Caring for geraniums properly: Should you remove wilted flowers at all?
Created: 2022-06-20 09:37
By: Juliane Gutmann
Geraniums typically bloom throughout the summer, often well into October.
In order for the flower to be more lush, you should remove the withered flowers - right?
Whether you are a hobby or a professional gardener: Most plant lovers are probably familiar with the standard tips.
For example, that there are many species that cannot stand direct sun well, that aphids can also be combated with home remedies, or that
withered flowers should be removed from
rose bushes .
But does this also apply to the popular geranium?
Absolutely, explains Sandra von Rekowski, research assistant at the Bundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde e.
V., opposite the
Myhomebook.de
portal .
Why the withered flowers of the geranium have to be cut off?
“After the flowering period, the seeds form.
These are intended to help the plant produce offspring.
However , seed formation costs the plant a lot of energy
.
However, this can then no longer be put into the formation of new flowers," explains the expert.
In addition, the risk of the plant becoming ill increases if you do not remove the withered flower stalks: "Blossoms that have become mushy due to a downpour, for example, form a wonderful breeding ground for diseases or mold and fungus and should therefore be removed quickly," says Rekowski.
Geraniums not only beautify farmhouses: the red or pink flowers adorn countless balconies and terraces.
© H.Tschanz-Hofmann/Imago
Pluck or cut: How to remove faded geranium blossoms
But which is better: pluck or cut off withered flowers?
In the case of geraniums, there is no need to use a knife or scissors: simply pluck off the withered flowers carefully with your fingers.
To do this, grab the flower to be removed and pull on the stem.
The flower usually falls off by itself.
If it has not yet fully faded, it may be necessary to bend it against the direction of growth.
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If you don't want to regularly rid your geraniums of flowers that have turned brown, you can also use so-called self-cleaning species.
The best known are the "Ville" and "Decora" varieties, which have been at home in public green spaces for decades.
They also bloom without special care
, as informed by
Pelargonium for Europe
, a marketing initiative by European geranium breeders.
(jg)
