Pot Size
We supply plants as bare roots, 9cms,1.5 litre or 2 litre pots. The size of plant being supplied is made clear on the individual plant profile page. Bare roots will require being potted up to grow on before being planted out into your garden. All plants are sent with appropriate planting and growing instructions.
Soil
Geraniums prefer a moist, free-draining soil. Once established, they are drought-tolerant but it’s always best to prevent them drying out completely because this could make them susceptible to diseases such as powdery or downy mildews.
In winter they will prefer a location that does not get waterlogged. Geraniums don’t enjoy being wet and cold.
Hardiness
The majority of our plants are either Hardy or Fully Hardy, a few are classed as Not Fully Hardy or Half Hardy; this means they can range from H3 (Half Hardy) or H4 to H5 (Hardy) or H6 to H7 (Fully Hardy) on the Royal Horticultural Society Hardiness Rating Scale.
H3 will tolerate temperatures from -5c to 1c. They are classed as hardy in mild coastal areas except in hard winters. They can be hardy elsewhere with wall shelter or a good microclimate. They should survive with artificial winter protection such as an unheated glass house.
H4 – H5 will tolerate temperatures from -5c to -15c and should survive a UK winter, except at high altitudes.
H6 – H7 will survive temperatures from -10c to -20c and can survive the severest winter.
If you suspect you have a plant in a potentially wet location, and you don’t want to move it, you can always apply a layer of bark chippings to your flower bed. This will help to protect the all-important crowns of your plants.
It is worth mentioning that all our plants have been grown in pots, outdoors with minimal protection from the winter elements in a rural and exposed site. So, they’re pretty tough.
Height and spread
Please be aware that all our sizes are approximate. Your plant may take a few years to achieve full size but height and spread can also be affected by its final planting-out location and other environmental factors.
Flowering times
Flowering times are, of course, variable; this can be affected by environmental factors, the planting location, and the amount of care you can give to your plants. Most of them will flower for weeks with regular dead-heading; some will respond to a more severe cutback immediately after flowering and some will only give one good flush of flowers for a short period, usually at the beginning of spring.
Pest and Disease
As previously mentioned, geraniums are mostly pest and disease free. There are, however, a couple of insect pests to watch out for, and in the main, Vine Weevil, both adults and larvae, have the potential to cause the most damage. Adult Vine Weevil will damage foliage by leaving notches in leaves, and the larvae will eat the plant’s roots.
Geraniums can also be affected by both powdery and downy mildews. These are usually caused by environmental factors such as humidity and water stress. Generally, mildews can be rectified by removing affected foliage and ensuring the geranium is planted and cared for appropriately.
Check out the blogs page for further information.
PBR (Plant Breeders Rights)
In short, this means the plant is licensed to the original breeder of a cultivar. When the plant is sold, a royalty is paid back to the plant breeder, much like that of a singer when their song is played on the radio. This explains why some varieties seem so much more expensive than others. You are entitled to divide and replant a PBR plant that you have in your garden, but you are prohibited from selling and profiting from those divisions.
RHS Plants for Pollinators
It has, over recent years, become increasingly important to make food sources readily available for creatures such as bees and butterflies because the habitat they would normally forage in is disappearing fast. Plants that have RHS Plants for Pollinator status are especially good for insects that are visiting your garden looking to forage. (Please note this doesn’t mean that plants without this status don’t have value; they can still provide a valuable source of food or shelter).
Packaging
Your plants will be a packaged in a recyclable or compostable cardboard box.
The plants will be wrapped individually in a single plastic sleeve to prevent any excess moisture soaking the packaging. Unfortunately, at present these are not recyclable. We send the plants in their pots to help protect the roots while in transit. It also means that if you are unable to plant out your new plants immediately they will have some protection from the elements. The taupe pots we use are recyclable but please check with your local council if they are accepted with kerbside recycling.
RHS Award of Garden Merit
This symbol indicates the seal of approval from the RHS that a plant performs reliably in the garden. Awards are usually given after a trial period at RHS Gardens Wisley Trials Field.