Caring for ampelous pelargonium. Ivy-leaved ampelous geranium - care and propagation. Reproduction of ampelous geranium

An ampelous representative of the Geraniev family immigrated to us at the beginning of the 18th century from the south of the African continent.

Over the past decades, domestic breeders have managed to develop various varieties that are maximally adapted to our climatic conditions.

Today, ivy-leaved pelargonium is a common indoor flower, which pleases with beautiful inflorescences and a pleasant aroma.

Differences from ordinary geranium

Often pelargonium ivy is mistakenly called geranium, on many sites you will find these two names used as synonyms. Initially, confusion arose due to incorrect attempts by scientists to classify the plant back in the 17th century. To fully appreciate the differences between two different flowers, it is worth considering the signs that indicate this:

Popular varieties

Varieties worth paying attention to:

AMETHYST. An excellent option for a veranda or balcony. After planting, the plant develops quickly, resulting in the formation of a decorative “living” basket. Inflorescences of large double flowers are characterized by dark pink, purple, and bright crimson shades.
CROCODILE. A characteristic feature is the original color of the leaves: bright yellow veins are clearly visible on a green background. Inflorescences are formed from coral or purple flowers.

JAGKY GAULD. The subshrub develops quite quickly and is characterized by lushness and branching. Initially, double flowers are snow-white in color, but under the influence of ultraviolet radiation they can turn purple or pink.

ICEROSE. An adult shrub is completely covered with double white flowers. Externally, the plant somewhat resembles a rose bush.

ROULETTA. The low shrub is characterized by its abundance. The highlight of the variety is the original color of the flowers: the white petals along the edges are painted bright pink.

MRS. MARTIN. The variety develops very quickly; an adult plant forms a decorative “living” basket. The inflorescences consist of double flowers of a light lilac or pink hue.

RHAPSODY. The variety is a lush shrub with glossy leaves and burgundy inflorescences.

ADVICE! Almost all varieties of ampelous pelargonium develop very quickly. It only takes a few weeks to grow a lush bush, while the rhizome fully performs its functions even in cramped containers. Ivy-leaved pelargonium sheds its leaves and flowers if the root system still lacks space.

How to plant and propagate

Pelargonium can be propagated in two ways: seeds and cuttings. And. The first method is more painstaking and is used only by experienced gardeners. For convenience, the planting process should be divided into several stages:

ADVICE! After scarification, it is advisable to treat the soil and sorted seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate.

How to root pelargonium? Here step-by-step instruction propagation by cuttings:

the best period for this is the beginning of spring;
In order for pelargonium to reproduce well, only large and healthy shoots are selected, cut and dried for 24 hours;
the plants are transplanted to a permanent place after a month.

Soil preparation

As mentioned above, in order for the flowers to take root successfully, just buy universal primer in the store. But you can prepare it yourself.

Ingredients you will need to prepare your own soil:

turf land;
leaf soil;
humus;
peat;
sand.

The proportions of the components must be equal. A small pot can be used as a pot.

Complementary feeding and transplantation

hanging plant needs feeding only in spring and summer, namely nitrogen fertilizers after winter dormancy and pruning to restore the volume of the green crown and compositions containing large amounts of potassium and phosphorus for vigorous flowering. The frequency of feeding is once every 10 days. In autumn and winter, the flower does not require additional organic and mineral nutrition.

Ivy-leaved pelargonium is replanted in the spring.

To make rooting more successful, a number of simple procedures are performed:

the flower is removed from the old container along with a lump of soil on the rhizome, only those layers of soil that are easily removed are removed;
the roots are partially removed - only the part that has grown into the drainage;
The pots are thoroughly washed, the plant is placed in it, and new soil is added.

Advice! Dwarf varieties of ivy-leaved pelargonium are replanted every year or every other year.

Home care

Unlike many decorative indoor plants pelargonium does not require painstaking care thanks to which it won the sympathy of gardeners. But still, in order for the flower to fully develop and please the eye, it is important to adhere to certain nuances:

ampelous representative of the Geranievs - light-loving plant, therefore it is advisable to place flower pots on the south side;
the optimal temperature in summer is +22-25°C, in winter, when pelargonium goes into a dormant state – +15°C;
the plant practically does not suffer from drought, but Excessive humidity can have a detrimental effect on development;
The recommended frequency of watering is once every 10-14 days, for this it is better use a spray bottle.

How to prune ivy-leaved pelargonium

Ampelous pelargonium needs significant pruning for the purpose of rejuvenation. On the eve of winter, only the two lower leaves with axillary shoots are left, otherwise the stem will become completely bare, taking on an unsightly appearance.

In spring, bare branches and stems are trimmed, leaving the healthiest and youngest parts. To preserve the decorative appearance of plants, they promptly remove dried leaves and wilted inflorescences, and get rid of old woody shoots. It is recommended to resort to cuttings every 2-3 years.

