Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Geranium 'Ann Folkard' (Geranium 'Ann Folkard')— schedule & NPK

Also called Ann Folkard cranesbill, Magenta trailing geranium.

More about geranium 'ann folkard'

About Geranium 'Ann Folkard'

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' · also called Ann Folkard cranesbill, Magenta trailing geranium · flowering

'Ann Folkard' is a long-flowering hybrid cranesbill with sprawling, scrambling stems carrying vivid magenta-pink, black-eyed flowers from early summer to autumn. Its yellow-green young foliage sets off the bright blooms. Vigorous yet rootbound-friendly, it weaves through neighbouring plants, fills gaps in borders and holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Growth habit: Sprawling, scrambling herbaceous perennial that weaves long trailing stems through nearby plants from a central crown; fully deciduous in winter.

Watch for — Vine weevil larvae: Wilting despite moisture suggests root-feeding grubs. Apply nematode biocontrols and refresh soil around the crown.

What fertiliser geranium 'ann folkard' actually wants — and why

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' flowers best on poor soil — feed it and you get a lush leafy plant with very few blooms, the exact opposite of what you want.

Little or nothing. Rich, especially nitrogen-rich, soil pushes foliage at the expense of flowers in this plant — lean ground is the technique, not a deficiency.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for geranium 'ann folkard': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed geranium 'ann folkard', and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For geranium 'ann folkard':

Undemanding. A spring compost mulch or one balanced feed at growth start is sufficient; high-nitrogen feeds promote rampant leaf at the expense of flowers. In practice: no routine feeding at all for geranium 'ann folkard' — at most a thin compost mulch for soil structure, never a flowering or nitrogen feed.

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when geranium 'ann folkard' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for geranium 'ann folkard'

None is the correct answer for geranium 'ann folkard'. The flower-versus-foliage trade-off is the whole point: hold back and you get the display.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water geranium 'ann folkard' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the geranium 'ann folkard' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding geranium 'ann folkard'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for geranium 'ann folkard':

Abundant leafy growth and very few flowers (the classic over-rich symptom).
Soft, floppy stems and a sprawling, leafy habit.
Scorched edges and salt crust if it has been fed in a container.

Signs you are under-feeding geranium 'ann folkard'

Effectively never an issue — these plants flower on poverty.
Only on genuinely dead soil: weak, thin growth and few blooms.
A short-lived plant in completely spent container compost.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full geranium 'ann folkard' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

If geranium 'ann folkard' has accidentally been fed and is all leaf, a plain-water flush plus a move to leaner soil resets it; otherwise no flushing is needed because you are not feeding it.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for geranium 'ann folkard'

Organic options

A thin compost mulch for soil structure is the absolute most; mostly, give it nothing. UK/US: leave it lean — no manure, no liquid feed. Poor soil is the active ingredient here.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

None. Synthetic feeds, particularly anything with appreciable nitrogen, directly suppress flowering in geranium 'ann folkard'.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising geranium 'ann folkard' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does geranium 'ann folkard' need?

Little or nothing. Rich, especially nitrogen-rich, soil pushes foliage at the expense of flowers in this plant — lean ground is the technique, not a deficiency. Geranium 'Ann Folkard' flowers best on poor soil — feed it and you get a lush leafy plant with very few blooms, the exact opposite of what you want.

How often should I feed geranium 'ann folkard'?

Undemanding. A spring compost mulch or one balanced feed at growth start is sufficient; high-nitrogen feeds promote rampant leaf at the expense of flowers. Undemanding. A spring compost mulch or one balanced feed at growth start is sufficient; high-nitrogen feeds promote rampant leaf at the expense of flowers. In practice: no routine feeding at all for geranium 'ann folkard' — at most a thin compost mulch for soil structure, never a flowering or nitrogen feed.

What strength of feed for geranium 'ann folkard'?