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The geranium has stretched out when it can be cut. How to prune geraniums for lush blooms. Basic rules for pruning and pinching geraniums

As a rule, manipulations associated with changing the shape of the plant, removing excess parts, are carried out after the plant has overwintered or before this period. Geraniums are pruned in late autumn, early spring or winter. Yes, that's right, winter pruning of the flower is also carried out. The important thing here is simply to know when to prune geraniums in winter so as not to harm them.

For pelargonium, the winter period is a period of rest, but under certain conditions (microclimate in the house, care conditions), preventive pruning is carried out at the end of February. However, it will be better if you do this before December or early spring. Before wintering, the shoots are shortened by a third. You should not be afraid - proper care and maintenance of the flower will ensure the development of new shoots. Pruning before the dormant period is mandatory, but it is important to take care of the pelargonium in early spring. It is not necessary to shorten the stems so radically, but you should not hesitate with this either. Removing old parts of the plant will inevitably harden new buds.

Proper pruning

How to properly prune geraniums, you will be prompted in a gardening store. But there is nothing complicated in this process. Follow the following guidelines and everything will go smoothly. Pruning geraniums at home requires certain preparations. First, disinfect the instrument.

Choose any method: ignite, boil, treat with alcohol. The tool (usually a knife) must be sharp. To avoid the possibility of infection, it is important to wear gloves, wash your hands well with soap and water. If the plant has been outdoors for a long time, it will take some time to acclimatize in the room in which it will overwinter. After two weeks, pelargonium can be cut off.

Pruning geraniums for the winter must be carried out after the plant has completely faded. This measure will help the pelargonium retain vitality and nutrients for the development of young shoots. First, inflorescences and stems that have faded and wilted are removed. Dried, diseased and beginning to wither leaves are also removed. In parallel, you can shape the crown to your liking.

Inspect the pelargonium and cut off the parts that need to be corrected. Remove any stems that are too long from the lower node. In the event that you want new shoots to appear from the place, cut off above the node. New shoots will very soon hide the void near the stem. As noted earlier, in autumn the stems are cut by a third, but since homemade pelargonium continues to grow in winter, after the appearance of the fifth bud, the plant should be pinched.

Be sure to note that not all varieties of pelargonium need autumn pruning. Amphipelous or zonal varieties can wait until spring, unless you want to correct the shape. Variegated varieties are generally not recommended to be cut, so as not to provoke prolonged stress in the plant. Miniature pelargoniums require only a little intervention, but royal geraniums are trimmed quite boldly. Sections heal quickly and give new young shoots.

Pruning a geranium in the spring may be necessary if you haven't taken care of the flower in the fall, or if the plant has grown too big over the winter. High-quality spring pruning is the key to the emergence of new healthy shoots and the formation of flower stalks. Of course, pruning a flower will delay the flowering process, but will contribute to an increase in its intensity. The color should be cut in early March.

It is not recommended to prune a large plant much: it takes not so little time for the growth to recover. You can cut off the extra, in your opinion, branches so unsuccessfully that the pelargonium will not bloom at all. Limit yourself to removing too long, damaged, diseased shoots. Form a small bush as desired, while leaving at least two buds on the stem. Don't forget to inspect stems cut in the fall.

If the cuts are blackened, they should be updated.

Cut shoots do not rush to throw away. Use them to breed a flower: healthy shoots will make excellent cuttings. In addition, geranium leaves are often used to make folk remedies. It is useful to prepare decoctions and infusions that help with headaches and joint pains, problems with the digestive system.

Further care

After pruning, geraniums should be placed in a cool room. The surface of the cuts is treated with cinnamon powder or finely ground charcoal. Special care for the plant is not required. It is important to reduce the number of waterings so as not to harm the flower. In order for the flower to quickly acquire young dense shoots, the flower needs to be fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen. It is important to take care of good diffused lighting.

