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Geraniums

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ANNUAL GERANIUMS
HUMBER NURSERIES "GREEN THUMBS GUIDES"

GERANIUMS FOR HOUSE AND GARDEN

The botanical name for annual geraniums is pelargonium. These are tender perennial plants native to South Africa and the Middle East. They have been cultivated in Europe and North America as garden and house plants for over 300 years.

ZONAL GERANIUMS

Pelargonium hortorum. The word zonal refers to the dark horseshoe-shaped zone on the foliage, which is very apparent in some varieties and less so in others. They are highly popular as summer bedding plants and provide continuous flower colour for a very long season.

GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR GERANIUMS

Geraniums do not wilt easily and can tolerate drier conditions more than most plants. If not watered adequately however, premature yellowing of leaves may result. Hanging baskets and planters in full sun may need water daily. Yellowing of older leaves is to be expected and these should be picked of. Spent flowers should be removed by snapping off the complete flower stem at its base.

FERTILIZING

Your geranium will produce better flower and foliage colour when fertilized regularly. A weekly application of fertilizer for flowering plants such as 15-30-15 will stimulate growth and bloom all summer, particularly when the plants are in hanging baskets or containers.

DESIGNER SERIES Vigorous & large, blooms all season long	OTHER ZONAL TYPES	"MOTHER" GERANIUMS
Hot Coral Grape Hot Pink Pink Parfait Purple Rose Dark Rose Red Rose Salmon Violet White Whitefire	Diablo - Red Samba - Red Blues - Hot Pink Majic - Purple Kardino - Purple Noblesse - Peach/Orange Schone Helena - Salmon Pink Tango Lavender - Lavender Tango Orange - Orange Tango Pink - Pink Tango White - White Summer Idols - Salmon Pink	A term used for large geraniums that have been grown in a quarantine environment in which cuttings have been taken and now are for sale. Most times available. Humber also plants up Zonal Geraniums “ Designer Series” in hanging baskets for instant colour and show.

IVY LEAVED GERANIUMS

Pelargonium peltatum. The leaf shape is not unlike true ivy, and all are low growing plants very suitable for use in hanging baskets, window boxes and containers. The profusion of bloom of these varieties makes it an almost impossible task to ‘dead-head’ spent blooms. Fortunately this is not needed and ivy leaved geraniums will continue to perform at their best all summer. There may be short rest periods after which they resume vigorous flowering.

FAVOURITE IVY LEAVED GERANIUM VARIETIES

NAME and COLOUR	NAME and COLOUR
ACAPULCO COMPACTA Purple	MINI-LILAC CASCADE Single lilac
BRIGHT CASCADE Rose	SALMON QUEEN Semi-double pink
LILA COMPACTA Purple	SOFIE Pink/Rose
LUNA White	SUMMER ROSE LILAC Pink/Rose
MINI-PINK CASCADE Single bright pink	SYBILL HOMES Double pink rose bud
MINI-RED CASCADE Single bright red

SCENTED GERANIUMS

Pelargonium species and hybrids. It is difficult to make classifications among Scented Geraniums, but seven fragrance categories are suggested. Rose, Mint, Lemon, Fruit, Nut, Spice and Pungent. The fragrant volatile oils can be released by touching, brushing or misting the foliage. Time of day, season of year, temperature, humidity and the subjective interpretation of each individual has an effect on the sensation of fragrance. A heavenly rose fragrance to you might be 'dishwashing liquid' to someone else. They are thrifty plants that need little care and all make easy houseplants. The many varieties of leaf shape and texture add even more interest. Recommended for improving the quality of air in the home.

FAVOURITE SCENTED GERANIUM VARIETIES

NAME AND SCENT	NAME AND SCENT
ALMOND Nutty	OAK Pungent lobed leaves
ATTAR OF ROSE Lemon-rose	ROUNDLEAF ROSE Old-fashion rose-mint
CITRONELLA Lemon (Insecticidal)	SNOWFLAKE Rose, leaves flecked white
COCONUT Coconut (trailing)	LADY PLYMOUTH Light rose, white bordered leaves
CITROSA Lemon (insecticidal)	PEPPERMINT Strong mint, silvery leaves
FRENCH LACE Lemon, crinkled variegated leaves	VARIEGATED NUTMEG Nut scented
GODFREY'S PRIDE Sweet mint scent	VARIEGATED MINT-ROSE Rose-mint, cream edged foliage

Anyone interested in pursuing the study of geraniums should contact:
Geranium & Pelargonium Society of Ontario,
115 Coady Ave.
Toronto, Ontario M3M 2Y9

FANCY LEAVED GERANIUMS

Pelargonium hortorum. In these zonal geraniums the zone is not just a darker horseshoe area on the leaf, but often more than one zone or band of colour. Some are marked with a 'butterfly' of another colour and many shades of green, brown, bronze, pink, cream, white, gold or silver are all possible in many combinations. Geranium 'Madame Salleron' with white-edged green leaves, is an exception since it rarely or never flowers. All other Fancy Leaved Geraniums have good flowers. Not only good flowers, but in such shades as to perfectly compliment the foliage colour.

FAVOURITE FANCY LEAVED GERANIUM VARIETIES

NAME AND COLOUR	NAME AND COLOUR
DOLCE VITA Blush	MME. WILHELM LANGUTH Green, white edge – red flower
HAPPY THOUGHTS Green Variegated - red flower	SKIES OF ITALY Gold-green, orange - red flower
HAPPY VIOLET Violet	TRICOLOUR Red
MADAME SALLERON Green edged white - no flower	TRUDI Soft rose-pink flower

NOVELTY GERANIUMS

Collecting geraniums can become an absorbing life-long hobby. Some geranium types other than those already mentioned are:
Bi-colour, Birds Egg, Cactus Flowered, Carnation Flowered, New Life, Painted Lady, Phlox, Rosebud, Stellar, Fingered, Tulip-flowered and a complete series of miniatures and dwarfs.

Anyone interested in pursuing the study of geraniums should contact:

The International Geranium Society
4610 Druid Street, Los Angeles
California, CA 90032

REGAL OR MARTHA WASHINGTON GERANIUMS

Pelargonium domesticum. The large Azalea-like blooms are of outstanding beauty. Cool nights are needed to set flower buds. Grown as a greenhouse crop in cold conditions and sold in full bloom in spring. Sometimes disappointing in flower performance in exceptionally hot summers.

STORING YOUR GERANIUMS OVER WINTER

The old method of hanging up geranium plants in the basement might have been successful in old cool damp basements. In our modern well insulated and heated homes, this technique results in dead geraniums. To over-winter in a basement or cool room, each plant should be cut back by half and the roots sealed in a plastic bag containing barely moist peat moss. It's easier to keep only one or a few 'mother' plants. Rescue them from the garden before frost, cut the tops back by half and trim the roots as needed to fit into a pot. Kept in a sunny window and with normal watering and fertilizing, each plant can provide 'cuttings' which can be rooted in small individual pots. As these plant grow, they in turn can provide even more cuttings. The difficulty, of course, is in finding enough space where heat and light are sufficient.