Geraniums are among the most popular house plants thanks to their colorful flowers. Their large brackets of flowering petals brighten homes and landscapes across the country. As classic plants, you can grow them in hanging baskets, containers, and flowerbeds. so, when do geranium flowers bloom?
In this post, we discuss when geranium flowers bloom, the reasons your geraniums are not blooming, and more.
When Do Geraniums Bloom?
The flowers are long-lasting and come in different shades of white, red, orange, and white. Beautiful and fragrant, many people grow geraniums in their gardens because of their gorgeous scent and flowers. Even when you plant them in hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers, they will put a dazzling show of floral colors.
There are two main types of geraniums. One is the true geranium. Often called cranesbill or hardy geraniums, they bloom 5 petaled flowers shaped like a bowl. Full winter hardy and resistant to pests, the true geranium blooms consistently in an array of colors.
As a welcome sight to bees, and other pollinators, it can produce a steady supply of bloom especially if you keep them looking good. True geraniums are so lovely.
In fact, one variety of true geraniums, the Rozanne, was named the Perennial Plant of the Year. This long-blooming variety produces blue to purple flowers and blooms in spring until fall. If you keep the plants above 45 to 50 degrees, they can bloom in winter to early spring.
The other type of geranium is the pelargoniums. Native to South Africa, they first found their way to France in the late 1700s before reaching the Americas. Unlike the true geraniums, the pelargoniums are only hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11.
Though they can thrive in warm climates, they are usually grown as annuals. You can grow them in containers and pots indoors. This type of geranium can live for many years as long as it never gets too cold.
The wild geranium grows in USDA zones 3 to 8 blooms between April and May, while the bloody geranium blooms between May and June.
Why Won’t My Geraniums Bloom?
There are several reasons why your geraniums won’t bloom. One of the reasons is overwatering. Geraniums thrive well in moist soil but if you overwater the plants, it can cause the stem or roots to rot. This reduces flowering and causes the plant to die.
To ensure your geraniums bloom, we recommend that you water them once a week. In summer, you can slightly increase your watering frequency. This is true especially if watering geraniums in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets. This is because the plants dry out very quickly.
Another reason is inadequate sunlight. Geraniums grown outdoors will bloom and produce more flowers if the plants receive at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. In warmer climates, it’s recommended to place or grow your geraniums in a spot with morning sun and some afternoon shade.
In cooler climates, grow your geraniums in a spot that receives all-day sunlight. Remember, too much afternoon sun can scorch your plants. This reduces flowering. If growing geraniums indoors, find a spot that receives at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight each day.
Location is another reason. The majority of gardeners grow their geraniums with other deer-resistant plants to ward off deer. However, if they plant them behind much taller perennial plants, then the geraniums will not receive sunlight.
As earlier said, geraniums need at least 6 hours of sunlight. To ensure your geraniums thrive and bloom, plant them in a spot where tall plants do not block the sunlight, especially the morning sun.
Geraniums bloom best between 21 to 29 degrees C (70 to 85 degrees F). So, if you expose your geraniums to hot summer temperatures, the bloom time will shorten. This is true especially if the plants are outdoors in full sun.
Cool-weather also delays blooming. In fact, you’ve to wait for several weeks until the weather warms up for blooming to start. With indoor geraniums, they can bloom all year round. However, do not place them close to air conditioners and heaters.
How Do You Keep Geraniums Blooming?
Regular deadheading is an excellent way of keeping your geranium blooming. Basically, when the flowers start to show signs of wilting, pinch them off and remove them. This is critical as the plant spends lots of nutrients and energy to maintain wilting flowers. Once you remove the dying flowers, the plant will divert all that energy to new flowers.
Next, give your geraniums plenty of space and soil. This means avoiding small or shallow containers if planting them indoors. Not only do plants run out of soil space and nutrients, but small or shallow containers overheat quickly during summer.
In the process, the plants dry out quickly. To ensure geraniums keep blooming, use planter boxes with at least 8 inches in depth. The more space and room available for soil, the better your geraniums will thrive.
Geraniums are not massive feeders. But you need to feed them every two weeks with an all-purpose organic fertilizer or compost. In addition, mulch your plants with compost. This will allow the nutrients to leach slowly into the roots.
Proper watering is another way of keeping your geranium blooming. It’s common for geraniums to suffer from overwatering. This is true if grown in hanging baskets, containers, and pots.
When planting in containers, make sure they have adequate drainage. So check the bottom of the containers for drain holes. If the container only has one drain hole, consider adding more. This will allow excess water to escape.