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Catchy inflorescence Pelargonium windows few people are surprised. The erect shrubs of Pelargonium or zonal geraniums are well known and loved by growers, but the ampelous varieties are not yet so well known and are only gaining popularity. But one has only to plant such a plant in hanging pots or to use for decorating window sills and balconies, it becomes clear that unpretentious, but unusually beautiful pelargoniums are simply indispensable in landscaping and can transform any corner.
In addition, the Pelargonium peltatum, ampella myopeliferous pelargonium can be used on vertical surfaces, and, if desired, forms a dense flowering carpet if planted in a garden on a flat surface. How to grow, multiply and care for pelargonium, so that plants enjoy flowering as long as possible, are attractive and healthy?
Cultivation of Ivy Pelargonium
The name Ivy Pelargonium shown in the photo is obliged to form leaves, like those of ivy, five-lobed, leathery and smooth. In nature, thin, but rather strong shoots of this variety are able to climb pelargonium on stony slopes, thanks to which the plant is scattered. But since at home, pelargonium is grown as an ampelous culture, stems up to 70–100 cm long form beautiful cascades and, hanging from a pot or a pot, give the window, balcony or terrace additional decoration.
Umbrella inflorescences, combining from 6 to 15 flowers, are formed in the axils of the green or, depending on the variety, variegated, leaves. Today you can find ileum pelargonium with simple and with spectacular double flowers of all tones and shades. Not uncommon varieties with contrasting spots on the petals, stripes and a brightly-defined border, as in the presented photo of Ivy Pelargonium.
Like other related species, ampella pelargonium loves the bright sun, it develops well and blooms with a long light day. The plant easily tolerates dry periods, and in summer it blooms beautifully outside the house, for example, outside the window in a balcony drawer or in a flowerpot in the garden plot. At the same time, the optimum temperature of maintenance is 20–25 ° C, but on hotter days with good watering, the bushes do not lose their decorative effect, do not wither and do not cease to bloom.
If ileal ampelous pelargonium is hardened, it is not afraid of a cold snap, however, subzero temperatures for plants are destructive.
When selecting a soil mixture for planting, they try to make the soil moisture-absorbing, loose and nutritious. However, the stagnation of moisture in the soil is dangerous by the rotting of the root system, so care is planned so that the surface of the soil from one to another watering dries out. Active growth of bushes begins in March and ends with the beginning of autumn. In this period, ileum Pelargonium blooms profusely, and plants, especially those in pots, must be fed.
It is best to keep the bushes with top dressing once a week, alternating organic matter and mineral supplements, but not to get involved in the introduction of nitrogen-containing substances.
If the soil is oversaturated with nitrogen, pelargonium reacts with the rapid growth of shoots and foliage, but flowering noticeably fades, less buds are formed and, if you do not change the feeding pattern, it ends altogether. For the formation of lush inflorescences of ileum pelargonium from spring to the end of summer, regular introduction of potash and phosphorus mixtures is required.
Comprehensive supplements with the predominance of these elements are also suitable. Magnesium sulfate is also an excellent tool for the grower. As a top dressing, this compound provides plants with magnesium and sulfur and provokes a long bud formation.
When caring for pelargonium and reproduction of bushes, it is important to consider that not only nitrogen causes the growth of greenery and stops flowering. The same effect produces an excessively large pot for plants. Therefore, when planting, it is better to give preference to containers only on the thickness of a finger with a larger existing diameter of the root system. You can also plant several bushes in one pot or balcony box, which will not allow the plants to “forget” about the formation of buds, and will give the composition originality and pomp.
At the end of winter or in March, they prune bare stems and pinch the shoots, which causes the ampelnnum ileum pelargonium to branch.
