Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' (Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei')— schedule & NPK

Also called Max Frei cranesbill, Compact bloody geranium.

More about geranium sanguineum 'max frei'

About Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' · also called Max Frei cranesbill, Compact bloody geranium · flowering

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' is a compact, tidy selection of bloody cranesbill prized for its dense low mound and prolific deep magenta-pink flowers from early summer to autumn. The finely cut dark foliage turns vivid red in autumn. More restrained and uniform than the species, it is excellent for edging, the front of sunny borders, gravel gardens and groundcover.

Growth habit: Dense, low, slowly spreading mound, more compact and uniform than the species, forming neat weed-suppressing groundcover.

Watch for — Loss of compactness: Rich soil, shade or over-feeding makes the tidy mound flop. Reduce feeding, give full sun, and shear after the first flush.

What fertiliser geranium sanguineum 'max frei' actually wants — and why

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei': 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 sanguineum 'max frei', 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 sanguineum 'max frei':

Minimal feeding. A light spring mulch or one balanced feed sustains it; excess nitrogen loosens the prized compact habit and cuts flowering. For a hungry bloomer that means feeding regularly — sparingly through the growing season — 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 sanguineum 'max frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei'

Follow the flowering-feed label rate for geranium sanguineum 'max frei', 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 sanguineum 'max frei' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the geranium sanguineum 'max frei' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding geranium sanguineum 'max frei'

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

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 sanguineum 'max frei'

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 sanguineum 'max frei' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Container-grown geranium sanguineum 'max frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei'

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 sanguineum 'max frei' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does geranium sanguineum 'max frei' 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 sanguineum 'Max Frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei'?

Minimal feeding. A light spring mulch or one balanced feed sustains it; excess nitrogen loosens the prized compact habit and cuts flowering. Minimal feeding. A light spring mulch or one balanced feed sustains it; excess nitrogen loosens the prized compact habit and cuts flowering. For a hungry bloomer that means feeding regularly — sparingly through the growing season — right through flowering across the main season (spring through early autumn), tapering as blooming ends.

What strength of feed for geranium sanguineum 'max frei'?

What does over-feeding geranium sanguineum 'max frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei' 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 sanguineum 'max frei'?