Lady or Martha Washington Geraniums might well be called the azalea-flowered geraniums because they rival azaleas in color, flower form, and brilliance.
Some varieties of these showy geraniums (classified as Pelargonium domesticum) surpass the azaleas in the array of color combinations found in their showy umbels of bloom. However, they also rival the pansy in this respect.
The gamut of color in the various named varieties of Lady Washington geraniums, ranging from white through blush to deep pink and soft lavender, and the overlay tints and shades which appear, are breathtaking.
Then there are the various intensities of red almost approaching black and the pale lavenders intensifying to deepest purple. Added contrasts include striking colors around the edges of the petals and pencillings and blotches, which may be soft or intense.
It has often been said erroneously that this group of geraniums never make good pot plants. Yet, this statement is not borne out by the displays on trips in some of the large commercial greenhouses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Of course, it takes a little “know-how,” but the cultural practices needed for success with these spectacular flowers are neither complicated nor difficult.
Start With Carefully Selected Cuttings
Any grower, amateur or commercial, should start with carefully selected cuttings. Unfortunately, I believe that many growers do not take sufficient care in selecting stock plants.
Instead, they seem to use what they have on hand rather than purchase the best cuttings available from wholesale growers.
Light Potting Mix
Use a light soil mixture with an alkaline reaction.
Pinch Out Established Plants
Pinch out the top of each plant after it is well established and has reached a height of from five to eight inches. Pinching, which encourages the plants to branch, is an art that is easily acquired with a bit of experience.
Unfortunately, my observations indicate that many commercial growers do not pinch back their plants to develop specimens.
Carefully Follow A Watering and Fertilizing Schedule
Adopt a program of watering and fertilizing and follow it carefully. Most commercial growers water on regular schedules whether it is needed or not.
Usually, they use the same kind of fertilizer on all their potted plants, except those which require a special acid-type plant food.
Be Careful Shifting Plants
Be careful in shifting plants from one pot size to another since Lady Washington geraniums seem to perform best when they are a little root-bound.
Although most of the plants I saw were too tall, a few who shifted their plants to four-inch pots had much better specimens.
The essential element for sturdy plants started in the winter is sun. If each plant is to get its share of sunlight, it must be turned at regular intervals.
Select Varieties Thoughtfully
Careful plant selection is vital, and it is always stimulating to grow some of the newest varieties. However, many of the old favorites will probably never be surpassed since they have proven themselves over the years.
Perhaps one reason why these old “tried and true” kinds are among the best in the field is that they are not too highly hybridized. Many of the newer varieties have not been carefully bred or selected.
Satisfied with their first efforts, many hybridizers proceeded to reproduce them vegetatively without obtaining the best possible plants, which might have been developed with further breeding.
Several hybridizers work arduously to produce worthwhile new varieties of Martha Washington geraniums for pot culture.
From my own experience Martha Washington geranium care and from the observations I have made on trips, I offer the following tips on Geranium culture for the homeowner.
5 Cultural Tips On Growing Martha Washington Geraniums
- Occasionally, all geraniums in pots should be allowed to dry out thoroughly, but never to the wilting stage.
- Rainwater is better than water that has been chemically treated.
- Balanced fertilizer is essential but must be applied carefully. Always apply when the soil is moist, especially if you are using liquid fertilizer.
- Remember that too much nitrogen tends to produce large leaves. When the plant approaches the bud and blooming stage, nitrogen should be significantly reduced and superphosphate increased.
- Too many plants do not branch well when grown under abnormal home conditions. Therefore, they must be pinched back even though it delays the bloom for an extended period.
- Plants need as much sun as it’s possible to give them.
HCRM-0657 – by H. Thomas