Geraniums are summer’s showstoppers—vibrant, cheerful, and tough as nails. But if yours start looking leggy or stop blooming halfway through the season, don’t throw in the towel. With the right care, you can enjoy lush, flower-packed geraniums that don’t quit until fall.
Ready to turn your potted or garden geraniums into blooming machines? Let’s dig in.
1. Choose the Right Variety
Not all geraniums are created equal. If you’re aiming for constant color, pick varieties known for long blooming seasons. Here are a few summer rockstars:
- Zonal Geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum): Classic and reliable with big, bold blooms.
- Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum): Perfect for hanging baskets—great trailing growth and continuous flowers.
- Martha Washington Geraniums (Pelargonium domesticum): Gorgeous but fussier—not ideal for hot summers.
Stick with zonal or ivy geraniums if you want easy, long-lasting blooms in summer heat.
2. Give Them Plenty of Sunlight
Geraniums are sun lovers. For best flowering, they need at least 6 hours of full sun a day.
Got them in partial shade? That’s probably why they’ve stalled. Move them to a sunnier spot, whether it’s a balcony, porch, or a sun-drenched patch of garden.
👉 Tip: Morning sun is ideal. Afternoon sun can be harsh, especially in hot climates, so some light shade in the late day won’t hurt.
3. Don’t Forget to Deadhead
This one’s a game-changer. Deadheading (removing spent flowers) tells the plant to keep producing more blooms instead of wasting energy on seeds.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Snip the entire flower stalk back to where it meets the stem—not just the wilted petals.
- Check your plants every few days and remove any faded flowers immediately.
You’ll be amazed at how fast your geraniums bounce back with fresh blooms.
4. Water Deep, But Let Them Dry
Geraniums hate soggy roots. So while they need consistent water, especially in containers, the key is to let the soil dry out between waterings.
Try this simple routine:
- Stick your finger an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, water deeply.
- In hot weather, you may need to water every other day.
- In cooler spells, every 3–4 days might be enough.
🚫 Avoid overhead watering—wet leaves invite disease.
5. Feed Them Regularly
Even the best soil runs low on nutrients as summer rolls on. That’s where fertilizer comes in. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season.
Look for formulas like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 for general feeding. If blooms are lagging, switch to a bloom booster fertilizer with higher phosphorus (like 15-30-15).
🧪 Bonus tip: Don’t overfeed. Too much nitrogen = lots of leaves, fewer flowers.
6. Prune for Bushier Growth
A little snip goes a long way. If your geraniums get leggy or straggly, pinch or cut back the growing tips to encourage side shoots and more blooms.
When to prune:
- Early summer for shaping
- Midseason if plants start looking tired
- After a heavy rain or windstorm
Use clean scissors or pruners and cut just above a leaf node (where leaves grow from the stem).
7. Keep an Eye on Pests
Even hardy geraniums have a few enemies. Watch out for:
- Aphids – check stems and new growth
- Whiteflies – tiny insects that flutter up when disturbed
- Spider mites – look for speckled leaves or fine webbing
If you spot them, spray with insecticidal soap or use neem oil. Left unchecked, pests can stress your plant and stall blooming.
8. Refresh Tired Plants Mid-Summer
By late July, even the best geraniums can look a little… meh. Give them a quick makeover:
- Trim leggy stems by ⅓ to encourage new growth.
- Replace some potting soil or repot if they’re rootbound.
- Feed with a bloom booster fertilizer.
- Move to a breezier, slightly shadier spot if they look heat-stressed.
Within a couple of weeks, they’ll bounce back and reward you with a fresh flush of flowers.
9. Overwinter or Replace Next Year
If you’re in a cooler climate, your geraniums won’t survive a frost. But you don’t have to say goodbye:
- Bring potted geraniums indoors before the first frost.
- Keep them in a sunny window and water sparingly until spring.
- Or take cuttings and root new plants for next season.
Some gardeners simply treat geraniums as annuals and buy new ones each spring—but if you’ve kept yours thriving all summer, they’re worth saving.
Final Thoughts
Geraniums are low-maintenance, but they do have one rule—they won’t bloom unless you give them the conditions they love. That means sun, smart watering, regular feeding, and a little grooming along the way.
Stick to these simple tips, and you’ll be rewarded with weeks (and weeks!) of color.