This video explains in detail how to form a lush pelargonium bush by pruning:

Possible diseases

Common problems that may affect indoor plants:

fungal disease manifested by spotting on leaves;
root rot, which is a consequence of excess moisture;
a bacterial disease causes the plant to wilt;
rust on leaves, usually characterized by yellow spots.

To prevent the further development of a particular disease, it is necessary to normalize care; in some cases, it will be necessary to resort to treating pelargonium with special means.

Ampelous ivy-leaved pelargonium can become a real decoration for your home, balcony, or garden plot, if you follow simple care rules.

Pelargoniums or indoor geraniums are loved all over the world for their flexible, non-capricious disposition and bright flowering. But along with the common bush forms, ampelous geranium - or thyroid pelargonium or ivy-leaved pelargonium - is increasingly being used for vertical gardening, decorating flowerpots and hanging flowerpots.

In the axils of the leaves, at the tops of the stems, tall peduncles are formed, bearing lush umbrella inflorescences. Flowers can have different shapes, from simple star-shaped to double or pink, and a wide variety of colors. Flower growers have varieties with single-color and two-color corollas with a diameter of 1.5 to 4 cm at their disposal.

Conditions for growing ampelous geraniums at home

The ampelous forms of ivy-leaved geranium feel good in well-lit places where the plants are not threatened by drafts or cold gusts of wind. If in the summer pelargonium is supposed to be taken out into the open air, in the spring it is better to harden the plants, gradually accustoming them to outdoor maintenance and increasingly taking them out onto the balcony or terrace.

Hardened specimens can tolerate significant drops in temperature. But if the thermometer drops below zero, damage to the tops of the shoots or more serious harm cannot be avoided.

Since ampelous geraniums in nature are plants of mountainous regions, they are most often undemanding to the composition of the soil. It's better if:

indoor pets are planted in a fertile substrate with the addition of a small amount of clay;
A thick drainage layer is made at the bottom of the pot.

When caring for ampelous geraniums, the crop is provided with regular but moderate care. Excessive soil moisture under the lush, flowing crown of the plant threatens to disrupt soil aeration, rotting roots and death of pelargonium.

Summer care for ampelous geraniums at home

During the period of active growth, lasting from March to the end of August, the ampelous variety of indoor geranium needs regular feeding.

With constant care, ampelous geranium at home responds well to weekly application.

How to feed geranium so that it blooms long and profusely throughout the season? If in the spring pelargonium can be given products containing a significant amount of nitrogen for better growth, it is better to limit geranium in this element from the second or third feeding. Otherwise, the florist will spend the entire season admiring the large, dense leaves, but the flowering will be either very weak or the buds will not appear at all.

As they grow, when the roots completely inhabit the volume of the pot allotted to them, the plants are replanted.

Ampelous geraniums can withstand this procedure without loss at any age; the main thing is not to choose the next container that is much larger than the previous container. Until the roots expand to their full width, pelargonium will not honor the owner with bright caps of flowers.

In the warm season, caring for ampelous geraniums consists of:

from irrigation carried out when the top layer of the substrate dries;
from fertilizing combined with moistening the soil under the plant;
from mandatory pruning and pinching of shoots.

How to pinch geraniums so that the middle of the crown is not exposed and the lower shoots form beautiful cascades? For bush species, in spring and especially in autumn, fairly deep pruning of the crown is performed. This allows you to give the bush a compact shape and achieve lush flowering in the next season.

Attractiveness ampelous geranium not only in inflorescences, but also in long shoots “flowing” downwards. Therefore, only stems that are already bare or drying out are pruned, and they try to carefully pinch out the rest.

This technique causes:

branching due to the awakening of dormant buds;
the formation of a larger number of inflorescences on new stems.

As a result, the top of the crown does not “go bald”, and flowering spreads to the entire plant, turning into a bright colored ball.

Caring for ampelous geraniums in winter

For wintering ampelous geraniums you need:

a cool place where the temperature is between 5–12 °C;
diffuse but quite bright
infrequent watering that does not affect foliage and shoots.

If plants lack light, by spring they will form a mass of weak stems with shredded pale leaves. And excess moisture when caring for ampelous geraniums in winter is a sure cause of rotting of the root collar and peripheral roots.

In addition to maintaining temperature and humidity conditions and providing light, ivy-leaved pelargoniums need to remove old foliage. It is better to do this with scissors so as not to damage the buds in the axils of the leaves.

Growing geraniums from seeds

You can propagate ampelous geranium of your favorite variety using seeds or vegetatively, by cuttings. The first method will require a lot of labor, but it is indispensable when it comes to obtaining new hybrids or not having the necessary cuttings.

