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Bigroot Geranium – 8 Things To Keep In Mind For Better Caring!

Bigroot Geranium is an herbaceous perennial plant. It is characterized by glandular pubescence and a pleasant and strong smell.  Bigroot Geranium’s roots are ascending or erecting. 

The flower forms a branched stem that can grow to a height of 20–40 cm, and the plant length can reach 10–20 cm. The upper leaves are opposite and sessile, tripartite.

The bigroot Geranium has pink-purple, pale pink, or blood-red flowers. There are two flowers on one pedicel. The plant begins to bloom in June, and flowering lasts about a month. After flowering is completed, fruits are formed on the bigroot Geranium will look like a box. They ripen in July or August.

This plant is distinguished by its elegant and decorative appearance, which forms beautiful flowers and foliage. Bigroot Geranium is often used as an element of landscape design. It is often planted in park beds when it grows under trees. Also, it can be used in place of a lawn.

Bigroot Geranium 1
Bigroot Geranium – via Flickr

Bigroot Geranium Care Tips

1.      Soil

Bigroot Geranium is not demanding on the soil because it grows everywhere except in swamps but prefers fertile and well-drained soils. If the soil is sandy, add peat moss to retain moisture.

2.       Lighting and location

Bigroot Geranium prefers open and well-lit places with slight shade in the strongest heat. It is good to choose a dry and well-drained area. The root system of the plant grows well in breadth. So, the bed of this plant should be spacious, and the distance between the bushes should be at least 30 cm.

3.       Watering

Bigroot Geranium needs to be moistened moderately but regularly. Especially the plant will need watering in the first months after planting. During this period, bigroot Geranium will collect all the necessary mineral components and nutrients for subsequent flowering.

If the plant’s foliage begins to fall, then this indicates that it is necessary to increase the volume of water. It is also recommended to moisten the bigroot Geranium root system during periods of dry weather. If it rains all summer, the amount of water needs to be reduced.

4.       Fertilizer

Bigroot Geranium receives all the substances and components necessary for growth from water and soil. You do not have to worry about making additional fertilizers for this flower. However, you can add compost and peat to the ground when planting it on open ground to get abundant flowering.

Also, on sale, you can find several mineral fertilizers for bigroot Geranium. It is best to choose complex formulations. Likewise, it is recommended to apply top dressing during the period when the bigroot Geranium is in the process of active vegetation; that is when the buds have already begun to form.

5.       Humidity

Bigroot Geranium is not demanding because it can tolerate high humidity after rains and prolonged drought. You don’t need to spray the plant. However, long stems are brittle, so bigroot Geranium should be planted in places protected from wind and heavy rain.

6.       Temperature

You need to check the temperature of this plant. The optimum temperature for seedlings is +18-20°C during the day, 65 to 75°F. Bigroot Geranium can tolerate frosts in winter and the sudden changes in temperature in the warm season. It does not die during summer cooling or drought and does not require shelter during wintering.

7.       Top dressing

Bigroot Geranium responds well to the application of mineral and organic fertilizers. It needs to be fed with nitrogen in the spring and a month later with any complex composition.

8.       Transplant

Transplant young bigroot Geranium to the sunniest window sill or under phytolamps. Even if the seedlings on the windowsill do not have enough natural light, you also need to illuminate it with fit lamps.

This is especially true in winter and early spring. With a lack of light, bigroot Geranium seedlings will begin to stretch.

Bigroot Geranium 2
Geranium macrorrhizum – via Wikimedia

Propagation methods

a)       Reproduction by division of the rhizome

For division, it is necessary to dig a bush and check the growth buds for density, signs of rot, and drying out. It depends on whether young bigroot Geranium takes root or not. 

Next, you need to eliminate excess soil from the plant and divide the rhizome into several shares, each of which should have a renewed clod. Finally, plant the cut rhizomes in the prepared soil.

b)      Propagation by cuttings

It is necessary to cut off several shoots from an old plant with the cuttings. Then place the shoots in a container filled with water and a warm room. Roots will appear in a couple of weeks. 

After that, the stalk can be planted on open ground. To reduce the time for germination, you can purchase a rooting solution. After treatment with this solution, the cuttings can be planted immediately.

Diseases and pests

Bigroot Geranium rarely suffers from diseases. However, if not correctly cared for, it can develop bacterial rot. In this case, unpleasant dark spots appear on the leaves and stems of the plant. 

To treat it, you need to get rid of diseased plants and treat the remaining part with specialized products purchased at any gardening store.

The plant is attacked by powdery mildew.  To solve this, the affected leaves and parts of the stems are removed, and bigroot Geranium is treated with a Bordeaux mixture. You will also get gray rot. 

It occurs due to prolonged waterlogging of the soil, but sometimes it is saved by treating the root with fungicides and then transplanting it to a drier place.

Bigroot Geranium is also sometimes eaten by whiteflies. The specialized tool Spark will help to scare away voracious pests. If the caterpillars begin to devour the plant, it is easy to collect them manually and destroy them.


Conclusion

Bigroot Geranium attracts attention not only with beautiful flowering but also with the original color of the leaves. As we have already said, bigroot Geraniums are densely covered with rich green foliage in the summer period. 

With the advent of autumn, the green pigment gradually disappears. With the above care tips, you will have a healthy plant.