Early April Tips for Pelargoniums Plus a look around the Greenhouse.

In this video we have a tour of the greenhouse, have a look at what I've been up to and even, at this early stage, get a couple of big plants outside.

[@MultiDragon1313]

This is the first time I've grown these from seed . I started them the end of December.

[@Tenia_B.]

Thank you for telling us about feeding and the proportions of this feeding. This is very, very important. I'm looking forward to blooming with you😊🌱

[@sixro]

Thanks for the update. Sorry if I ask you again this, but I forgot to take note of it in the past... can you remind me of the size of your greenhouse? I'd like to ask if when you started, you were comfortable also with a greenhouse smaller than the one you are using now. Regards 🙏

[@mrpelly]

Ahh, it’s always a bit confusing because I have had so many over the years including 1600 sq ft when I had the nursery. When we moved to our current home, just over five years ago, I only brought a small 6x14 ft greenhouse with me from the nursery. However this turned out to be a mistake as although I thought I wanted to rest from plants after running the nursery my interest remained and continued. So as can be followed on the PAGS channel I got the larger one which is 9 x 18ft. Sorry for the imperial measurements we are a bit old fashioned in the UK (easily convertible 😂😂). D

[@sixro]

@@mrpelly Thanks again for the info. I remember you had the nursery from a previous comment. I think for my really small hobby a 6x14ft could be good to have fun. Thanks again 🙏

[@janecurtis5726]

It’s looking rather lush in your greenhouse right now. From a couple of different angles the deep purpleness of the regal flowers stood out...stunning ! I know many fertilizers contain micronutrients like magnesium so is it still helpful to use epsom salts? I think I remember the formula or ratio from an article in GAW that was one quarter tsp. per one gallon of water. Does that sound about right? How often during the growing season do you apply it? One more thing, I’ve had a problem with some of the newer double flowered zonals getting botrytis on the flowers and buds during an overly wet late spring or early summer. They tend to turn brown. Even if I remove all the flowers and peduncle and the weather improves the new flower buds turn brown and dry out. It’s happened on a few cultivars. What to do?

[@mrpelly]

Thanks for your comment. I only add Epson salts in the spring to get them going plus they get watered and fed well during the main growing season so get enough micro nutrients from the usual liquid feed that I use. Yes that’s about right for the salts ratio although it won’t hurt the plant if you overdose slightly as the plants only take up what they need. That’s quite an unusual condition you have with your blooms and I wonder whether it may be some form of mildew. Mildew is often associated with dry weather but there are types that are bourn out of damp conditions. Mildews are much more penetrative so can get into small areas such as newly formed heads. Realistically the only thing to do is use a fungicide. David

[@janecurtis5726]

@@mrpelly Thank you for your suggestion about the mildew. That never occurred to me.

[@patrickgallagher3513]

Hi Jane, It's also happened to me in South Wales, owing to the increasing amount of moisture held in the air with global warming. Because I'm not showing at the moment, I'm able to remove anything that's dodgy as soon as it appears, but would be interested to see if increased ventilation is a solution. We've been pretty damp up on Bannau Brycheiniog since the end of June last year. Please keep David informed so he can pass this on?

[@janecurtis5726]

@@patrickgallagher3513 Thanks for sharing! It seems like the plants most affected have an unusually high and tightly packed bud count.

[@Tenia_B.]

How did these two trees survive the hail? I hope everything worked out okay?

[@mrpelly]

Yes thankfully they were fine as the wind was blowing from the other direction so the trees were sheltered.