Growing geraniums from seeds can be done from December to the last days of April. True, in winter you cannot do without using specialized lighting for seedlings:

Seeds 3–5 mm thick are embedded in a mixture of peat, sand, garden soil and sphagnum.
A container with a wet substrate is placed in a mini-greenhouse or under film, where a constant temperature, air and soil humidity are maintained.
In good light and a temperature of 22–24 °C, the seeds sprout in 7–10 days.
After 3 weeks, the grown plants are picked.

The procedure stimulates the growth of seedlings, and from this moment they begin to be fed with a complex product for ornamental crops. And when several true leaves appear, young ampelous geraniums are planted in their own pots.

Propagation of ampelous geranium by cuttings

You can get healthy ampelous geraniums that fully convey the characteristics of the mother plants using cuttings. They are cut from mature bushes at the end of summer, when mass flowering is completed and pruning is carried out. If green pets have given good, strong growth in winter, then spring cuttings can be easily rooted.

But it is important to remember that, unlike zonal pelargoniums, ivy-leaved varieties do not behave the best in water. They rot easily, so cuttings need to be rooted in soil made of sand and a small amount of humus.

Seedlings 7–12 cm long with several leaves of their own:

air dry for 2 – 6 hours;
treated with crushed charcoal or activated carbon;
planted at a short distance from each other along the edge of a container or pot.

Young ampelous geraniums do not require greenhouse conditions for rooting. They produce their own roots approximately three weeks after being cut from the mother bush.

After several leaves have formed, pinching is carried out to stimulate branching. With good care, ampelous geraniums bloom at home after the first winter and then delight the owner for many years with a green crown and lush caps of inflorescences.

Video about beautiful ampelous geraniums

Africa gave us not only exotic fruits, but also many plants that took root and became part of the Russian flora. The widely known geranium or pelargonium also came from the “dark continent”. In Russia it was adapted as ornamental plant. Housewives are happy to share photos online with bright flowers in all shades of red. The ivy-leaved ampelous geranium is particularly beautiful. Therefore, many are interested in how much it can be planted, how to propagate the plant and care for it.

4 main differences from ordinary geranium

Inexperienced flower growers often confuse ordinary geranium and ivy-leaved ampelous geranium. This is a big mistake, because the latter has its own characteristics of care. Those who do not know them can easily destroy the plant. So, what is the difference between ivy-leaved pelargonium?

The plant has thin hanging stems that can reach a length of 1 m; in ordinary geranium the stems are short and erect.
Many flexible, climbing shoots grow around the stem of pelargonium ivy. They give the plant splendor and showiness.
The leaves of ordinary geranium are very soft, while the ivy-leaved variety has five-lobed leaves that are smooth and even glossy. They can be up to 6 cm wide.
The flowers of ivy-leaved pelargonium are larger and brighter.

Attention! Geranium has a powerful antibacterial and antiseptic effect. Therefore, it is recommended to grow it in homes where people often suffer from colds and other respiratory diseases.

Features of reproduction

It is not difficult to propagate ivy-leaved geranium at home. This can be done in two ways: seeds and cuttings. The seed method is a complex and painstaking path. It is usually chosen by experienced flower growers. Seeds are planted from February to mid-April.

The seeds are immersed in the soil to a depth of 1 cm.
After which the soil is well moistened, but not from a watering can, but from a spray bottle.
Seedlings need to be provided with additional lighting and placed in a warm place.
Next, you need to carefully monitor the temperature; it should stay in the range of 22-25°C.
You can plant seedlings in permanent soil 3-4 weeks after sowing the seeds.

Propagation by cuttings is much easier under one condition: there is where to get these same cuttings. This needs to be done in early March.

Select healthy and large cuttings, cut them and let them dry for 24 hours.
Carefully treat the sections with charcoal powder.
Take disinfected soil and plant the cuttings at a distance of 2 cm, compacting the soil well.
After a month, the seedlings can be transplanted to permanent soil.

Soil selection, complementary feeding and replanting

Ivy-leaved ampelous geranium is unpretentious to the soil. The only condition is its fertility.

Advice. Geranium takes root and grows best in soil of 5 components: peat, leaf, turf and humus soil, sand. All this should be used in equal quantities.

This plant does not need a large and spacious pot. On the contrary, a small and even cramped pot or flowerpot - the best place for growing geraniums. Optimal size- the roots are located 1-1.5 cm from the walls of the pot.

Geraniums are fed only in spring and summer. This is done once every ten days using potassium fertilizer. There is no need to do this in autumn and winter.

The ampelous geranium must be replanted, as it grows and the pots become too cramped for it, and the soil becomes depleted. This happens once every 2 years. Best time for transplantation - spring. Even if the plant has not grown, you need to at least update the soil - add peat soil.

Rules for successful cultivation and care

Caring for geraniums, compared to other indoor plants, can be called simple. Good soil and a small pot is practically the key to success. However, for lush flowering, you need to follow a few more rules for caring for the plant.

