Pelargonium and geranium: difference, care at home, types and reviews

Have you ever wondered which plant in your home pleases you with a beautiful flowering - geranium or pelargonium? What is the difference between these plants, and does it exist? Probably, many flower growers will be surprised that a beautiful flower on their windowsill is not a geranium.

From the history of plants

In the middle of the 17th century, the botanist Johannes Boorman (Holland) claimed that pelargonium and geranium, the difference between which is obvious, are not related plants. He wanted to distinguish them in different genera. Nevertheless, Karl Linnaeus, a world-famous naturalist, had by then made up his own classification, where he combined these plants into a single group. Then bright bushes of blossoming pelargonium were actively used in landscaping gardens. The flower growers immediately fixed the name for it - geranium.

What is the similarity of pelargonium and geranium?

Both plants are part of the same family - geranium. This fact is considered to be the main similarity. The family includes 5 genera and 800 plant species. The most numerous is geranium, the most famous and popular is pelargonium.

In fact, pelargonium and geranium are very similar in appearance. The difference at first glance is obvious only to a specialist. In one family K. Linnaeus carried them because of the similarity of the fruit box. After fertilization, the pestle is stretched and begins to resemble the crane's beak. In translation from Greek, pelargos means "stork", and geranium means "crane". Pelargonium and geranium are very similar to erect stems and alternately growing leaves. They are covered with small hairs in both plants. Most geraniums have a special flavor. These are quite tenacious plants, unpretentious in their care, loving the sun and easily multiplying. As you can see, there are many similarities between these beautiful bushes. Then the question arises: "What is the difference between geranium and pelargonium?" It interests even experienced florists.

Pelargonium and geranium: difference

These plants can not be crossed with each other - they just will not give seeds. This is due to different genetic characteristics. Pelargonium is a native of the southern edges, and geraniums come from the Northern Hemisphere. That's why geraniums can bloom even at a temperature of +12 degrees, and the southern beauty-pelargonium for wintering needs only greenhouse or room conditions.

Pelargonium is most often grown in apartments, it adorns the summer verandas and flower beds, it feels quite comfortable on the balconies, but in the winter these flowers are taken away to a warm room. Geranium also grows well and develops in the gardens, while it does not need shelter for the winter.

In our country, meadow and forest geraniums are found everywhere, except for the Far Eastern and northern regions, where they are too harsh climatic conditions.

How to distinguish geranium from Pelargonium?

Geranium has flowers consisting of 5 or 8 petals. They are usually single, only occasionally they gather in the inflorescence. Home Pelargonium differs in the corolla of the flower. It has an irregular shape - the two upper petals are slightly larger, the three lower ones are smaller. Flowers of pelargonium form large inflorescences. Geranium can be painted in a variety of colors (except scarlet). Pelargonium never has blue shades.

Geranium is a garden plant. He is very fond of summer residents. Especially popular are such varieties as "gorgeous", "Georgian", "Oxford". Pelargonium blooms at home all year round. In the summer, you can take it to the balcony or garden, but with the onset of cold weather, you should bring the plant into the house.

Pelargonium and geranium: difference, care

All plants from the geranium family do not require special agrotechnics. Most species prefer fertile loose soils, pelargonium can grow on acidic or neutral ground. Pelargonium and geranium are similar in this respect. The only difference is that rock species develop well on light sandy soil, and meadow comfortably feel on clayey, heavy ground.

Most plants from the family of geraniums like good lighting, but they are contraindicated to direct sunlight. Much better feel in the penumbra and pelargonium, and geranium. The difference (care for them is almost the same) between them is not too big, except for the fact that one plant is a garden plant, and the second is a home plant. This explains the specific features of care for these two beauties.

Geranium reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. After buying a dry, but living root in the garden supermarket, it should be moistened and held for a couple of days at a temperature of +2 degrees before landing in the open ground. With the arrival of warm spring days, when the soil warms up, the plant can be planted.

If you want to share a bush that has already taken root on your site, then do it in the spring, when the flower wakes up after winter sleep. To cover geranium for the winter is not necessary, most varieties do not even need to cut off the foliage.

Pelargonium: features of care

How to grow pelargonium at home? This issue is of interest to beginning florists. This flower is famous for its delicate pleasant aroma. It emits the essential oil contained in the leaves and stalk of the plant. If you decide to grow pelargonium, then you need to know that for its growth and development the following conditions are necessary:

• Regular regular watering;
• good lighting;
• Air temperature is not below +12 degrees;
• Trimming.

Pelargonium is very fond of warm and bright windowsills. For it, the room temperature is quite comfortable , but in winter the flower tolerates coolness better (permissible mode is +8 ... +10 ^о С). When lighting is not enough, Pelargonium ceases to bloom or gives small, rare and not so bright flowers.

At home, the flower should be protected from direct sunlight. Pelargonium needs space, so take care that other green pets do not interfere with it.

The flower should be watered only when the top layer of the soil dries up. Overabundance of moisture leads to rotting of the roots, which the plant will immediately report to you, showing weakened leafless leaves. In winter, watering is reduced. Pelargonium easily suffers a lack of moisture.

The soil must be nutritious, containing garden soil, sand and peat. At the bottom of the pot should be laid a large layer of drainage, occasionally the soil should be loosened - this will provide access to oxygen to the roots of the plant. It is important to choose the right pot size. It depends on the volume of the root system. Smaller containers are more suitable for geranium.

We hope that after reading our article, you will understand what kind of flower grows on your windowsill - pelargonium or homemade geranium. Care for these plants is simple, and their external appeal finds more and more admirers among the florists.

Reviews

Many fans of flowering plants note that for a long time they were pleased with their flowering not geranium, as they mistakenly believed, but pelargonium. Despite this, they still prefer these wonderful pets. Care for them is simple, and a beautiful view of the flowering bush pleases throughout the year.