Geranium Seeds
Pelargonium hortorum
Geraniums have been a popular bedding plant for many years. Seed-grown hybrid geraniums possess excellent vigor, heat tolerance, disease resistance and are free-blooming
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NEW! Divas Red Ice F1 Geranium Seeds
Unique and beautiful bicolor. Petals are white with a red picotte on the top
with the lower petals a softer red. The underside is an intense red.
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Cherry Geranium Seeds
This unique center zoning is stable under all light conditions, creating a beautiful contrast to the stunning flower color.
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Geranium Maverick Orange F1 Seeds
Mavericks are prolific producers of huge, shatter free 5-6 inch flowerheads above lush, well-branched foliage. Mavericks are an outstanding performer in the garden, with many experts stating this is the best series for 4- or 6-inch containers. All of the Maverick selections we offer have all demonstrated tremendous heat tolerance, even in the Deep South. Grows 15-18 inches tall.
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Geranium Salmon Seeds
These geraniums are right on target for outstanding displays,
with its beautiful show fully zoned, dark foliage edged in
light green.
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Scarlet Geranium Seeds
These geraniums are right on target for outstanding displays, with its beautiful show fully zoned, dark foliage edged in light green.
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Orbit White F1 Geranium Seeds
Basal-branching yet compact, it manages to produce plenty of
blooms and leaves on tidy 14-inch plants. As a early bloomer that
will flower right up to frost in the garden, pots, or windowboxes.
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Tips on How to Grow Geranium Seeds
Geraniums are light accumulators, the more light received, the faster the growth
and earlier the flowering. DIF treatments may negate flowering.
Germination Optimum conditions for seedling development that begins the day
the crop is sown until cotyledon expansion.
Expect radicle emergence in 1 � 3 days.
Cover: Cover seeds with a thin layer of medium sized vermiculite to maintain
Moisture levels.
Media: � pH: 6.4 � 6.5 pH levels <6.0 may promote shoot tip abortion and allow
sodium, iron and manganese to becoming toxic. Symptoms of nutrient
Toxicity will exhibit itself on the lower leaves.
Light: Light is not necessary for germination. If utilizing a chamber, providing a light
source of 10 � 100 foot candles (100 � 1000 lux) will improve germination and
reduce stretch.
Moisture: Saturated (5) for day 1 � 3. On days 4 � 8 reduce to moist (3).
Beginning day 9, reduce moisture further to medium (2). Geraniums have a high
oxygen requirement at the root level.
Humidity: 100% until radical emergence then reduce to 40%.
Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through
evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.
Temperature: 73�F (23�C). Thermodormancy, which causes erratic germination, is
induced when temperatures exceed 76�F (25�C). Temperatures below 71�F (22�C) decrease the speed and uniformity of germination.
Geraniums are relatively easy to grow from seeds. However, geranium seedlings are slow growing. Geranium seeds should be sown in early to mid-February to produce flowering plants for spring. Flowering occurs approximately 13 to 15 weeks after sowing.
Soil less mixes, such as Jiffy Mix, are excellent germination media. During germination, damping-off of geranium seedlings can be a serious problem. Damping-off is caused by various types of fungi that attack the seedlings and destroy them. To discourage this, containers used for starting seeds should be clean and have adequate drainage. Previously used containers should be washed in soapy water, and then disinfected by dipping in a solution containing one part chlorine bleach and nine parts water.
Fill the container with the germination medium to within 1/2 to 1 inch of the top. Firm the medium lightly, water thoroughly and allow it to drain for a few minutes. Sow the seeds in rows 2 to 3 inches apart and cover with about 1/8 inch of medium. After sowing, thoroughly water the medium by partially submersing the container in water. When the surface becomes wet, remove the container from the water and allow it to drain. The medium also can be moistened with a soft spray of water from a rubber bulb sprinkler or similar device.
To ensure a uniform moisture level during the germination period, cover the container with clear plastic food wrap or a clear plastic dome. Set the container in bright light, but out of direct sunlight. Excessive heat buildup may occur if the covered container is set in direct sunlight. The temperature of the medium during germination should be 70 to 75 degrees F. With favorable temperature and moisture levels, the seeds should begin to germinate in seven to ten days.
Remove the plastic covering as soon as germination occurs. Place the seedlings in a sunny window or under fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights should be no more than 4 to 6 inches above the seedlings and left on for 12 to 16 hours per day. Using a well-drained commercial potting mix, transplant the seedlings into individual containers when their first true set of leaves appears. Handle the small seedlings by their leaves since the small, thin stems break easily. Insert seedlings to the base of the seed leaves (cotyledons) when transplanting.
For best results, grow seedlings under fluorescent lights. (A standard fluorescent shop fixture with one 40-watt cool white and one 40-watt warm white tube works fine.) Plants grown in a window often become tall and spindly because of inadequate light. Ideal growing temperatures for geraniums are 70 to 75 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 degrees at night. Thoroughly water the geraniums when the soil surface is dry to the touch. If using a commercial potting mix containing a slow-release fertilizer, fertilization probably won�t be necessary. An application of a dilute fertilizer solution once every two weeks should be sufficient for those potting mixes that do not contain a slow-release fertilizer.
Harden or acclimate the plants outdoors for seven to ten days before planting into the garden. Initially, place the geraniums in a shady, protected location. Then gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sunlight. Plant the geraniums outdoors when the danger of frost has passed.
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