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What's wrong with my geraniums?
janer2
Posts: 59
These geraniums started off as plug plants and were potted up after a while in our conservatory. They look ill! The leaves have gone red /purple. They were only outdoors a few weeks ago. We haven't had any frosts since then. They are in a sunny south facing position and get loads of sun and I give them some Tomorite every couple of weeks. They're in a mixture of John Innes 2 and all purpose compost. I'm wondering though if I've over watered them? If so is there anything I can do?
0
Posts
They've caught a chill.
What you have are pelargoniums (often incorrectly called geraniums) and they are tender especially when young. As adults they will survive a touch of frost even, but when so young they are tender.
Your plants will recover. I wouldn't start feeding tomorite just yet, but keep them somewhere sheltered for a while yet. They'll be fine.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Ok, thank you! They were definitely sold as geraniums and not pelargoniums. Maybe Crocus got it wrong.
http://m.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/geranium-bright-red/classid.2000018766/
I would hold back on the feed until they start producing flowers Janer. If the compost was new then it contains enough compost for months of growth so I think you are overloading them. You also have far too many Geraniums for that one pot or are you just growing them on until they are bigger? Try not to water too much as Geraniums prefer to be on the dry side
Yes I'm planning to repot them as they grow. I'll hold back on the feed, thanks.
Crocus should know better!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
janer - it is a common misuse of the correct name but gardeners will generally accept it as 'ok to use'. Pete is correct, they are pelargoniums, geraniums being the hardy types we grow in our gardens.
Oh I see, yes, I have hardy geraniums too and they're totally different.