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Home Page > Yardener's Plant Helper > Landscape Plant Files > Files About Flowers > Flowers, Annuals > Geranium > Solving Geranium Problems

Solving Geranium Problems



How To Use This Problems Section
The chart is organized to give you a quick and dirty summary of the possible symptoms that you may encounter. Those problem causes for which we have full files will be linked to those files. Those causes with no link will have a paragraph below the chart helping you deal with that particular problem.

Solving Geranium Problems
SymptomProbable Cause
Small Holes In Unopened BudsGeranium Budworm
No BlossomsOverfeeding; Excessive Heat
No Blossoms IndoorsPoor Environment
Lower Leaves Have Yellow EdgesNeeds Fertilizer
Leaves DeformedMites
Leaves Turn ReddishNights Too Cold
Spindly Plant GrowthLow Light
Buds Dry Up; Drop OffHigh Humidity or Overwatered
Pale or Yellow Spots; Leaves DistortedAphids
Plant Grows PoorlyMealybug
Plant Weakens; Leaves Turn YellowWhitefly
Leaf Spots of Various Sizes; Leaves Wilt; Stems RotLeaf Spot or Rot, a fungal disease
Leaves Patched or Coated with WhiteMildews, fungal disease
Foliage Turns YellowRoot rot, bacterial disease


Geranium Budworm

Small Holes In Unopened Buds Signals Geranium Budworm
Also known as the tobacco budworm, the geranium budworm is a caterpillar that tunnels into unopened buds and eats them from the inside out. Then when they open, the flower petals are riddled with holes. To prevent the spread of the worms into healthy buds remove any buds showing tiny holes and nearby brown specks. Handpick any visible worms, which may be greenish, tan, reddish or black depending somewhat on the color of their host flower. They have 2 pale stripes running parallel to each other the length of their bodies.
For heavy budworm infestations spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) on the bud surfaces where budworms are feeding. They will ingest the bacteria, which only harms caterpillar type pests, sicken, stop eating, and die within days. For chronic budworm problems, cover the soil with landscape fabric to block the larvae (the worms) from entering the soil where they overwinter and become moths. Plant geranium seedlings in holes cut through the fabric. Ivy geraniums are less susceptible than other geranium types.

Excessive Heat

No Blossoms Due to Overfeeding or Excessive Heat
Overfeeding stimulates lush vegetation but no flowers on geraniums. Water the plants generously so that the ground is thoroughly soaked two or three days in a row so that the excess nutrients will be diluted and carried past the geranium roots deeply into the soil. Do not fertilize for the rest of the growing season.
While zonal types of geraniums thrive on sun and hear, ivy and regal types of geraniums stop blooming when subjected to the extremely high temperatures typical of hot sunny afternoons in warm climates. Try to local them where they will get some shade in the afternoon. No Blossoms Indoors Due to Poor Environment
There are three reasons why geraniums may be reluctant bloomers indoors in the winter: 1). too much nitrogen, 2). too little light, 3). too little difference between day and night temperature. Stop feeding the plants for awhile and find a better location for them. It may be necessary to place them under lights to encourage blooming in the winter.

Low Nutrition

Lower Leaves Have Yellow Edges Signals Low Nutrition
If their bottom leaves have yellow edges, geraniums probably need some food. Spray their foliage with liquid fertilizer, but do not exceed the dilution prescribed on the container. Feed them every two weeks until the symptoms disappear.

Nights Too Cold

Leaves Turn Reddish When Nights are Too Cold
Leaves of geraniums placed outside too early in the spring may redden when the plants are first planted or set outside. This is caused by a sudden chill, usually at night. Delay moving your plants outside until nighttime temperatures remain reliably above 40°F.

Low Light

Spindly Plant Growth Is Due To Low Light
Geraniums become spindly because of a number of environmental problems. Insufficient light is a common cause. Failure to pinch back long stems, excessive feeding and watering and overcrowding will also cause geraniums to look leggy and to fail to thrive.

