Geraniums are one of the most popular flowering plants grown in gardens and containers Their colorful blooms and attractive foliage make them a favorite for gardeners However, getting the most out of your geraniums requires feeding them the right plant food. This will ensure they thrive and produce plenty of flowers throughout the growing season.
When it comes to the best plant food for geraniums, there are a few key factors to consider:
The Importance of Fertilizing Geraniums
Geraniums are heavy feeders and need regular doses of plant food to look their best As annuals and container plants, their roots have limited access to nutrients Without fertilizing, geraniums often become stunted and produce fewer blooms.
Fertilizing accomplishes a few things
- Provides macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are vital for growth
- Supplies micronutrients such as magnesium, iron, and manganese
- Helps geraniums better absorb water and sunlight
- Fuels the growth of foliage and blooms
Geraniums fed on a regular basis will reward you with fuller, greener growth and more profuse flowering.
Key Nutrients in Geranium Fertilizers
When shopping for geranium plant food, pay attention to the NPK ratio. This refers to the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the fertilizer.
Nitrogen (N) promotes lush, green foliage.
Phosphorus (P) is important for flowering and root development.
Potassium (K) enhances overall plant health.
Look for an NPK ratio where the N, P, and K percentages are equal or close to equal. This balanced ratio provides the nutrients geraniums need for both vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
A 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 NPK ratio is ideal for geraniums. You can also use a “bloom booster” with a higher phosphorus percentage like 15-30-15 after buds form to promote prolific flowering.
Fertilizer Types for Geraniums
You can choose from organic or synthetic fertilizers when feeding geraniums. Each has its advantages:
Organic fertilizers feed plants slowly with nutrients from natural sources like manures, bone meal, and kelp. They improve soil health over time.
Synthetic fertilizers are formulated to quickly provide nutrients in a concentrated, fast-acting form. This allows precise control over feeding.
Most gardeners use synthetic fertilizers to achieve the best results with geraniums. Look for water-soluble synthetic fertilizer that can be dissolved and applied as a foliar feed. This allows rapid nutrient absorption through the leaves.
Popular synthetic fertilizer choices include:
- Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster Flower Food
- Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster
- EZ-Gro Flower Food
How to Fertilize Container Geraniums
Follow these tips when fertilizing potted geraniums:
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Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the active growing season.
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Water plants with a diluted liquid fertilizer solution. Always follow label directions.
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For granular fertilizers, sprinkle evenly over the soil surface taking care to avoid contact with plant leaves.
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Increase feeding frequency for geraniums in small containers or poor quality soil.
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Reduce feeding during cooler weather or after flower buds appear.
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Cease fertilizing 6-8 weeks before first fall frost when plants enter dormancy.
Fertilizing Geraniums in the Garden
In-ground geraniums also need regular fertilizer for best performance:
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Fertilize every 4-6 weeks from spring until mid-summer.
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Spread granular fertilizer around the bases of plants and water in well.
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Use a liquid fertilizer solution to feed established plantings.
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Stop feeding around mid-summer. This prevents excessive foliage growth.
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Resume light fertilizing in early fall to support overwintering.
Signs Your Geraniums Need Fertilizer
Watch for these clues that your geraniums are hungry for plant food:
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Yellowing or loss of lower leaves
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Weak, stunted growth
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Pale flowers
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Smaller than expected plant size
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Decline of plant vigor
Any of these indicate it’s time to feed with a balanced fertilizer to perk up your geraniums.
Overfeeding Geraniums
While regular fertilizing is important, it is possible to overdo it. Using too much plant food or fertilizing too often can damage geraniums.
Signs of fertilizer burn include:
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Brown leaf tips and margins
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Curled or distorted foliage
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Leaf scorch or drop
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Root damage
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Fewer blooms
To avoid overfertilizing, carefully follow package label instructions and monitor how your plants respond. It’s better to underfeed than overfeed when in doubt.
Best Practices for Fertilizing Geraniums
Follow these tips to fertilize your geraniums properly:
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Choose a balanced fertilizer with an equal NPK ratio.
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Feed plants regularly every 2-4 weeks during active growth.
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Use a diluted liquid fertilizer for efficient nutrient absorption.
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For in-ground plants, switch to granular fertilizer.
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Reduce or stop feeding as plants enter dormancy.
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Watch for signs of overfeeding and immediately flush soil.
The Takeaway
There’s no doubt that feeding geraniums with the right plant food is crucial for vigorous, flowering plants. Look for fertilizers with an equal balance of key nutrients. Feed container plants with a diluted liquid fertilizer solution every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. With proper fertilizing, your geraniums will thrive and bloom profusely.
