Joanne McKinnon Garden Photography

Posts Tagged ‘Pelargoniums’

Richters Herbs packaging

Yesterday, I’ve received my second order of the season from Richters Herbs. As you can see from the photo, great care goes into securing the plants for shipping. I opened the box immediately and placed the plants in water. All three are in good condition and the blooms assures me that I’ve received the right plants. The plants are Hardy Chicago Fig, Brilliant Geranium (pelargonium) and Scarlet Unique Geranium (pelargonium).

Last fall I placed this pelargonium upside down in a thick paper bag. When stored this way, I take them out once a month to let them soak in a bowl for about an hour. Then back it goes in the paper bag.
When the temperature stays above 12C, it will be planted directly in a flowerbed.

Over wintered pelargonium

I brought this pelargonium out of storage about 15 days ago. I’m surprise it survived. Last fall, when I lifted my still blooming pelargoniums, I had to decide, which would be potted up to over winter as houseplants. I ran out of sunny spots before I was done. Some were placed upside down in boxes. Then I ran out of boxes and places to store them. So I decided to try over wintering the rest upside down in thick paper bags. The idea is to take them out about once a month and let the roots soak in a bowl of tepid water. That method usually works fine for me.

I lost track of two bags when they got covered by accident, so no soaking since last October. Most of the plants had dried and died. They did have some green left but not much. All three plants were pruned and placed in water for 2 days. When the time came to pot them up, a few things were added to the potting soil: Lime, alfalfa, bone meal and a pinch of granular fertilizer. All three survived and are producing new leaves.

One is a Hollywood Star and the other two are Horizon Coral Spice. All were started last winter from seeds from Thompson & Morgans World Top Six Mix

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Caroline Schmidt pelargonium

Original name of the Wilhelm Langguth sold today in America. Caroline Schmidt was created in Germany in 1898. Mrs Parker is a sport of this pelargonium. A photo with leaves is in the Pelargonium Collection . In this photo you can see that a small part of the bloom is in a different shade. According to my research, this is how Mrs Parker first appeared. In Wikipedia, Sports are described as prone to reverse to its original form.
So far my Mrs Parker still blooms pink.

Pelargonium Postcard

Elegance Burgundy

Posted a description and close up of this plant in the Pelargonium Collection section on the main site. I placed the pot in an open shed to let it have morning sun. But for the rest of the day, it doesn’t get any direct sunlight. I use an algae based fertilizer once a week and I keep the soil evenly moist.

So far no problem with pest or disease. When I bought it, some of the leaves were covered with a thin white film. It was sharing a crowded bench with other regals. Now it gets good air circulation and the leaves are healthy. I will continue to add fertilizer as long as it blooms. Then I will let it rest for a short period under a shop light.

I found that Regals don’t do very well in clay pots like other pelargonium. They are also heavy feeders. The pot was half filled with aged compost, the rest is good quality potting soil. Of the three Regals I have, this one blooms better.