Ampelnaya pelargonium: summer outdoors
If pelargonium decorates a room, it does not have to adapt to changes in humidity, illumination and temperature, it blooms all summer in the most comfortable conditions, which cannot be said about the plants put out into the garden or outside the window. For the gradual acclimatization of ampellate ampelous pelargoniums, the bushes planted in the selected containers start to expose the street with the arrival of heat, making sure that the plants are not affected by freezing temperatures and have not been exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
In May, or a little later, when the time of frost has passed, pelargoniums can be sent to a permanent place where they will spend the whole summer until autumn, when the air temperature starts to fall to 10–15 ° C.Ileum Pelargoniums quickly enter a time of flowering and are very attractive if bushes with contrasting colors of flowers are blooming nearby.
Wintering conditions for ampellate flat pelargonium
With the onset of autumn, pelargonium is returned to the room, but not to warm rooms, and they create conditions close to winter in the homeland of plants - in South Africa.
- For this, a bright, cool and dry place is chosen for pelargoniums.
- Provides temperatures in the range of 7–15 ° C.
- Reduce watering, only moistening the soil to avoid the death of the roots.
- Leaves and stems do not moisturize, top dressing is completed a month before wintering begins.
In the offseason, the plants practically do not require special care, but it is not worthwhile to propagate pelargonium at this time. The cuttings root poorly, and the bushes are weak and elongated. If at home it is difficult to create a semblance of the South African winter, in August apical cuttings are cut from large plants and rooted. Young plants can winter on cool window sills inside the house, and in spring they can be planted on the balcony or in the garden.
Propagation of Ileum Pelargonium
You can propagate your favorite varieties of ampella Pelargonium by cutting and sowing seeds.
The first method is used more often, although the seeds of this species sprout beautifully and produce many powerful young bushes for planting. You can sow the seeds from November to April, given that the shoots in the winter time need additional lighting, providing a 12-hour light day. To make seedlings form a powerful root system, they make loose and light soil, mixing peat, sand and soddy, pre-disinfected soil in equal parts:
- You can plant seeds in large peat tablets or pots, without digging down more than 5 mm of seed.
- Then crops cover with a film or put in a hothouse.
- Watering is done very carefully. And in order not to blur the soil, it is better to use a spray gun.
After 7–10 days the first shoots will appear in a bright, warm room, and after a month, young ivy pelargonia can be planted in pots and begin feeding.
Reproduction and care of pelargonium in the case of grafting is also not difficult. Cuttings are obtained in August or March by cutting off the apical parts of the vertical shoots. For better development, it is better to choose shoots not less than 7–10 cm long with two pairs of healthy strong leaves. Rooting of cuttings is carried out in loose soil, where the shoots, dried for 12–15 hours, are treated with coal powder and dredged by 3-4 cm. Care during the reproduction of pelargonium in this way is similar to growing bushes from seeds.
For covering the cuttings of pelargoniums, it is better not to use a film, but a nonwoven material that permits moisture and prevents condensation.
After a month, the root system of the plants will get stronger, and the ivy ampelous pelargoniums can be transplanted into pots that are sized to fit. Flowering from young bushes can be expected after the first wintering.
Illness of Pelargonium Ivy
Since pelargoniums in the summertime are often planted in the garden or decorated with balconies, it is difficult for them to avoid fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Therefore, when seeing rusty or dry spots on the leaves, light areas or a yellow mosaic pattern, the florist should be alert and think about the health of the plant.
Mostly, Ileum Pelargoniums suffer from the attack of harmful fungi, viral mosaic and chlorosis.
Depending on the nature of the disease, bushes must be treated with special protective equipment, adjusted to top dressing and revise the irrigation schedule. After all, increased humidity, lack of lighting and weakness of plants are the main causes of pelargonic diseases. As a preventive measure, before planting pelargoniums, it is necessary to decontaminate the soil, do not allow excessive density of the bushes, which interferes with airing and provokes the development of fungi and pests.
When loosening the soil under the plants, yellowed and fallen leaves are removed, faded inflorescences are cut off and prevent overmoistening of the soil.
