Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the morning. High 82F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..
Mostly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
With cooler temperatures (hopefully) and the fall season just around the corner, many of us want to start introducing color back into our yards. A popular variety that is now widely available at most garden centers is Geraniums. Annual Geraniums are very popular for their wide range of brilliant, colorful flowers plus their foliage is also very attractive.
The types and varieties of these colorful plants vary widely from cultivars that grow 6 inches high to some that grow to be several feet tall. Geraniums need a bright location with at least a couple of hours of direct sun in order to thrive. These wonderful plants also need to be planted in well-drained soil otherwise the plants will be prone to fungus infection and disease.
After planting your colorful treasures, you will want to water them abundantly the first few days, taking care to be sure they drain between watering. Water regularly thereafter still ensuring the plants drain and the soil to dry out between watering intervals. When you water your plants, try to avoid getting water on the leaves of the plant as this can lead to possible disease problems. Do not plant geraniums where they will receive their water from a sprinkler system.
Geraniums are heavy feeders and if not fertilized properly, their leaves may yellow and drop. There are several options you can use for fertilizer such as a slow release fertilizer or a water-soluble fertilizer. The slow release fertilizer will need less intervention on your part as some products such as Osmocote and Dynamite feed for as long as 6 months. Water-soluble fertilizers such as Miracle Gro provide a more immediate fix but will require more frequent feedings about every 2-3 weeks. The water-soluble feeding solutions are quite safe and there is little chance of burning your plants.
There are a couple of things you can do to prolong how many flowers your plants will produce. Probably the single most important solution is to pinch the spent flowers off the stems on a regular basis. This will ensure a season beautiful color. Pinching also has the advantage of helping to produce well-branched and full plants. A good rule of thumb when choosing your treasures is to pick plants that not only have abundant flowers but that have lots of tight buds also. Look for dark green foliage with not a lot of yellow leaves or yellowing at the tips of the leaves.
Today’s garden tip: If you are growing Crotons in a container inside your home, yellowing, dropping leaves can often be a problem. To avoid or reverse this problem, there are several things that can help. First of all, you should try to keep your plants at a fairly constant temperature. These tropical plants also enjoy a humid, moist climate so misting the plant will help raise the humidity levels around the leaves for optimal growth. Water your plants on a regular basis with tepid water and keep the soil evenly moist. Be sure to provide bright light near a window otherwise the plant may shed leaves if the area is too dark. Also be sure to fertilize once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer. With a little care and TLC, your colorful crotons will thrive for many years to come and will add a delicate tropical fare to your décor.
That’s all for this week’s column and I hope you found the content both interesting and informative. I will see you again next week with more great garden tips and information.
Joe Zelenak has more than 30 years experience in gardening and landscape. Send e-mails to hometowngarden@gmail.com or visit his Web site www.hometowngarden.com.
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