White geranium grows wild in warm regions with mild winters. In the Russian Federation, it grows in gardens only in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories.
Growing white geranium at home is simple and accessible to novice gardeners. Geranium or Pelargonium is considered a popular indoor plant by botanists. Some gardeners manage to grow in open ground.
Decoration for a front garden or garden looks attractive, since in such conditions the crop develops without restrictions on the roots. Grandmother's red, pink and purple geraniums have long faded into the background compared to white pelargonium. This white pelargonium plant looks unusual and attractive. Makes you believe in the signs and superstitions associated with this flower.
Look at the photo of white geranium from familiar angles - there are amazing specimens that can decorate the interiors of apartments and country houses:
Botanical description and history
First of all, it should be noted that the original homeland of geranium is South Africa and India. This circumstance explains the plant’s high resistance to dry weather, as well as the ability to collect large amounts of moisture in the stems.
Geranium was brought to Europe by English sailors, who regularly visited different parts of the globe, interested in foreign culture, infrastructure, goods, and plants. Thanks to its amazing appearance, this flower could not go unnoticed, and foreigners began to want to grow it in their homeland.
This flower was brought to Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries from Great Britain. To this day, certain species of this plant continue to grow in the wild. At the same time, they perfectly adapted to the cold climate. However, to a greater extent this flower is used as a decoration for human housing.
Reference! Geranium has another name - crane grass. Belongs to the geranium family. In total, there are about 400 different varieties of this flower, which grow in different parts of the globe. Geranium is also found in the tropical zone, mainly in the mountains.
The foliage is located on petioles and has a very different dissection. Leaves may be palmate or palmately lobed. Many types of geranium have a soft hairy structure.
Peduncles can have from one to 3 flowers. At the same time, the flowers are of the correct shape. They consist of 5 corolla petals and have 10 stamens with anthers.
Useful properties of pelargonium
Even the aroma of geranium has beneficial properties: it makes you feel better in case of heart disease, has a beneficial effect on blood pressure, and reduces the symptoms of gastritis.
Pelargonium tincture or freshly squeezed juice are used to treat colds. Geranium also helps with otitis media - pick a leaf, roll it up and put it in your ear. Pelargonium is also used to treat radiculitis, toothache, chronic fatigue and purulent wounds, so keeping it in the house is very convenient.
The oil of this plant is used in cosmetology as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. If you suddenly have a headache, then sit next to the plant and relax, sit like that for 15 minutes, trying not to think about anything. Pelargonium purifies indoor air from unpleasant odors and harmful bacteria. Its aroma repels mosquitoes and moths, so their proximity will no longer threaten you.
Appearance
Geranium became famous due to its amazing appearance. So, these plants can come in a variety of colors. These can be pink flowers, red, purple, etc. In addition, there are certain varieties where several shades can be combined in one flower.
White geranium looks especially gentle and elegant. Thanks to the contrast that is created by highlighting the white flowers against the backdrop of lush greenery, white geraniums can be an excellent decoration on any windowsill.
Since ancient times, white geranium has symbolized innocence, sincere feelings and purity of thoughts. In addition, it was previously believed that white geranium reliably protects the house from evil spirits, fires, and also from poverty.
Keeping white geraniums in the house: folk signs
When keeping white geranium in the house, you immediately want to turn to folk signs. The flower was grown indoors 3 centuries ago. After it was brought to Europe in the 17th century, many signs and superstitions associated with the perennial arose. History says that pelargonium was considered a royal flower, but due to its spread and soon due to its availability, the flower became a sign of philistinism. Many superstitions have appeared related to indoor culture.
Nowadays, pelargonium flowers are grown by simple people, but lacking taste. Even an ordinary geranium indicates that the owner is a kind, gentle and flexible person. The perennial adds feminine charm to the home. The brighter the pelargonium blooms on the windowsill, the more efficient the hostess lives in this home. If you see a lot of white geraniums with elongated stems, it means that the owner has not been in the house for a long time.
Rare flowers that bloom out of season, for example in winter, mean that the owner of the geranium will soon meet a bride. For a girl, such a sign speaks of a whirlwind romance that will end in a wedding celebration. In a house where children live, geranium also predicts certain events. For example, it begins to fade in the child’s room, which means it’s worth taking care of the child’s health and immunity.
