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Geranium There are around three hundred species within the the genus. Leaves are five to eleven lobed and vary in size, some leaves are lobed. Leaves can be hairy, toothed or rounded. Flowers range in size from tiny to large. Tiny flowers are delicate. Flower shapes can be flat or cup and they are borne singly or in loose or dense cymes. A few species have double flowers. Genus: Geranium Family: Geraniaceae Species: Hortorum Common Names: Cranesbill. Classification: Half hardy annual. Height: 30cm (15inch). Flowering: From June to October. Geraniums are a must have gardening plant and are a favourite of many gardeners. Where: Ideal for borders and as general bedding plants. Geraniums are great in patio pots and tubs. Site: Geranium grow well in full sun and will tolerate partial shade. Soil: Any light free draining soil. Sowing Time: - Indoors January to March.
*USE ONLY CLEAN EQUIPMENT *(BY DOING THIS IT WILL INCREASE YOUR PROPAGATION SUCESS RATE) Plug pots (preferred, 7.5cm (3inch) plant pots, full or half size seed tray/s, (plus inserts - if you are using them), (depending on how many seeds you are sowing). A thermostatically controlled propagator would be ideal, but it is not essential. You can make do without one. Clear seed tray cover, cling film, glass (with ground edges - to prevent cut fingers - size depends on tray or pot you are using) or rigid plastic (with filed edges - to prevent cut fingers - size depending on tray or pot you are using). Plant Label and indelible pencil or pen.
AS WITH ANY TOOLS - CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THEIR USE - BE SAFE! Potting bench or potting tidy/caddy. Sieve. Tamper. Mist Sprayer.
Any good quality commercially available multi-purpose compost, or seed and cutting compost. A peat free compost is ideal. Now this is the time to decide if you want to sow your seeds in plug pots (preferred), plant pots, trays or inserts. It is also time to calculate how many plug pots (preferred) , plant pots, trays or inserts you will need to sow the number of seeds you are going to sow. You can sow one Geranium seed in each plug pot (preferred). And as a rule of thumb, you can easily sow up to 10 Geranium seeds in a 7.5cm (3 inch) pot. Or up to 30 Geranium seeds in a half size seed tray. Or up to 70 Geranium seeds in a full size seed tray and any combinations in between. Sieve enough compost, on to your potting bench, or potting tidy/caddy, to fill all your plug pots (preferred), plant pots or trays. Don't discard the sieved out lumps and bits. These can be used in the bottom of larger patio pots when planting them up with your own home grown plants. (Save the lumps and bits in an old compost bag until needed). Fill the seed plug pots (preferred), plant pots or tray/s with compost to about 5mm below the rim (this does not need to be exact - about 5mm will do). Lift the plug pot (preferred), plant pot or tray to a height of about 15cm (6 inches) and gently tap it on the bench. Do this about three times. This will settle the compost into the plug pot (preferred), plant pot or tray to about the correct level. The compost should now be about 10mm (1/2 inch) from the top of the plug pot (preferred), plant pot or tray. This does not have to be exact so don't worry if it is a couple of mm higher or lower. It will make no difference to the end result. Take your correct size tamper and gently level the surface of the compost. DON'T push the tamper with any force. All we want to do here is level off the surface of the compost, NOT compact it. *This gives an ideal surface to sow the seed on. *(Doing this correctly will increase your propagation success rate). That's it. You have now successfully filled your first tray or pot with compost. Now Fill the rest of your plug pots (preferred), plant pots or trays in the same way. This is the fun part, sowing the seeds.
Geranium seeds are large enough to handle individually quite easily. You can now sow one Geranium seed on the surface of the compost in the middle of the plug pot (preferred) or if using 7.5cm (3inch) plant pots or trays sow the amount of seeds detailed above. Make sure the seeds are not bunched up in the middle or to the side of the pots or trays. You need to sow them evenly over the surface of the compost. When you have sown all your Geranium seeds all that is needed is to cover them with a very light "dusting" of sieved compost. Just enough to cover the seeds and no more. When you have sown all your seeds don't forget to label them with plant name and date of sowing. Water your plug pots (preferred), plant pots or trays with great care. With your mist sprayer, set at it's finest spray, filled with tepid water and held at about 100mm (4 inch) from the pot or tray, lightly spray the surface of the compost. Don't get to close, or overdo it here, you will disturb the seeds which is exactly what you don't want to do! The idea is to settle the surface of the compost with the fine mist from your sprayer. This prevents the seeds being disturbed. Now fill a container, large enough to put the tray or pot in, with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water! Stand the tray or pot in the container of water and leave it until you see the surface just becoming moist. This usually happens fairly quickly so don't be tempted to go off and do something else. *Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your seeds may rot and not germinate. *(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success). Cover your trays or pots with glass or clear plastic (or preferably, for ease of use, place in a propagator - unheated will do). Keep your tray or pot in the light, (not direct sunlight) and maintain a temperature of 20C to 22C (68F to 72F). If you used plug pots (preferred) to sow your Geranium seeds in and when your seeds have germinated and are large enough to handle pot them directly in to 7.5cm (3inch) pots. Do not remove the seedling from the plug pot just plant them in the 7.5cm (3inch) pots as they are. This prevents any root disturbance and gives your seedlings the chance of growing on without any disturbance. Ideal! If you used 7.5cm (3inc) plant pots or trays to sow your Geranium seeds in and when they have germinated and are large enough to handle transplant the individually in to 7.5cm (3inch) plant pots. Be very careful handling the seedlings. Do not handle them by their stems as this will cause irreversible damage resulting in the seedling collapsing. Handle the seedlings very gently and only by their leaves. Tease the seedlings roots out with great care ensuring not too many roots are damaged. Time and care taken hear will really pay dividends giving your seedlings the best possible chance of growing on successfully. Plant them in your seed trays about 5cm (2in) apart in a good quality potting compost. A sieved peat based or peat alternative compost will be fine. When you have transplanted all your seedlings don't forget to label them with plant name, sowing date and transplanting date. Water your trays or pots with great care. Fill a container, that is large enough to put your seed tray in, with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water! Stand the tray of seedlings in the container of water and leave it until you see the surface just becoming moist. This usually happens fairly quickly so don't think about going of and doing something else. *Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your seedlings will rot and die. Keep the transplanted seedlings in good light (not direct sunlight) until they are large enough to be hardened off. *(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success) Aftercare Plants should be gradually hardened off by placing them outside, in a sheltered position, during the day. A cold frame with the lid open is ideal for this. If it is very cold during the day close the lid, but watch out for excess condensation. If there is excess condensation prop the cold frame lid open slightly until the condensation disappears. Bring them in at night to avoid severe frosts. When they are ready for planting out, make sure it is after the last frosts. Geraniums will benefit from regular weekly feeds of a good quality liquid fertiliser. Dead head Geraniums weekly, this will ensure a continuous flush of flowers.
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