This indoor plant loves light very much, which is not always enough in modern apartments. Since you cannot get direct sunlight in the house, it is best to place the pot of ivy-leaved pelargonium on a windowsill on the south side.

In summer, geraniums should not be overheated; the optimal temperature is up to 25°C. In winter, the plant seems to go into rest; at this time, the best temperature for it is 15°C. It should be kept away from heating appliances.

Drought is not a problem for a flower, but too humid air is harmful. Geraniums need to be watered from below and no more than once every 2 weeks.

Attention! The African pelargonium plant does not like moisture. Therefore, they do not need to be sprayed with a spray bottle. Otherwise, the leaves of the plant may begin to rot. They will also develop various diseases.

The splendor and flowering of geraniums is ensured by fertilizing with potassium. Nitrogen, on the contrary, harms the plant.

Protection from pests and diseases

Indoor ivy-leaved ampelous geranium is susceptible to attack by pests and diseases. Most often, these plants are adapted for themselves by caterpillars and slugs. They feed on pelargonium leaves. Getting rid of them is not so easy. To do this, you need to use systemic insecticides.

Due to improper care and improper maintenance, plants can be susceptible to rust, flower mold, blackleg and viruses. Geranium is treated with special chemicals.

Ivy-leaved ampelous geranium is a very beautiful plant that, with proper care, will delight its owners with bright red flowers for many years. And if you open the reference book of traditional medicine, you can learn about making medicines from pelargonium.

Transplanting ivy-leaved geranium: video

Ivy-leaved geranium: photo

Hanging plants are a great way to decorate a balcony, loggia, gazebo and other structures near the house or in the apartment. Plants that flow from pots or flowerpots like a bright blooming waterfall always attract attention and create a feeling of celebration. Ivy-leaved geranium or pelargonium is a beautiful and bright plant that is popular for its unpretentiousness, lush and long-lasting flowering, and ability to grow quickly. Most often, geraniums are planted on open loggias or terraces in hanging flowerpots or pots.

Ivy-leaved geranium (pelargonium) belongs to the ampelous plant species that are capable of producing rather long shoots hanging down from flowerpots or curling along the wall. Regular geraniums have short shoots, large and rather fragile leaves. In ampelous geranium species, the shoots are quite strong, flexible, capable of supporting the weight of leaves and a large number of flowers. The leaves of ampelous geranium species are five-pointed, large, smooth, with a matte sheen, without fluff on the surface. In shape they are very reminiscent of ivy leaves, which love to climb along vertical surfaces.

The flowers of ivy-leaved geranium are always bright, large, and full. They are the most important decoration of the plant. Very often, flowers are collected in large inflorescences at the top of the shoot, which gives the flowering plant the appearance of a fluffy multi-colored cloud. Some plant growers plant several varieties of ivy-shaped geraniums with different flower colors nearby in one box or flower pot. This allows you to create a real extravaganza of color and unusually decorate your loggia or balcony.

The most popular varieties of ampelous ivy-leaved geranium. Table

Name	Description
	An ideal variety for growing on the balcony. The flowers are large, double, collected in bright inflorescences. The shoots grow quickly, forming a lush basket. The basic colors of the variety are bright crimson, purple, dark pink.
	This variety is distinguished by its unusual leaf color: frequent golden veins stand out brightly on the green field. The flowers are semi-double, colored coral or purple, collected in large inflorescences. During the growing season, the plant quickly forms a compact basket.
	This variety looks like roses due to its large double inflorescences. The petals of the flowers of this variety of geranium are white. The plant forms a compact bush, which is abundantly strewn with beautiful white flowers.
	Another variety that amazes with its abundant flowering. The flowers are white, double, with many petals. The bushes are large due to the abundant branching of the shoots. The highlight of this variety is that in open sunlight the snow-white petals over time acquire a pink or purple tint, which looks very unusual.
	This variety amazes with its abundant flowering and beauty. Large double flowers are always collected in large inflorescences. When flowering, the geranium bush looks like a lacy cloud, which can be pink or light lilac. The plants are unpretentious and are characterized by rapid branching of shoots and the formation of a large basket.
	The flowers of this variety have a bright and unusual color: large white petals are surrounded by a rich crimson border. This variety of geranium is classified as compact, since the height of the bush does not exceed 25-30 cm. It blooms very profusely and is unpretentious to watering.
	The variety is distinguished by a compact bush, which is densely dotted with bright purple flowers. The upper petals of each flower are decorated with purple veins. The variety is distinguished by its prolific flowering even in winter and is unpretentious.
	This variety is distinguished by very large and large flowers, the upper petals of which have a more intense color than the lower ones. Most often, the flowers of this variety are painted in a rich burgundy color. It is distinguished by abundant flowering; the bushes are large with wide glossy leaves and branched shoots.
	The flowers of this variety of geranium are bright red, very large, with large petals. The bush is quite compact, not too tall. The leaves are green, without spotting, the internodes on the shoots are short.
	The flower petals of this variety have the most saturated color among all types of geraniums - dark burgundy. The variety is distinguished by abundant flowering; the bush forms a compact lush basket. The leaves are green, with a glossy sheen. no spotting.