Under no circumstances should you keep dried or dead geraniums in the house. This promises misfortune in family life or will ruin things on the “personal front”. Dried geranium indicates that an unhappy person lives in the house, deprived of vitality for some reason. If pelargonium suddenly turns black, but was cared for properly, it means that it has taken over the evil eye and warded off trouble or illness. Dig the plant out of its pot and dispose of it.
2 centuries ago, geranium essential oils were used to attract wealth. Helps you get rid of negative thoughts and get ready for fruitful work. Therefore, geranium becomes a frequent guest on the windowsills of schools and universities.
Popular varieties
As noted above, geranium has many varieties. At the same time, the following varieties are especially popular both in the Russian Federation and abroad:
“Maverick” - this species is characterized by the largest variety of different colors.
Moreover, there are even two-color flowers. The bushes have a height of no more than 30 cm with very dense and large inflorescences (up to 15 cm). Maverick blooms throughout the summer, right up to frost. Under indoor conditions, the rest period is 2 months.Note! It should be noted that it is highly resistant to heat, as well as a decrease in air temperature up to 5 degrees.
"Horizon" - characterized by a long flowering period.
Ideal for decorating flower beds and lawns. This variety is very resistant to high humidity, drought and heavy rain. The diameter of the flowers reaches 4 cm, and they are collected in numerous inflorescences. Another important feature of this variety is the accelerated germination process (no more than 5-7 days).
"Bulls Eye" - blooms profusely, unpretentious.
It has very amazing leaf colors. They are colored brownish-purple with a light edging. Due to the unusual color of the leaves, this variety serves as a very good decoration for the windowsill even in the dormant stage.
Photo
Next you can see a photo of white geranium:
You will rarely find an apartment, house or garden in which a beautiful geranium would not please the eye. It purifies the air and has healing properties. If you are thinking about breeding and growing such a flower, we will tell you how to do it correctly. But first, read the description of the most popular varieties, for example: Royal, Ivy-leaved, Rose-shaped, Ampelnaya, Roberta and Tulip-shaped.
The science of feng shui
Delving into the tenets of Feng Shui, we can safely say that wildly blooming geranium “absorbs” all negative flows of energy and thoughts.
If you place blooming pelargonium in your bedroom, it will not only delight you with its appearance and smell, but will also give you a boost of energy in the morning, a surge of strength and internal energy, and will also become your amulet against negativity and a talisman for attracting good luck.
When choosing a place for a flower, keep in mind that geranium emits a sugary and sweet aroma during the flowering period. If it stays near the bed for a long time, it can provoke an allergic reaction.
Where and how to plant it: rules, tips, instructions
There are a lot of places where you can plant this flower. White geranium is successfully used to decorate window sills, terraces, balconies, flower beds and lawns, as well as garden plots. We wrote about the diversity and care of indoor and garden varieties here, and read about how to care for indoor flower varieties here.
Geranium has a number of undeniable advantages, such as unpretentiousness, a wide variety of colors, and ease of propagation.
So, let's present step-by-step instructions for planting geraniums at home:
- First of all, you should choose a method for planting a flower. There are 3 options here:
- seeds;
use of shoots from the mother plant;
- purchased seedlings.
- Having decided on the planting method, you need to purchase a flower pot and make small holes in it where water will drain.
IMPORTANT. If geranium roots are constantly in water, they may rot. - Next, you should wash the pot thoroughly, since there may be various bacteria and pest larvae on its walls, which are difficult to notice at first glance.
- We choose soil rich in organic microelements. You should not take cheap soil, as it often retains moisture for a long time, which can harm the root system of geraniums.
- Let's start landing. Geranium shoots or seedlings should be planted after frost. The pot should be filled with earth, but it should not be compacted. It is important that the flower can breathe.
- We dig a small hole where the geranium roots should completely fit. It should be planted at the same depth at which the geranium sprout was originally planted when purchasing the seedlings.
- After planting, the soil around the flower should be lightly compacted. It is important not to damage the stems and shoots.
The best options for planting geraniums are the last two methods.
In this instruction, we will consider the algorithm of actions when planting geraniums through shoots or seedlings.
