Greenhouse

THE GREENHOUSE

A note about pelargoniums

Here at C.Atherley we are mad about all things geranium. Our story started in our founder Cath’s greenhouse in the Cotswolds, which is full to the brim with her collection of pelargoniums (or geraniums, as they are commonly known). She was inspired to create our products not only by the beautiful fragrances she discovered in her plants, but also by the uplifting and calming atmosphere she experienced simply by spending time in her greenhouse. It was her wish to capture and share these things, which formed the bedrock of our business.

Cath began with a small pelargonium collection a decade ago, having always had a few plants on the go on windowsills. She had learned about scented varieties as a child through her mother and grandmother, and after installing a greenhouse soon got hooked on making a collection, learning very much as she went along. Now she has a few hundred plants and brings them up and down to our shop regularly. As our company has grown, so too has our community of fellow geranium lovers. We have had visits from all over the world from people passionate about these humble plants, who are happy to share their extensive knowledge in caring for them. Others are keen to start growing geraniums and are seeking information. We are forever gaining knowledge and tips for ourselves.

As we are often asked questions about the plants we have, we have gathered a few facts from the knowledge we have gained as a brief introduction to the species:

Pelargoniums or Geraniums?

This is the first question people tend to ask. Botanically speaking, they are two different plants. True geraniums are hardy, can be planted in borders, survive frosty winters, and are perennial.

Pelargoniums are derived from the same plant family “Geraniaceae” and are often grown in pots. Some varieties have scented leaves and delicate flowers, while others produce bright colourful flowers. They need protection in the winter and are not hardy. We think pelargoniums answer to both names (colloquially speaking), though plant experts may factually disagree.

Scented or unscented varieties?

We love both types of plants. We work only with the scented varieties to create our products, and many of them make beautiful plants in pots, with the interest coming more from their leaves and shapes. There are so many beautiful fragrances and varieties that, as a collector, they are continually intriguing.

We also love the colourful unscented varieties, which can be easier to care for and make stunning house plants. There are endless varieties to choose from, such as regals, climbers, those with variegated leaves, and many pretty flower types. They can either be kept pruned and shaped or allowed to grow beautifully leggy in their pots.

There are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Here are a few of our favourites that we have tried:

Do pelargoniums need protection?

Geraniums live happily on windowsills with some sunlight and love being outside in the summer months. They often will not survive the winter outdoors, as they do not like frost or too much rain. A greenhouse is an advantage, especially if it is insulated and has a heater in cold weather. Some people bring their plants in to lie dormant in a dark place or take cuttings in the autumn to reduce space and start again.

We are frequently asked if we sell the plants, and whilst this is not something we offer year round, we do host an annual plant sale in the spring at our shop.

It can be difficult to find good varieties of pelargoniums in garden centres, so we recommend looking to specialist nurseries, many of which are mainly online. Young plants tend to be ready for delivery around the end of April, so it is often worth pre-ordering certain varieties. They are easy to take cuttings from once you have a collection established, and swapping plants is a fun and easy way to add to a collection.

Nurseries we have shopped from:
Fibrex Nurseries | Woottons of Wenhaston | Sarah Raven | Crocus Nursery | Burford Garden Centre

A guide to growing your plants

We have put together a simple guide to growing and caring for your geraniums below. We are always learning ourselves so please get in touch with tips or advice you have found useful.

When To Buy & Cultivate

Order plug plants from specialist nurseries over the winter and they will be delivered around Easter time. It is worth ordering them early, as favourite varieties tend to run out. As soon as you receive your plants, remove all packaging apart from the biodegradable pot.

Use a pot with good drainage that is approx 12cm diameter to begin with. Plant them up in multi-purpose compost with good drainage and water well.

Start them in a protected shady site while they recover from their journey. Once they have settled in, move them to a sunny frost-free place. Once your plant is established it can be re-potted to a larger sized pot, but not too big as they like their roots contained.

Once the frosts are over, they like being outside in a sunny place, away from very hot sunlight in midsummer. They also grow well in outdoor containers but need to be dug up or protected from frost in winter.

Tips on Soil Mix

Geraniums need good drainage and it’s worth adding a mix of coconut coir or perlite to potting compost. Make sure pots have holes in the base and you can add small stones or broken pieces of pot at the bottom to encourage drainage.

Pinching Out

When your plants have put out new growth, pinching out is a way of stopping them from getting straggly and encouraging the plant to fill out. Cut just above a leaf joint to remove the top shoots. The plant will then put out new shoots from the point where you have cut.

Watering

Water them with a good soak only when they have nearly dried out, probably about once a week but more often in the summer. Try to water directly onto the soil and not onto the leaves which can cause disease.