Regular trimming of pelargonium is necessary not only for aesthetic reasons. When excess, dry and diseased shoots are removed, free space is formed. A thinned bush is well ventilated, the risk of infection with fungal diseases is significantly reduced. The shape of the plant becomes more neat, orderly and attractive. The mass of shoots becomes smaller, but the number of inflorescences and their quality increase.

Video "When to prune geraniums"

This video will show you when is the best time to prune geraniums.

Geranium is not in vain loved by many gardeners. It is easy to care for, undemanding to the soil and watering.

But there is something that is obligatory in the formation of a beautiful lush pelargonium bush and its long-term flowering. It's cutting and pinching. If you do not perform these operations with geraniums in a timely manner, then very quickly the flower will lose its shape, bare shoots will stretch out, and the number of inflorescences will come to naught. When and how to cut and form a flower crown correctly? Here's what experienced geranium growers advise.
  • 1 How to prune geraniums in autumn
  • 2 Crown formation
  • 3 Pruning: necessary or useless procedure?
  • 4 Mistakes when trimming geraniums at home

How to prune geraniums in autumn

The purpose of the autumn pruning

There are many varieties of geranium: it is a house or garden plant, with lodging or climbing stems, tall or short, bushy or ampelous. For each flower, you need to choose your own pruning method, comparing it with the desired shapes that you would like to give the pelargonium.

Geraniums should be helped to form a beautiful bush

The ultimate goal of pruning geraniums is to get a beautiful bush with luxuriantly flowering inflorescences. Accompanying - the improvement of the bush.

For all types of geraniums, it is important to adhere to the main requirement: pruning and control over the shape of the bush should be done regularly. It is impossible to trim once and get the intended design. It is necessary to engage in the formation of a beautiful type of geranium constantly, starting immediately after planting it. You do not need to wait a year or two for the stems to grow to great lengths and become bare, with only a few leaves at the very top. Pruning leads to increased growth of side shoots and stimulates the conception of new inflorescences.

The right place to trim a geranium cutting

The geranium itself, without human intervention, does not throw out additional side stems. But dormant growth buds are located at each node. Their growth should be provoked. After pruning, the plant begins to grow compactly, without jumping out bare and ugly branches. In addition to lateral shoots, flower buds are also activated. Such geraniums bloom longer and more magnificently than their groomed counterparts. After flowering is completed, the bush gives high-quality planting material, which allows you to propagate your favorite variety of pelargonium.

Time spending

Pelargonium is a smart plant. She will tell you when to start pruning. Geraniums are pruned after flowering stops on the bush and the last inflorescences withered. If the plant is planted in open ground for the summer or remains in the garden all year round, then half the height of the stem is removed. If the flower spent the summer outdoors, it should be kept in the room for ten days before pruning, so that it gets used to the new living conditions. Removing the excess crown improves air exchange, the lower leaves open to sunny color. This reduces the risk of fungal diseases.

Formed flowering geranium bush

Winter is a dormant time for a plant, but not for a grower. It is necessary to observe the condition of the cuts. If the cut has turned black, has become an unnatural color, it is necessary to repeat the pruning, removing the non-healing wound on the stem.

Features of the procedure for different types of pelargonium

You can determine whether a particular plant needs pruning by its appearance. If the bush is compact, the branches are neat, then pruning can be postponed until spring. For example, zonal geraniums often grow obscenely, exposing the bare trunk of leaves. Then, of course, pruning is required. Ampelous pelargonium is beautiful with long shoots, but decorated with foliage and flowers. If the type of plant is quite presentable, then it is better not to touch the bush until spring.

Variegated geraniums are under severe stress after pruning, so if you can not cut, then do not do it. There is an interesting variety - mini-pelargoniums. The name itself indicates their miniature size. Therefore, pruning is a rare event for them. Is it just to remove something suddenly protruding from the overall compact design. Royal geranium needs pruning after the bush has grown. In autumn, everything superfluous is cut off, leaving only a small shoot with buds.

