How to Grow & Transplant Geraniums

Geraniums are one of the easiest-to-grow, most reliable flower plants for the home gardener, but that’s not all. They’re also very easy to transplant. This makes geraniums perfect candidates for sprouting from seed and transplanting into the outdoor soil once the spring sun has warmed the ground. Don’t waste your money on pre-sprouted geranium plants in garden stores or nurseries. Save your hard-earned money by growing geraniums from seed and transplanting them when they’re ready.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• Peat moss seedling pots
• Soil-less potting mix
• Geranium seeds
• Fine-grade sandpaper
• Water
• Mulch

1. Fill individual peat moss pots with a soil-less potting mix. Soil-less mixes perform better than heavy garden soil.
2. Rub the geranium seeds for a couple seconds with fine-grade sandpaper so the seed has a scratched appearance. This scarifies the seeds and allows moisture to better penetrate the seeds’ hard outer coating, thus increasing germination rates, advises North Carolina State University Extension.
3. Plant a couple seeds in each peat moss pot, evenly spaced apart and buried approximately 1/4 to 1/3 inch below the soil surface.
4. Sprinkle the peat moss pots with water to evenly moisten the surface of each pot. Repeat twice a day, or as necessary, to keep the pots evenly moist.
5. Place the pots in a brightly lit location that’s out of direct sunlight. For the best results, North Carolina State University recommends maintaining a temperate of 72 degrees F around the pots. The seeds will typically germinate within seven to 10 days.
6. Move the pots to an area that receives full sunlight once the seedlings have emerged.
7. Thin out the pots by plucking out one of the two seedlings to give the remaining seedling room to grow. Remove the seedling that’s the smallest and thinnest.
8. Prepare your outdoor gardening spot once the last frost date in your region has passed. Ideally, choose a location that receives full sunlight and has well-drained soil. Breakup the soil with a spade to a depth of 6 to 10 inches, then stir in a couple inches of aged compost.
9. Bury each peat moss so the level of soil inside the pot is level with the soil outside the pot. Over time, the pot will disintegrate and the transplanted seedling’s roots will slowly spread into the surrounding area.
10. Spread an inch of mulch around each transplanted geranium. This improves its ability to take root and flourish in its new location by keeping the soil consistently moist and by adding more organic matter to the dirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Start your geranium seeds in the late winter, such as in January or February, so they’re ready for transplanting and blooming in time for mid-spring. It typically takes three months from germination for the plants to begin blooming.