did you know?

For more than 300 years, these natives of the southern hemisphere have been grown by northern gardeners. England's Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew had a geranium collection by the late 17th century; in 1753, the Swedish botanist Linnaeus, father of botanical Latin, listed 25 different kinds?but he classified them in the genus which is a cousin of

general maintenance:

Deadhead spent flowers regularly, and pinch growing tips in spring to encourage bushy habit. Remove discolored leaves to maintain a tidy appearance. Before the first hard frost, transplant to a pot and overwinter indoors in a bright window, taking care not to overwater; or take cuttings and root them indoors.

pests/diseases:

Caterpillars, gray mold and mildew may occur. Indoors, whiteflies, thrips, spidermites, and mealybugs may also occur.

controls:

Handpick caterpillars. To control whiteflies, thrips, and spidermites, apply insecticidal soap, following label directions. To control gray mold and mildew, reduce soil moisture by allowing top of soil to dry before watering.

how to sow/plant:

Plant in spring. Start with new plants or rooted cuttings. Choose a sunny to partly shady site with moist, well-drained soil, and amend with compost or well-rotted manure. Set plants at the same depth they were in pots, spacing at a distance equal to their mature spread. Water after planting, and mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Maintain uniform moisture all season. For container-grown plants, let the soil dry on top between waterings. Feed biweekly with a balanced, soluble fertilizer; or use a slow-release fertilizer, following label directions.

garden hint:

Martha likes to overwinter her fancy geraniums. Their striking leaves make them handsome indoor plants and their mature forms provide drama and scale when she moves the containers outside for the summer. Many gardeners grow geraniums for their foliage alone. If brightly colored flowers add an unwelcome contrast to your garden, simply pinch off the flower stalks before the buds open.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Deer Resistant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Flowerbed borders
• Indoors

other uses:

combine with:

purple sweet potato vine ( 'Blackie'), Joseph's coat, ( 'Rubiginosa'), coleus and