Pelargonium zonal: the charm of beauty

This flower enjoys the well-deserved love of manygardeners due to the lush and early flowering, refinement and richness of colors. Its unusual name zonal pelargonium received because of a peculiar belt or strip of dark color repeating the shape of the sheet, and in Greek "belt" sounds like zona.

The plant is very decorative, growing compactvolumetric bushes with large globular caps of bright inflorescences. A variety of colors, patterned leaves and height of bushes allows you to select plants for landscaping loggias, verandas, decorating street hanging baskets, creating various flower arrangements on flower beds.

Pelargonium zonal is divided into varietal groups: pink-buccal, floksovidnye, clove-like andvery unusual in appearance - cactus-shaped. The height of the plant varies, depending on the variety, maybe from 15 cm (miniature, dwarf varieties) to 1.5 m (stamping varieties).

Pelargonium zonal: care for it simple, because the flower is not cranky, almost unaffected by diseases and attacks by pests. But to achieve a long, rapid and long flowering, it is necessary to adhere to some of the following rules.

For a good, abundant flowering, regular and sufficient watering is very important

soft, filtered water. It is also necessary to phosphorus top dressing and permanent removal of faded inflorescences. Pelargonium zonal loves light, although it is essentialdecreases the flowering period, but increases the brightness and color saturation. The plant will bloom and in the penumbra, but then the stems are stretched out, the compactness and furryness of the bush are lost, and decorative is affected. In this case, the shape is regulated by pruning the stems, which are then used for propagation.

In South Africa, the flower grows as apowerful and developed root system. In our climate, Pelargonium does not survive in winter. Therefore, the plant is excavated before freezing, the roots are slightly pruned with a pruner and placed carefully in a pot of soil and drainage. While the plant is on winter rest, it can not be dried or poured. After the winter "hibernation", when frosts pass, pelargonium is planted in the soil heated to 11-13 degrees, the inflorescences are removed, watered, and mulched to preserve the moisture. The ground must be well drained and loose.

Pelargonium reproduction basic cuttings: cut 3-4 internodes from overgrown tops, give cuttings to sweat in the air for about a day, put in water, wait for the roots and plant them in the soil.

If you plant a few plants in the garden, you can not worry about your health. Pelargonium zonal has the ability to restore strength,have a positive effect on the nervous system, soothe it, and thereby restore normal sleep. If you put a wounded leaf in the patient's ear, the pain will abate. A pelargonium, planted on beds with gladiolus, asters and other flowers will protect them from aphids. Dry leaves perfectly replace naphthalene and protect things from the invasion of moths.