Growing geraniums in pots can help gardeners add a splash of color to a backyard garden or patio. When choosing plants, it is helpful to talk to a nursery specialist who knows what varieties are well-suited to a particular area. It is important to choose a wide container that is not too deep and has several holes along the bottom for drainage. The plants should be watered frequently, but the soil needs to completely dry out between watering in order to keep the roots from becoming rotten.
It can be very important to choose the right specimen to grow in a container. An ideal geranium will have thick, meaty stems and dark, robust flowers. A taller flower is not necessarily the best choice, as many larger plants have very thin stems. People should avoid any that seem to have very weak stems or thin roots, as these may not transplant well.
Propagating geraniums is best done when these flowers are placed in direct sunlight. Generally speaking, the pots should be located in an area that receives at least six hours of sun each day. This is true unless temperatures reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.22 C), in which case geraniums in pots should be moved to a shady spot during the afternoon. They should be brought indoors whenever nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C) and left inside for the winter should daytime temperatures reach the freezing point.
Caring for geraniums requires providing lots of organic matter for the soil. Gardeners should add some type of organic matter to geraniums in pots at least once a month, but two times monthly might be better during the summer. Some good materials could be grass clippings, shredded leaves, or pine straw. These flowers also need to be fertilized regularly with a 20-20-20 type fertilizer, which means there are equal amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. People should add this mixture to the soil at least once a month, but more often if the plant appears to be malnourished.
Geraniums in pots may sometimes develop brown foliage or blooms. This can often be a sign of disease or lack of water. Should a plant develop brown foliage, these sections should be cut off and discarded in order to prevent the entire plant from dying. A gardener may want to evaluate how he is caring for geraniums in order to determine if the plant has a disease or is becoming dehydrated.