Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Pretty Leaves
Plants don't have to be all rare and exotic or hardcore and succulent for me to love them. I also love these girly, frilly, Fancy Leaved Pelargoniums. You can call them geraniums if you want to, it doesn't bother me, although technically it is botanically incorrect. But if you go to a nursery and you ask for a 'fancy leaved geranium' instead of a 'fancy leaved pelargonium', they'll know what you're talking about. (the difference between pelargoniums and geraniums is vast, but somehow they got tangled up. Geraniums are hardy perrenials, and they have a delicate, English-y look. Pelargoniums are mediterranean sub-shrubs with leathery or sometimes succulent leaves that come in an endless variety) This particular 'Fancy' is Pelargonium 'Contrast'. She has reddish orange flowers and is tough as a marine. A great bonus is that once you have one of these, you never need to buy another one - they are the best cutting plants of all time. Whenever you trim this baby, pop a few of the cuttings into little terra cotta pots and water them every 3 or 4 days. You'll always have a great little gift handy for those times you need to drop in on someone. Do people do that anymore - just drop in? Or is that a very Southern thing? Any which way, fancy leaved pelargoniums are great in pots, in a garden, and in a vase. To me, that means a plant is a winner!
LOVE those! John Derian has the most adorable tiny vintage terracotta pots, ideal for the cuttings. and what is a cutting, i never know, is it just a leaf that you then plunge into so soil?
Aren't they great? You'll love how easy they are, too. As for 'cuttings' - they are one of these reasons gardening is incredible... I know people who have never purchased a plant, yet have amazing gardens. Certain plants have so much will to live that whenever you cut off a portion, it will almost jump out of your hands and stick itself in some soil. Usually they are shrubby, but soft of stem, like geraniums (pelargoniums) and the datura you posted a little while ago. You cut a 6" portion of stem (flowering ends seem to do extra well), allow the cut to scab over a little, then stick the healed stem 3" into a little pot filled with sandy soil. This next step is crucial - press the soil firmly in the pot and against the cutting; this is called 'getting a good strike'. Next, water the pot, and make a mini greenhouse by putting a zip lock bag over it. Check it once a week - give it a few drops of water if it gets dry. Simple! Check for roots in a month - you'll be shocked! Maybe I should have posted this... I'll have to do a cutting tutorial using visuals. Thanks for the inspiration, Rita!
Thank you, Germinatrix, for your fun, intersting blog.
I've been starting pelargoniums for years. In our sandy California soil, all you do is snip, trim the tops, put into dirt with a little fertilizer, and many of them will grow.
So last week I decided to use various scented ones as groundcover.
Now I'm worried that I may have created Frankenstein's monster. Will they take over, become ugly and leggy - or will I have a beautiful, perfumed garden?
Aren't we lucky, sumcool, to live in a place where scented pelargoniums run rampant? I love these plants, and I use them as groundcovers alot - but the first year is all about cutting back by 1/3 every 2 months. It sounds crazy - but I'm really talking about the big, floppy ones, like P. tomentosum (peppermint) or P. 'Chocolate Mint'(which doesn't smell as wonderful as the others, but is so beautiful) - they will get leggy unless you establish a tighter branching network by hard cutting in that first year. Mine are still large, but have a nice, semi-shrubby shape instead of sprawling stems and no center. Have you tried P. nutmeg? It is a dream, and naturally grows into a tight little bun with very little encouragement. Okay - here's another idea for a post ... the wonderful world of scenteds! Thank you so much for your kind words, and for commenting - your scented garden will be lovely!
Thanks, Germinatrix.
Tomorrow will be cut back the geraniums day.
Hmmm, nutmeg, sounds nice. I'll try to find some.