Gardening and Landscaping

Geranium Plant Pink – A Comprehensive Guide to Growing

Pink geraniums are a gardener’s favourite as they bloom beautifully and are easy to take care of. Besides, these ornamental plants can be grown in any type of garden and add vibrancy to them regardless of the season. Read on to know more about pink geraniums – what varieties to choose, how to plant them and how to care for them throughout the plant life cycle.

 

Understanding Pink Geraniums: A Brief Overview

Geraniums with pink blossoms, along with other members of the Pelargonium genus, are noted for their cheerful, flowery display and fragrant foliage. Such plants are natives of South Africa, where they have wide natural ranges, and have been widely cultivated since antiquity for container gardening, both indoors and out, by persons all over the world. Preview image courtesy State Library of Melbourne (Australia).

Beware, the word ‘geranium’ sometimes applies to species that are actually found within the Pelargonium genus; true geraniums are plants of the Geranium genus that are sometimes known as ‘cranesbills’. Nonetheless, all geranium-like plants mentioned in this book are members of the Pelargonium genus, the botanical name for the flowers with which we tend to think of when we think of gardening ‘geraniums’.

This may be because pink geraniums come in a wide array of shades, ranging from barely blushed pinks to ripe, juicy magentas that look almost as good when dried as they do when fresh. Today’s gardeners can choose the exact shade they require to complement their landscape, or even their indoor décor.

Choosing the Right Variety of Pink Geraniums

A1. Pink geraniums are available in three varieties: lemon, rose and lilac. Every variety has different properties. Knowing your options will help you select the variety that best fits your gardening needs.

Zonal Geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum)

The most common is the zonal, which is easily identified by the dark circular zones or blotches on their leaves. It has an upright, bushy nature and grows well in garden beds, borders and containers. It flower profusely and comes in several shades of pink from pinkish blush to heat-seeking neon and almost everything in between.

Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum)

They have a trailing habit, and so are well suited to hanging baskets and window boxes. Adding to their appeal, their leaves are dark green, glossy and ivy-like. Pink ivy geraniums boast tiny blooms that flutter downward from their baskets, often accompanied by graceful trailing stems.

Regal Geraniums (Pelargonium x domesticum)

Geraniums are sometimes called regal geraniums or Martha Washington geraniums, in reference to their larger flowers and ruffled petals. Regal geraniums grow best in cooler climates and boast the most in-your-face pink blooms. They look lovely in patios and in indoor settings and are a perfect dose of sophistication in the flower kingdom.

Scented Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)

Although scented geraniums are valued for their fragrant leaves as well as their flowers, the blooms themselves tend to be small and unshowy. In fact, if the leaves weren’t aromatic, these plants might seem rather ordinary. But with leaves scented like rose or lemon, or mint or spice, they are delightful additions to any garden with a scented leaf or two. Pink flowered scented geraniums.

Planting Pink Geraniums: Tips for Success

Once you’ve decided what pink geraniums to grow, it’s time to get planting. There is general advice that applies to most plants, but there is also key advice that relates to the largest and oldest members of the family Pelargonium.

Selecting the Right Location

Geraniums will do best in a sunny location. Provide at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. In hot climates, some afternoon shade prevents the flowers from wilting. In all planting conditions, be sure the location has good air circulation to help prevent fungal disease.

Preparing the Soil

Geraniums, like many plants, need well-drained soil. Good drainage and slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) will work. Also, when planting in the ground, add an amendment of organic matter (compost) for improving fertility and drainage of the soil. For container planting, a high quality potting mix ensures maximum drainage is made available to the roots of the plant.

Planting Geraniums

With geraniums, space between plants should be a minimum of 8 to 12 inches to ensure proper air movement and space for growth. For container planting, use pots with drainage holes instead of planting in solid porcelain or other nonporous pots; this will help prevent water from stagnating at the plants’ roots. Plant your geraniums at the same depth they were growing at in their previous pots, and then give them a thorough watering after planting, which will help to settle in the soil around the roots.

Caring for Pink Geraniums: Essential Maintenance Tips

Here are the important care tips to consider, if you wish to keep your pink geraniums positve and strong throughout the growing season.

Watering

Geraniums like moderate watering. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, making sure that the top inch of soil dries out before you water again, so as to prevent root rot. In hot, dry weather, you may need to water more frequently, especially if you are growing geraniums in containers. Make sure you do not get the foliage wet, since it will encourage fungal disease on the foliage.

Fertilizing

Feed occasionally. Give a balanced, water-soluble fert six weeks in the growing season. This will encourage vigorous growth and prolific blooming. Choose a fertiliser with numbers that have the same ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in each number (eg, 10-10-10) for a general purpose fertiliser or choose a fertiliser with a slightly higher proportion of phosphorus (eg, 10-20-10) for better or stronger blooms

Deadheading and Pruning

To ensure your geraniums keep their blooms coming, deadhead regularly by pinching spent flowers just below the last set of leaves. This prevents the plant from trying to set seed and concentrates its energy on flower production. Pinching errant growth back at the stem, you can keep geraniums to size or shape, even removing leggy or wildly growing stems. In summer, you may wish to prune even more drastically to provoke the plant onto a new growth surge, or give it a bit of a rejuvenating prune midway through the season to stimulate new growth. In late summer, you can prune back the main stems almost to the soil line in the hopes that it will sprout new growth for a second flush of flowers in the fall.

Pest and Disease Management

Geraniums are generally tough plants but they can suffer from pests and diseases from time to time. Common pests are aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil for prevention. Spray tops and undersides of the leaves.

Powdery mildew and rust fungus can be a problem. Humidity can increase your risk of attack, so ensure plants have plenty of air circulation, don’t water from above, and remove affected leaves straight away.

 

If you live in a cooler climate, geraniums are grown as annuals, but can be overwintered indoors if cared for properly. The best way to bring your geraniums indoors is to dig them up prior to the first frost and pot them in containers filled with peaty, well-draining potting soil, then place them in a sunny window and cut back on the watering to mimic their periodic dormant phase of growth. You could also save these plants from the cold by digging up and bare rooting the plants, storing them in a cool, dry location such as a basement, and replanting them in the spring.

Creative Uses of Pink Geraniums in Garden Design

Pink geraniums can vary widely in form and are especially useful plants in a mixed garden. Here are some ideas for using them creatively in your landscape:

Border Planting

Zonal geraniums, in contrast, are great for use at the border of a flowerbed as they produce a bright, colourful edge. An upright growth habit, coupled with their many blossoms, and the stems that can range in size from one foot to over three feet depending on the variety, provides for a clean, attractive border that continues throughout the summer.

Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes

For covering up vertical spaces with colour, you can’t beat ivy geraniums. With their trailing, cascading habit, they will spill out of hanging baskets and window boxes, and create a deluxe, floral waterfall, drawing the eye into the planting.

Companion Planting

If you plant them with flowers in other colours, the contrast created can be extraordinary. Pink geraniums, for instance, look spectacular when mingled with purple petunias or blue lobelia or white alyssum. Nothing could be more pleasing than the effect of such a garden palette.

Indoor Container Gardening

Finally, regal and scented geraniums are also ideal indoor potted plants. Keep them in a decorative pot on a window side so they can catch the full sunlight of the day, their fragrant leaves and colourful flowers brightening up your home.

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