Scheme of work

It is necessary to carry out the removal of geranium shoots with a disinfected tool. This is a sharp knife (kitchen or stationery) or blade. Scissors are not suitable for this procedure, as they pinch the stem. Cut off the geranium trunk above the leaf node in three to five millimeters. The cut is made at an acute angle. You should choose nodules directed to the outside of the bush. With the growth of shoots from such a bud, the shoots will not lead to thickening of the crown, as they will tend to separate from the center of the bush.

Saved shoots with a direction of growth from the center do not lead to thickening of the crown

Step-by-step instructions for autumn pruning geraniums

  • Remove yellowed or damaged twigs, leaves and any faded inflorescences. Thus the bush will reveal its true form.
  • Prepare tools. You will need a sharp knife, blade, in extreme cases, pruners or scissors. You can disinfect the instrument with alcohol by wiping their working surface. Another way: ignite over a flame or boil in water for 10-15 minutes.
  • Make an incision above the leaf node. If the branch directs its growth into the bush, it is better to remove it. Crossing shoots should also be cut off. Weakened branches are pruned without pity.
  • It is necessary to start pruning from the outer stems, gradually moving to the center of the bush. If it is necessary to remove about half of the bush, pruning should be carried out in two or three passes. Between each approach, allow a two-week respite for the plant.
  • You can trim the tips of the stems after four to five leaf nodules. Here new sprouts with peduncles will form.
  • Treat the sections with a disinfectant (ash, coal, cinnamon, alcohol solution).
  • Apply nitrogen fertilizer to support the plant. Create appropriate thermal and light conditions for wintering.

Video tip

Features of care for geraniums after pruning

The place where the geranium stem was cut must be disinfected. Activated charcoal works well for this. It needs to be crushed into powder, and then sprinkled on the cut. Another remedy is wood ash. It is also a good antiseptic. Cinnamon powder is considered a natural stimulant for wound healing. They can also process the cut.

The treated plant must be fed with nitrogen fertilizers. This vitamin complex will help to cope with stress and stimulate the growth of shoots and greenery.

For the splendor of greenery and flowers, the plant must be fed

Watering should be reduced. Since there will be very little green mass left, excess moisture will not be able to evaporate. This can lead to disease and death of the plant. It has already been weakened by the experience.

Wintering conditions: table

crown formation

It is necessary to form a geranium crown almost immediately after planting the cutting. The main actions to achieve this goal are pruning and pinching. If the geranium is pruned in the fall, then in the spring you can cut or pinch it. What is the difference? Pinching is the removal of the growth point of a plant. In its absence, the geranium throws out side shoots and turns into a small branched tree. The first pinch is made over 8 or 10 leaves. The time of its holding is the end of February-March. Lateral shoots are also pinched as they grow. It is not worth delaying with spring manipulations with geraniums. The later the pinching is done, the longer the time before the flowers appear.

Pinching young sprouts accelerates the growth of lateral shoots

Spring pruning is a cut of large stems at the level of the second or fifth leaf from the root. The time of the operation is autumn or early spring.

The basics of proper crown formation

  • Carry out all manipulations with geraniums only with treated tools and clean hands.
  • First of all, remove (cut or pinch) shoots growing inside the bush to prevent thickening.
  • With a large distance between pairs of leaves, the stem is cut immediately above the leaves, indenting up to five millimeters.
  • First of all, diseased shoots are removed, capturing up to five centimeters of the healthy part.

Step-by-step instructions for spring procedures

Spring work with geraniums is very similar to autumn pruning. The first three steps are exactly the same. But it also has its own nuances.

  • Carefully examine the plant and carefully consider what kind of result you would like to get.
  • Remove yellowed or damaged twigs and leaves.
  • Prepare tools. You will need a sharp knife, blade, in extreme cases, pruners or scissors. You can disinfect the instrument with alcohol by wiping their working surface. Another way: ignite over a flame or boil in water for 10-15 minutes. For pinching, wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Cut off all the stems, leaving the most healthy and beautiful. It is necessary to remove the lower side shoots from it.
  • A stem that is too tall must be shortened by removing part of the top. Lateral buds will grow and the geranium will turn into a small tree on the trunk (or a ball on a stick).
  • Pelargonium stems that are too long or crooked can be cut off, leaving stumps up to ten centimeters. In a few weeks, fluffy bushes will appear in the pot instead.
  • Pay attention to the direction of growth of the kidney. It should tend to grow in the opposite direction from the main stem.
  • Treat the sections with a disinfectant (ash, coal, cinnamon, alcohol solution).