Overwatering

Buds dry up, drop off Due to High Humidity, Overwatering
Sometimes, especially on potted geraniums, the unopened buds dry up and drop off before they have a chance to open. This may be because they are too moist. Try to provide a drier climate for them. Wait a bit longer between watering, especially if they are in containers.

Root Rot

Root rot is caused by fungi that live in the soil. Typically, these rots attack geranium stems at or near the soil level. Plant foliage turns yellow, wilts, and dies. Root systems rot, causing the geraniums to topple over. Remove and discard infected plants, or cut away affected plant parts with a clean, sharp knife or razor blade. Disinfect tools after use. Keep the garden clear of old plant debris and keep mulch away from stem bases. For long term prevention, lighten heavy soil with a mixture of perlite, vermiculite or peat moss to improve its drainage. Avoid overwatering. Space plants further apart to prevent crowding. Use sterile commercial soilless potting mix in containers.


The following questions were asked by visitors who viewed this page:
  • Once Healthy Geraniums Have Tiny Leaves
  • Geranium Leaves Are Brown On Edges
  • Geranium Plant Has Holes In Leaves
  • Geranium Flowers Are Very Small And Tight
  • Will Geraniums Left In Ground Bloom The Following Year
  • Ivy Geranium Has White Puffs Where Flowers Should Be
  • Geranium Flower Buds Dry Out And Never Flower
  • Geranium Petals Turn Brown
  • Potted Plant Flowers In Hot Weather Have Dry Petals In Middle
  • Geraniums Have Yellow Leaves And White Spots On Blossoms
  • Geranium Leaves Have Turned Brown
  • Geranium Leaves Have Brown Film On Undersides
  • Geraniums Have Very Long Blossom Stems
  • Geranium Stems Have Started Curling And Bending Over At Head
  • Will Bottom Leaves Of Red Flower Geraniums Return After Being Removed
  • Indoor Geranium Leaves Drying Up And Falling Off
  • How Much Water For Geraniums
  • Geranium Leaf Stems Seem To Be Shrinking And Rotting At Base
  • Indoor Geranium Flower Petals Turn Brown
  • Geranium Leaves Have Tiny Pinholes Small Greenish Worms And Are Turning Yellow
  • Large Red Geraniums Have Suddenly Started Wilting Shriveling And Falling Over
  • Something Is Boring Into Stems Of Geraniums
  • Potted Geranium Has Thread Thin Vine On It That Twines Around Plant
  • Geraniums Are Stunted
  • New Leaves Of Geraniums Are Pale
  • Geranium Leaves Have Red Spots
  • How To Save Geraniums From Heat And Humidity
  • Geranium Leaves Have Tiny Black Pills On Them
  • Ivy Geranium Flowers And Leaves Are Much Smaller This Year
  • How To Protect Geraniums And Petunias From Too Much Rain
  • Geranium Leaves Being Eaten Cleanly And Some Have Yellow Brown Discoloration On Back
  • Red Geranium Flowers Are Black
  • Geranium Flowers Have Silver Spots
  • Pink Rose Does Not Bloom And Leaves Turn Brown and Dry Up
  • Potted Geranium Leaves Have Holes And There Are Black Droppings On Soil Underneath
  • Geraniums Have Tiny Holes And Black Spots
  • Geranium Buds Do Not Fully Open On Top And Leaves Are Curling
  • Geranium Plants Have Many Buds That Do Not Fully Open
  • Geraniums Have Many Flowers And Almost No Leaves
  • Potted Geranium Blooms Are Very Small And Buds Do Not Open At The Same Time
  • Geraniums Have Little Holes All Over And Buds Are Brown And Not Blooming
  • Geranium Stems Are Turning White
  • Martha Washington Geraniums Are Falling Over
  • Potted Geranium Flower Petals Are Curling Under
  • Geranium Has Lots Of Bud Clusters But Only The Buds On Top Bloom
  • Geranium Buds Shrink And Never Bloom
  • How To Treat Fungal Disease On Geranium
  • Potted Geranium Leaves Are Splitting And Have Brown Areas
  • Geranium Stems Suddenly Turned White
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