Pelargonium pelargonium: what is it, varieties, methods of reproduction, home and garden care, as well as photos of Pink Rosebud, Mexico Neolithic and other species

Pelargonium is very common in decorative floriculture. But its ampelous varieties were undeservedly not very well known.

They are indispensable in decorating balconies or creating hanging gardens. Although planted out of the blue, ivy pelargonium helps to decorate the site, forming a flowering carpet.

We will talk about the features of growing this type of pelargonium in this article. It will also be useful to watch a useful video on the topic.

What it is?

Pelargonium is ivy, it is also referred to as ivy, thyroid or creeping (Pelargonium peltatum) refers to herbaceous and semi-shrub plants. Florists are very popular as an ampelous shrub with long hanging or creeping shoots. They can reach a meter in length, but there are varieties with lashes and from 30 cm.

It looks like ivy with leaves, which explains the name - “ivy” or “ivy” pelargonium. They are five-lobed, almost leathery, without pubescence, green, sometimes with veins. Peduncles long with flowers of various colors, resembling asterisks.

Flowers are simple and double with a diameter of one and a half to four centimeters. Pelargonium pelargonium native to South Africa, introduced to Europe in the 18th century. Over the past centuries, many varieties of varieties have been bred. This is probably the most decorative indoor plant, which can beautifully hang not only from the flowerpots on the wall, but in the summer and from the balcony.

It can be propagated independently, or you can buy rooted cuttings or bushes ready for planting in flower shops (or via the Internet): on average, the price is from 200 to 300 rubles.

Appearance and features

The ivy pelargonium is an evergreen shrub with smooth leaves and vibrant flowers.. Due to the flexible shoots, a beautiful cascade hangs from a flowerpot or planter.

It has such features:

capable of self-cleaning, dropping dried flowers;
does not have the smell characteristic of plants from the geranium family.

Common varieties

Among the abundance of varieties, the following are considered common:

"Pink Rosebud."
"Pac Mexica Nealit."
"King of the balcony."
"Queen Somon."
"Sibyl Holmes."
"Amethyst".

Varieties of ivy pelargonium vary in color of flowers:

with pink flowers - "Holstein";
with salmon pink - “Ville de Paris”, “Galilee”, “Lachskonigin”;
with lilac - "Amethyst".

Pink Rosebud

Pink Rosebud or, as they are called, "rosebads" is pelargonium with double, twisting petals, like a rose. Huge inflorescences of roses are capable of continuous flowering. They differ from real roses in the absence of aroma. Growing and rules for caring for them are the same as in other types of pelargonium, but with some features:

they are more susceptible to high and low temperatures;
Cherenkovka is the only way of reproduction.

Pac Mexica Nealit (Mexico Nealit)

Unusual decorative grade. It is appreciated for its large-sized large pink and lilac flowers, from the center of which a white pattern diverges. They seem to emit neon light. The flowering period begins in May and ends in September..

How to root?

When the soil warms up to 15-18 degrees (in May - June), pelargonium can be planted in the garden, where it will bloom all summer. In this case, plants in the soil plant at a distance of about 25 cm from each other, and in boxes, flowerpots or containers - about 15 cm. For planting, rooted cuttings and seedlings grown from seeds are used.

IMPORTANT: Indoor pelargonium grown from seeds begins to bloom in six months, and garden - only the next year.

How to cut the ivy pelargonium?

In order to have high-quality planting material in spring, this should be taken care of in advance, in winter. To do this, do:

prepare seedlings from cuttings;
grow seedlings from seeds.

The procedure of rooting cuttings:

cut from the tops of the mother liquors cuttings with two to three leaves;
the length of the cuttings is about seven to ten centimeters;
cut sections with charcoal (wood or activated), can be root;
surely the slices are dried for at least three hours;
then the cuttings must be planted in pots for rooting;
the pot should be about ten centimeters in diameter;
put drainage of gravel or perlite at the bottom;
pour on top of the soil mixture of earth, sand and peat or purchased;
on the first day you can not water it, and pour the next water into the pan;
during the rooting period (about three weeks), top dressing is not required;
after rooting, you can add "Uniflor-growth" once every two weeks.

