Hi, everyone!

It just occurred to me that scented geraniums would make splendid gifts!

I have a rose scented one and a (i think) gooseberry one. They both smell wonderful and are wintering in my garage/studio in a sunny window along with my regular geraniums.

All comments, tips and seed sources are welcome! I was just looking at a collection online that I am going to order, but thought it might be fun to start from scratch. I think starting them from scratch would be fun, and an excellent source of teacher's gifts, small welcome to the neighborhood gifts, etc.

I think those are great ideas, esp. the welcome to the neighborhood. People have gotten away from alot of the old "traditions" or just being courteous.
I have never started them from seeds, but you never know how to do it if you don't try. Then next winter, you can tell us what worked best for you when you started yours!

I grow all sorts of Geraniums from seed each year. They germinate quickly and grow easily from seed. Usually I will start between 75-100 Geraniums each spring....but I do give a lot of these away.

I make up "Mother's Day baskets" and use these along with some tailing Lobelia.

Give it a go.....you'll enjoy it.

Can you start geraniums from cuttings of an established plant? I have a few Martha Washington geraniums and one crazy trailing guy that I would like to propogate. Any suggestions? Or is it better to start from seed?

Taking geranium cuttings and potting them is a real easy and economical way of increasing your number of plants. I used to do this....but I find now that I just do not have the space to over winter them and take cuttings.....but if you do....check out this link to find out how....

Geranium cuttings

Thanks Flower!

Wow, that site also has hydrangea cuttings. Basically the same principal. I have two lovely hydrangeas that I would love to propogate.

Renee, Thanks for the encouragement! I'll give it a try!

Flower-Do you ever grow scented? I haven't been too lucky finding the seeds....but funnily enough I got an herb catalog and there were a few.

Gardengal....I read about the propagation of the geraniums, but need to make sure I understand what *pinching* the top means??

Barb, Bill has a glossary in the Garden Helper and this is what it states for pinching:

Utilizing the thumb and forefinger to nip back the very tip of a branch or stem. Pinching promotes branching, and a bushier, fuller plant

Hope that helps.

Barb H,
I wonder...when the weather gets better....one could ship you cuttings ????
I have coconut, nutmeg, rose, mint, chocolate, lemon and lemon-rose scented.....
Would we get into trouble?

Wow Jillie~

Are those all scented geraniums?
I didn't know they came in some many yummy scents!

Richters has a big selection of scented geramiums. Some as seeds too. Also tried one from there called Umckaloabo, a south african medicinal geranium. The flowers are small but pretty. When in bloom, this plant will perfume a room. Seeds are expensive, but grew easy. Plants do produce seeds too. haven't tested them yet, but have a few. The plant root is supposed to have potent antibacterial properties. They grow nice in hanging baskets.
Rick

Lynne, yeah, I think there are even more "flavors" than we already have.
One thing, tho....the flowers on scented geraniums aren't any great shakes; the foliage is the thing...especially the mint; the leaves get HUGE and they have a silvery, downey fuzz on them..If you walk by any of these guys and brush them...or when you water them...they all smell sooo good.

I might have to ask you if you could send one of those minty and/or chocolate cuttings my way when we warm up?

You betcha, Lynne...Just let me know when the time is right...


Rick, I saw on the Richter's site that they have "Peacock" scented geraniums.....

Now, my question is...........

Too funny Jillie...
and what exactly DOES a peacock smell like?!?

I'll be in touch as we warm up...

Oooh. Oooh....I'd love an almond-scented geranium!.....Boy, do I love that Richter's site..

Jillie,

Hi! I've been offline a bit and not following my threads, sorry! I would LOVE it if you'd do that! And, I would be happy to pay for the postage and send you whatever you'd like! What would you like?


I really want to get into growing them....they smell so beautiful and until last year i never knew there were scented geraniums! I am going to buy a book about them i found in a catalog.

Thanks for the offer!!
Barb

Rick, Gardengal, and all

Thanks for the head's up...I was having trouble locating seeds, so I'll check it out. I was going to do all my plant ordering this weekend.

