Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Geranium sanguineum var. striatum (Geranium sanguineum var. striatum)— schedule & NPK

Also called Striped bloody cranesbill, Lancastrian geranium.

More about geranium sanguineum var. striatum

About Geranium sanguineum var. striatum

Geranium sanguineum var. striatum · also called Striped bloody cranesbill, Lancastrian geranium · flowering

Geranium sanguineum var. striatum is a low, mat-forming bloody cranesbill bearing pale shell-pink flowers delicately veined with darker pink, over finely dissected dark-green leaves that redden in autumn. Flowering generously from early to late summer, it is a tough, sun-loving, drought-tolerant groundcover that holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and excels at the front of dry, sunny borders.

Growth habit: Very low, prostrate, mat-forming clump spreading slowly by short rhizomes into a tight, weed-suppressing carpet.

What fertiliser geranium sanguineum var. striatum actually wants — and why

Geranium sanguineum var. striatum 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 var. striatum: 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 var. striatum, 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 var. striatum:

Light feeder. A thin spring compost mulch or single balanced feed suffices; over-feeding produces floppy growth and fewer of the veined pink flowers. 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 var. striatum 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 var. striatum

Follow the flowering-feed label rate for geranium sanguineum var. striatum, 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 var. striatum 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 var. striatum watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding geranium sanguineum var. striatum

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

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 var. striatum

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 var. striatum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Container-grown geranium sanguineum var. striatum 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 var. striatum

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 var. striatum — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does geranium sanguineum var. striatum 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 var. striatum 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 var. striatum?

Light feeder. A thin spring compost mulch or single balanced feed suffices; over-feeding produces floppy growth and fewer of the veined pink flowers. Light feeder. A thin spring compost mulch or single balanced feed suffices; over-feeding produces floppy growth and fewer of the veined pink flowers. 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 var. striatum?

What does over-feeding geranium sanguineum var. striatum 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 var. striatum 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 var. striatum?