Anne Thomson Cranesbill (Anne Thomson Geranium) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Anne Thomson Cranesbill burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Full sun or light shade; more heat-tolerant than 'Ann Folkard' but still flowers most freely with good light and benefits from afternoon shade in very hot climates. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering anne thomson cranesbill: moderate; water during dry spells. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep soil reasonably moist but well-drained during the growing season; the plant's superior heat tolerance means it can sustain flowering through summer with regular watering.

Soil and pot

Anne Thomson Cranesbill grows best in moderately fertile, free-draining but moisture-retentive. Thrives in a range of reasonably fertile garden soils that do not dry out excessively or become waterlogged; incorporate organic matter to improve moisture retention. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Anne Thomson Cranesbill sits happiest at around Low to moderate humidity and -20°C to 32°C (-4°F to 90°F). Tolerates wider humidity and temperature range than 'Ann Folkard'; handles moderate summer humidity without serious mildew issues given adequate air circulation. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed anne thomson cranesbill sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring; avoid high-nitrogen feeds which produce leafy growth at the expense of the long flowering display. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on anne thomson cranesbill in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Vine weevil — White grubs in the root zone cause sudden wilting; adult notching on leaf margins is the first sign — treat with Steinernema kraussei nematodes applied to moist soil in late summer.
• Geranium sawfly — Greyish-green larvae with a series of black spots can reduce foliage to tatters in spring and late summer; inspect and remove by hand, or use an appropriate insecticide.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in spring or early autumn; take basal softwood cuttings in early spring with bottom heat. Does not come true from seed. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Anne Thomson Cranesbill is mildly toxic to pets. The ASPCA 'Geranium' toxic listing refers to Pelargonium species (containing geraniol and linalool), not to true Geranium cranesbills. True Geranium is not individually listed as toxic or confirmed non-toxic by ASPCA; treat with caution around pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Anne Thomson Cranesbill deep-dive guides

Every aspect of anne thomson cranesbill care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common anne thomson cranesbill problems & fixes
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill watering schedule
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill light requirements
• Best soil mix for anne thomson cranesbill
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill fertilizing guide
• When to repot anne thomson cranesbill
• How to propagate anne thomson cranesbill
• How to prune anne thomson cranesbill
• What's eating my anne thomson cranesbill?
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill growth rate & size
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill cold hardiness
• Anne Thomson Cranesbill temperature & humidity
• Is anne thomson cranesbill toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is anne thomson cranesbill toxic to cats?
• Is anne thomson cranesbill toxic to dogs?
• All 78 Geranium varieties
• Getting anne thomson cranesbill to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Anne Thomson Cranesbill qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

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Anne Thomson Cranesbill is also commonly called Anne Thomson Cranesbill or Anne Thomson Geranium.

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