Pelargonium ivy: features of varieties, rules of planting, care and reproduction

Pelargonium ivy is gaining popularity among flora lovers. Every summer, she gives the owner an unforgettable bloom. If you are fascinated by this plant, read the article about the varieties of ampelous pelargonium and the features of caring for it at home.

Ivy-leaved Pelargonium, a native of South Africa, captivated European scientists and travelers with its beauty. The unprecedented flower was brought to England in the 16th century, where it became widespread and loved by all. In the 19th century, the evergreen plant conquered all of Europe. In countries with favorable mild climates, pelargonium adorns balconies, courtyards, terraces and cafes all year round. In Russia, pelargonium in the cold season is an inhabitant of apartments. In spring and summer, she pleases us with her lush flowering on the street.

Ivy pelargonium is a perennial shrub from the geranium family, therefore it is often mistakenly called ivy or ampelous geranium. It has sprawling creeping shoots up to 1 meter long with dense, fleshy pentagonal-shaped leaves resembling a shield. From this arose another name for the culture - thyroid pelargonium. The flowers of the plant are collected in gorgeous inflorescences-umbrellas on long peduncles. Among the decorative shiny foliage, bright clusters of pelargonium look mesmerizing. Its color range is extensive: the range of colors and shades - from snow-white to black and burgundy. The exception is yellow. The flowers of the culture are simple, semi-double and double in shape.

A beautiful spherical bush with long lashes up to 1.5 meters, lush and blooming for a long time. Up to 9 large buds are formed in one inflorescence. It is found in all shades of pink, sometimes with red or white blotches. Unpretentious in care, perfectly propagates by seeds.

Pelargonium with large semi-double inflorescences of a rich lilac color with crimson veins in the middle. Spreading shoots, beautifully bush, forming a lush cloud. The variety grows quickly, adding up to 40 cm per year.

The peculiarity of the variety is powerful stems up to 35 cm long, able to withstand wind and rain. The plant is strong, unpretentious, blooms all summer. To create a lush cascading composition in a box, 2 plants are enough. The snow-white flowers of a simple shape resemble soaring moths. Grown from seed.

This is a great hybrid - a mix of pelargoniums of different colors. It looks very enchanting. Shoots bush well, there are many flowers, flowering is long and abundant.

A bright festive mixture of rich flowers, collected in a single bouquet. Looks fabulously beautiful in one pots or drawers. The variety is not capricious, willingly grows in partial shade. Greens are very bright, glossy, there are light and dark shades.

It has amazingly beautiful inflorescences on long flowing lashes. This colorful powerful cascade will decorate any gazebo, balcony, loggia.

Very beautiful deep cherry-colored pelargonium with huge caps of terry flowers. Against the background of dark greenery, purple flowers are simply mesmerizing. The variety is not afraid of heat, it bushes excellently, blooms for a long time.

A magnificent terry variety with large pink-orange flowers. Forms a beautiful spherical shape.

Pelargonium, born in hot and sultry Africa, loves an abundance of light and sun. At home, it will grow beautifully on the south, south-east and south-west windows. In the exhausting heat at home, it is better to shade the plant with curtains. Pelargonium can be placed in other places, but then it will not give abundant flowering: additional lighting will be needed. It will also be needed in winter, when the daylight hours are too short.

In summer, the optimum temperature for pelargonium is + 20-25 degrees. The air should be warm, but not stagnant and dry, so the room should be well ventilated. In winter and autumn, the temperature of the content of flowers drops to +15 degrees. The plant is moved to a bright but cooler place. The flower does not like to be near heating devices - in winter it will be hot, but if this is the permanent residence of your green pets, try to provide them with maximum comfort:

• use an air conditioner and a humidifier;
• you can cover the battery with a wet cloth;
• ventilate the room several times a day.

Trumpet geraniums are very tolerant of drought, but it is also not worth bringing the plant to complete drying out of the earthen coma. In hot summer, daily, but moderate watering is possible. It is better to underfill the plant with water than to pour it over. This can lead to diseases that end in the death of the flower. In winter, watering is reduced to 2 times a week. If the plant is in a too hot room, water the plant more often so that the potting medium does not dry out.

From the beginning of the growing season, complex fertilizers with a nitrogen content are used. With the appearance of buds, they switch to phosphorus-potassium mixtures. The plant also needs microelements: sulfur, magnesium, iron, iodine. In the summer, the plant is fed once a week. In winter, pelargonium can be fed once a month.

The bush is planted in a pots so that the distance from the earthen coma to the walls of the container is no more than 2 cm, otherwise you will have to wait a long time for flowering until the roots fill the entire space. Drainage is placed in a 1/3 pot. The soil for the plant should be loose and light:

• humus - 1/5 part;
• leaf land - 1/5 part;
• sod land - 1/5 part;
• peat chips - 1/5 part;
• humus - 1/5 part.

Pelargonium can be propagated by sowing seeds and cuttings. For cultivation, it is convenient to take seeds with a shell of nutrients and plant them in a container with moist soil without deepening. Green shoots will appear in 3–6 days. Grown plants are transplanted into small pots, and then into pots. Many amateurs prefer to propagate pelargonium by cuttings. At the end of February, the shoots that have stretched out over the winter are pruned so that new branches grow from the side buds. Cuttings need to lie down for several hours for the cut to be covered with a film. After that, you can start rooting the plant.

