Geranium is a tender home plant that deserves high popularity among hostesses with its unpretentiousness. But, as for other plants, there are some nuances for proper care, growth and development. One of the most important aspects is choosing the right mixture for geraniums. In the article we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different mixes, so that you can choose whether to make it yourself or buy it in a store.
The right choice of soil for flowers
In order for room geranium to grow a strong plant with beautiful and bright colors, it is necessary to choose the right soil. A selection of suitable soil will relieve the plant from severe stress during transplants, will help to easily adapt and strengthen in a new place, will provide a bright flowering. Properly selected soil is also a guarantee of plant health.
The best option for geranium is a mixture with a loose texture combined with high-quality drainage.
Indicators when choosing the right mix for geraniums:
- fertility and nutrition;
- slightly acidic or neutral soil composition.
- soil saturated with beneficial microorganisms;
- the correct mechanical composition of the soil, on which air permeability depends.
What is the composition of the soil needed?
The correct geranium blend should have good texture. To determine it, you can take a handful of soil, it is good to moisten with water and firmly hold in your fist. The quality foundation for planting geraniums will crumble, and the bad one will remain in a fist in the form of a dense coma.
What soil foundation does geranium like? Here are some variations of the composition of the mixture.
Chernozem. This soil is loved for almost all plants and it is widely represented in specialized stores. At the bottom of the pot you can put the expanded clay, and on top to fill with black soil.- Black earth combined with a mixture of sand and perlite. This will ensure the ease and air permeability of the soil. Before filling the tank with soil mixture, fine rubble or expanded clay is poured onto the bottom.
- Purchased mixturewhich is specially designed for geraniums. In such mixtures contain all the components and useful substances intended specifically for the growth and development of the flower of geranium.
Chernozem. This soil is loved for almost all plants and it is widely represented in specialized stores. At the bottom of the pot you can put the expanded clay, and on top to fill with black soil.The correct composition of the soil in equal parts includes sod and leaf soil, humus, sand and peat. Turf soil is a storehouse of nutrients that promote plant growth. Leaf soils are extracted from dry leaves, which are watered abundantly during the winter period, and they are shoveled about 2 times per season.
For geranium horse, cow or bird humus is suitable. Promotes enhanced growth and flowering. Sand gives the soil water permeability and moisture permeability to the soil, and peat provides the soil with acidity.
Reference. Geranium does not like organic fertilizing, therefore, in the initial stages of flowering, phosphorus can be introduced as a top dressing. In this case, conventional fertilizer is best applied about 2 times a month.
How to prepare a mixture for planting at home?
To be sure of the correct composition for geranium, the correct mixture can be prepared at home. To do this, take the black soil and disinfect it, that is, calcined in a frying pan for an hour. After the procedure, the soil should be left for up to 2 weeks so that the soil microstructure can be restored. After the components are added to the soil from a ratio of 8: 2: 1
- Soil turf-8.
- Pergna-2.
- Sand-1.
Prices and description of the finished product
Below is an overview of the mixes that can be bought in the store.
"BIUD" "Flower Palisade"
The soil has a high number of elements that contain nutrients, allowing home plants to fully grow and develop. However, he has no restrictions on the use.
Composition:
- sand;
- rubble;
- dolomite flour;
- compost "buid".
Nutrient Composition:
- nitrogen, not less than 0.2%;
- phosphorus, not less than 0.1%;
- potassium, not less than 0.1%;
- calcium, not less than 0.1%.
The price of this soil varies from 100 rubles to 170 rubles, depending on the packing volume.
"Gardens of Babylon"
Soil is a mixture of nutrients and trace elements, suitable to plant garden and home plants, ensuring full growth and flowering.
Composition:
- peat: riding and lowland;
- river sand with a coarse-grained structure;
- expanded clay;
- dolomite flour;
- swollen vermiculite;
- compost "buid".
Nutrient Composition:
- nitrogen up to 0.9%;
- phosphorus up to 0.4%;
- calcium up to 0.3%;
- potassium up to 0.4%;
- water up to 53%.
The price of this soil varies from 70 rubles to 170 rubles, depending on the packing volume.
"Garden of Miracles"
The soil has an increased amount of nutrients. Suitable for growing home flowers and garden flowers. The soil is neutral.
Composition:
- high peat;
- river sand;
- mineral fertilizers;
- biohumus
The composition of nutrients at the rate of mg / l:
- nitrogen-200;
- phosphorus-250;
- potassium-350;
- salt suspension to 6.5.
The price of this soil varies from 55 to 125 rubles.
"Greenworld"
The soil suitable for growing home balcony flowers. It has a high content of nutrients, provokes the growth and development of the plant, its flowering. Also, it should be noted that the presented soil is suitable for breeding a winter garden, growing plants on terraces.
Composition:
- high-moor peat;
- alumina;
- limestone in crushed form.
The composition of nutrients at the rate of mg / l 1:
- nitrogen up to 300;
- phosphorus to 280;
- potassium up to 350;
- trace elements up to 6.5.
The price reaches 1000 rubles.
Watering and feeding
- Watering. Like all plants, geranium loves water. Especially in the summer hot period watering is done once a day, in the winter period the amount of watering can be limited, so that the soil in the pot remains slightly damp, 1 time in 2 days.
It should be noted that for geranium it is better if the mixture is almost dry than it is poured with water, so there is a risk of gray mold, as well as rotting.
- Top dressing. Feed for the geranium is a common fertilizer that can be found in any specialty store. In the feed should contain: trace elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium.
Feed the geranium in the evening when the sun went down. Before fertilizing the geranium with fertilizer you should definitely water the plant with water. Do not apply fertilizers that are in a liquid state if the soil is dry.
Council After you have transplanted geranium into another container, pot or pot, you do not need to feed the plant. Feeding occurs after a period of 2 months.
- Soil care. In order to avoid strong soil compaction, as well as cracking and denudation of roots, the soil should be loosened when the plant is watered. Ignoring this process can lead to the death of the plant.
Selection of the right soil is the first step to growing a strong and beautiful plant, like geranium. Proper care will allow the plant to grow and develop, and compliance with simple rules will enable the plant to please you for more than one day.
