The Rain Gave My Geraniums A Real Beating And The…
Bertha Asked
The rain gave my geraniums a real beating and the blooms are really low to the ground. Will they stand back up?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Bertha in Georgia: Heavy rain and in climate weather can be damaging to our plants. Typically they will stand upright again but it really depends on if the stalk of the flower was damaged or not. If the blooms were fading and the stalks were not sturdy enough to withstand the heavy rain they may not stand up again. Fortunately, geraniums are prolific bloomers and will continue to provide you with lovely blooms all summer long. If the blooms do not stand up within a day or so go ahead and cut them back. You can enjoy them as cut flowers and removing them from the plant will encourage new flowers to form. Geraniums thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and will benefit from a weekly or biweekly dose of fertilizer. Either liquid or granular is fine but make sure to follow recommended application instructions for your favorite brand. Too much fertilizer can actually have the oposite effect in terms of blooms. A well-balanced fertilizer is fine such as 10-10-10 or you can use one that has a higher potassium (third) number, which will promote blooms.