To do this, you need:

• prepared cuttings;
• Plastic container;
• the drug "Kornevin";
• peat tablets;
• water.

Let's start rooting:

• put peat tablets in a container according to the number of cuttings;
• pour the tablets a little, they will increase in volume;
• use a stick to deepen the holes for planting in the tablets;
• dip the leg of each cutting in "Kornevin" - a root formation stimulator;
• we plant shoots in tablets.

• Dropsy On the inside of the leaf blade, watery blisters appear, which gradually turn brown. The disease causes excessive waterlogging of the plant, its organs begin to be saturated with water. Treatment:
  • stabilize the process of moisture evaporation;
  • dry the soil.

• Ring spot. Small round spots with brown edging appear on the leaves of pelargonium. The plant grows slowly, the leaves begin to curl. The disease can be caused by pests or mineral deficiencies. Treatment:
  • preparations "Fundazol", "Vitaros";
  • regular spraying of the plant;
  • feeding with microfertilizers.

• Blackleg. The root part of the stem becomes brown and then almost black in color. This suggests that the roots of the plant are rotting. Disease occurs due to poor drainage and improper watering. Fighting the disease is very difficult. It is better to make cuttings of healthy shoots. If the plant is not too neglected, you can try to save it. Treatment:
  • termination of watering and feeding;
  • processing "Previkur" or "Ridomil".

Causes of the disease:

• waterlogging of the soil;
• poor ventilation of the substrate;
• excess nitrogen.

• Rust. The disease is waterborne and spreads very quickly. Clear brown and yellow spots appear on the leaves. On the inside of the leaves are pustules - oval bulges filled with spores of the rust fungus. Treatment:
  • cessation of plant moisture;
  • processing with "Topaz".

• Gray rot.The fungus rapidly infects all parts of the plant, abundantly covering them with extensive gray spots. Treatment:
  • remove diseased parts of the plant;
  • stop watering and fertilizing;
  • apply the preparations "Fundazol", "Vitaros".

• Powdery mildew. A flour-like plaque appears on the leaves and stems of the plant. This often suggests that the plant is sick with an infectious disease, and the mealy fungus is an accompanying symptom. Treatment:
  • removal of damaged leaves;
  • dusting the plant with colloidal sulfur;
  • treatment with fungicides "Vectra" and "Oxyhom".

Sometimes pelargonium becomes a treat for pests, especially if it is outside. Insects not only harm the plant by their presence, but also lead to further infectious and viral diseases of the plant. The sooner the parasites are found, the more likely the plant is to stay alive.

• Spider mite. The leaves of the plant twist inward, whitish spots appear on them, cobweb strings - a spider mite has taken root on the plant. The parasite not only drinks the juices of the plant, but also spreads infectious diseases. Effective ways to combat spider mites are Fitoverm and Actellik.

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• Thrips. Signs of the appearance of thrips are very small black insects: brown leaves, growths and spots on their inner side. The plant stops developing and withers before our eyes.

To combat pests, arm yourself with drugs:

• Fitoverm;
• Actellik;
• "Decis";
• "Karbofos";
• "Gravertine".

• Whitefly. Whitefly is a small midge with white wings. The female insect lays the larvae on the leaves, they multiply rapidly and form whole colonies. To destroy insects, it is necessary to remove all the leaves on which the pests have settled, and treat the bush with "Aktara".

• Mealybug. The appearance of the parasite is indicated by small white mucous lumps similar to dough found on the leaves and stems of the plant. The parasites must be collected by hand using a damp cotton pad. The bush must be washed with green soap and treated with Aktellik or Aktara.

• Root worm. The root worm is a small parasite with a flat oval body. It settles in the roots and slowly destroys pelargonium. A pest can appear if the soil in the pot is flooded, or the plant has been outside for a long time during wet and cool weather.

We save the plant:

• we extract pelargonium from the soil;
• carefully clean the roots of it;
• we treat fresh soil with "Aktara" or "Vidat";
• we plant the plant in another pot;
• pour "Aktara" according to the instructions.

• Nematode. Small worms, thin and transparent, which eat the roots of the plant and inevitably lead to its death. Unfortunately, chemistry is powerless here. The plant must be destroyed to avoid contamination of other pelargoniums.

Signs of the appearance of a nematode:

• rapid wilting of the plant;
• the appearance on the roots of nodes similar to balls.

• Aphids. AndTiny transparent insects that feed on pelargonium sap.

Alarm when aphids appear on the plant:

• falling foliage;
• twisting and drying it.

• Termites. Dangerous large ants.

Preparations will help to destroy them:

• Messenger;
• "Marathon";
• spraying with aspirin in a dosage of 1 aspirin tablet per 8 liters of water helps.

• Slugs and caterpillars. These parasites attacking plants are well known to everyone. They feast on leaves, leaving extensive torn holes on the leaf plates.

Anti-slugs:

• "Storm";
• "Slime Eater".

Caterpillars will help:

• "Gamair";
• "Alirin";
• "Glyocladin";
• before chemical treatment, pests are harvested by hand.

For information on how to properly care for Pelargonium ivy, see the next video.