Caring for your Plug Geranium Plant.

CARING FOR YOUR PLUG GERANIUM PLANT.

Given to members at the meeting on 18^th April 2024.

Plug plants are an incredibly easy and cost effective way to fill your garden with colour and watching a plant you have tended burst into bloom is something to be treasured and enjoyed. Geranium plug plants take far less time to grow than growing your own from seed and there’s a much greater chance of success as they’ve been professionally nurtured to ensure you receive the strongest, healthiest and best quality plants. Here’s what to do to look after your plug plant:-

1. Once you have your plug plant stand it upright and try to keep a note of the particular variety – a plastic label or lollipop stick is ideal for this.
2. Pot up the plug plant in a 3.5” ( 9cm ) pot. Use a general purpose compost which is readily available, but DO NOT use bark based composts. These hold too much moisture and will drown the roots and the plants will die. Add about 20% perlite to the compost if possible as this helps get air around the roots. But if it’s a loose general purpose compost you won’t need to do this. It’s helpful but not essential.
3. Make sure the plant is moist at all times – but not waterlogged. When they’re small they have a little root system. It’s only as they grow that they need more water.
4. Place the plug plant in a sunny place. The warmer and drier the better. You’ll get the best results if you can give your plant the feeling of “summer”. So a dry, light and bright place will make it happiest. If you don’t have a greenhouse or conservatory then a sunny windowsill will be absolutely fine.
5. Now for the most difficult bit. Ready ? I suggest you remove the first lot of flower buds while the plant is still small. As difficult as it might be to do it does mean the plant will put all of its effort into growing its root system and foliage, rather than putting all of its effort into flowering ahead of time.

If you follow these five simple steps, your Geranium plug will begin to grow and flourish – isn’t nature a wonderful thing ! And so, what to do with the growing plant next ? Geraniums like Spring and Summer so the nearer to these conditions you can give them the happier they will be. Find a sheltered spot in full sun, and if you’re planting in the ground, be sure to harden the plant off and wait until all chance of frost has passed. We wish you luck and hope you achieve a plant that gives you much pleasure.