Do This and Your Geraniums Can Bloom for Months
The claim that geraniums can bloom continuously for more than a year is an exaggeration. While healthy geraniums can produce flowers for a long blooming season, they naturally have periods of slower growth and rest. With proper care, you can encourage abundant blooms from spring until autumn in many climates.
1. Give Them Plenty of Sun
Geraniums flower best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Too little light often leads to lush leaves but fewer flowers.
2. Water Correctly
- Water when the top 2–3 cm (about 1 inch) of soil feels dry.
- Water thoroughly, then let excess water drain away.
- Avoid constantly soggy soil, which can lead to root rot.
3. Feed Regularly
Use a balanced or flowering plant fertiliser every 2–4 weeks during the growing season, following the product instructions. Too much fertiliser—especially one high in nitrogen—can encourage leaves instead of flowers.
4. Remove Spent Blooms
Regularly pinch or cut off faded flowers (a process called deadheading). This encourages the plant to produce new flower buds instead of putting energy into making seeds.
5. Prune Leggy Growth
Trim long, straggly stems occasionally to encourage a bushier plant with more flowering shoots.
6. Use Well-Draining Soil
Geraniums prefer soil that drains well. If growing in pots, make sure the container has drainage holes.
7. Protect From Frost
Geraniums are sensitive to freezing temperatures. In colder climates, move potted plants indoors or protect them before frost arrives.
Common Reasons Geraniums Don’t Bloom
- Too little sunlight
- Overwatering
- Too much nitrogen fertiliser
- Failure to remove old flowers
- Pot is too large, encouraging root growth over flowering