It is important to know! Ivy geranium grows very quickly. In just a few weeks, the plant increases in size several times, but the root system develops well and functions even in small pots. If the container is too small and there is not enough room for the roots, the flowering plant may drop its inflorescences and slow down its growth.

Planting ivy-leaved geranium with seeds

Ivy-leaved geranium can be sown at any time of the year if you want to plant this beauty on the windowsills of your apartment. If you want to decorate your balcony or garden plot with abundant and beautiful inflorescences in flower pots, then it is advisable to sow the seeds in the spring, so that by the beginning of summer you can transplant the stronger and grown plants into flower beds.

Seed preparation

The seeds of this plant species are quite large, with a strong and reliable shell. To increase germination, seed should be prepared several days before planting. The first thing to do is to slightly thin the thick seed coat. For these purposes, any sharp or abrasive material is used. You can slightly file the surface of the seeds with a regular nail file, or fine sandpaper will also work. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the seed inside the shell.

After scarification (this is what the thinning of the seed coat is called), the seed should be soaked in water. Ideally, it is best to use melt water, but if this is not available, then boiled liquid will do.

The seeds are soaked in water cooled to room temperature for a day. The last stage of preparing seeds for planting is disinfection. The seeds should be placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. After this procedure, the seeds are removed from the disinfectant solution and placed on a clean cloth to dry.

While the seeds are soaking, containers with soil should be prepared. You can use ready-made soil, which is sold in specialized stores, peat pots, or make your own soil mixture. The soil composition should include peat, sand and turf soil in equal quantities. Before planting seeds, it is advisable to disinfect homemade soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Planting seeds

Seeds should be planted in the ground to a depth of no more than 5 mm. Before planting, the soil should be well moistened.

After the planting procedure, containers with seeds are covered with cellophane and placed in a warm place where the air temperature does not fall below 22 degrees.

Watering the seeds should be done every 5-6 days. In order not to wash away the soil with the planted material, it is recommended to spray water with a spray bottle. It is also important to periodically ventilate containers with seeds by opening the film slightly for several hours.

Video - Planting geranium (pelargonium) ivy leaf seeds in a snail

Seedling care

Geranium seedlings germinate very quickly, literally within 10-14 days. 3 weeks after the first leaves of the seedlings appear, the plants can be transplanted into separate flowerpots. Seedlings should be cropped with extreme caution; the root system of flowers is quite fragile and can be damaged if handled roughly, which will immediately affect the vegetation of the plants. It is best to replant plants with a clod of earth, this will protect the roots.

It is recommended to feed young plants two weeks after transplantation. For normal vegetation, nitrogen fertilizers are used, which should be applied at the root.

Seedlings of ivy-leaved geranium need a fairly long daylight hours - at least 12 hours. Therefore, if the seeds sprouted in February or March, the plants should be provided with additional lighting.

If plants are transplanted into pots or containers in which they will grow permanently, it is worth knowing that at least 1 liter of soil is required per seedling. The distance between plants should be at least 15-17 cm. With proper care, geranium baskets will grow and fill all the free space in the pot or box. It is also necessary to make a drainage at the bottom of the container, through which all excess moisture will drain. If the ivy-leaved geranium is subsequently transplanted into open ground, then the volume of the temporary pot is not so important.

Those seedlings that are intended for growing outdoors should be constantly hardened off. For these purposes, pots with plants should be taken outside in warm weather at the end of April - beginning of May, gradually increasing the amount of time spent in the fresh air.

Ivy-leaved pelargonium - growing outdoors

Selecting a location

This variety of geranium needs constant and intense lighting. The plant easily tolerates the sun and lack of moisture, but abundant watering and shade have a bad effect on the growing season and budding of plants. It is best to plant grown and hardened geranium seedlings in well-lit places so that the plants are provided with constant sunbathing.

The soil

Geranium grows well in light and poor soils. On nutrient substrates, the green part of the plants develops well, but flowering becomes very moderate. You also need to pay attention to the acidity of the soil; soils with 6.0 - 6.5 pH are suitable for ivy-leaved geranium. At lower or higher rates, the plants' root nutrition is disrupted, which affects the growth and budding of the crop. To ensure the required acidity, you should periodically update the soil near the roots of the plants. Soil with optimal acidity can be purchased in special stores.

