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Geraniums

ElviraElvira Posts: 17
in Problem solving

does anyone cut down their geraniums (not pelargoniums) after flowering? If so, does it weaken the plants?

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Posts

  • DaisydayDaisyday Posts: 373
    1. My experience is that geraniums will flower again later in the year if you cut off the dead flowers. Far from weakening the plant it strengthens it as it doesn't have to use energy to make seed . image
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    I do it to nearly all of mine then give them a feed of pelleted chicken manure and a good drink.  3 weeks later they have a fresh covering of new foliage which is healthy and attractive even if they don't flower again, but they often do.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • TabbyfaTabbyfa Posts: 35

    I'm a fairly new gardner but I've done a bit of research on Geraniums and bought three different types. I've been deadheading them *taking off the stalk with the flower where it meets the main part of the plant* as soon as the flowers go a bit drab and looks over. Within the week a whole new set of blooms keep popping up! image Keep doing this through the summer to keep having beautiful flowers. 

  • FirecrackerFirecracker Posts: 256

    Maybe I'll do this to mine this year, sounds a good thing image now i've a bit more time.image 

  • Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759

    How far back do you cut them ?  I was thinking of doing this for the first time this year. 

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Cut them right down to the ground.



    My boss just cut the leaves off his, leaving the stalks, which looked silly. But I kept quiet about it.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Birdy13Birdy13 Posts: 595

    Elvira, I had the same query last year and thought you might like to see these pictures.

    My geraniums 2nd June 2014:

    image


      8th August 2014, (10 -14 days after cutting to the ground):  

    image


     

    image

     

    1st September 2014:

     

    image


      Today, 17th June 2015:

     

    image

     Clearly cutting back hard does work!

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698

    I wouldn't mind hacking my G. 'Brookside' back now... they're still in flower but getting a bit ungainly (I didn't realise how shaggy they would get when I planted them!) Do you reckon they'll come back into flower if I do it now?

    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Just chopped my G. Phaeum hard back.  I'll give them some chicken manure pellets and a good watering and they'll be leafing up again in no time image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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