I realize the scented ones don't flower all that beautifully....but i think they look great in a pot with some other pretty little things. I'll get my husband to photograph the little pot i made for him for V-day and post it.

barb

Jillie,
Do you grow those in pots???
And what soil/mix did you grow them in???

Could you go to the HERB section,
and type some of the growing info
for Amie *Muskrat* in Germany,
Herb Balcony
she's interested in growing some herbs in
pots on her porch....
Any hints would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Weezie

Done, Weez!
Although, I'm a knucklehead when it comes to soil alchemy...I buy a bag o' soil and stick plants in it.... But...I typed a blurb about it...Hoping an expert on herbs can give Muskrat the real poop.

the "poop"?
as in compost???
sorry - couldn't resist!
feeling slap-happy today! :rolleyes: <img border="0" alt="[perplexed]" title="" src="graemlins/confused.gif" />

Gang,

I just ordered six scented geraniums, plus a packet of seeds. Also, a book about them.

It'll be fun learning more about them.

It's starting to feel like spring!!!

Barbara

which scents did ya get, Barbara?

from which nursery?

Yeah, Barb...burning with curiosity here....wha'd ya get??????

Let's see.....

I ordered apple scented, strawberry scented, attar of roses, clorinda (pleasant scent/hint of eucalyptus...it has a large showy rose/pink flowers)coconut scented, Prince of orange...pretty flowers on that one.

Also some mixed seed....they said that germination can be erratic, so bottom heat was recommended. I guess i'll have to get something to heat the bottom.

I also got a book on scented geraniums so I hope I will learn more about them and be able to propagate them. I got them from Richters, my first purchase there, so we'll see how it goes. The catalog was really GREAT and interesting, so I'd recommend going on the website and getting one sent to you.

Barbara

Apple!!!? Strawberry!!!!! I don't have those!!
Oooooh!

Checking Richters......

I don't even want to guess what peacock scented might be. A chicken coop keeps coming to mind.
It definitely seems the best scented plants are not the showiest. The Umkcaloabo, a wild relative of scented geraniums produces very small flowers, with a strong fragrance. Mine are setting more seeds. Going to set up a germination test and see if they're any good. Richters is selling it for $11 a very small packet. It looks like these, here and here . If the seed are good, I'll post it and a SASE will get them.
Rick

Rick, that plant is pretty!..and scented, too???

I think I hafta have one.....


BTW,

Has anyone gotten close enuf to a peacock to give it a whiff???

Jillie,

I'll be glad to send you some of my seeds when they arrive, if you'd like? Or, even a few cuttings once they start growing from the plants that are coming.

Peacock....a delicious intense rose fragrance. Send for Richter's catalog...it's really terrific!

Barb

Hiya, Rick!

Peacock is rose scented! LOL, I sneaked a peak at the catalog and that's what it says.

I'll be glad to send you some seeds when I get my seeds I ordered. I'd love to get some of your seeds when they are available! I think they say that you need bottom heat for them....i wonder if you just waited until it warmed up a bit and then i could start them outside when things warm up? What do you think?
Barbara

Gang,

I'm reading the catlog over again and some of the geraniums are listed merely*pungent*.....they
don't give any other description.

Sooooo....usually when someone describes something as pungent....don't you think stinky? Like skunk cabbage, or something??

Barbara

Barb,
The term "pungent" does make you wonder. I'm just guessing, but I would guess that they may be describing a scent that some find pleasant and some don't. Just a guess.
Richters does sell good plants. I have yet to get one that didn't arrive in good shape. That isn't saying that I haven't managed to kill a few of them afterwards.
I have several scented geraniums growing, including a couple of rose scented ones. I don't know where I'd put more. I need a bigger greenhouse just to handle what I have going. Haven't grown the regular scented geraniums from seeds. With the Umkcaloabo, I put 9 seeds (the whole packet) in a single pot of compost, about 1/4" deep. They came up fairly quick. Got 6 plants. The pot was just sitting on a shelf in the greenhouse, with soil temps averaging in the 70s. They seems to set seed at any time of the year. No real cycle to them as far as I can tell. They do like full sun. I keep mine in hanging pots, indoors during the cold and in the garden during the summer.
Most scented geraniums are not at all frost hardy. If you want to plant them outside, be prepared to protect them or wait til summer.
Rick