Top dressing

During the period of growth and budding, ivy-leaved geranium needs periodic feeding every 10-12 days. Can be used ready-made fertilizers for flowering plants: “Biomaster”, “Kemira-lux”, “Pelargovit”. Fertilizers should be diluted according to the instructions.

You can also feed the plants with homemade fertilizers. For example, using onion peel. For a large number of flowers, the infusion is prepared as follows: in 5 liters of boiling water you need to brew 2 large handfuls of onion peels. The infusion should last for 2 days. Next, 1.5 liters of fertilizer are diluted in a bucket of clean water and the existing plant bushes are watered with this mixture.

Watering

Ivy-leaved geranium needs abundant watering, but overwatering can have a detrimental effect on plant growth. Overmoistening of the soil can provoke a number of diseases that can be seen visually. These include edema, which is expressed in the appearance of thickenings and scars on the green leaves of geranium.

You can get rid of this disease only by adjusting the watering and drying regime. The most important rule when watering is that you can saturate the plants with moisture only when the root ball of earth is completely dry. Therefore, before each watering, you should carefully check the soil.

Balcony plants placed on the sunny side can be additionally sprayed with water, but only in the evening, when direct sunlight is not so intense.

Wintering ivy-leaved geraniums or how to preserve perennials

Ivy geranium is perennial plant, which tolerates wintering well in southern latitudes at temperatures of 10-12 degrees. But what to do if the average winter temperature is very low and the soil freezes completely.

You can try to preserve the plants for the winter so that you can plant them in the ground again in the spring. To do this, you should completely cut off all shoots from the geranium bush in the fall and carefully dig out the roots from big lump land. The lump should be placed in a transparent plastic bag and additionally sprinkled with earth. The package should be placed in a bright place, with an air temperature no higher than 7-8 degrees. This could be an insulated balcony or a glazed loggia. There is no need to water the dug cuttings.

In the spring, the cuttings with roots are transplanted to the old place and after a while the geranium will sprout new shoots.

Plants that grew in pots do not need to be pruned. For the winter, it is enough to move them into the apartment and place them on well-lit window sills.

Those plants that winter in an apartment need pruning so that by spring a beautiful and even basket of shoots is formed. Pruning is carried out in winter - in December-January or in spring - in March.

Using pruners, all very elongated shoots are trimmed so that a compact bush is formed. Pruning will trigger the growth of side shoots and thanks to this, after a while the plant will become bushy.

There is no need to throw away the cut shoots - you can try to germinate them in the ground.

Video - Spring pruning of ivy-leaved geranium and planting cuttings

Ivy-leaved pelargonium: visual signals for help

If the leaves of a geranium turn yellow at the edges, it means the plant does not have enough moisture.
If rot or yellow spots appear all over the leaf, there is excess moisture or pest infestation.
When there is a lack of light, the lower leaves of geraniums fall off.
If white flowers turn pink, the sun's rays are too intense; sometimes the plant should be shaded.
If flowering has decreased, it is recommended to pick off old faded buds.

Grow ivy-leaved geranium on a balcony or on personal plot not too difficult. The riot of flowers and colors during the flowering period will immediately pay off all the troubles associated with growing this type of flower.

Geranium is the popular name for the large Pelargonium family. In total it includes about 250 species. Real geraniums are found everywhere in central Russia. They are cold-resistant and are used in folk medicine And landscape design. The plants living on our windowsills are from warm regions. Ivy-leaved (ampeloid) geranium is native to southern Africa. The Cape region of South Africa is home to many houseplants.

Despite the fact that it feels great in the open air in summer, this plant is not capable of wintering in central Russia.

At temperatures below 10 degrees the flower will suffer greatly, and at 0 degrees it will die irrevocably.

The pelargonium family is conditionally divided into three groups:

the first group - zonal pelargoniums;
the second group - large-flowered;
the third group is called ivy-leaved, ampelous geranium or thyroid.

The ancestor of this group is Pelargonium thyroid.

All members of the family are saturated to varying degrees with essential oils and are used in cosmetology and medicine.

Ampelous geranium is not yet often found in vertical gardening. Its strong stems stretch up to a meter. Beautiful, dense, five-fingered leaves are similar to ivy leaves and, depending on the variety, can be plain or variegated (up to 6 centimeters in diameter). Thanks to the leaves, another name appeared for this type of geranium - ivy-leaved pelargonium. The leaves are arranged alternately.

On the upper part of the stem in the axil of the leaf, long peduncles with beautiful lush umbrella blooms appear. The corolla has a variety of colors and shapes. There are simple corollas of five petals, and complex double or rose-shaped ones. The diameter of the flower, depending on the variety, can be from 1.5 to 4 centimeters. The inflorescence itself can reach 8 centimeters in diameter and consist of 30 flowers.

The root system is fibrous, very strong, capable of supporting the plant on infertile soils in mountainous areas.

