Tips for the care and cultivation of tulip-shaped pelargonium Red Pandora. Flower photo

Pelargonium Red Pandora belongs to the varieties of tulip-shaped geraniums due to its flowers resembling tulip buds. It is very popular among lovers of home flowers.

Red Pandora is a very unusual cultivar of Pelargonium pelargonium. It refers to tulip-shaped geraniums, for the reason described previously. Many butchers make it look like a miniature bouquet.

Its flowers resemble coral-colored tulip buds collected in inflorescences containing up to 30-50 flowers.

History of occurrence

The first tulip-shaped geranium belonged to the variety Patricia Andrea. It was bred in the Andrea nursery in 1966. Subsequently, several more varieties of pelargonium were born in this nursery.

Reference. In Europe, pelargonium became known only in 1986 and immediately became the subject of controversy over its artificial origin.

Many flower growers claimed that because of the structure of the flowers, it would be impossible to obtain by hybridization.

Description of appearance

The plant grows to medium size and resembles a small bush. It blooms regardless of the season. Its large flowers, growing in inflorescence, resemble tulip buds in shape and have a coral red color. The leaves are saturated green, covered with a light fluff, which creates a velvety effect.

The peculiarity of the plant is that the flower petals are very thin and do not bloom until they dry, and form an unopened bud. The buds are collected large inflorescences and resemble a small bouquet.

Photo

Look at the photo of this charming tulip-shaped flower:

Where and how to plant her?

Red Pandora does not require specific and complex care. Even a novice amateur flower grower can cope with this. For planting and further cultivation, ceramic pots with a hole in the bottom are most suitable. They conduct heat worse, because the temperature of the earth remains constant, and the hole removes excess moisture, which prevents the roots of the plant from decaying. Immediately after planting, geraniums must be kept in a shaded area for two weeks.

Lighting and location

For planting, you should choose a place with diffused sunlight. A window sill facing east is ideal. If the light is too bright, then it is necessary to shade the geranium, because she does not like direct rays. It is also important that in the room where there is pelargonium, there are no drafts and sudden changes in temperature. So, a window sill, under which there is a battery, is not suitable for growing this plant.

You should also abandon airing in the cold season to prevent the occurrence of diseases in the plant. The most comfortable Red Pandora Pelargonium feels on a glazed terrace with a moderate amount of light and plenty of air.

Important. Rain and wind are detrimental to this variety. Therefore, upon the onset of cold weather, geranium is immediately brought into heat, as it does not tolerate drafts.

Soil requirements

Optimum for pelargonium soddy land with a high content of organic matter. It is laid on top of the drainage, which is expanded clay. When planting, nitrogen fertilizers will not be superfluous, just one spoon is enough. They will provide the necessary nutrition for the young plant.

How to care?

1. This grade of geranium is easy to care for. Compliance with simple rules will help to grow a healthy plant, which in the second year will delight you with its flowers.
2. Pelargonium does not like heat, therefore it is important to provide it with the correct temperature regime. So, in summer the temperature should not be higher than 25 degrees, and in winter - above 20. At a higher temperature, the plant withers and does not grow for a long time.
3. Also, the plant feels best with diffused light, but in winter it is not enough, and therefore additional lighting will not be out of place.
4. Irrigation regimes vary in summer and winter. In the cold season, rare watering is allowed, in the warm - vice versa. However, stagnation of moisture should not be allowed, this leads to diseases and rotting of the roots.
5. In order for the plant to grow in a lush bush, they resort to cutting the tops of the shoots. So the geranium will give lateral shoots, which will form a beautiful shape. This procedure is terminated before the beginning of the flowering period. Young pelargoniums bloom most beautifully and beautifully. For this, the plant is propagated every year.
6. However, the old plant will bloom well if properly prepared for winter. To do this, take geraniums from the ground, cut off the roots and shoots, and then transplant them into new land. In the spring, a plant renewed in this way will bloom no worse than young ones.
7. To extend the flowering period, use liquid fertilizers with potassium. They provide abundant flowering until the very end of summer. In addition, drying flowers are removed for the same purpose.

   Important! Pelargonium painfully reacts to a high salt content, therefore, fertilizing with a lower dose of fertilizers is suitable for it.

Common Diseases and Pests

The variety Red Pandora itself is quite unpretentious and resistant to disease.. However, there are still cases when pelargonium becomes ill. For proper treatment, first of all, it is necessary to identify the pathogen. Most often, geraniums are affected by pests such as gray rot (gray spots, as if powder was poured on the leaves), whitefly, mealybug, spider mite (a dense thin cobweb between the leaves appears) and rust (appears as white circles and affects mainly leaves).

All of them are the result of improper care. Often the stems and leaves of the plant begin to cast red, which is mistaken for a disease. In fact, this is not entirely true. A reddish tint appears when the geranium freezes. By this, she signals that she needs more heat. Even if there is only a suspicion of a plant disease, do not delay with treatment.

Infection occurs very quickly, and now, instead of one, all your geraniums are sick. To treat rot and rust, the affected leaves are removed, and the plant is treated with antifungal drugs. To combat ticks, they use a special tool that is sold in flower shops.

Propagation Features

Pelargonium propagated by cuttings. The most suitable for this period is from August to September. Cuttings are cut so that they contain 2 to 3 internodes. Then they are placed in coal powder mixed with Kornevin for several hours so that they dry out.

At the end of this procedure, cuttings are planted in wet sand or in its mixture with peat. Some plants are first placed in water to give roots. This method is not suitable for geraniums and will cause mold and rotting plants.

Important! Do not cover the plant, this will lead to its death. Young geraniums require accurate and regular watering. Carefully watch when the earth dries, and only then water along the edge of the tank.

After the roots appear, proceed to transplant the pelargonium into a clay pot with drainage and soddy soil. The first flowers appear in the second year of the plant's life.

Red Pandora is a variety of tulip-shaped pelargonium. It is easy to maintain and great for amateur gardeners. However, various diseases can also affect it. Despite this, with proper care, such a geranium will pleasantly surprise you with the beauty and abundance of its flowers.