Geraniums

Hi

I have bought some Geraniums and have lost the label telling is it is hardy or not is there a way I would know buy the look of it.  I have bought a trailing one also which is a great colour and going to take cutting but every little bit of growth seems to have a flower bud can i use the leaf of a geranium to use a cuttings.  

thanks regards Chris

Confusion reigns

If it is a bedding geranium then it is not hardy-these are strictly called pelargoniums

If it is a herbaceous geranium -that is hardy

Now the question is which is yours?-I am guessing a trailing pelargonium?

Non-hardy bedding geraniums have a soft round leaf with a very distinct strong smell. Non-hardy trailing geraniums have a very stiff leaf which resembles an ivy leaf.

As for taking cuttings - no, you can't take leaf cuttings. But there's nothing to stop you taking a normal cutting and simply pinching the flowers off, and any more that it tries to produce, until it is well-rooted.

Thanks for the quick response and great info.

I wasn't sure how to take cutting with buds on, thanks for the advice I will take cutting and do Alina as you suggested and pinch out the flower bud of the trailing geranium which has ivy shaped leaves.

The bedding geraniums I have, does the same apply regarding the the shape of the leaves, my bedding gerainium have a dark green tough Ivy shaped leaf so I think they must be hardy. 

Thanks again for the info.

Your description of a bedding geranium with an ivy shaped leaf does not sound hardy. If you uploaded a photo we could be sure.

Chris

You have pelargoniums -commonly called geraniums-these are not hardy-they look like this

http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/photo/image/233703/main/Larelander.jpg

or this

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/1694024608_01d597500f.jpg

This is a hardy geranium

http://www.nireland.com/bernard.picton/Geranium_malviflorum_1.jpg

A completely different plant

I hope that makes it clear??

Geoff - aren't you clever?  I have two of those hardy geraniums and never realised they were geraniums.  So what I buy as geraniums aren't - well you learn something every day!  Thanks for the info.

 Hi 

Thanks again for the response and information, it looks as if these are not hardy.  I have taken cuttings but the cuttings seem to be dying, going yellow.  They start off well but have lost a couple, not sure what I have done.  I did as instructed from the video on the website and planted about 3 in a pot of compost.  

Sotongeoff and Chris2 the links are very informative I now know the difference, thanks again.  regards Chris 

Just take them out of the tubs and pot them up before the first frosts of the autumn and keep them indoors on light windowsills - they'll probably flower all winter and look lovely, then when the last frost is over you can plant them out in your tubs again - that'll give you the chance to take lots more cuttings too 

Hi Chris , I also overwinter pelargoniums and have been doing so for a few years. What I usually do is to pot them up as Dove says and then reduce them by half. After September keep the watering to a bare minimum and this is the time I usually take my cuttings - you'll have a lot of cutting material when you cut them back. Come Spring increase the watering and I usually give them a drenching with Epsom salts. ( Really good for leaf colouration) .  Pinch them out as this will make them nice and bushy and I sometimes remove most of the larger leaves. This allows light to get to the smaller new leaves but don't do it any later than the end of April. This method is not for the faint-hearted but it does produce a good healthy plants !

Chris9 they look lovely. The cuttings may be going yellow if you have over watered them, how much grit/perlite did you put in you cutting compost?

Thanks again for the great information.  I didn't put any grit or perlite in the pots only compost, I think a visit to the garden centre tomorrow I will repot again with some grit.  When this is done is it ok to leave in the garden until it gets colder or on the windowsill. 

Thanks again for the advice, I reall need to print this info off and put it in a file so I can just look back on each item of advice I have asked for only I think I am begining to repeat myself, thats due to the age i expect .

regards Chris 

Chris - I usually bring mine in end of September but I live ''up North '' so won't risk it any later than that. They are stunning displays - very pretty.

Noooo! Already ??

Me too! My cobaea still hasn't flowered . That would finish it off .  Morning BTW !!!

Chris9 I mix 50/50 compost and grit for cuttings and I have mine on a windowsill now, even without a frost it gets chilly outside at night and you want to give your cuttings every help you can.

Thanks Jean for the compliment.  I did hear that Scotland may have frost at night over the weekend.  I live in the North West, today it rained all morning but about 2ish the sun came out , I managed to have a nap in the garden it was very hot and wonderful .  I will remember 50/50 compost and grit job done! 

Thanks again for the great advice and support.

regards

Chris