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Thursday, June 20th, 2019

 

We have been asked quite frequently this past spring: “Why aren’t my geraniums blooming?” There are a few different reasons as to why some geraniums are having trouble this year in particular.

Cool Spring

It has been a cooler spring this year in 2019 and it continues to drag into this early summer. Geraniums thrive during daytime temperatures between 21 – 29 degrees Celsius (70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit), and they can maintain their blooms during nighttime temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) during the blooming season. This could mean that this cooler-than-normal spring could be the cause of the blooming delay that many of us are facing.

Watering Tips

Geraniums like moist soil, but if they are given too much water, it can prevent them from blooming. The roots need loose soil to help them breathe, otherwise when the soil becomes waterlogged, the roots can’t take in the  oxygen they need and the plant will suffer. If you plan to put your geraniums into planter or a pot, be sure it has drainage holes. Only water it when the top layer of the soil is dry. When caring for geraniums planted outside, be sure to use a light soil that isn’t too dense. Otherwise, you can add amendments such as compost and sand to allow the soil to drain effectively.

Lighting Conditions

Sunlight is essential for geraniums to bloom. They need at least six hours of sunlight per day to have enough energy to bloom. If it doesn’t get enough light, your plant will continue to grow, but it is unlikely to bloom. The stems may start to grow tall, without adding any new leaves, which means it is possibly looking for more sunlight.

As of right now as we are a day away from summer, all we can do is wait until the warm weather comes. As soon as the sun breaks free from behind these rain clouds, we should see more geraniums blooming!