Geraniums are a popular choice of garden flowers. They’re loved for their fragrance and colorfulness. Geraniums comprise several species including perennials, biennials, and annuals. Besides being grown in gardens, geraniums are great for growing in hanging baskets and containers, either indoors or outdoors. It’s quite easy to grow geraniums if you feed them with the kind of nutrients they want. The best fertilizer for geraniums should at least contain micronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. However, it’s recommended to do a soil test to determine whether the soil is missing some trace elements and consider a fertilizer that has the trace elements in addition to the three aforementioned micronutrients.
Typically, geraniums don’t require a lot of fertilization. You should only fertilize them lightly. Feeding them excessively will stimulate the foliage to outgrow the blooms, thereby failing to give the kind of beauty that healthy geraniums would offer. Indoor geraniums require less fertilization than garden geraniums since they’re not exposed to tough conditions.
Essentially, geraniums require fertilizer during their growing months. You should only use a water-soluble fertilizer to fertilize them. Avoid fertilizing geraniums during winter since they’re supposed to be dormant. You can re-pot and fertilize them at the onset of spring to stimulate new, healthier growth. Also, young geraniums require fertilizer to boost rooting and stimulate them to develop a stronger root system.
While it’s important to feed your geraniums with fertilizer, you should be extremely cautious about the fertilizer you choose. Applying the wrong fertilizer can burn and kill your precious geraniums. We’ve prepared this guide and reviews to assist you in choosing the right fertilizer for geraniums. Read on to learn more.
Quick Comparison Table
| Product Name | Fertilizer Analysis (NPK Ratio) | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, 10 Lb | 24-8-16 | 4.9 | Check price |
| Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food,8 lbs | 15-9-12 | 4.8 | Check price |
| BioAdvanced 043929293566 | 6-9-6 | 4.7 | Check price |
| Voluntary Purchasing Group 10721 | 20-20-20 | 4.6 | Check price |
| Dr. Earth 707P | 3-9-4 | 4.5 | Check price |
| Humboldts Secret 8 Ounce | 0-7-5 | 4.4 | Check price |
| J R Peters Inc 51024 | 10-30-20 | 4.3 | Check price |
Top 7 Fertilizer for Geraniums
When shopping for fertilizer for geraniums, you’ll come across dozens of brands and several types of fertilizers. Here’re some reviews of the top 7 fertilizers for geraniums to assist you in making the best choice.
1. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, 10 Lb
Miracle-Gro is popular for its top quality garden products. Its products are specially formulated for the best results. For instance, the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is formulated to instantly feed geraniums with rich nutrients.
Top Features
- Stimulates bigger growth– One of the main benefits of applying this fertilizer is that its ingredients stimulate bigger growth in blooms. By applying it the right way, your geraniums will develop bigger flowers than foliage for a more decorative effect during their growing season.
- Instant feeding– If your geraniums are showing signs of deficiency in nutrients, apply this fertilizer to correct the problem quickly. It contains a formula that gets absorbed by the roots easily, thereby allowing for instant feeding as soon as it’s applied. This also makes it great for boosting the growth of new geraniums.
- Easy application-The fertilizer comes in the form of superfine granules. The granules dissolve easily in water, making it effortless to apply the fertilizer evenly. You can easily apply the fertilizer with a regular watering can. You can also apply it with a Miracle-Gro feeder.
- Great for both garden and houseplants– This fertilizer can be used to feed geraniums planted in a conventional garden. You can also use it to feed geraniums planted indoors in containers and hanging baskets.
- Safe formula– Geraniums are prone to burning quite easily. Luckily, this fertilizer has a safe formula. It doesn’t burn geraniums when applied as instructed. Also, it doesn’t burn other types of plants when used appropriately.
Pros
- Quick results
- Highly rich in nitrogen
- Comes with a measuring scoop
- Can be used to feed almost all types of plants
- Boosts the recovery of geraniums stricken by a tough season
Cons
- A bit pricey for the amount
- Little coverage for the amount
Verdict
The Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is suitable for all types of geraniums. It’s also an ideal fertilizer for flowers, houseplants, vegetables, shrubs, and trees.
2. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food,8 lbs
This fertilizer from Osmocote has a special formula comprising 15 percent nitrogen, 9 percent phosphorous, and 12 percent potassium.
Top Features
- Rich formula– This fertilizer is fortified with several nutrients. Besides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it also contains other important micronutrients and minerals such as magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and molybdenum.
- Controlled nutrient release– Another key benefit of feeding geraniums with this fertilizer is that it has a controlled nutrient release mechanism. It comes in the form of granules. The granules are coated with a special resin that only releases nutrients when geraniums need them most. Essentially, the resin allows nutrients to be released during the warm growing season and restricts their release during the cold inactive season.
- Long term feeding– The nutrient release mechanism of these fertilizer granules means that they can feed geraniums for several months. In fact, a single application can feed geraniums for up to six months.This makes it less laborious to work with.