Geranium crown formation (video)

Spring pruning and pinching perform an important agrotechnical function - they stimulate the formation of new buds, branches and inflorescences.

It is important to remember: after spring pruning and / or pinching, geraniums will bloom later.

The explanation for this is simple, the flower needs time to recuperate. Therefore, you need to decide what you want to achieve: early flowering or its splendor and longevity. Given that pinching is a more gentle procedure than pruning, then in the spring you can stop at the first option. It is necessary to pinch young shoots not only in spring, but also as the plant grows.

Geranium needs constant monitoring of the grower for the growth of shoots and the removal of unnecessary sprouts

Without urgent need, pruning in the spring can be omitted. You can only cut up to 20% of all shoots. Large thinning can significantly shift the timing of flowering. Also, the plant can spend all its energy on recovering from stress and not bloom at all this season.

Care after work: table

Geraniums that have undergone spring pinching or pruning need the most favorable conditions.

Conditions for keeping geraniums Required indicators
Temperature Comfortable temperature - above +12 degrees. It can be exposed to fresh air at night temperatures from +4 degrees.
Light mode South side of the house. Geranium loves the sun very much and tolerates direct sunlight well. Doesn't like drafts.
Watering Water in a day or two. You can check the need for watering by the top dried layer of soil.
Air humidity Under no circumstances should the plant be sprayed. For geraniums, this is dangerous.
top dressing Loves nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You have to pay twice a month. You can purchase ready-made fertilizers "For flowering plants." Does not tolerate organic fertilizers (fresh manure).

Pruning: necessary or useless procedure?

Of course, geranium pruning can be omitted. Only now, will a beautiful flowering bush turn out from a plant? Most likely no. Geraniums tend to stretch their stems. The elongated stem is not covered with foliage and does not throw out inflorescences. The plant will grow, but there will be nothing to please the eye. Some flower growers suggest not to suffer with old plants, pruning and pinching them. They consider it the best option to cut the old bush in the fall, discard the root, and root the cuttings and get a young plant.

Geranium without pruning stretches up and becomes naked and ugly

If you save the old faded geranium, then it is important not to forget that pruning is the strongest test for the plant. Therefore, it is better to carry it out with an increase in long daylight hours, that is, at the end of winter or the beginning of spring. Autumn pruning is worse tolerated by pelargonium and the plant may not have enough strength to recover.

Mistakes when pruning geraniums at home

Pruning geraniums is not such a difficult process. The only thing that must be observed is the timeliness of its implementation. But improper pruning will lead to an unplanned result or the death of the plant.

Geranium pleases the human eye with beautiful flowers and a peculiar aroma. Every grower can create a well-groomed pelargonium bush. To do this, it is enough to prune the plant in time and provide it with proper care. Lushly blooming geraniums need to be fed with potassium. This is where all the secrets of creating a spherical crown or a fluffy geranium bush end. Have a nice sight for your eyes.

Incorrect pruning of geraniums has become one of the reasons for the decrease in the popularity of this flower. Of course, a plant with a crooked bare stem and a bunch of leaves looks unattractive. With a little work with scissors, you can turn it into a lush bush with a shock of bright inflorescences.

Pruning home geraniums: basic rules

There are several hundred species of this plant, including about 40 in Russia, most of which are perennial. It is they who require regular pruning, the main task of which is to form a crown. This should be started when the plant is still small and its stems have not stretched upwards. When the top is cut, side shoots and flower stalks grow on the main trunk. As a result, the bush grows in breadth and acquires volume.