Best Time To Fertilize Geraniums
You should fertilize annual geraniums during the growing season, which is typically May through October. Start by applying a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks according to the product’s instructions. When the plant starts to bloom, switch to a fertilizer high in potassium such as a tomato feed to encourage a long blooming season.
Avoid feeding during the hottest parts of the day when the chance of fertilizer burn is higher. Reduce the frequency of feedings in the fall to once per month or less. You can overwinter annual geraniums by cutting them back, reducing watering, and storing them in a cool, sunny spot. During this time, no feeding is necessary. Let the plants rest until they start to show signs of new growth in the spring.
Hardy geraniums can be fertilized annually in the spring with a balanced fertilizer to encourage blooming. A yearly application of organic compost around the base of the plant is also advised.
How to Fertilize Geraniums
Geraniums prefer to grow in soil with neutral to alkaline pH. We always advise testing your native soil for nutrients and pH level before choosing soil supplements. If your soil is on the acidic side, you can sweeten the soil with lime, crushed oyster shells, or wood ash.
To encourage growth and flowering, you can feed geraniums with a slow-release fertilizer or liquid potassium fertilizer. Annual geraniums can be fed regularly during the summer months; for perennial geraniums, one application in the spring is likely sufficient. If you are using liquid-soluble fertilizer, make sure you provide plenty of water to avoid buildup of fertilizer salts. Avoid fertilizers with high nitrogen, which will promote foliage growth and reduce flowering. Alternatively, you can topdress the root zone with a high quality compost, which will release nutrients slowly into the soil and help retain water.
Signs that your annual geranium is not getting enough nitrogen include slow growth and yellow leaves. Leaves that turn dark green or reddish to purple can indicate phosphorus deficiency. Your annual geranium may be deficient in potassium if the lower leaves die or stems become weak. Hardy geraniums rarely experience nutrient deficiency.
Best Fertilizer for Geraniums | Feed Your Plant With Right Fertilizers
FAQ
What is the best food for geraniums?
The recommendation for constant feed fertilizing of geraniums is generally 200 to 250 ppm of nitrogen. Experience suggests nutrient problems are minimized when a constant fertilizer program is used. Fertilizer types: 15-15-15 (Geranium Special), 15-16-17 Peat-lite, and 20-10-20 Peat-lite.
Is Miracle-Gro good for geraniums?
How do I perk up my geraniums?
If your plants start looking “leggy”, which often happens with reduced light, prune or “pinch back” stems just above a leaf node to produce new growth. Water the geraniums when the soil feels dry to the touch. The second way to overwinter geraniums is to take cuttings.
What does Epsom salt do for geraniums?
Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, can benefit geraniums by providing magnesium, a nutrient that helps plants absorb other essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This can lead to healthier, bushier plants with more flowers and better color.
What is the best fertilizer for geraniums?
Fertilizing your geranium plants is really important, and if you don’t do it regularly, your plants will not flower to their full potential. Keep reading to learn about the best fertilizers for geraniums for endless blooms the whole growing season! 1. SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZER 2. FISH EMULSION 3. BLOOM BOOSTER
Can geraniums eat tomato fertilizer?
Yes, tomato fertilizers like Lilly Miller Morcrop 5-10-10 can be used for geraniums due to their similar nutrient requirements for blooms. What type of fertilizer is best for outdoor geraniums? Slow-release granular fertilizers like Osmocote Smart-Release 14-14-14 are ideal for outdoor geraniums, offering sustained nutrition.
What nutrients do geraniums need?
Most fertilizers consist of three major nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. And each of the “Big Three” has an equally important role to play in a geranium’s overall health and growth. Nitrogen helps spur growth. Phosphorus aids in cell development and bloom production and potassium helps with water balance and health.
Can you use Jobes fertilizer on geraniums?
Since Jobes fertilizer is a slow-release spike fertilizer, water your Geraniums based on the product label is. Another good thing about Jobe’s spike fertilizer is it doesn’t have a bad odor so you can also use it on indoor plants. The formula is not only exclusive for geraniums but can also be used for vegetables, fruits, shrubs, and trees.
How do you keep geraniums healthy?
Simply mix 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and apply it on the third or fourth watering. Liquid seaweed is also used to nourish geraniums. It contains several vitamins, enzymes, and 70 minerals that help boost root growth and bud formation. Canned tuna water is a gardener’s secret.
Can geraniums be fertilized?
Aside from fertilizers, there are also other gardener’s secrets that you can apply to your geraniums. Here are some organic ingredients available at home that you can use in nourishing your plants: Epsom salt is a good source of magnesium sulfate. It contains 10% of magnesium and 13% of sulfate.