Vinterförvaring av Pelargonium x hortorum
Pelargonium x hortorumWinter storageTemperatureLightDarknessWaterZonalpelargonVinterförvaringTemperaturLjusMörkerVattenSuzanna Fröberg
There are many different recommendations on how to keep pelargoniums over winter, but most of the recommendations suggest ?the higher the temperature, the more light and water the pelargonium needs?.
The purpose with this paper is to try to explain the best and the worst results that are achieved with different storage alternatives of zonal pelargoniums. The results are based on an orientating investigation carried out in January-February, and a questionnaire that members of the Swedish Pelargonium Society answered to.
Both the orientating investigation and the questionnaire showed that zonal pelargoniums are best stored light and cold but frost free. They should be irrigated according to their needs which is when the soil is dry, about every second to third week. Zonal pelargoniums are very resistant to drought and can survive without water for at least 44 days, both when kept under light and cold as well as under light and warm. They are light demanding, if you don?t provide them with additional lighting the plants easily get etiolated in an indoor environment.
During the orientating investigation, the worst results were shown from the plants which were stored in darkness, no matter the temperature or amount of water supplied. All of the plants were infested by grey mould. The probable explanation is that the high relative humidity which arose in the limited space favored the fungus, along with the fact that plants stored in darkness get stressed and therefore more susceptible to infection. The worst results according to the respondents were achieved when the zonal pelargoniums were stored in an indoor environment and were watered every two weeks.