Ideas for Geraniums?

After I saw Gardenwife's post last week about Demonye's sale on geraniums this weekend, I just had to go! Okay, so now I have these very healthy geraniums in white, rose & pink. Dumb question here, but what's the best use/display for geraniums? I've poked around DGs & the web, but I the info is realls spread thin. So, I thought a post here might generate some good ideas about how I can incorporate them into landscape, containers, other?

Please help!

I'm going to post an inquiry in the Photo's forum, too, in case anyone has good pictures of what they've done in the past. Thanks!

Morph are you talking about pelargoniums (summer bedding geraniums) or cranesbill - hardy Geranium?

Louisa, here is a link to the labels that accompanied the geraniums. Honestly, I'm not sure which kind they are. http://davesgarden.com/editgj/showimage.php?iid=6041

These are Pelargoniums. I find they do best in containers, either alone or with other smaller plants. They make a great long flowering spot plant.

Morph some plants are considered old fashioned - but I like that!! Back in the days when I was much younger, my father grew them all the time, even in the house, and I was never that keen on them!! Now I too love them because they've grown on me and they smell so good too! I've always been under the impression that they grow best in the sun and in the Mediterranean countries they are grown this way, as they are in England. I've also seen the ivy-leaved ones in Germany in window boxes that are stunning and they too were in full sun. However, just yesterday I was watching a gardening programme here and they were advising morning sun only!! I'm completely bemused and can only put it down to the fact that temps can soar into the 90s and 100s for a lengthy period of time and then there's the humidity!! As for placing them, Baa is right of course. They do look lovely in containers. Million bells would go well with them but I can't think of the Latin name!! Lobelia too, but they like some shade!! I like to grow them on their own!! You can plant them in the garden too, along with other annuals but you would need many I fear to make a decent display!!

I saw them today with dusty miller and they go very well together!!

Thanks Baa, Louisa & tiG! They really weren't on my garden planning list at all this year, but it was a fun day trip for me to go to Columbus. And, of course, they were on sale and they looked SO healthy and EVERYONE was clamoring over them... So, I just jumped into the mix, too, and thought, "I'll make them work or share with my friends & family!" I happened to get some dusty miller, too, tiG, but didn't really know what to do with it either. Now, I think I've a good plan for them both! Here's a picture of the geraniums so y'all know how hard it was NOT to get any! http://davesgarden.com/editgj/showimage.php?iid=6042

Very healthy!!! I overwinter them and cuttings are so easy - I just stick them in sand and away they go. I even stuck one piece that had broken from the parent plant and stuck it in with another plant - it is doing very well. They are such cheerful work horses!! You'll be glad you bought them :-)

Louisa, I don't think I know what you mean by "overwintering" them.

Separately, we've a lot of clay in my area & I was curious about putting your cuttings in sand. Did you put the cuttings in sand for indoor growth, or is your area a sandy soil? I think I'd like to try growing some of these indoors after your comments on having them in the house when you were young & the fragrance they have :)

I'm sorry - I should have explained it a little better than I did!! By overwintering I mean I put them in the garage in their pots, just watering a couple of times during the winter. I allow the plant to dry out somewhat and for the leaves to fall and then come early Spring I cut back the stems. When the weather warms up at night, I put them outside, top them up with a little fresh potting soil and slow release fertilizer! I also take some into the house where I treat them as houseplants and take cuttings from them. The cuttings can go into pots of sand or potting soil, they don't need hormone rooting powder. I have known people actually uproot the plants, shake off all the soil and wrap them in paper, placed on top of a cabinet in a cool room. Then when Spring arrives, the plants were potted up and all the dead material removed to make way for new growth. I haven't tried this myself but have seen the results.

I think you should buy some hardy Geraniums.

Mark

Morpf - for several years I have had the same ones in a Whiskey barrel on my back deck - they do get only morning sun and bloom their heads off all summer. I have 7 bright red ones and 5 variegated leafed ones with red flowers also. In the Fall, I pull them up and put about 3-4 of them in large plastic pots, they are crowded but don't seem to mind and bloom all winter in my little green house. I'm sure they would survive inside your house or basement. They would just go dorment without light or much water, but the roots will live as long as they don't freeze, and when it's warm again, just repot them and put them back outside, after pruning of course. I think I have a pic of mine from last year that I can post.

Oh, yes please! I would love to see your picture. Mine are still in the flat until this weekend and I still don't know how/where to plant them yet. I'd just love to see your picture!

Louisa, thanks so much for taking the time to explain overwintering to me. I'll be curious to know which of my plants can survive this way come Fall :)

Morph - I have never done this before, but I think I hsve copied my link to the PIC I posted last year, I really was showing off the Caladiums, but the whiskey barrel is there too. If it doesn't open right I will just post it again in photos. It was called Caladiums.

http://davesgarden.com/showthread/76267.html

It worked for me!! I didn't have the variegated leaved ones in this pic.

Yes, it worked for me, too! What a gorgeous setup you have & they look so lovely & bring such color! Thanks for posting the link & sharing. I really like the wisky barrel, too. Where'd you find yours? Do you think I could find one at a flea market? Thanks again, Azalea!

They sell them at Home Depot or Lowes, they used to sell for about $15.00 - $19.00. You may notice that mine is up off the surface of the deck to allow air under it, my DG had to replace part of the wood that had rotted under it last year. You will need to drill 3-4 holes for drainage in the bottom. You can fill it about halfway with styrofoam, then "Weed Stop" fabric, to save on the weight and soil.

Yes, good ideas to raise it slightly & fill halfway with styrofoam! I thought you were saying that they sold the flowers at Home Depot or Lowes, but you mean that's where you found the barrel, right? That will save me some time hunting one down ~ thanks for all the great ideas & advice. I'm dancing & singing my way to bed tonight...

Azalea I think I would like to sit in your garden as long as you keep the summer drinks coming along. I too love the red geraniums - they remind me so much of my dad (gone now). I too have a whiskey barrel, all the way from England and still going strong after all these years. I am going to use it to enter the container contest if the weather is nice to me - still haven't planted it up yet. And yes I too use those packing peanuts at the bottom of the barrel!! Way to go Morph!!

Come on Down Louisa!!! There is a pool just to the right of the deck.

and it's gorgeous all over her entire yard!!!!

I'm sure of it!! Maybe when we visit Gainesville sometime!!

Azalea and Morph: They make a planter that fits right over the whiskey barrel. The lip of the planter fits around the rim. It's deep enough for annuals, and the barrel can remain empty and light weight. The only downside is that it was so expensive... over $10 as I recall. I saw it in Wallmart, I think.

Weezin - hadn't seen these - sounds like a neat idea - maybe the bottom wouldn't be so apt to rot out!

Yes! I think the lip around the pot would keep water from running down the sides, but you'd still have the runoff from the drainholes in the pot. The ones I saw were very plain black inserts, and I'd have bought a couple if they hadn't wanted so much for them.

Oh, I will check for both tomorrow which is almost today! I'll be visiting the strip including Walmart for the planter & Lowes or Home Depot for the barrel. I don't recall seeing either of these previously so keep your fingers crossed that they are not exclusive to certain markets!

I do so appreciate everyone's ideas and added info on availability of items. What a small world it becomes with the internet, eh? All we need now is a global language and just think of the possibilities if combined with a peace seeking species!

Right on, Morph: Happy shopping!

Hey, that's a great idea!!! I always lined mine with heavy duty black plastic.