Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Geranium (pelargonium) (Pelargonium × hortorum)— schedule & NPK

Also called zonal geranium, bedding geranium, pelargonium.

About Geranium (pelargonium)

Pelargonium × hortorum · also called zonal geranium, bedding geranium · flowering

The plants sold in garden centres as "geraniums" are actually Pelargonium — tender South African shrubs grown for non-stop summer flowers. True hardy geraniums (cranesbills) are a different genus. Pelargoniums are drought-tolerant and easy in pots. Toxic to pets.

Garden 'geraniums' are Pelargonium species and hybrids, mostly native to South Africa; they are botanically distinct from the hardy temperate Geranium (cranesbill) genus.

A regular bloomer that responds to a balanced or higher-potassium feed through the growing season to sustain flowering.

Growth habit: Tender perennial bush, often grown as an annual

Watch for — No flowers: Too much shade or too much nitrogen.

Sources: aspca.org, rhs.org.uk, rhs.org.uk

What fertiliser geranium (pelargonium) actually wants — and why

Geranium (pelargonium) is a heavy-blooming flower with a big appetite — a regular high-potash feed through the season is what drives a long, dense display.

A high-potassium ("high-potash") flowering feed — tomato-style or a dedicated bloom/rose feed. Potassium powers flowering; a high-nitrogen feed gives you a leafy plant with disappointing bloom.

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 (pelargonium): 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 (pelargonium), 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 (pelargonium):

A high-potash feed every 2 weeks through summer. For a hungry bloomer that means feeding regularly — every 2 weeks — right through flowering across the main season (spring through early autumn), tapering as blooming ends.

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when geranium (pelargonium) 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 (pelargonium)

Follow the flowering-feed label rate for geranium (pelargonium), or half strength if feeding very frequently. These plants genuinely use the nutrients — under-feeding shows up fast as a thin display.

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

Signs you are over-feeding geranium (pelargonium)

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for geranium (pelargonium):

Lots of lush leaves but few flowers (too much nitrogen).
Scorched leaf edges and salt crust from too-strong or too-frequent feeds.
Soft, sappy growth prone to aphids and mildew.

Signs you are under-feeding geranium (pelargonium)

Sparse, small, short-lived flowers and pale foliage.
A tired plant that stops blooming early in the season.
Weak growth and poor repeat-flowering after the first flush.

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

Flushing and leaching the salts

Container-grown geranium (pelargonium) accumulates feed salts fast with frequent feeding — water until it drains each time and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent scorch.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for geranium (pelargonium)

Organic options

A liquid comfrey or seaweed feed (naturally potassium-rich) plus compost or well-rotted manure as a mulch. UK: comfrey feed, organic Tomorite, or rose feed; US: Espoma Rose-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Feeds and improves soil.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A high-potash flowering feed on a regular cadence — UK: Tomorite (Levington), Phostrogen or a specialist rose feed; US: Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster or a rose food. Fast, reliable bloom response.

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 (pelargonium) — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does geranium (pelargonium) need?

A high-potassium ("high-potash") flowering feed — tomato-style or a dedicated bloom/rose feed. Potassium powers flowering; a high-nitrogen feed gives you a leafy plant with disappointing bloom. Geranium (pelargonium) is a heavy-blooming flower with a big appetite — a regular high-potash feed through the season is what drives a long, dense display.

How often should I feed geranium (pelargonium)?

A high-potash feed every 2 weeks through summer. A high-potash feed every 2 weeks through summer. For a hungry bloomer that means feeding regularly — every 2 weeks — right through flowering across the main season (spring through early autumn), tapering as blooming ends.

What strength of feed for geranium (pelargonium)?

What does over-feeding geranium (pelargonium) look like?

Lots of lush leaves but few flowers (too much nitrogen). Scorched leaf edges and salt crust from too-strong or too-frequent feeds. Soft, sappy growth prone to aphids and mildew. Using a high-nitrogen general feed on geranium (pelargonium) is the headline mistake — you grow a big leafy plant with few flowers. The second is simply under-feeding a genuinely hungry bloomer and getting a sparse, short display.

Should I flush the soil of geranium (pelargonium)?