Varieties of white house geranium
Oddly enough, not many varieties of white domestic geranium have been bred, all botanical. The varieties may be artificial types of pelargonium, which should be taken into account when growing and caring for perennials. Next, we’ll look at popular varieties, read their descriptions and see what the specimens look like in the photo.
The first spectacular group of pelargoniums that I would like to talk about is ivy-leaved geranium. It is attractive with hanging stems, so the plant is placed in hanging flowerpots as a hanging plant. Advantage: it blooms no less profusely than representatives of other species groups.
Popular varieties of white ampelous geranium:
- "Ise Rose" - large flowers, collected in charming inflorescences. The buds contain many snow-white petals that have a greenish tint. In the sun, the petals of the corolla become slightly lilac
- "Jacky Gauld" is a perennial pelargonium with white fluffy flowers. The plant produces side shoots and forms a lush bush. The leaves are emerald, glossy, shimmering in the sun. The flowers are large, double, white or greenish in color, collected in dense inflorescences “caps”
- "Joan of Arc" is a large plant with airy flowers. The perennial blooms readily and for a long time. Some representatives may have white corolla petals with pink veins
- "PAC Blanche Roche" - the variety has medium-sized buds. The petals are white, with red stamens standing out against their background.
- "PAC Viva Carolina" is an exquisite plant with large flowers that are shaped like classic white roses.
Royal and zonal pelargoniums or geraniums are the most popular houseplant. They are distinguished by their short stature and strong branches that are easy to shape. Royal pelargoniums are famous for their large flowers and unique combinations of shades of the corolla petals. The flowers of this variety look like butterfly wings. They look as if they are about to fly away from the rich dark green foliage. Zonal pelargoniums are the more common “geranium” that is found almost everywhere. A distinctive feature of the plant is the zonal pattern on the petals, which can darken depending on the lighting.
The most popular varieties from these groups:
- "Arctic Princess" - blooms with large white flowers collected in huge spherical inflorescences at the tops of the stems. The buds are super-double, and against the background of emerald foliage they look magical. This variety of zonal pelargoniums is distinguished by the fact that it blooms constantly and very profusely if the growing conditions for the plant are properly organized and cared for.
- "Cherie" is a variety of royal geranium. This is a perennial that forms a slender, neat bush. Flowering is very abundant and long lasting. At this time, beautiful white flowers with pink veins and blush are formed. Remember that the plant begins to bloom only after a long wintering period under special conditions.
- "Delta Pearl" is an early variety with abundant, long-lasting, simple flowers. The buds are collected in large apical inflorescences. The leaves have a very expressive zonal pattern, which has the ability to change intensity depending on the lighting.
There are only two varieties with white petals:
- "Quantock May" - flowers are small in size, collected in loose snow-white inflorescences. Under certain conditions, the plant can be grown as a hanging plant.
- "PAC Angeleyes Light" - the corolla petals have a slightly pinkish tint, which becomes even brighter with sufficient lighting. The buds have an “eye” of a crimson or deep red hue.
Lighting and location
Geranium is a very light-loving plant, so it should be provided with a bright place on the windowsill. It is important to protect the flower from direct sunlight. A south window is best.
In winter, geranium may lack light, so it is recommended to leave it under a fluorescent lamp for some time.
The optimal air temperature is from 10 to 15 degrees. It is very important to regularly ventilate the room.
In summer, geraniums can be taken out onto the balcony or into the yard.
Useful tips
Feng Shui recommends placing pelargonium in the love zone, children's zone or wealth zone. You can use other recommendations:
- A purple white or pink flower can be placed anywhere in the room, and a red one should be clearly visible from the window. In this case, it most effectively protects apartment owners from the evil eye, love spell, damage, and bad thoughts of envious people.
- To enhance the magical effect of geranium, it is recommended to place a pot with azalea or schlumbergera next to it on the windowsill.
- If you live in a private house, place a pot of geraniums on the porch on both sides of the front door. A good idea is to plant geraniums in a flower bed where they will bloom throughout the summer.
- Pelargonium is best suited for people born under the zodiac sign Aries. It helps Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio to relax and disconnect from all problems, but pelargonium is also not “contraindicated” for other signs of the zodiac and becomes a powerful amulet for them.
Soil requirements
When planting geraniums, certain soil requirements must be observed. Geranium grows well in loose soil rich in turf.
