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Among the numerous groups of geraniums, a special place is occupied by fragrant pelargonium. This type of plant does not differ beautiful flowering. But the ornamental leaves and fragrance emanating from the plants at a fleeting touch are remembered. Pelargonium depicted in the photo fragrant can not convey the aroma, but will help to know it at the meeting.
The distinction of fragrant Pelargonium from other species
The plant Pelargonium triste, first found on the Cape of Good Hope, brought to Europe, served as the basis for a large group of fragrant pelargonium. For three centuries, many varieties of fragrant geranium have been developed, which differ in the shape and color of the leaf blade. The presence of glands on the leaves and stems, which at the slightest touch, with a breath of breeze, emit aroma, remained unchanged. They smell like apple, rose, cinnamon, lemon, nutmeg. There are more than 150 flavors that are able to publish pelargoniums.
Glands are fine hairs like down growing on a leaf blade and on a stem. Phytoncides secreted detrimental effect on microbes in the room. Sometimes the fragrant plant is called the molar tree, because where the geranium settles, the moth does not start. Lists of this flower shift things, removing them for summer storage.
The leaves of any sort of fragrant pelargonium are decorative, this type of geraniums does not always bloom under indoor conditions. Flowers small, single. But there are varieties strewn with these little ones, which creates the impression that there are butterflies on the plant. In nature, pelargonium is a fragrant shrub, reaching more than a meter in height. Therefore, in cultural conditions, the plant tends to take as much space as possible.
In nature and in countries with a warm climate, this is a street garden plant. With the help of fragrant pelargonium arrange pendant gardens, decorate the stairs and facades. It is considered appropriate to put a pot with geraniums in spacious bright rooms.
Essential oil emitted by geranium is medicinal, used in perfumery. Therefore, where the climate allows, fragrant pelargonium is grown on plantations to produce essential oil.
How to care for fragrant pelargonium?
Propagate these ornamental plants easily. It is enough to pinch off the stalk and hold it in water or root it in the ground. If rooting is carried out in the ground, then the cutting should be held slightly in the air to dry the wound. Then plant in moist soil and cover with a cap for a week. Watering the soil, if the clod of the earth is dry, you can carefully around the cup that covers the planting.
This type of pelargonium does not tolerate peat substrates, therefore the soil mixture is composed of garden soil, sand and humus in equal shares. Before you arrange the plant in the pot, you need to make a drainage layer and disinfect the ground. You can put a stalk in a pot, take root, or a bush obtained from seedlings. The main thing is that the roots have enough space, but no excess volume. In a large pot, the plant does not use food, the earth accumulates pathogens, sours, the roots begin to hurt.
A pot with a flower is arranged on the lightest place. Pelargoniums are not afraid of direct sunlight. They can be grown in hanging pots, but with sufficient light. Watering plants moderate feeding with a small proportion of nitrogen fertilizers. Overfeeding with nitrogen will increase the decorativeness, but the flavor will decrease, it may disappear.
As one of the features of this type and proper care is the pinching and pruning of a houseplant. Without this operation, it can turn into a non-branching liana, which, randomly curving, takes up all the space on the window. Therefore, the formation of a bush must begin from the first days of cultivation, achieving branching.
Like any geranium, fragrant, does not tolerate stagnant water in the soil. Therefore, watering should be moderate without waterlogging. Root decay will destroy the plant. Therefore, it is better to water when the earth lump dries. A transplant is required as soon as the roots fill the pot and appear from the drain hole. The best time for transplanting and pruning will be early spring.
Pelargonium curly in nature is a shrub with woody stems. The leaves have curly edges, bent down, smell of lemon. Flowers are small, 2 petals are curved upwards, three are elongated. It is the basis for many hybrids.
A gray-haired lady with delicate leaves, from whom it is impossible to look away, this is a rare plant with jasmine aroma. She is good even without flowers, but small white-pink inconspicuous flowers give the bush refinement.
Pelargonium fragrant paniculata is a small bush. The leaves at the slightest touch emit the smell of nutmeg, peppermint roses. Blooms in summer until October. Does not like winter watering, you only need to make sure that the clod of the earth is not dry. Dry air carries easily, but lighting requires maximum.
