What awful weather! It’s been pouring and there have been puddles everywhere you look for days. Where is the sun hiding? Find out here what to do if the rain just won’t stop and your geraniums are too wet.
You won’t notice it straight away because geraniums are hardy and easy to care for, but cold and rainy weather really isn’t their thing in the long run. Nevertheless, with a little help, they can survive periods of bad weather just fine.
Tip 1: Check drainage
When it rains constantly, it is especially important that your containers have clear drainage holes. Check this and improve if necessary. Are the geranium pots on drip trays or in planters? This is no good if there’s always water in it. Empty them regularly or, better still, remove them completely if it rains constantly.
A drainage layer at the bottom of the container helps prevent waterlogging from the outset. With water storage boxes, you can empty the reservoir a little by lifting the boxes on one side so the soil dries out a little from below.
Tip 2: Get out of the rain
If possible, geraniums like a protective roof over their heads in persistent rain. The ideal location for them is dry and as warm and bright as possible.
Reminder: Once you have the soil moisture under control again, remember to water your balcony plants!
Tip 3: Deadhead faded blooms
Flowers that have seen heavy rain should be deadheaded, as they could be a good breeding ground for fungal diseases.
An infestation with plant-damaging fungi is not unlikely. They love the mushy texture of faded flowers and we don’t want to feed them.
While you’re at it, get rid of any dead leaves immediately.
Tip 4: Dry out by repotting
Hopelessly waterlogged potting soil drips from every pore for days. This disrupts the metabolic processes in the roots and promotes rot. If nothing helps, repotting into fresh compost promises salvation. It goes without saying that good compost, enough drainage and a functioning water outlet are necessities.
Don’t soak it right away, but let the forces of physics take over first. The new, drier compost will draw water from the wet substrate like a sponge.
What happens to leaves and flowers when it rains constantly?
When it rains constantly, the above-ground parts of the plant are constantly wet. Because many fungal diseases require a film of moisture on plant parts to multiply, the risk of them spreading increases.To avoid this, make sure the leaves, stems and flowers can dry off sometimes. The best way is to provide protection from the rain.
One thing is certain: every period of rain must come to an end.
When warmth and sunshine replace bad weather, your geraniums will be back in full swing in a surprisingly short time. A real summer beauty queen isn’t thrown off track so easily. Loving to flower is simply in a geranium’s genes.
What happens in flowerpots and balcony boxes when there’s too much rain?
Too much water completely blocks the pores of compost, so the roots don’t get any air. This happens more quickly in poor-quality soil than in high-quality products.
Clogged pores mean the metabolism in the cells no longer works. They die, those at the sensitive root tips first. There are plants, such as reeds, that have adapted very well to moist soil, but this classic balcony flower, the geranium, is native to the dry veldt of South Africa. Plants like this need more air in the root zone.
Constant rain has a secondary effect:
Because of all the water, nutrients are washed out of the compost, which geraniums don’t like at all. Fertilise regularly to replenish their store! Flower fertiliser is best.
What is good compost?
Good potting compost absorbs water like a sponge and at the same time is so airy that the roots are not damaged. This is the case with a balanced ratio of coarse and fine pores. Good compost smells like the forest floor and pleasantly like a garden. If you want to do something for climate protection, plant your geraniums in peat-free soil.