Thanks to pruning, geraniums bloom for a long time

You need to understand that the shape of different varieties of geraniums may differ. There are varieties of high or squat, this cannot be changed and is not necessary. You can correct the outlines of the bush, remove the stems directed inward. It is important to use a tool disinfected in alcohol or boiling water for work, sprinkle the cut with crushed coal.

To enhance the growth of new shoots, after pruning, the plant must be fed with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer.

In addition to forming a bush, pruning is necessary for geraniums for lush flowering and improved ventilation. If the plant is well thinned, the likelihood of infection with fungal diseases will decrease. Do not rush to throw away the cut stems. They are useful for flower propagation.

When to prune geraniums at home

In our climatic conditions, geranium is grown in houses and greenhouses. The period of its growth and flowering lasts all year round with a short period of winter dormancy, and therefore pruning has to be done in several stages. Each of them has its own characteristics and purpose.

  • Pruning geraniums in winter. It is performed after the plant has faded, from September to December. It is necessary to remove all faded inflorescences, yellowed leaves. It is necessary to shorten the main one by at least a third and thin out the stems that have grown over the summer. At this time, the main task of the grower is to prepare geraniums for winter, provide rest and let them gain strength before the next season.
  • Spring pruning. The time of the event is February and the beginning of March. This procedure is needed to correct the shape and get a lot of shoots and flowers in the summer. You don't have to be too zealous. After pruning, the plant will need time to recover, because flowering will be slightly delayed, but the flowers will be larger.

Pelargonium attracts domestic flower growers with its unpretentiousness and lush long flowering. But in order for indoor geranium to grow well at home, it must be cut regularly. Correct and effective pruning of geraniums is the topic of today's article.

How much pruning of geraniums is necessary for a gardener? What to do so that it blooms for a long time and profusely? These questions are asked by many flower growers. It is precisely because we do not know what care for geraniums should be at home that we are haunted by failures in growing this crop. If you do not pinch the plant in a timely manner, you will not be able to achieve abundant flowering and a fluffy bush form. As a result, the plant is stretched and loses its decorative qualities and density.

When and how to prune

So, it is necessary to trim the pelargonium. In addition, it is important to do it according to the rules. If you know how to properly prune geraniums, and put this knowledge into practice, you can form an attractive plant that will please the eye for a long time.

Pelargonium pruning is designed to achieve several goals: firstly, to maximize the development of strong side branches to form a bush; secondly, control the height of the plant.

If you have a perennial plant, you need to pinch such a geranium twice a year - in the autumn and spring seasons.

Before you prune your geranium, take a close look at your plant: it may be in the form of a bush or a single main stem. Depending on this, we will act, because it is necessary to form pelargonium only taking into account the characteristics of its genetics.

When choosing where to cut, keep in mind that new shoots will develop from dormant buds, so try not to leave long gaps between nodes at the top of the plant. You need to cut the culture with a sharp instrument that has undergone a disinfection procedure. If you decide not to cut, but pinch the geranium, do it with well-washed hands.

All sections and places of pinching are carefully rubbed with crushed wood or activated charcoal. If in a heavily overgrown bush you find shoots directed inward, they must be removed immediately. Thanks to this, you will free up additional internal space, improve the flow of air to the stem, and therefore reduce the risk of fungus development.

After pruning the geranium, be sure to feed the plant with any nutrient mixture with nitrogen. Thanks to this element, the culture will be able to actively grow foliage.

spring

After a long winter, it is imperative to carry out shaping pruning to achieve the desired shape. The spring procedure activates the internal forces of the plant, giving it the opportunity to form additional flower stalks. You can start the process even in winter - at the end of February, or already in early March.

If your geranium is already several years old and has reached an impressive size, pruning for lush flowering should not be overly intense, otherwise the plant will grow green for a long time, and the onset of flowering will be pushed back in time. As a rule, it is enough to remove yellow, damaged or diseased shoots and leaves from geraniums. In the process, try to ensure that there are at least 2 buds on each shoot left.

autumn

Autumn pruning is carried out only when the plant has faded. Some ask: is it possible to prune flowering pelargonium or not? Answer: no. By doing this, you can cause irreparable harm to the plant. Pruning room geraniums in the fall primarily consists in removing spent flower stalks and dried leaves. When this stage is completed, inspect the primary formed bush, and decide if something else can be removed.

