Geraniums  are among the most popular and sought after plants. If they are cared for properly, they give us beautiful and very colorful flowers. You’ve probably seen balconies full of flowering geraniums, perhaps wondering why your geranium plant doesn’t bloom the same way.

One of the most common reasons why geraniums stop flowering is their exposure to very cold temperatures, frost or wind. Geraniums should be protected by placing them indoors during colder days. But this is not the only triggering factor  for geraniums not blooming:  we list some tricks below.

Put them in an area with light.

These beautiful plants cannot flower unless they have the right amount of natural light, that is, sunlight. The artificial light in the house is not intense enough to stimulate the growth of geraniums. But be careful: do not place geraniums in direct sunlight if they are in a shady environment, they could undergo drastic changes and die.

That said, it’s important to know that geraniums can also flourish in low light (not complete shade), so don’t be discouraged if you live in an apartment that isn’t adequately exposed to the sun’s rays.

Give the plant adequate space to grow.

When we buy a geranium plant and bring it home, we must assume that it has been in the same pot for a long time. Precisely for this reason, the plant should be transplanted into a larger pot, to give the roots adequate space and the possibility of obtaining nutrients from a greater amount of soil.

As they grow, the plants must be transplanted into larger pots, otherwise the plant will not bloom or even die.

Fertilize your geraniums

If your geraniums are planted in pots, it is recommended to fertilize them in spring and summer. Once they have reached their maximum size (geraniums are relatively small plants), it will no longer be necessary to transplant them and that is precisely why they need fertilization, which can be:

• organic fertilizer  : you can choose any of compost, humus, guano, manure, egg or banana shells. A handful is enough for each plant;
• Chemical fertilizers  : to make your geraniums bloom, you can opt for fertilizers produced specifically for this type of plants.

Water only when really needed

It may seem like generic advice, but giving the appropriate amount of water to the geranium plant is essential for its flowering. Controlling the frequency of watering is not easy: there are many factors to take into account, such as the climate of the area where you live, the type of soil or the size of the pot.

Geraniums do not like completely dry soil, but at the same time excessively wet soil could permanently damage them. The top layer of soil dries out quickly, while that closest to the roots remains moist for longer.

That is why it is important to check the moisture of the soil and this can be done by inserting a wooden stake into it.

Prevent the arrival of the geranium butterfly

The geeranium butterfly is an insect that causes a lot of damage to our favorite plants. During its larval stage it pierces the stems and eats the inside, blocking the growth and flowering of the plant.

There are products designed to prevent and combat the geranium butterfly. Ask at your trusted daycare center.

prune geraniums

An excellent trick to maintain the health of geraniums is to prune them at the end of winter, to encourage the growth of more stems and, consequently, more flowers. These prunings do not have to be drastic: it is enough to reduce the length of the stems by a few centimeters. Remember to use a clean, sharp knife or scissors.