How to Grow and Care for Geraniums

No matter what type of geranium you choose, this cheerful flower is an easy pick for your garden. In your search, you'll discover that two popular varieties exist. The first is the pelargonium species—also referred to as tender geraniums—which are a heat-loving summer stunners with dense flower clusters (they're commonly grown as annuals). The other is the true native geranium, which is a hardy perennial that thrives in zones 3 through 9. 

While there are many variations of this flower—each with its own growth habits, colors, and aromas—they all have one thing in common: They make a low-maintenance contribution to most summer landscapes. As a bonus, they're a beacon for visiting pollinators and can easily be purchased from local plant nurseries. 

Ahead, we explore all things geraniums, from successfully planting and growing them (both in garden beds and containers) to transplanting tips and identifying common diseases.

How to Plant and Grow Geraniums

If you want to add geraniums to your yard, you have a few options: you can grow them from seed, plant more mature plants directly into the ground, or grow them in containers.

Growing Geraniums From Seed 

Geraniums are often started from cuttings, but growing this hardy plant from seed is also a breeze. "When starting geraniums from seeds, patience is the most important factor as it can take 12 to 16 weeks to see a flowering plant," says Nancy Trautz-Awot, a horticulture specialist with Burpee Gardening. 

She says to grow them in a pot with excellent drainage, and to make sure it gets plenty of light, water, and is at a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Grow lights can help expedite the process. Once matured into a seedling with two to three leaf sets, you can keep it in the pot or transplant it to your garden.

Growing Mature Geraniums in Your Garden

Garden-ready plants eliminate the long wait period, which means you can enjoy your geraniums sooner and for longer. At garden centers, look for strong and healthy plants, with sturdy stems, bright colors, and no discoloration or signs of hungry pests. Transplant immediately into a larger pot with adequate drainage, or place directly into your garden. To do so, gently break up the roots, dig a small hole about the same depth as the root system, cover with soil, and give the plant a good drink. 

Growing Geraniums in Containers

Geraniums look beautiful in the ground, but you can also enjoy this cheerful flower in pots placed either indoors or outdoors. Transplant mature geraniums into a pot with high-quality potting mix, and in a size that provides enough space for the root systems to develop. 

"When planting in a container, ensure your container has drainage holes and opt for a well-draining potting soil to avoid root rot," says Trautz-Awot. For placement, make sure the location provides four to six hours of sunlight per day; keep the soil moist but not wet. 

Geranium Care Requirements

These flowers may be showy, but geranium care is easy. To get the most out of your blooms, though, you'll want to follow some key rules regarding sun, water, soil, and fertilizer. 

Light

Geraniums love sunshine and do best in full sun settings. Make sure to place or plant yours in an area where they'll get at least six hours of sunlight per day. Note that some varieties, such as ivy geranium, require less light.

Water

Geraniums are prone to both under and overwatering. Keep the top 1 inch of soil moist, but do not let the soil become sopping wet, says Trautz-Awot. Well-draining soil and pots with drainage holes are important to the health of your geraniums. 

Soil

Choose well-draining, high-quality soil for your geraniums. 

Fertilizer

"Fertilize monthly with a balanced, all-purpose 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer," says Jennifer McDonald, a plant expert with Garden Girls. "This provides beneficial amounts of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen."

Temperature

If indoors, geraniums thrive best between in rooms kept between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 

How to Transplant Geraniums

Geraniums grown in containers tend to thrive when they are slightly pot-bound, so you don't need to worry too much about transplanting them into a larger pot. If necessary, choose a container that's only 1 to 2 inches larger. 

To preserve annual garden geraniums over the winter, dig them up in the fall and overwinter them in the house. "Keep the plant in a sunny window and keep the soil just barely moist. It can be planted back outside in the spring," Trautz-Awot says.

How to Deadhead Geraniums

Deadheading your geraniums on a weekly basis will help keep its flowers blooming. "Deadheading is simple," says Trautz-Awot. "You just pinch off any flowers that look weak or have turned brown. Usually, a gentle tug using your thumb and forefinger will easily remove the dead flower stock.” Doing so regularly will encourage new growth and most importantly, help prevent diseases. 

Common Problems With Geraniums

Geraniums are generally strong and healthy, but just like any other plant, they are prone to certain issues that can affect their appearance and quality. 

Nibbled Leaves and Petals 

"Geraniums produce beautiful blooms and sugary sap, which can make them a treat for garden visitors like deer and rabbits or less attractive pests, like aphids,” says Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at Sunday. "Proper caging of plants or an occasional treatment of neem oil can deter these uninvited guests." Adding ladybugs to your geranium plants will help control pests, as well, McDonald says.

Yellow Leaves, Pale Spots, and Blackleg 

Geraniums need water, but too much can weaken them. Signs of overwatered geraniums include yellow leaves, especially toward the bottom, and/or pale water spots. They may also develop root rot and blackleg (a type of fungal infection) when overwatered. "Purchasing high-quality potting mix and a good pot with proper drainage can also reduce overwatering issues that can cause fungus to appear in peak heat of the growing season months," says Valenzuela.

Wilting, Flower and Leaf-Drop, and Yellow-Tipped Leaves 

While geraniums don't like too much water, too little can also create issues, says McDonald. "A simple finger test in the soil will determine whether the soil is too wet or too dry," McDonald says. "Place your index finger a few inches into the soil. It should be slightly damp but not wet."

If under-watered, your geranium leaves may develop yellow tips or fall off entirely (this can happen to the flower heads, too). Wilting and stunted growth are also signs that your plant isn't receiving enough hydration.

Types of Geraniums 

There are several different types of geraniums within the pelargonium species, according to Suzanne DeJohn, a horticulturist and writer at KidsGardening.org. The most common are zonal, ivy, regal, and scented. "These delightful plants all thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Although they are perennials in their native tropical habitat, they're generally grown as annuals in temperate climates because they won't survive freezing temperatures," she notes. 

Zonal Geraniums

According to DeJohn, you can recognize zonal geraniums by their tight, mounding habit with sturdy, upright flower stems. "Their scalloped leaves have dark arcs or stripes, and it's these zones of color that give them their common name," she says. "Flower colors range from white to dark red with bright oranges and pinks in between." This type makes for a bold addition to your window boxes, container gardens, and flower beds.

Ivy Geraniums

As their name implies, these geraniums create a cascading effect with their smooth, ivy-shaped leaves and vine-like growth habit. They produce the same types of elegant blooms and colors you will find in zonal geraniums. "They are a favorite for hanging baskets, tall planters, or along stone walls where the stems can drape over the sides," says DeJohn.

Regal Geraniums

Named after their bold, sometimes bi-colored, blooms, regal iterations are known for producing large flowers. "Leaves have coarsely serrated edges and are often faintly fragrant," DeJohn says. "Because of their showy nature, they make excellent specimens in container gardens. Their eye-catching and slightly aromatic foliage can also make them a great indoor plant; be sure they get plenty of sunlight."

Scented Geraniums

If you're looking for blooms with a striking aroma, you'll want to check out these scented plants. "While the foliage of most geraniums is distinctly aromatic, scented geraniums take this a step further," DeJohn says. "The velvety leaves have various fragrances resembling other plants, including rose, citrus, peppermint, and pineapple."