Sowing seeds and rooting seedlings

Sowing seeds is recommended at the end of January or February with increasing daylight hours.
Seeds should be healthy - dense and large, brown.
make the soil mixture from peat (one part), sand (one part), turf land (two parts).
You can use purchased soil.
It is enough to sprinkle the soil before sowing with warm water.
Sow seeds in small holes with an interval of about two centimeters from each other.
Pour a little earth over the seeds - up to one centimeter.
Cover the container with the seeds sown with foil with holes made in it.
After emergence (five to seven days later), the film must be removed.
After the appearance of two leaves, dives of seedlings are carried out in pots.ATTENTION: Dive (dive) is a transplant into another container - either separate or more voluminous.
Further, the rooting process will occur in the same way as when grafting.
When four or five leaves appear, pinching the young shoot must be done.

Pinching or pinching (tweezing) is the procedure for removing the tips of young shoots. It is done with the aim of forming compact bushes due to the growth of lateral shoots.

Watch a video about growing ivy pelargonium from seeds:

Seedling Care

Prepare flowerpots by equipping the bottom with drainage, so that the water does not stagnate, this is detrimental to the roots. Pour the soil mixture on top. Soil requirements:

the soil should be not dense and nutritious;
the mixture consists of earth, peat, compost and, for example, perlite for looseness.

When choosing a placement, it is necessary to take into account that:

stems of ivy pelargonium - hanging or creeping;
the plant is sunflower;
drought tolerant.

Water the seedlings so that the earth becomes slightly moist, slightly compact and mulch it. Mulching - sprinkling soil with bark, peat, wood chips from drying out.

During rooting, top dressing is not required. After three to four weeks, care is provided, as for an adult plant.

Care

Pelargonium care instructions:

Watering. Regular watering is required, but moderate: according to the principle - it is better not to top up than to overfill. Watering should only be done when the soil has already dried out, as the roots are sensitive to waterlogging.
Top dressing. Pelargonium blooms throughout the summer, so it needs fertilizer for the brightness and duration of flowering. Fertilizing is carried out once a week and it is better to alternate mineral supplements and organics. What fertilizers are needed: phosphorus and potassium mixtures - for active growth; magnesium sulfate - for the formation of buds.
Pruning. Regular pruning provides:
- sanitary treatment of plants, removing their damaged, diseased or faded parts;
- plentiful flowering - the removal of dried flower stalks provokes the formation of new ones;
- Own planting material thanks to autumn and spring pruning of bushes.
Temperature mode. Pelargonium grows on the street at an optimum temperature of 20-25 degrees for it. When a persistent cold snap sets in for wintering, it should be brought into the room, but not in a warm, but rather cool, where the temperature is in the range from 7 to 15 degrees Celsius.
If it is not possible to ensure the desired temperature, the plant can be planted on cuttings, rooted in pots and provided at home care in order to plant in the garden in May-June.

Diseases and Pests

Pelargonium is sick due to violations of growing conditions (waterlogging or lack of light) and infection by a fungus. What to do:

affected parts of the plant are removed;
watering and lighting are normalized;
It is treated with fungicides (with fungus).

The most common pests:

Aphid.
Whitefly
Various ticks.

Insecticides should be purchased at flower shops to control insects. and follow the instructions. Terrible and incurable is only the “black leg”, when the root system rots. Such a plant is recommended to be destroyed.

Why doesn’t the plant bloom?

Pelargonium flowering is affected by:

proper watering (you can not fill it);
oversaturation of soil with nitrogen fertilizers has a bad effect on flower formation;
excessive feeding leads to the growth of greenery and the attenuation of flowering;
another reason is that the pot is too large, which also affects the growth of leaves.

Conclusion - you need to ensure proper care.

Breeding

Pelargonium pelargonium multiplies: by dividing the bush, cuttings and seeds. Dividing the bush is the easiest way, but the most commonly used cuttings. Causes:

The formation of cuttings after the mandatory cutting of existing plants.
Flowering during cuttings begins earlier than when propagated by seeds.

Propagation by cuttings is described in detail above.

Conclusion

Proper and easy care for ivy pelargonium will provide your garden with lush and bright flowering for five to six months. And such varieties as "rosebads" will replace even roses on the site.