Many people wonder why their geraniums get leggy, especially if they keep them year after year. Geraniums are one of the most popular bedding plants, and while they are normally quite attractive, routine pruning may be necessary in order to keep them looking their best. This not only helps prevent overgrown geraniums but will also reduce or fix leggy geranium plants.
Causes of Leggy Geranium Plants
Most leggy growth on geraniums is the result of irregular pruning maintenance. Geraniums are naturally leggy, woody plants in the wild, but in our homes, we like them to be compact and bushy. In order to keep a geranium compact and bushy and prevent it from getting leggy, it needs to be pruned hard at least once a year. The more regularly you prune your geranium, the better able a geranium is able to keep a pleasing shape. Spindly geraniums can also be the result of poor light conditions. In addition to pruning, allowing more space between plants and locating them in full sun can oftentimes alleviate the problem. Excessive moisture is another cause of leggy geraniums. Geraniums should be planted in well-draining soil and should only be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. Overwatering geraniums can result in a stunted, sickly, and spindly geranium plant.
Pruning Leggy Geraniums
Not sure what to do with leggy geraniums? Try pruning. Prior to bringing plants indoors (usually late fall), you should cut back about a third of your spindly geraniums. Make sure you remove any unhealthy or dead stems as well. Pruning leggy geraniums also prevents them from becoming overgrown and unsightly. Pinching is another practice for fixing leggy plants. Normally this is done on established plants to produce bushier growth. It can be performed during active growth or just following pruning—once new growth has reached a few inches (8 cm.) high, pinch out about ½ to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm.) from the tips.
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FAQs
Geraniums tend normally to be a bit leggy as yours has become. To prevent it you would periodically pinch off just the growth tips as they form. This subsequently causes the plant to branch. By doing this as the plant develops you can control and direct the branching to keep the plant full and bushy.
How do you fix leggy geraniums? ›
In addition to pruning, allowing more space between plants and locating them in full sun can oftentimes alleviate the problem. Excessive moisture is another cause of leggy geraniums. Geraniums should be planted in well-draining soil and should only be watered when the soil is dry to the touch.
How hard can you cut back geraniums? ›
Towards the end of summer, when the flowering is finishing, it's a great idea to give them a hard prune to stop them from becoming too leggy. Jane recommends pruning geraniums and pelargoniums back by between one third to one half during March or April.
What can I do with lanky geraniums? ›
They are likely to become tall and lanky by late winter. Prune your potted geraniums in March, removing one-half to two-thirds of each plant. They will begin to grow again within a few days and should develop into attractive plants by May.
How can I make my geraniums look better? ›
Hardy geraniums will benefit from regular pruning and deadheading. After the first burst of flowers in the spring, you can cut the plant down by a third, removing spent flowers. Deadheading geraniums and light pruning will remove long stems that have fewer leaves and flowers.
What do overwatered geraniums look like? ›
You can tell that your geranium is suffering from waterlogging because the water drips out of the soil when you lift the pot. The leaves turn yellow and limp, and the flower stems and roots rot. In severe cases of waterlogging, the potting soil will start to stink.
How do I perk up my geraniums? ›
If you give them a sunny spot, they will thank you with lots of flowers. No need to worry about blazing midday sun, as geraniums can even tolerate this intense heat. Is your balcony not so spoilt by the sun? Geraniums also grow very well in a bright, semi-shaded location.
Do geraniums like sun or shade? ›
For success with geraniums, you need to know what kind you have so you can choose the best spot for planting. Most annual geraniums need a spot in full sun, except for the ivy geranium, which grows best in light shade. Perennial geraniums, on the other hand, grow in either sun or shade, depending on the type.
How often should I water geraniums? ›
Once the geranium is established, you can cut back the frequency of watering to 1 - 2 times per week. Check the soil moisture with your finger, and water when the top 1 - 2 inches feel dry. One of the most common errors in growing annual geraniums is overwatering. They are not thirsty plants and do not like soggy soil.
How long do geraniums last in pots? ›
The true geranium lifespan, as long as it's cared for well, can be many years long. They can also be easily overwintered. Certain other varieties, such as Geranium maderense, are biennials that will survive most winters but have a lifespan of only two years.
At the end of summer or early autumn cut back geranium plants by a third to encourage bushy new growth and flower buds the following season. Although geraniums are sun hardy and pretty tough once established, they still need regular watering.
What is the best fertilizer for geraniums? ›
The recommendation for constant feed fertilizing of geraniums is generally 200 to 250 ppm of nitrogen. Experience suggests nutrient problems are minimized when a constant fertilizer program is used. Fertilizer types: 15-15-15 (Geranium Special), 15-16-17 Peat-lite, and 20-10-20 Peat-lite.
Is Miracle-Gro good for geraniums? ›
“If you feed Geraniums too much, you can end up with all foliage and no flowers.” Miracle-Gro All Purpose is another good choice; it is available in both granular and liquid forms. As soon as the flowering season gets underway, start to feed Geraniums with a high-potash formulation, for example a 5-5-10.
What is the secret to healthy geraniums? ›
When planted in the right conditions and given adequate water, geraniums can thrive with relatively low maintenance. They're not entirely hands-off plantings though. To keep them flowering, don't forget to remove spent blooms. Pruning and deadheading young plants can help with both shaping and prolonging blooming.
Why are my geranium stems so long? ›
Geraniums tend normally to be a bit leggy as yours has become. To prevent it you would periodically pinch off just the growth tips as they form. This subsequently causes the plant to branch. By doing this as the plant develops you can control and direct the branching to keep the plant full and bushy.
What to do when plants get leggy? ›
Increase Amount of Light
Move leggy houseplants to a position with brighter sunlight to encourage new bushy growth. You can also supplement your houseplants' light source with grow lights, especially in darker times of the year.
How to bring geraniums back to life? ›
Remove all shriveled, dead material. Prune back to firm, green, live stem tissue. After pruning, pot up the plants and water thoroughly. Place the potted geraniums in a sunny window or under artificial lighting.
