Lush beauty ampelous pelargonium - what kind of plant is it and what needs care?

Ampelic pelargonium is a decorative culture characterized by bright, long and abundant flowering.

The number of her fans is increasing from year to year. The variety of colors and shapes of flowers and leaves is striking.

It adorns the interiors of houses, apartments, balconies and terraces. It is also actively used in landscape design for brightly flowering hanging gardens.

Botanical description and history of the geranium ivy

Ampelic pelargonium, or ivy geranium, belongs to the geranium family. South Africa is considered her homeland, so the flower belongs to thermophilic plants and tolerates a lack of moisture. The flower first appeared in Holland in the 16th century.

In Europe, pelargonium appeared in the 17-18 centuries. But then this flower was considered an African exotic, and in the 18-19 centuries, pelargonium became one of the most popular decorative cultures. The cost of seeds is 140-150 rubles.

Features of this grade

Ampel palargonium has a wide variety of colors. Flowers can be:

• white
• lilac;
• pink (about varietal varieties of pink pelargonium read here);
• scarlet;
• red.

The appearance of the flowers resembles peonies. The leaves are smooth, the length of the branches is 70-90 cm. The peculiarity of the plant is long-term flowering and ease of propagation. The first flowers can be observed already in early spring, and flowering lasts until late autumn.

In addition to prolonged flowering, the plant differs in voluminous flowers of an interesting shape. In addition to external beauty, ampelous pelargonium is incredibly hardy.

Common species

Ampelic pelargonium is a plant for hanging gardens. It features flexible shoots that can curl or hang beautifully. The ampelous species of this ornamental culture include the pelargonium cone.

Her homeland is South Africa, where in natural conditions it cascades from the slopes of the hills. The length of the shoots reaches 90 cm.

The leaves are five-lobed, whole, fleshy. Their width reaches 3-6 cm.

The flowers of this decorative culture are cactus-shaped and star-shaped. They are concentrated on long peduncles and collected in umbrella inflorescences, the diameter of which is 8 cm. There are 30 flowers in the inflorescence.

The flowering time of each is 5-6 days. Flowers can be simple and double (about double pelargonium can be found here). The color palette is wide, includes such shades:

1. white;
2. pink;
3. purple;
4. lilac.

Flowers can be two-tone, with a border, strokes, spots.

Photo

Below you can find photos of the colors of pelargonium ampelous.

Landing rules

So that the plant blooms for a long time, is not affected by pests and diseases, carry out landing activities taking into account the following recommendations:

1. To plant ampel pelargonium, use hanging baskets, flowerpots, balcony boxes.
2. Since the plant is photophilous, it must be placed on the sunny facades of houses. So they will look beautiful and organic.
3. Conduct planting activities in spring or early fall.
4. Plant seedlings in a window box in one row. To maintain a distance of 15 cm between plants.
5. Regularly water young seedlings, and apply mineral fertilizers in small portions.

Growing and caring for a flower at home

Lighting and location

For this plant, it is necessary to choose a bright place, which is not always possible to find in modern apartments. Optimal is to install flower pots on the windowsill, whose windows face south.

Soil requirements

Ampelic pelargonium makes modest demands on the soil. It is necessary to prepare a nutritious, loose substrate, with a small addition of clay. To prepare the soil mixture, take in equal proportions the following components:

• peat;
• sand;
• turf;
• sheet earth.

Watering

For long and abundant flowering, ampelic pelargonium must be properly watered. This flower positively responds to good moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil.

Fertilizer application

To feed the plant during flowering (from March to August) will be every week. Use mineral complex fertilizers of low concentration. Pelargonium positively responds to top dressing prepared at home:

• Sugar. 40 g sugar per 1 liter of water.
• Ash. This is a source of potassium, which is important for pelargonium during flowering. It also contains calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium in a form easily accessible to the plant (20 g per 1 liter of water).
• Eggshell. It is added to the ground. This is an excellent source of calcium, can be used as drainage.

Pruning

With pruning, the plant looks more attractive. But its main purpose is to make the flower healthy. Cutting is recommended in the fall. At this time, the plant gradually falls into a dormant state.

Magnificent foliage will not allow him to relax and gain strength in the winter. Pruning for the winter is deep, you only need to leave the shoot containing no more than 7 leaves. Remove those stems that have grown from the leaf sinuses.

Those stems that have come out of the root should be left untouched. Cut off parts of the crown growing from the roots if they have dried up and no longer serve as decoration of the plant.

How to form a bush of ampelous Pelargonium (Geranium):

Common Diseases and Pests

All diseases of pelargonium can be divided into 2 large groups: infectious and non-infectious. The second type of disease develops against a background of violation of the rules of care and metabolic process of culture:

1. hypothermia;
2. edema;
3. deficiency or excess of trace elements;
4. reaction to chemicals.

Infectious diseases form against the background of fungi, bacteria, viruses:

• rot;
• spotting;
• rust;
• powdery mildew;
• blackleg.

The danger of these diseases is that they are easily transmitted from one flower to another. If an infection is detected, quarantine measures must be taken urgently. This will prevent infection and epidemics.

Pests rarely attack pelargonium. Most often this is a whitefly, aphid, mealy and root scarlet. In the summer, pelargonium is attacked by caterpillars.

Propagation Features

Seed way

When choosing this method of propagation, pelargonium is more resistant to diseases, better hardened and tolerates drafts, temperature jumps. The following features are characteristic of it:

1. Sowing is carried out in the second half of winter. To do this, pre-disinfect and moisten the soil on which to plant the planting material.
2. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of earth, moisten the surface a little.
3. The spray gun is suitable for watering. He does not give a powerful stream, deepening the seeds.
4. Cover the crop with glass. Clean it every day before the first sprouts appear. After that, place the container in a room where the temperature is 20-24 degrees.
5. The pick occurs after 2 real leaves have been formed. Subsequent cultivation is carried out at a temperature of 16-18 degrees. Transfer plants to a permanent place when they are 1.5-2 months old.

Propagation by cuttings

This method has one indisputable advantage - daughter plants retain their properties and appearance of maternal pelargonium. And this is a very important quality in relation to varietal bushes.

For planting, the tops of young vertical shoots are used. Their length is 7-10 cm. They should be equipped with two pairs of opened leaves. The harvesting of cuttings takes place from February to March.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Hold the cut pieces of stems on the tissue at room temperature for several hours. It is necessary that the cut treated with coal powder dry out.
2. Plant the cuttings in a moist peat-sandy soil mixture, deepening by 3 cm.
3. For better rooting, it is necessary to observe a temperature of 20-22 degrees. Soil moisture should be moderate. This will prevent decay of the lower part of the stem.
4. After 30 days, the young plants form their own roots. They can be transplanted in containers, the diameter of which is 8-10 cm. Subsequent care of the plant is standard.

Propagation by cuttings of ampelous Pelargonium (Geranium):

Ampelic pelargonium is a unique plant whose flowering cannot leave indifferent any gardener. The peculiarity of the culture is simple care, strong immunity and a wide variety of colors. This allows you to create incredibly beautiful and original compositions.