- Ideal for use in all growing conditions– Whether you prefer growing geraniums indoors or outdoors, you can safely use this fertilizer to feed them. Its formula is safe for feeding geraniums grown in pots.
- Great for all kinds of geraniums– You can feed this fertilizer to all kinds of geraniums including annuals and perennials. You can also use it to boost the growth of geraniums planted from seedlings and cuttings. Additionally, it’s ideal for boosting growth when repotting geraniums.
Pros
- Stimulates the growth of colorful flowers
- Comes in a re-sealable bag
- A measuring scoop is provided
- Covers up to 300 square feet
- Doesn’t burn geraniums when used as directed
Cons
- Higher price range
- Leaves behind plastic capsules
Verdict
The Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food is most suitable for long-term feeding of potted geraniums, both indoors and outdoors.
3. BioAdvanced 043929293566
The BioAdvanced 043929293566 features a unique 3-in-1 formula that will feed your geraniums and keep them protected against diseases and insects. This means that you’ll only need a single product to serve three crucial purposes.
Top Features
- Rich fertilizer– The product contains rich fertilizer ingredients comprising 6 percent nitrogen, 9 percent phosphorous, and 6 percent potassium. These ingredients are made to stimulate the growth of stronger roots for enhanced resistance to harsh conditions and better absorption of water and nutrients. The fertilizer also promotes the growth of more beautiful blooms.
- Controls diseases– If your geraniums are showing signs of plant diseases, or you want to prevent them from getting a potential plant disease outbreak, then consider applying this product. It’s capable of controlling diseases such as powdery mildew, southern blight, black spot, and rust among others.
- Controls insects– If your geraniums are invaded by insects, their foliage and flowers will look less attractive due to bug bites. In worst-case scenarios, insect invasion can cause plants to die off. You can control several common types of plant insects on geraniums including leafhoppers, aphids, and Japanese beetles among others.
- Systemic rain protection– Some fertilizers get washed away by rainfall or watering, making them less useful. These fertilizer granules have systemic rain protection. The nutrients and ingredients in the granules don’t get washed off by rainfall and watering. Thus, the roots will absorb the nutrients for a long time before getting depleted.
- Simple application process– You don’t have to premix the product with water before application. You’ll only need to measure the right amount of the granules and sprinkle them around the base area of the plant, mix them into the soil, and water the soil with a regular watering can. This makes it simple to apply the product.
Pros
- Mixing ratios are provided
- Instant feeding for faster results
- Stimulates the development of bigger flowers
- Offers rain, disease, and insect protection for up to 6 weeks
- Doesn’t burn geraniums on gardens and flowerbeds if used as directed
Cons
- It harms honeybees
- Not ideal for use in containers and pots
Verdict
If you want to feed your geraniums with nutrients and control diseases and insects at the same time, then this BioAdvanced 043929293566 is the right fertilizer for you.
4. Voluntary Purchasing Group 10721
This fertilizer from Voluntary Purchasing Group is specially formulated for feeding geraniums and pansies grown in hanging baskets. Its formula is highly concentrated to feed geraniums with essential nutrients.
Top Features
- Highly concentrated– One of the main aspects of this product that makes it one of the best fertilizer for geraniums is its rich formula. It’s highly concentrated formula contains 20 percent nitrogen, 20 percent phosphorous, and 20 percent potassium. These nutrients boost geraniums to grow healthier and more colorful.
- Great for soil drenching– The formula in this fertilizer is most suitable for soil drenching. This makes it safe to apply directly around the base of geranium plants. That way, there’s targeted feeding since the roots will easily absorb the nutrients.
- Ideal for foliage feeding– Besides feeding this fertilizer to the soil, you can also apply it through foliage feeding in both garden plants and hanging baskets. It’s water-soluble and can be sprayed on foliage for direct absorption by the leaves.
- Promotes large blooms-The ingredients in this fertilizer stimulates geraniums to have more flowering points. It also promotes the development of larger and more colorful blooms. This will make the flowers look more attractive and decorative.
- Promotes deep green foliage-Geraniums with yellowing foliage or foliage with brown spots look unattractive. Also, geraniums with a dull green color don’t look healthy. By applying this fertilizer, the plants will develop foliage with deep green color for a healthier look.
Pros
- Affordable price range
- Mixing instructions are provided
- Safe for use on all foliage and blooming plants
- Well-balanced fertilizer formula
- Great for extending the bloom time
Cons
- Requires extreme caution when mixing and applying
- Some orders are delivered in a zip bag that doesn’t stay sealed
Verdict
Any gardener who loves growing geraniums, patio plants, pansies, and ornamentals on their garden or hanging baskets should try this Voluntary Purchasing Group 10721 fertilizer for the best results.
5. Dr. Earth 707P
The Dr. Earth 707P fertilizer is specially formulated to enhance the growth of strong roots and maximum blooms, thanks to its rich 3-9-4 formula. It comprises of an organic formula, making it a great option for organic gardening.
