The geranium, like any other garden plant, needs proper care to flourish. Planting in a sunny spot, making sure plant gets enough water and fertilizer and checking for disease and pests will help your plant to be healthy. One problem with geraniums is that they can turn yellow, wilt and drop leaves. Here’s some things to check for if this happens to your plant.

1. If your geranium is in a planter, it could be that plant has outgrown container. Make sure pot is big enough and if it looks like plant is outgrowing it, then transplant into a bigger pot. Make sure container has adequate drainage and that you water once a week or as needed in hot weather.

2. Check for disease. Some disease include:

Growing Geraniums In Beds

To plant geraniums outdoors, you must wait until all threat of frost has passed. Pick a spot that is sheltered from strong winds and gets at least 6 hours of sun a day. The soil should be well drained and mildly acidic (pH of 6.5 is ideal). Geraniums need fertilization for best growth and they thrive in beds that have a good supply of nitrogen. Before planting, apply a 5-10-5 fertilizer to soil. After planting, you should fertilize every month with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Mulch area and water at least once a week.

Growing In Planters Outdoors

Geraniums can be grown in planters on porch, patio or garden. The ivy type geraniums are great for hanging baskets and window boxes. Make sure you use a container that is big enough for plant or it will wilt (you may need to replant to prevent wilting as plant grows). Use a soil that has enough aeration – either a commercial made mix or garden soil mixed with peat moss or perlite. Make sure you water it frequently but do not let it sit in water.