I must admit I have never seen any useful insects on my pelargoniums. They do seem to attract the pests though as I'm treating mine (still indoors up North here) for whitefly.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
In South Wales near the coast our Pelargoniums and standard Fuchsias are now outside but only since yesterday, the glasshouse has been a cold house for about a month, when frosts were forecast, spun fleece was used as cover, did the trick, runner bean plants in pots are in a topless cold frame to keep them out of the wind, will be in the ground shortly, sticks already up, potatoes pushing through nicely, need to earth up this week, onion sets growing well as are peas.
Lovely to read all your comments and thanks - I didn't grow them from cuttings but they will have a pride of place in our garden this coming season.
Cornwall has a milder climate that Gsy??? - as my daughter would say - "no way"! We just don't shout about our fantastic climate as much as people in Cornwall do......! I think a lot depends on exactly where in Cornwall you are Verdun - as an island when one side is windy and cooler we just trot off (or drive) to the other side of the island to be in a sheltered spot and so much warmer - and that probably rings true in Cornwall too - depending on whether you are facing the prevailing S/W wind or more sheltered in the North of the county.
The only problems we get with the geraniums/pelargoniums is a few caterpillars munching through the leaves - but I usually spend a few minutes pinching them out or putting them on the bird table.
I usually take them out of the pot and store them bareroot over winter but this year I put them in a cold-but not freezing-backroom with no water for three months. They've been outside for about 6 weeks and are full of buds.
They look amazingly healthy David - I can't believe that you stored them bareroot - I suppose a cold GH wouldn't have the same effect - on some sunny winter days the temperature can by 10 degrees for a few short hours & then almost freezing overnight.
GD, what I meant was that usually I store them bareroot but this year just left them in the pots and dry for three mos.. They lost about half their leaves but came back super.
O.k. thanks for clarifying davids10 - I might give that a go next winter - I must admit I feel awful just putting them on the compost heap when all sign of buds has gone usually after Christmas - it seems an awful waste.
i took cuttings last year and they rooted, then over winter i put them in the cold but not freezing utilty lean to, i didn't water them for about three months also (more neglect than design) and they have come back fine as soon as i watered them, i have taken more cuttings off of them since but none are outside yet, thought it would be too cold for them? i'm in the south east, where are you davids10?
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I must admit I have never seen any useful insects on my pelargoniums. They do seem to attract the pests though as I'm treating mine (still indoors up North here) for whitefly.
In South Wales near the coast our Pelargoniums and standard Fuchsias are now outside but only since yesterday, the glasshouse has been a cold house for about a month, when frosts were forecast, spun fleece was used as cover, did the trick, runner bean plants in pots are in a topless cold frame to keep them out of the wind, will be in the ground shortly, sticks already up, potatoes pushing through nicely, need to earth up this week, onion sets growing well as are peas.
Red geraniums are our favourites, they glow in the evening light.
Lovely to read all your comments and thanks - I didn't grow them from cuttings but they will have a pride of place in our garden this coming season.
Cornwall has a milder climate that Gsy??? - as my daughter would say - "no way"! We just don't shout about our fantastic climate as much as people in Cornwall do......! I think a lot depends on exactly where in Cornwall you are Verdun - as an island when one side is windy and cooler we just trot off (or drive) to the other side of the island to be in a sheltered spot and so much warmer - and that probably rings true in Cornwall too - depending on whether you are facing the prevailing S/W wind or more sheltered in the North of the county.
The only problems we get with the geraniums/pelargoniums is a few caterpillars munching through the leaves - but I usually spend a few minutes pinching them out or putting them on the bird table.
I usually take them out of the pot and store them bareroot over winter but this year I put them in a cold-but not freezing-backroom with no water for three months. They've been outside for about 6 weeks and are full of buds.
.I agrre, nice terracotta.
They look amazingly healthy David - I can't believe that you stored them bareroot - I suppose a cold GH wouldn't have the same effect - on some sunny winter days the temperature can by 10 degrees for a few short hours & then almost freezing overnight.
GD, what I meant was that usually I store them bareroot but this year just left them in the pots and dry for three mos.. They lost about half their leaves but came back super.
O.k. thanks for clarifying davids10 - I might give that a go next winter - I must admit I feel awful just putting them on the compost heap when all sign of buds has gone usually after Christmas - it seems an awful waste.
i took cuttings last year and they rooted, then over winter i put them in the cold but not freezing utilty lean to, i didn't water them for about three months also (more neglect than design) and they have come back fine as soon as i watered them, i have taken more cuttings off of them since but none are outside yet, thought it would be too cold for them? i'm in the south east, where are you davids 10 ?