Geraniums Galore: The Ultimate Container Garden Plant

From city fire escapes to country porches, geraniums (pelargoniums) reign as container royalty. Their blooms — red, scarlet, rose, pink, white — appear with abandon few plants match. They thrive in sun, tolerate shade as foliage plants, but despise soggy soil and high nitrogen, which yields lush leaves at the expense of flowers.

Types to Explore

• Zonal: Dark leaf markings; doubles dominate spring markets.
• Variegated: Brilliantly patterned leaves add color even out of bloom.
• Ivy-leaved: Trailing, profuse bloomers; love warm days, cool nights (ideal for California).
• Lady Washington (Regal): Large, showy flowers; need cool nights, shelter from wind and harsh sun.
• Scented-leaved, cactus, climbing: Unique forms for collectors.

Container Culture Essentials

• Soil: Well-draining mix; avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. A 5-10-5 fertilizer with bone meal works well.
• Water: Water when surface feels dry; soak thoroughly, then wait. Yellow leaves = too wet; wilting = too dry.
• Maintenance: Rotate pots for even growth; deadhead faded blooms; remove rain-damaged center florets.

Propagation from Cuttings

1. Take 2–4 inch cuttings in August/early September from mature, snap-able stems.
2. Air-dry cuttings a few hours; strip lower leaves and stem "wings."
3. Dip ends in hydrated lime; root in pure sand or sand/peat mix (rooting hormone rarely needed).
4. Once 1-inch roots form, pot up in 3:1 sandy loam:peat moss with bone meal.
5. Pinch young plants at 3–4 inches for bushiness; feed with high-phosphorus fertilizer (5-10-5).

Overwintering

Store in cool, dark cellar (less light = cooler temps to prevent leggy growth). Or hang bare-root plants upside down in a frost-free shed — they'll revive spectacularly in spring.

With minimal care, geraniums deliver months of color and endless variety for every container garden.