Variegated Geranium
My friend in Chicago has a geranium with leaves that are white, green, pink, and even purple. Can you tell me the type of geranium it is so I can buy one and how to care for it.
Hi Amanda,
The variegated geranium you are describing is a Pelargonium (Geranium) Hortorum. Here are some care tips for indoor geranium plants.
Light: This type of geranium grows well indoors when placed in very bright light at leasy 6-8 hours a day. Fluorescent lights about 10 to 12 inches from a Geranium Plant can be used to supplement natural light
Water: Geranium Plants survive being under- watered but quickly develop root- rot when over- watered. Wait until the top 50% of the soil is dry before watering a Geranium Plant.
Fertilizer: Feed a Geranium Plant monthly in the spring and summer with a water-soluble houseplant
fertilizer. Geranium Plants need food only when they are actively growing.
Temperature: Geranium Plants prefer cool temperatures between 65-70 degrees during the day, and around 55 degrees at night. Avoid placing a Geranium Plant in cold, drafty areas or hot, dry places.
Humidity: Geranium Plants grow well in normal household humidity. Very high humidity encourages bacterial and fungal infections on a Geranium Plant; and very low humidity encourages
spider mites to infest a Geranium Plant.
Flowering: Geranium Plants need very bright intense light to bloom indoors. Immediately removing dead or faded flowers encourages a Geranium Plant to produce more flowers.
You can read more about geranium plants in the Popular Houseplant section of the website.