Hint: to make your geranium grow better in summer, don't let it bloom in winter - any new buds that appeared the previous winter should be removed immediately. In order for it to bloom, geraniums must fully rest before the new season.

Another common question: when to prune indoor geraniums for the winter? Do it in advance, and not with its onset. So, you should refrain from the procedure in the winter months, since now the plant is in a state of suspended animation, and you can not touch it.

Formation for lush flowering

Geraniums are characterized by intensive development of shoots, so home care prescribes the pruning procedure with enviable regularity. Do not forget to inspect the plant from time to time during the winter months, and cut off the growing fifth points on the shoots.

Pelargonium should not be injured during flowering - shoots cut off during this period are unlikely to be useful for reproduction, and the plant itself will hardly heal cuts. It is better to form the crown of the bush after flowering, so as not to risk the health of your favorite flower.

When starting to clean the bush, never use scissors - they damage the tissue around the cut, and the geranium will hurt for a long time. Remember: only young sprouts of pelargonium are able to delight you with flowers, so get rid of extra branches without regrets.

Due to the unpretentiousness of the culture, it is necessary to take care of it after pruning in the most usual way: loosen the ground and periodically feed it.

Video "Autumn pruning of geraniums"

From this video you will learn how to prune geraniums in the autumn.

Bright geranium, decorating the home with its lush flowering for a long time, is considered an unpretentious flower. But, despite the undemanding to soil, temperature and watering, pruning geraniums for lush flowering is of great importance. Neglect of this component of care can lead to a reduction in the number of inflorescences in a very short time, and subsequently to a complete loss of decorativeness.

The species diversity of geraniums is represented by dwarf, ampelous forms or tall ones, for example, the royal geranium, which is popular in indoor floriculture. Each species requires care with its own nuances. But at the same time, the basic pruning rule applies to all forms and varieties without exception: the length and growth of the shoots should be constantly monitored, and pruning should be carried out systematically.

The regularity of the procedure will ensure:

  • branching and the release of new peduncles;
  • compact plant shape;
  • splendor, duration and stability of flowering;
  • obtaining high-quality cuttings for breeding.

Important! A specific characteristic of geraniums is the inability of the plant to produce side shoots without human intervention in the presence of dormant buds in each internode. Pruning stimulates the awakening of the buds, which form a new shoot with the laying of a flower bud.

Technique for lush flowering

The splendor of flowering and the general condition of the flower depend on how well the pruning is done.

For this:

  • The cut is made above the internode of the leaf, which is directed to the outer side of the bush, in order to prevent severe neglect and prevent the growth of new shoots.
  • The cut sites are treated with an antiseptic agent in the form of activated or charcoal to prevent the possibility of infection of the plant by harmful organisms.
  • After the procedure, the plant is fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which speeds up the process of growing green mass.

Advice! At home, as a disinfectant, you can use a natural antiseptic - cinnamon.

Required Tools

To carry out high-quality pruning, you will need a sharp, disinfected tool:

  1. The blade is the most suitable toolkit.
  2. Stationery or kitchen knife with a thin blade - such tools are used in the absence of the first.

Advice! It is worth refusing to use scissors: they squeeze the stem, breaking the tissue structure at the cut point.

Types of flower pruning

There are three methods for pruning geraniums, depending on the purpose of the procedure:

  • The main one - pruning is carried out to form a beautiful bush and get violent flowering.
  • Pinching - the procedure is carried out as needed.
  • Autumn or spring - pruning is sanitary in nature.

Geraniums can be very stretched in winter: a lack of lighting in winter can cause a strong stretching of the stem, which negatively affects flowering and general decorativeness. However, until the end of winter, you should wait with the shortening of the shoots. The earliest time when you can cut the shoot to ⅔ of the length is the last decade of February.

