How To Fertilize Geraniums For Full, Vibrant Blooms All Summer
Fertilization is a very important aspect of growing fuller and more vibrant geraniums in the summertime. Unlike other plants and annuals, geraniums have slightly different nutrient requirements, meaning they’ll need some special love and attention from you.
In today’s article, we’re going to go over a complete geranium fertilization guide and discuss how you can cater to their needs and requirements in a way that benefits them massively. Let’s jump right into it!
Why Do Geraniums Need Different Fertilizer Compared To Other Plants?
Well, geraniums are heavy heavy bloomers to say the least.
Unfortunately, regular “balanced” fertilizers just aren’t able to accommodate their heavy blooming well and can mess up the nutrient composition needed for them to develop those magnificent blooms.
The number one thing you need to keep in mind when growing geraniums is to NEVER use nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Nitrogen promotes foliage growth at the expense of adequate blooming, and it’s just not ideal to have high levels of this nutrient in your flower garden anyways.
And if you’re serious about getting the most blooms out of your plants, this full care guide on keeping geraniums blooming covers everything from deadheading to sunlight needs.
When Should You Feed Geraniums? Timing Is Everything!
Ideally, you should be feeding your geraniums throughout the different stages of their growth.
- At the time of planting, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer is a good choice, as it allows for the slow release of nutrients, which can encourage early growth effectively.
- As the growing season comes around, liquid bloom boosters applied every 2-4 weeks can perk up the flowers and promote healthy, vibrant blooming.
Quick Tip: Pull back on fertilization slightly after you get your desired blooming results; it helps maintain balance.
What Type Of Fertilizer Works Best?
Although this is a very general guideline, container geraniums typically do well with liquid fertilizers high in both phosphorus and potassium. This nutrient combination should give you a massive flower increase.
If your geraniums are planted in the ground, a slow-release granular blend would be much more ideal. Either opt for a balanced formula (NPK 10-10-10) or a bloom-promoting one (NPK 5-10-5).
Whatever one you choose to go with, just avoid nitrogen-heavy blends (20-5-5) at all costs!
And for even better results, make sure you’re deadheading your geraniums regularly, fertilizer works best when spent blooms aren’t draining the plant’s energy.
Best DIY Fertilizers For Geraniums (No Chemicals Needed)
1: Banana Peel Tea
Chop up some leftover banana peels and soak them in water for 2-4 days straight. Then, take that banana-peel-infused water and water your geraniums with it to give them an easy phosphorus and potassium boost.
You’re free to repeat this every 2-4 weeks, depending on how your geraniums react to it.
2: Crushed Eggshells
If you have eggs every day for breakfast, chances are you probably throw away those eggshells. Well, believe it or not, you can actually make great use of those shells in the garden.
Crush the eggshells into a fine powder and mix them in with your geranium soil for better root health and healthier, stronger stems. Try to do this trick only once per month and not every day.
Curious what else you can feed with this kitchen scrap? Here’s a list of plants that benefit from eggshells and how to use them effectively.
3: Used Coffee Grounds
If you have wet coffee grounds leftover after making your morning brew, instead of throwing them away, sprinkle them lightly around the base of your geranium plants for a subtle but meaningful nitrogen boost.
Just be very careful not to overdo this, as it may raise the nitrogen levels of the soil significantly and cause problems with blooming.
And if you’re wondering which other flowers benefit from this natural fertilizer, here’s a list of blooms that love coffee grounds just as much as geraniums do.
4: Compost Tea
Steep some homemade or store-bought compost in water for 1-2 days, strain it, and water your plants with it for a quick nutrient boost. You can replace this strategy with your regular fertilizer feedings temporarily if you want.
Note: Use all these DIY tactics in moderation and avoid going overboard with anything. While these feedings are on the milder side, they’re still effective when used every 2-3 weeks consistently.
And if you’re curious about more gentle, plant-friendly options, here’s a full guide to choosing the right natural fertilizer for your garden.
Some Important Signs Your Feedings Are Working
- Noticeable improvement in blooming within 2-4 weeks of application.
- Fuller and even geranium growth that isn’t weak or leggy from any angle.
- Discoloration around leaf edges or sudden leaf drop can indicate excessive feeding. If you notice this sign, pull back on feedings strongly!
And if you’re growing other bloomers like petunias, here’s how to fertilize them properly!
Let’s Conclude
Unlike other annuals, geraniums often need lots of care and attention, especially if they haven’t started blooming yet. DIY fertilizers are typically best to get them blooming since they’re a lot more subtle compared to chemical fertilizers, but still work quite effectively.
Give the different fertilization methods we discussed today a shot in your garden, and let me know how it went in the comments below. Good luck!
I’m Rita, passionate about flowers, plants and growing my own vegetables at home. I live in an apartment, but I still have my garden, I intend to use all my knowledge to help you also have a lively, happy and productive garden (even in an apartment).