Question From: B. de Graaf - Radyr, Wales, United Kingdom
Q: Dear Nancy We bought geraniums about 1 month ago, very healthy: full bloom, fresh green leaves. Potted them into large pots with new bag of potting soil and kept outside. Now the plants look very nice, however their leaves are very dark green and they initially initiate flower buds but these dry out during bud stage. They never flower. The potting soil has been used for potting other annuals (petunia) just fine ........ what is going on with our Geraniums? Thanks in advance. Barend
A: Check the flower buds. You may have budworm that bores into the buds and chew away. Cut open some dying buds to see what you find. Remove all the damaged flower buds. Take a cutting of the damaged flowers to an independent garden center or nursery for an accurate diagnosis and choice of control. These pests last for about a month, so the worst may be over. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