Advice! To prevent stretching of the central shoot during the dormant period, it is worth providing additional artificial lighting with a fluorescent lamp.

How to prune geraniums in autumn, spring?

After the completion of the phase of the release of peduncles with the gradual withering of existing inflorescences, the time comes for autumn pruning, the purpose of which is not only to form a bush, but also to improve the health of the whole plant.

For this:

  1. Withered inflorescences, dried or injured shoots are removed, which weaken the plant, preventing new branches from developing.
  2. Then, shoots that are elongated, weakened and left without leaves are cut off by ⅓, which reduce the decorative qualities of the flower.

Pruning of geraniums in autumn can be carried out until December, after which the flower is left alone: ​​during the period with a short daylight hours, the culture is most vulnerable, and any external influence is stressful for it.

With the advent of spring, geraniums are not pruned as dramatically as during the procedure in the autumn. Only weakened and strongly elongated shoots are shortened so that at least two buds remain on them.

Advice! Spring pruning should not be delayed too much, since the beginning of the flowering phase depends on how early it is carried out.

Pinching a plant

Forming geraniums from the beginning of development by pinching shows excellent results, the main of which is to create a beautiful bush with minimal intervention.

The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. 2-3 weeks after transplanting a new plant, the apical bud is pinched.
  2. As the side shoots are pulled out - after the formation of the fourth leaf - the next pinching is carried out.
  3. After the plant acquires the desired shape or bushiness, pinching stops.

Attention! The procedure delays the onset of flowering due to the consumption of nutrients for the restoration and formation of new shoots.

How is the crown of a plant formed?

It is required to start crown formation almost immediately after planting a new plant. The main manipulations for obtaining a beautiful bush with high decorative qualities are pruning, carried out in autumn and spring, as well as pinching, which can only be done in spring.

To properly form a geranium bush, you should adhere to the following rules:

  • All actions with a flower are carried out exclusively with processed tools and well-washed hands.
  • First, shoots are cut or pinched, the growth of which is directed inside the bush: this will avoid thickening.
  • In the case of a large interval between leaf pairs, the stem incision is made immediately above the leaves with a maximum indent of 5 mm.
  • Then, injured or diseased shoots are cut off, capturing 5 cm of the healthy part.

How to cut a geranium to get a standard plant?

Before pruning geraniums and forming a miniature standard tree from a flower:

  • A stem is selected that will act as a trunk.
  • A strong support is installed next to the future stem.
  • All excess side shoots are removed from the bush.
  • The left stem is tied to a support in several areas.

Then, until the left shoot reaches the level of the support and does not exceed it a little, pruning is not required for the future trunk. When the required height is reached, pinching is carried out, which stimulates the branching of the stem. Of the newly appeared shoots, a maximum of 7 pieces are left, which allows you to form a luxurious, even crown of a standard geranium tree.

As in the case of bush forms of culture, pinching of the skeletal branches of the crown is carried out after the appearance of every fourth leaf. Such actions after a short period of time make it possible to obtain an extraordinary decoration of an apartment or office interior. However, due to the intensity of pruning that the standard plant undergoes, the first inflorescences will please the grower a year later - after the formation of a full-fledged crown. In order for flowering to be plentiful, it is worth stopping pruning and pinching 2-3 months before the onset of the phase: this will allow the plant to perform the function of laying flower buds.

Advice! Due to the fragility of geranium stems, the issue of tying the selected trunk to a reliable support must be treated very responsibly and with great care. The support should be chosen so that it can easily withstand the weight of not only the trunk, but also the growing green mass, which plays the role of a crown.

So, geranium, also known as pelargonium, is a favorite of many flower growers due to its ability to delight the eye with lush flowering almost all year round. At the same time, caring for geraniums does not present any particular difficulties. If you follow the simple rules of pruning and pinching, you can get a luxurious bush with a high decorative effect, which after such procedures will bloom even more abundantly.

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