Bloom

For lush flowering, the plant needs good lighting and timely application of fertilizers. The first two or three spring feedings should contain a large amount of nitrogen. If you continue to feed the plant with such fertilizers, then flowering may not occur or will not be long and weak, and the green mass of the flower will be very lush. From the third or fourth feeding, the fertilizer should contain potassium and phosphorus to obtain early and abundant flowering.

An important condition for flowering is a small pot. When replanting a plant into a new container, you need to make sure that it is only 2-3 centimeters larger than the previous pot.

Timely spring, and especially autumn, pruning will allow the formation of flower buds. Autumn pruning should be deep and mainly on old bare stems. In spring, pinching is enough; if you cut the flower too much, you can lose the flower stalks.

Types and varieties

Currently, breeders have bred about 70 species of ivy-leaved pelargoniums. Ampelous geranium has undergone a long selection, thanks to which varieties with varied petal colors have appeared - plain and with edging (or strokes). The varieties also differ in the structure of the flower - they can be simple and symmetrical, or double and rosebud. Some varieties of ivy geranium have decorative foliage with yellow or pinkish edges, similar to ivy leaves, but stiffer.

Summer rain

Pelargonium ampelous Summer rain

Pelargonium ampelous Summer rain reaches 80-100 centimeters in length. The leaves are green and smooth and can grow up to 8 centimeters. There are 5-8 simple flowers in the umbrella. Flowering begins in May and continues until mid-autumn.

The plant is unpretentious, suitable for both indoor growing and outdoor cultivation in the summer.

Loves bright sun and moderate watering. Excessive watering and spraying will cause the plant to rot.

The soil for sowing seeds should consist of peat and sand, and for an adult plant, heavy soil with the addition of clay is suitable, since the plant’s homeland is mountainous. In winter, the temperature in the room should not fall below 10 degrees and should not exceed 15 degrees.

Can be used as a ground cover plant in summer under large trees or for flowerpots and balcony boxes.

Crystal Queen

Pelargonium Crystal Queen

Pelargonium Crystal Queen branches strongly, forming a powerful, spreading bush. Only two plants are enough for one pot. Very strong stems are resistant to winds and stretch up to 30 centimeters, forming a lush green cap, covered with white flowers during flowering. Flowering begins in May and ends in September.

For long-lasting abundant flowering, it is necessary to constantly remove faded flowers. Prefers southern and western windows when grown at home. There are pink and red hybrid varieties.

Tuscany

Geranium ampelous (ivy-leaved) Tuscany

This type of pelargonium has several varietal forms, distinguished by a variety of colors. The plant can grow up to 50 centimeters and bloom from May until the onset of frost. The flowers are semi-double, the petals are round, of different colors, the inflorescence is large, and when blooming, they form a spherical shape. The plant is cold-resistant - able to survive at temperatures around 0 degrees. During winter maintenance, it is necessary to reduce watering and lower the temperature to 10 degrees.

Caring for ampelous geraniums at home

Caring for ampelous geraniums is not difficult. Despite the fact that the plant’s homeland is Africa, it has perfectly adapted to home conditions and to outdoor conditions in the summer.

Temperature

Optimal temperature regime in summer it ranges from 20 to 25 degrees. Too high a temperature dries out the delicate flowers of pelargonium and leads to rapid flowering.

In winter, it is better to keep the flower in a cool, well-lit room. The temperature should be between 10 and 15 degrees. The plant can withstand short-term frosts of at least 0 degrees.

Lighting

Ivy-leaved pelargonium prefers window sills with bright sunlight. A south or southwest window is suitable for it. Direct sunlight will not burn the plant. In winter, it is necessary to maintain good lighting. Lack of lighting in winter will lead to elongated shoots and pale leaves. Many leaves will fall off, exposing the stems.

Watering

Ampelous pelargonium does not tolerate stagnation of water and waterlogging of the soil. This leads to the appearance of diseases and rotting of the roots. A good layer of drainage, at least one centimeter, will help prevent this. It will allow excess water to quickly drain and provide oxygen to the roots.

Watering should be regular and not abundant - you must wait until the lump of earth has completely dried before watering again.

Top dressing

Starting from February - March, the plant must be fed with mineral fertilizers. The concentration should be weak, it is better to dilute it stronger than what is written in the instructions. It is enough to use fertilizers once a week and the first 2-3 baits should consist of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This will help the plant wake up and form a lush crown of leaves.

From April it is necessary to change fertilizers to fertilizers containing more potassium and phosphorus. This complex will help to establish abundant flowering.

In winter, stop using fertilizers; overfeeding during hibernation can lead to the death of the plant.

Bush formation

Pelargonium pruning is carried out in 2 stages. In autumn, old and bare shoots are cut off by 2/3 or 1/3. This will help to form a strongly branching bush with abundant flowering. Pruning is carried out with a sharp sterile blade or a stationery knife. The cut is made at an angle and treated with crushed activated carbon.

