Geraniums For The Porch

This geranium is a few years old and I have 3 or 4 more that are as old or older than it. The geraniums are wintered over in our sun room and get as big as bushes and threaten to take over the sun room unless I prune them severely. The geraniums like our sun room so much they bloom frequently throughout the fall, winter and early spring. "Geraniums are one of the most reliable plants in the home garden." U of R.I. Green Share Fact Sheet Today was rainy and our false spring weather has given way to the true winter it is and indoor endeavors were the order of the day. I needed to top dress my many years old African Violets. They are blooming, or budding again,but their woody stems are wobbling and threaten to leave their pots in search of better soil. So I gave them a generous top dressing of African Violet potting soil. Since I had all the messy planting necessities spread out on the table I decided to propagate new geranium plants. It is very, very easy and can save a fair bit of money for your late spring and summer porch flower plantings.The slips are potted and I will place them in the sun room until late spring when all danger of frost has passed. "Additional plants can be started from stem cuttings, or 'slips'. Remove cuttings, 3 to 4 inches in length,from the tip of the stems. Shorter cuttings can be taken if necessary. Strip off the lower leaves to facilitate sticking the cuttings in root medium....place cuttings 1 inch deep in planting medium ( perlite or perlite / sand, perlite / soil mix) and water thoroughly. Place container in a north or east window until rooted. Rooting occurs best with soil temps. of 72 to 75 degrees F. This generally takes 3 to 4 weeks. Water sparingly during this rooting period---the trick to successful rooting is to keep the cuttings fairly dry." Univ. of R.I. Fact Sheet I went ahead and planted my geraniums directly into the pots I will add to my flower baskets for our front porch, and if I am pleased with the plants they too will winter in our sun room with their parent plants.A plant family reunion!

Here is a picture of my porch in late spring with some of my old geraniums gracing the steps to the front door. "Every flower must grow through dirt." AU

Blessings: blooms inside while threat of snow reigns outside, faithful plants, geraniums and African Violets