Standard Geranium

Hi All. While I was looking at standard Fuchsias on web I came across some standard geraniums and was intrigued. I tried to find any info on how to grow these but found none.
The main stem must be very soft and liable to break unless they use a particular geranium.
Unlike fuchsias which have a growing tip the geranium does not or seems not to have so I wonder how they get it to grow tall.
Anyone got or tried growing a standard geranium and got any advice, always nice to try something new.
Thanks

 

I'm just wondering if you need to use one of the old varieties, they were always less bushy.

Modern ones are much more compact and as you say it would be difficult to find a leading shoot.

 

I guess you mean a Pelargonium. I don't know what you mean when you say they haven't got a growing tip.

The best thing to do is start off with a cutting you've rooted yourself, then just as with Fuchsias keep it growing upright by pinching out the sideshoots as they form. Then when they reach the height you want pinch out the growing tip and treat as if you're growing a bush.

When I had a garden I used to grow them upto 5' high.

I find that they're just as easy as Fuchsias if not a little easier as I find they're easier to keep growing over the winter ( I've got one that has now been flowering for about 18 months non-stop).
Remember that a Pelargonium is relatively hardy, it's the wet and dampness that will kill one, not the cold.
It's best to use a bush/bedding plant as the trailing/ivy leaved plants have brittle stems that easily snap off.

Hope I've helped.

 

Geranium madarense maybe (not my photo by the way)..................


If so they're tender. More info here................
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=863

 

The modern Climbing variety is Antik which doesn't climb but needs constant support.

Standard Geraniums are easy to grow although they may not make a full standard in the first year unless started early, they used to be a popular 'dot' plant for Parks Dept beds a long time ago. Caroline Schmidt and Wilhelm Langguth, available in GCs make good standards, their variegated foliage standing out well.

 

Hi Longk, they're gorgeous but I think we're talking Pelargonium here rather than Geranium.

 

Hi All. I was not thinking of a 5-6ft tall plant, phew.They must look gorgeous when in bloom.

Anthony, you are correct they are Pelargonium not Geraniums which are normally hardy. It is just the sites I have looked on that sell Standards list them as Standard Geranium, some have put the word Pelargonium in brackets after the word Geranium. I suppose a lot of people just use the word Geranium to cover all the types.
In one way I do the same, if our vacuum cleaner breaks down I say we must buy another Hoover, I always call it a hoover which is wrong as Hoover is the brand.

Anyway enough of this technical stuff & thanks for all your replies. I have read since that scented Pelargonium’s are one of the best type to grow as standard although basically any type will do.
It is funny as I sent an email to a seller on ebay who has a nice selection of scented, and to use her wording, Geraniums (Pelargonium’s) for sale.100 % feedback and the plants you see are the ones you get and even she has never heard of standard Pelargonium’s and will look at trying to grow one herself.
Just off the subject. It only happens on the Gardeners Corner Forum but if I double click the mouse to go for example from say General Discussions to Container Forum nothing happens until I press the Reload this page icon at the top ,I then will go to the page I want.

It does not seem to happen on any other web pages or forums. Wondering if anyone else has this problem or is it something changed on my computer.

 

wow, never seen before. Tender--you say. hum.

 

I aim to please! My first seed has germinated

 

These are a couple of Angel Pelargoniums that I am hoping to put in a show later in the year. They are just about ready for another trim, which will have the dual purpose of maintaining their shape and delaying flowering until the appropriate time.
The second photo is of one I have recently started. The tube on the top helps to draw the growing point upwards.
I have never tried to raise a standard from one of the Zonal variety's, but I think I will give it a go for next year.

 

Interesting thread. I didn't know people did this on purpose .

I have trained pelargoniums upwards for quite a few years, I'd seen one that had been accidentally trained in a shop window once (sat on the floor and growing towards a high window) and thought I'd have a go. I did it all by guesswork really.
My current effort is not properly standard, I think it has 2 or 3 stems tied to a cane, it's about 3ft-4ft tall, and I think it is Octavia Hill.

GG

 

Me neither!

 

GG,
How supple are your stems, can you not plait them together ?

 

Hi All. Some nice posts on Standard Pelargoniums. Going by Billybell lovely 2 standards I think I will have a go with the Angel Pelargoniums. Billybell I would of thought now is the right time to start a standard off?? How do you delay flowering?? Is there a web site you can go on to learn how to start and grow standards or is it a matter of picking a good candidate then picking off the side leaves until it gets to the height you want.
Would you just leave the growing tip on or some other leaves near the top. Sorry, I think you may of guessed I am trying to pick your brain since you up to the level of showing your standards.
Do not want the "trade secrets" which I am sure all of you have, just basics to get started for showing at home.

 

Hi trogre, The main requirement for growing a standard is patience. Now would be a good time to start for having one in flower next year. Just keep the stem tied into a cane at about every three or four inches. Remove all the side shoots as soon as they are big enough to snap off easily. Once it is at the required height let the next four or five side shoots develop and then keep pinching them out to form a bush on the top of your stem. The aim is to have a top that is in balance with the length of the stem.
Good luck.

Edited to add, do not remove the leaves from the main stem, just the side shoots that grow out from the arm pit. Very similar to taking out the shoots from Tomato plants. You remove these leaves once you have formed the head.