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geranium leaves turning red
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Posted by
prudy z5 NE (
My Page) on
Fri, Mar 9, 07 at 22:50
| A couple of months ago I planted 150 Hybrid geraniums and around 300 paintbox geranium seeds. The plants are now between 3 and 6 inches tall but all of the leaves are turning red. I have always had such good luck planting geraniums until now. Can anyone tell me what is going on and what I can do to correct this problem. These are planted for a school project and I would hate to lose these if I can do something to help solve this problem. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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The only time I had geraniums get red leaves was when they were too crowded and wet. Yanked one to find mold on the bottom.
Do you have a picture? |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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| This is common in phosphorus deficiencies, are you fertilizing? Janet |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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| After I thought about it, I also wonder what size pots you have them in 450 geraniums is alot of geraniums for me. |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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| Thanks for the quick response to my problem. These geraniums were repotted in regular geranium pots after they grew true leaves. I have only fertilized 2 0r 3 times. Maybe this is the problem. I will try fertilizing them more. I don't think they have been kept too wet as I let them dry out between waterings and have them in a soilless mix that drains well. No mold on the bottom of the pots. Thanks again for the advice. I am willing to try about anything as this is very disappionting to both me and the kids needing these for their project. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Prudy |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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Well I looked up my notes, I started my geraniums 1/27/07
I am at 6 to 8 leaf stage. I started 1/2 strength fish emulsion at 2 leaf stage. This week I am using 2x's per week general purpose fertilizer. I use potting soil for the transplant to geranium pots.
I would give them some fish emulsion fer sure in the next watering.
Soiless mix has no nutrients. If you think they aren't too far gone I would transplant to a better soil medium also.
I applaud your efforts, in the middle school my daughter attends the gifted program planted spring bulbs outside for their project this year, how lame is that? It's nice you have such a large lighted or sunny area at your school too! |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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| These geranium seeds were planted 1/03/07. They were moved to lights and than to the greenhouse. This is the 3rd year the kids have planted geranium seeds. They've always had such great success before this year. The geraniums were planted to be given as Mothers day gifts from the kids. I do have fish emulsion so will suggest trying this. Also, we'll move them to different soil. Thanks again for your suggestions. Prudy |
RE: geranium leaves turning red
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| Red or reddish leaves on geraniums are almost always caused by a trace mineral deficiency (phosphorous as someone mentioned above, or boron). This will often happen earlier or later in the season when temps are cool. If you are having night time temps 55 or below, this will inhibit the absorption of these trace minerals. They are usually present, but the cool prevents the geranium from using them. If you can bump up day and night temps to between 66 and 69, you should see the redness go away. It is also usually most evident on larger, older leaves. Hope this helps. |
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