Pelargonium April Snow - growing geraniums
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Pelargonium, or geranium, is grown by many flower lovers. One of the most beautiful varieties of this amazing flower is April Snow Pelargonium, or April Snow.
Pelargonium April Snow - what is this flower
It is a rosaceous variety of pelargonium. Its inflorescences look like roses collected in a wreath or bouquet. This flower belongs to the genus Pelargonium from the Geraniaceae family. This genus includes many different types of pelargonium, both grown in the wild and bred by breeders. Geranium April snow is of the zonal type.
How April Snow blooms
Brief description and history of origin
An unusually beautiful flower is admired by everyone who looks at it. Pelargonium April Snow is famous for its lush, strong inflorescences. Each of them grows up to 20 buds, similar in shape to a rose. The color of the terry petals depends on the level of illumination. Most often, white flowers with a pink tint grow on a low bush. If the flower grows under the sun's rays, then its petals will be pale pink with bright edges. In a shaded room, the flower will remain pale or dull white. A green core is visible in each bud.
April Snow is a pelargonium with large smooth emerald leaves. This variety can be recognized by the brown line in the middle of the leaf.
The European Society of Plant Breeders has recognized April Snow pelargonium as the best variety of this ornamental plant. The delicate pale pink flowers were bred by Swedish breeders in the Sutarve nursery.
Rosebud pelargonium looks like a bouquet of roses
Features of growing this variety of geranium
Pelargonium April of Dreams requires good care. The flower needs a lot of attention. Its stem grows quickly and stretches upward, so it must be pinched. Thanks to pinching, an elegant, beautiful bush is formed.
How to care for April snow at home
Pelargonium April seam (as some owners call this flower) needs care. Taking care of this plant at home is not too difficult. To do this, you need to show responsibility.
Illumination and temperature conditions
Geranium April snow needs bright diffused lighting. In winter, you will need additional lighting. A lamp can be installed above the plant, leaving it on for the whole day.
Pelargonium April snow thrives at 17-18 ° C during the summer months, although other varieties prefer warmer air. In winter, 12-15 ° C is enough for a flower. Protect it from cold air and drafts.
In bright sunlight, a bright pink border appears on the leaves.
Watering rules and humidity
The hardest part of caring for April snow geraniums is watering. The amount of moisture that the flower receives must be controlled. There are many strict rules to follow.
Often you need to water geraniums in several cases:
- during flowering;
- if the weather is hot and the plant receives a lot of bright light;
- if the air is too dry;
- if the flower is in a well-ventilated room or in a draft;
- if the plant is in a clay pot.
More rare watering is required in other situations:
- in the first week after transplant;
- in winter;
- if the weather is cold;
- if the flower does not have enough light;
- if the air is too humid;
- if the plant is in a plastic pot;
- if the room is poorly ventilated.
There shouldn't be too much moisture. If the soil near the sides of the pot is dry, then it's time to water the geraniums. Water needs to be defended during the day.
On the left is a flower that grew in the sun, on the right - that grew in the shade
Top dressing and soil quality
You need to feed geraniums with fertilizers every month during the warm season. Observing the state of the geranium, the florist will understand whether it is necessary to fertilize the flower. Top dressing is necessary in several cases:
- pelargonium became lethargic and weak;
- the stem has become less elastic;
- buds bloom too slowly, do not open at all, or fall off;
- leaves fade, wither and fly around;
- spots appeared on the leaves.
When these signs appear, complex fertilizer is applied to the soil for pelargonium.
First, the soil is watered with water, and then fed. It is necessary to use complex fertilizers intended for geraniums. Also suitable as fertilizers:
- a solution of humus and ash;
- eggshell infusion;
- tincture of onion peel and yeast;
- the water in which the fish or cereals were washed;
- decoctions of vegetables, fruits, berries;
- tea or coffee tinctures.
You can prepare geranium soil yourself. This requires several components:
- turf or garden soil;
- humus;
- peat;
- sand.
All these components must be mixed in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 1. You can also buy soil made specifically for pelargonium at the store.
Bright border on the petals
Flower container size
Pelargonium does not need a pot that is too large. The more intensively it grows, the more space it needs, so you need to transplant the flower into a more spacious pot.
Pruning and replanting
It is necessary to regularly form a bush, cutting and pinching the shoots. The plant is pruned significantly in the last days of February or early March. As it grows, the regrown shoots are shortened throughout the year.
Before transplanting, it is necessary to disinfect the prepared soil. There are several ways:
- fry the soil in a pan in the oven or over a fire;
- freeze the soil in the freezer at negative temperatures;
- pour a solution of potassium permanganate;
- treat the substrate with fungicides.
You need to remove the plant from the old pot, shake off the soil from the root and transplant it into a larger pot.
After pinching, new shoots with buds grow
Features of flowering plants
Due to its constant lush flowering of pelargonium, April Snow has become famous in all corners of the globe.
A period of activity and rest
Pelargonium April snow can bloom almost all year round. For this ability, flower growers love her. In order for geranium to bloom constantly, you need to take good care of it.
Types and shape of flowers
In one bud, three flowers will grow, outwardly similar to roses.Just one bush can grow two dozen buds. The brighter the lighting in the room, the more saturated the color of the petals will be. Rose lovers can grow Rosebud Pelargonium while constantly admiring the beautiful flowers.
Flower reproduction methods
Geranium can be propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds. These procedures are carried out in the spring when it gets warm. The plant will take some time to take root.
Seed propagation
It is necessary to prepare, disinfect and loosen the soil in advance.
April Snow geranium seeds are lightly rubbed with palms and then soaked twice. First, the seeds must be soaked for 1 hour in a solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are kept in a growth accelerator for 1 hour, too.
After that, small holes with a depth of 0.3 mm need to be made in the ground. There should be a distance of 5–6 cm between the holes. Seeds are placed in these holes and the soil is watered. Then the container with the seedlings is covered with glass or plastic wrap. It needs to be opened every day to water and ventilate the ground. Sprouted seedlings, on which 2-3 small leaves have appeared, need to be transplanted into a pot.
This method is only suitable for experienced growers.
April Snow grows fast
Propagation by cuttings
An easier and faster way to propagate pelargonium is by cuttings. Before planting, the soil must also be disinfected.
A cutting 7–8 cm long is cut from the shoots of a healthy bush, cleaned of all leaves and dried in the air for several hours. Then it needs to be rooted in moist soil.
A beautiful flower will be a great decoration for your home or garden.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
Pelargonium suffers greatly due to excess moisture, so the grower should not flood the flower. Excessive moisture provokes the appearance of fungus. Then mold appears on the ground, a gray coating covers the entire plant as a whole. In addition, viruses threaten geraniums. The main symptom of a viral disease is a dry yellowed leaf core.
How to deal with them
With a fungal disease, you need to remove all the leaves and treat the flower with fungicides. It is then fertilized and planted in new soil. If the disease has strongly affected Pelargonium, then it can no longer be saved. You can cut off healthy shoots, soak them in an antifungal liquid, and grow a new flower from them.
A flower that can replace roses
If pelargonium is infected by a virus, then it cannot be propagated. All leaves and flowers are cut off from a diseased flower.
April Snow geranium has won the hearts of flower growers all over the world. These beautiful flowers can be grown at home on a windowsill or in a summer cottage. They will bloom all summer, the main thing is to provide minimal care.
