| February |
-
This is the time to prune your plants.
|
| March |
- Allow plants to settle from being
pruned in February.
- The heat is not over so watch the
pots don't dry out
- Water early in the morning so
plants can absorb the moisture
- Give a light feeding of suitable
fertilizer. Mix according to manufacturer's
instructions on the packet
- Fine roots should start to appear
on your cuttings
- New plants and older plants need
to be watched for shaping
|
| April |
-
Plants should have lots of new shoots
-
Watch watering -
nights are cooler but plants can still get very dry
- Keep shaping and
pinching out shoots
- Keep centre of
plant open to allow light and air circulation
- Rotate pots
regularly to ensure even growth
- Cutting can be
potted on if root and leaf growth is good. Allow a day
or two to settle then lightly fertilize with Phostrogen or
Fish Emulsion
|
| May |
- Keep shaping plants, remembering to rotate plants
regularly
- Pinch out tips to encourage lower growth
- Watch for green caterpillars. Pick them off or spray
with a safe spray. Read the instructions, use gloves
and face mask if required. Don't leave sprays out
where children can get them!
- Keep plants moist but not wet
- Start planning what you will bring to the October Show!
|
| June |
- Zonals and Regals should be potted on into 7" pots (18
cm)
- Keep pinching tips
- Establish a balanced feeding regime from now on, to keep
plants going through the cooler weather. Plant growth
is slower, so only light feedings will be required
- Keep a watch for insect attack, pick off caterpillars,
use "soft "sprays such as pest oil, sulphur or pyrethrum
- Do not all plants in pots to become too wet
|
| July |
- Before planting Pelargoniums in the garden, prepare the
garden beds by adding compost and fertilizer, planting can
being in August
- Pots should only be watered when the top 5cm is dry.
Water plants in the morning. Later watering means that
soil is cold and wet overnight and roots may be damaged
- Keep pinching scented varieties
- Watch for ongoing insect attack
- Colour leaf varieties should be at their peak.
They do best in a sheltered outdoor position. Prepare
to take them to the July Coloured Leaf Show
- Watch for hail storms, these can cause much damage to
plants that are unprotected.
|
| August |
- Keep up fertilizing as plants will tend to put on more
growth from now on
- Take care with watering, fine days do not necessarily
mean that plants need more water
- Keep up the vigilance for insect attack
- Some plants, especially scented leaved varieties, can
now be planted into the garden beds that were prepared in
July
- Keep shaping plants especially those that have "show
potential". Rotate pots regularly to keep growth
balanced
- Begin to think about some displays or exhibits that you
or a group of members might like to prepare for the October
show. The show is now only 2 months away!
|
| September |
- Keep giving your plants light liquid fertiliser and a
small amount of Osmocote
- Watch for bugs and caterpillars; squash them or spray
them with Pyrethrum or one of the safe sprays
- Keep turning plants to get even growth
- Decide which plants will be suitable for the show,
either for the competition of our exhibit area
|
| October |
- Continue to feed the plants to increase the flower size
- Watch watering as there can be occasionally hot days -
plants seem to be more tender after the cool weather
- Don't forget that plants for the Show need to be in
terracotta colour pots
- Read the Show schedule and rules carefully if you are
exhibiting - label plants correctly
|
| November |
- Plants need a light feed and allow time to settle after
the Show
- Keep deheading plants so they flower longer
- Keep an eye out for white fly as the weather warms up
|