Land can be purchased at a special store. Many flower lovers buy universal primer and supplement it with all the necessary components. So, you additionally need to add:
- clean river sand;
- vermiculite;
- perlite
When purchasing soil for geraniums, you should check for mold and insects.
Pink geranium
Pink geranium brings good luck in love affairs and promotes the development of close relationships. It is especially important for single people who are desperate to find their other half. This type of geranium is given to young girls who dream of getting married; it is better for them to place it in the bedroom.
There is a sign: if you bought a geranium of an unknown color, but later it bloomed with pink flowers, then the owner will soon have a wedding. If a person has taken a vow of celibacy, then pink geranium will also help reduce its effect.
It is pink geranium that has the most pleasant aroma.
How to properly care?
White geranium, like its other species, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. When caring for it, you should adhere to the following basic rules:
- in summer it is necessary to regularly water and spray the flower;
- in winter, water once every 10 days;
- Plant feeding is carried out from March to August once every 14 days. Fertilizers should only be potassium;
- In autumn, pruning should be done, leaving 2 lower leaves on the stem;
ADVICE. It is strongly recommended not to prune and propagate geraniums in December and January. - When growing geraniums in a box, the distance between the bushes should be at least 20 cm.
You will find all the tips and recommendations on the proper care of such types of geranium as Fragrant, Rosebudnaya, Black Velvet, Plenum, Max Fry, Rosanna, Zonal, Peony and Angel in separate articles.
The smell of a flower
Ancestors endowed the smell of pelargonium with extraordinary magical properties.
But these properties were not physical, but rather spiritual. The sweet floral aroma helps to find inner balance, find peace of mind, normalize sleep and replenish vital energy.
This is easily explained from a medical point of view.
The miraculous properties of the flower and its aroma can help attract financial flows and help lonely people find soul mates - it’s definitely worth it to decorate your interior with geraniums.
Common diseases and pests
One of the most common diseases of white geranium is rotting of the root system. As a rule, this problem is caused by excessive watering of the flower. This can destroy the plant.
Among the pests, one can highlight the appearance of gray mold on geranium leaves. Mold does not pose a particular danger to the flower, however, in order to get rid of it, it is recommended to stop watering for a while, cut off all affected leaves, spray the flower with an antimicrobial agent and place it in the sun.
In addition, sometimes white geranium is subject to the harmful effects of aphids and whiteflies. However, these pests can be easily controlled. In the first case, you should spray the geranium with a special preparation, and in the second case, you need to regularly inspect the plant and remove insects.
Money signs: are they worth taking into account?
In addition to the fact that geranium protects families and homes from squabbles, hatred and envious people, according to signs, it is able to improve the financial situation in the house, as well as direct a powerful and stable cash flow to the family.
Geranium oil was the main component for rituals among the ancient peoples of hot Africa.
According to experts in the field of Feng Shui practice, immediately before concluding an important transaction, you need to touch the leaves of the plant and inhale its pleasant and sweet aroma several times.
In order for the flower to bring maximum benefit and actively work for you, bring financial well-being and family happiness - provide it with good, constant and careful care.
Regardless of the type of geranium, pick off one inflorescence and put it in a secret pocket in your wallet. Even such a small part of the plant can attract good financial flow.
Features of reproduction
There are 2 ways to propagate white geranium:
- Using cuttings - they can be made all year round, by cutting 5 cm branches from the side and top shoots. Next, the cutting should be withered, the cut should be covered with crushed coal and planted in a pot.
The container in which the cuttings are planted should not be very large, since the geranium will bloom only when the roots fill the entire space. - Through seeds – this method is more expensive, but the seeds of white geranium germinate very quickly and also produce many seedlings. As a result, neat bushes grow, which can be planted if desired. Geranium seeds should be planted in moist soil to a depth of 2-5 mm.
ATTENTION. It is recommended to treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, since white geranium seedlings are often exposed to the harmful effects of the “black leg”.In addition, the ground in which the seeds are planted should be covered with glass and regular watering and ventilation should be provided. After the shoots have appeared, the glass should be removed and the container with the flower should be placed in a bright place.
Thus, white geranium can be an excellent decoration both inside the house and in the garden (you will learn about other types of garden geranium here). The most important thing is to adhere to the basic rules of caring for her, and then she will delight you with her beautiful appearance for a long time.
