients. Do not feed in winter.
GROOMING Continuously pinch or cut off
blooms as they fade and leaves as they
yellow, and pinch back young plants to
encourage branching and bushiness.
Super Floral has created this page for the education of store-level employees. To download
a reprintable PDF, please go to www.superfloral.com and select “Current Issue.”
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W W W . S U P E R F L O R A L . C O M / M AY 2014
Ivy-leaved (hanging), zonal,
and regal geraniums
Photo: Ball FloraPlant
challenges
PESTS Whiteflies, aphids, spider mites,
vine weevils and budworms (small
caterpillars) are common problems and
can be difficult to eradicate if not
caught early. Spray plants infested with
whiteflies, aphids and spider mites with
an insecticide containing permethrin,
malathion or rotenone. Water plants
infested with vine weevils with lindane
(HCH). Treat budworm infestations by
removing affected blooms and spraying
the area with a fine mist of water or
insecticidal soap.
DISEASES Oedema, small bumps or
corky patches on the leaves caused by
irregular watering (especially overwatering), is a common disorder. Reduce
watering, water consistently and
increase air circulation. Some new varieties are hybridized to be more resistant to oedema.
Botrytis (gray mold) is caused by
overly wet conditions. Remove diseased leaves, spray plant with a systemic fungicide, reduce watering and
increase air circulation.
blooming PLANT
Regal
Zonal
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‘Fantasia Dark Red’
‘Fantasia Cranberry Sizzle’
pac ‘Elanos Deep Pink’
pac ‘Candy Flowers Bright Red’
Ball FloraPlant
Ball FloraPlant
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
pac ‘Elanos Bright Red’
pac ‘Elanos Pastel Orange’
‘Dynamo Bright Lilac’
Oglevee ‘Elegance Claret’
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Ball FloraPlant
Dümmen Group
‘BullsEye Red’
‘Maverick Scarlet Picotee’
‘Presto Pink + Eye’
pac ‘Candy Flowers Pink with Eye’
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – Goldsmith Seeds
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – Goldsmith Seeds
Ball FloraPlant
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
‘Dynamo Strawberry’
‘Horizon Tangerine’
pac ‘Flower Fairy White Splash’
pac ‘Candy Flowers Violet’
Ball FloraPlant
Floranova
Photo: National Garden Bureau
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
‘Multibloom Violet’
‘Pinto Premium Orange Bicolor’
‘Pinto Premium White to Rose’
pac ‘Candy Flowers Bicolor’
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – Goldsmith Seeds
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – Goldsmith Seeds
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – Goldsmith Seeds
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
‘Presto Violet’
‘Divas Orange Ice’
pac ‘First Yellow’
pac ‘Candy Flowers White’
Ball FloraPlant
Floranova
Photo: National Garden Bureau
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
W W W . S U P E R F L O R A L . C O M / M AY 2014
fun facts
Ivy-leaved
Interspecific
WHAT’S IN A NAME The genus
name Pelargonium is derived
from the Greek word “pelargos,”
for stork, a reference to the fruit
of these plants having a “beak”
resembling that of a stork.
Similarly, the common name
geranium comes from the Greek
“geranos,” for crane. Zonal geraniums get their name from the
“zones” of color in the leaves.
HOME SWEET HOME Geraniums are
primarily native to South Africa.
pac ‘Dandy Deep Red’
pac ‘Dandy Neon Pink’
Oglevee ‘Dixieland Deep Red’
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Dümmen Group
‘Precision Scarlet Red’
pac ‘Dandy Pink Rose’
‘Double Take Scarlet’
‘Calliope Hot Pink’
Ball FloraPlant
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Selecta
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – GoldFisch Vegetative
pac ‘Dandy Deep Red Mex’
‘Precision Light Pink’
‘Caliente Dark Rose’
Oglevee ‘Dixieland Dark Pink’
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Ball FloraPlant
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – GoldFisch Vegetative
Dümmen Group
pac ‘Dandy Lilac’
‘Calliope Burgundy’
‘Double Take Pink + Eye’
Ball FloraPlant
Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – GoldFisch Vegetative
Selecta
‘Precision Red Ice’
‘Royal Lavender’
‘RED FOX Sarita Sunstar Red’
‘Calliope Lavender Rose’
Ball FloraPlant
Selecta
Dümmen Group
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. – GoldFisch Vegetative
‘Royal Candy Red’
‘Royal White + Red Eye’
Oglevee ‘Dixieland Orange’
Oglevee ‘Citronella’
Selecta
Selecta
Dümmen Group
Dümmen Group
Scented-leaved
‘Focus Red Ice’
M AY 2014 / W W W . S U P E R F L O R A L . C O M
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