Why should geraniums be pruned?

Why do you need to hard prune geraniums?

Many flower lovers may wonder, isn’t geranium a perennial plant? How should I prune geraniums that are almost growing into trees? In fact, although geraniums are technically perennials, they are usually only cultivated as 2-3 year old plants. After this period of time, the geranium will definitely still be alive, but its flowering ability will become very poor, and there will be no point in caring for it. By re-propagating the seedlings by cuttings, you can get plants with good flowering properties again. If you don't prune it hard, the branches will continue to become woody from the second year onwards, and no new buds will grow. Although flowers will bloom on the top, they will be very few.

Why should geraniums be pruned hard in the fall?

Pruning geraniums hard in the fall is to restore their energy. After blooming in spring and losing weight in summer, geraniums are almost exhausted in autumn. Strong pruning at this time gives them a chance to be reborn and make full preparations for another outbreak next year.

What temperature is suitable for hard pruning geraniums in autumn?

Strong pruning can be carried out from the end of the dog days, but the specific time depends on the local night temperature. If the night temperature drops below 25℃ (in the high-humidity areas in the south, you can wait until it is below 20℃), strong pruning can be carried out. Strong pruning is not the later the better, especially for the big flower angel and angel that need low temperature vernalization. Strong pruning too late will make them unable to grow well before the temperature drops, and problems will easily arise during vernalization.

How to force shear?

Cut the branches to at least 3cm above the roots or lignified branches (leave more for tall varieties). Use sharp scissors to make smooth cuts. Some old leaves may remain after pruning, which is not a big deal. Once new leaves grow out, you can remove the old leaves.

Is fertilization necessary for hard pruning? Can it be done at the same time as repotting?

No fertilization is required during strong pruning, and it cannot be done at the same time as repotting. Wait until the new shoots have fully grown out before repotting. After repotting, you can start fertilizing according to your personal preference.