In early spring, strongly elongated shoots are pinched. Each shoot should have at least 5 internodes. Too much pruning in the spring can delay flowering or prevent it from blooming at all.

Wintering

In winter, pelargonium is stored in a cool room, where the temperature does not fall below 10 degrees and does not rise above 15. The lighting should be bright throughout the winter. Watering is reduced, 2-3 times a month is enough. All these conditions will allow the formation of flower buds and ensure lush flowering.

Diseases and pests

Ivy-leaved pelargonium is a strong plant and rarely suffers from diseases and pests, but if watering conditions are violated, the plant may die. Stagnation of water leads to the appearance of fungus, blackleg, and root rot.

If the plant is outdoors and the temperature drops significantly at night, the plant may get sick. powdery mildew. To combat rot and bacterial infections, you can use “Chorus” and “Fitosparin”.

Planting, transplanting and propagation

Reproduction and transplantation of ampelous pelargonium, like any other, does not require special skills. There are several ways to propagate geraniums - by dividing the bush and cuttings affordable way. Propagating flowers by seeds is more labor-intensive.

Transfer

During transplantation, you can propagate geraniums by dividing the bush. Only those plants need replanting, the root system of which has filled the entire pot and is visible through the hole in the bottom. The best time to renew the soil and pot is early spring. This will help the flower wake up, and the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizers will be very timely.

You can replant the plant in the fall (pelargoniums are quite strong), combining this with autumn pruning.

You should not replant during flowering, the plant may shed its buds, development will slow down and new flowers may not form until next year.

For replanting, a pot 1-2 centimeters larger than the previous one is best suited. Too much space in the pot will slow down the flowering process; the plant will need more time to occupy the entire volume with its roots. It is better to choose unglazed ceramic pots. In plastic pots, the likelihood of water stagnation is much greater and less oxygen reaches the roots. Be sure to place 1-2 centimeters of expanded clay, crushed bricks or ceramics at the bottom of the container for drainage.

The soil should be neutral and not very rich in nutrients. For young plants, it is better to lighten the substrate with perlite, peat or vermiculite. You can purchase special soil in the store or make it yourself.

The composition should include:

peat (1 part);
sand (1 part);
turf land (2 parts).

Additionally, you can add coal and clay, since the plant is from a mountainous area and prefers heavy soils.

Self-prepared soil or store-bought soil must be disinfected. A solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water is suitable for this. You can calcine the soil in the oven.

Propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is a quick and easy way. During spring or autumn pruning, cuttings remain suitable for planting. It is better to use shoots obtained in the spring, but no later than the second half of March. Cuttings that have 2-3 leaves and no more than 10 centimeters are suitable. At the bottom of the cutting there should be 1-2 internodes from which the leaves are removed. Flowers and buds also need to be removed. The cut is treated with an antiseptic (activated carbon is suitable) and left in the shade for several hours until it weathers.

Cuttings of ampelous pelargonium are placed in an opaque glass of water (a tablet of activated carbon must be added to the water) or immediately planted in the ground. You can use peat tablets to grow cuttings. If the cutting begins to wither, cover it with a jar on top. There is no need to water the plants after planting, just lightly spray the soil. Roots of ivy-leaved pelargonium will appear within 2 weeks.

In winter, it will take twice as long for roots to form and the plant will need additional lighting, and flowering will not begin until June.

For the first five days after cuttings, the seedlings should be kept in a dark room. Then the plants are brought out into the light at a temperature of 14-16 degrees. A good sign of rooting is the appearance of new leaves.

Propagation by seeds

Growing ivy-leaved geranium from seeds is a labor-intensive process. It will take more than two months for the seeds of ampelous geranium to germinate. To speed up the process, rub the thick seed shell against sandpaper. The seeds are soaked first in a growth stimulator, then in plain water. Seeds are sown at a distance of 5 centimeters in a shallow container. The container with the seeds is covered with film and placed in a well-lit place.

The soil dries out quickly and The best way to moisten it - spray it from a spray bottle.

When the first shoots appear, the plants are ventilated and hardened by opening the film, first for 5 minutes, then longer. When 2-3 leaves appear, the film is removed and planted in separate pots. When the plant reaches 15 centimeters, it is pinched to form a branched bush. A pot for a young plant should not be more than 10 centimeters in diameter and no deeper than 14 centimeters. There must be a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Application in landscape design

Ivy-leaved pelargonium deserves a special place in garden and indoor landscaping. Its hardiness, low watering requirements and ability to withstand direct sunlight make it an ideal plant for vertical gardening in containers and flowerpots. Strong shoots will not be broken by the wind in balcony compositions, and the ability to weave along the support allows them to be used for small trellises. It looks great indoors all year round and retains its green leaf mass in winter.