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?
Wilting geranium
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!
Geraniums in pots on balcony
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?
fertilizer geranium
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.
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