Top Features
- Purely natural formula– Do you prefer growing plants organically? If so, this is an ideal organic fertilizer for growing geraniums organically. It’s purely made of 100 percent natural ingredients. It doesn’t contain any GMOs and chemical additives. This makes it environment-friendly.
- Superior quality ingredients– The fertilizer is made of superior quality natural ingredients. It comprises a superior blend of feather meal, alfalfa meal, and fishbone meal. It also contains rich nutrients such as mined potassium sulfate and rock phosphate.
- Contains probiotics and microbes– Another major benefit of this fertilizer is that it contains vital probiotics. They assist in making it easier for plant roots to absorb micronutrients with ease. The microbes in the fertilizer boost nutrient and water uptake for healthier growth.
- Improved root establishment– Additionally, this fertilizer contains ingredients that improve root establishment in geraniums. A better root network allows for more uptake of essential nutrients, thereby leading to abundant buds, bigger blooms, and increased flowering.
- Naturally available phosphorous– This fertilizer is rich in phosphorous. In fact, it contains 9 percent phosphorous, an amount higher than its nitrogen and potassium content. As a result, the fertilizer increases the naturally available phosphorous in the soil. Consequently, it allows for consistent growth in geraniums.
Pros
- Greatly priced
- Ideal for all flowering plants
- Long-term feeding
- Increased drought tolerance
- Enhances nutrient availability
Cons
- Causes mold in potted geraniums
- Has a strong smell
Verdict
Dr. Earth 707P fertilizer is ideal for feeding all types of plants that grow as corms, tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes such as geraniums.
6. Humboldts Secret Flower Stacker-8 Ounce
The formula in this fertilizer from Humboldts Secret is specially made to stimulate and increase flowering. Its formula is based on a special blend of phosphorous and potassium in a ratio of 7 percent and 5 percent respectively.
Top Features
- Enhanced flowering– The main role of this fertilizer is to enhance flowering in geraniums and other flowering plants. This makes it great for use in agricultural and hydroponic industries where maximum yield of flowers is important.
- Rich in Vitamin B1– This fertilizer is unique in that it contains Vitamin B1. As such, it’s great for feeding geraniums during transplanting. It works by protecting the plants from developing transplanting shock.
- Stimulates rooting-The ingredients in the fertilizer stimulate rooting for enhanced nutrient and water uptake. This is especially important when growing new plantings and repotting geraniums.It also assists geraniums to grow stronger and healthier.
- Premium ingredients– Another top aspect of this fertilizer is that it’s made with premium ingredients. The ingredients are formulated to stimulate the development of larger and more colorful flowers. Additionally, the fertilizer allows flowers to produce a stronger natural scent.
- Rich in phosphorous and potassium– The fertilizer contains a rich blend of phosphorous and potassium. These micronutrients boost the development of flowers, thereby stimulating early flowering and enhanced growth.
Pros
- Suitable for all growing mediums
- Works well with potted geraniums
- Increases the flower density
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
- Increases flowering sites in every branch
Cons
- Lacks nitrogen
- Doesn’t boost stem and foliage development
Verdict
The Humboldts Secret Flower Stacker is most suitable for stimulating early flowering and increasing the density of flowers in geraniums and other flowering plants.
7. J R Peters Inc 51024
JR Peters is a family-owned and operated company specializing in manufacturing top quality fertilizers. This fertilizer from JR Peters is specially made to work as a blossom booster. You can safely use it to feed flowering plants such as geraniums and marigolds. You can also use it as a fertilizer for fruit trees and garden vegetables.
Top Features
- Complete fertilizer– This fertilizer is extremely rich in essential micronutrients including 10 percent nitrogen, 30 percent phosphorous, and 20 percent potassium. It also contains important minerals such as magnesium, boron, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, and molybdenum. This makes it promote all-round growth.
- Water-soluble– The fertilizer comes in the form of superfine granules. The granules dissolve completelyin water. This makes it relatively easy to mix and apply. Its soluble nature also makes it easier for roots to uptake nutrients.
- Ideal for outdoor and indoor plants– The formula in the fertilizer is safe for application in both outdoor and indoor flowering plants such as geraniums, marigolds, begonias, and impatiens. It doesn’t burn flowering plants grown in pots, containers, or hanging baskets when applied as instructed.
- Foliage and root feeding-You can apply this fertilizer either through foliage feeding or root feeding. In foliage feeding, you’ll simply spray it on the leaves such that the plants will uptake nutrients directly through the leaves. In roof feeding, you’ll spray it to the soil for the roots to uptake nutrients.
- Great transplant solution– Additionally, you can use this fertilizer when transplanting geraniums. It’ll boost the development of a strong root system and healthier growth in transplanted geraniums. That way, it increases the survival rate of transplanted geraniums.
Pros
- Clear instructions for mixing and application
- A measuring spoon is included in the package
- Encourages the production of flowers with brighter colors
- Stimulates flowering plants to produce more flowers
Cons
- Takes longer to show results
- Has a strong odor
Verdict
The J R Peters Inc 51024 is reliable for application on all flowering plants and different growing methods including flower beds, gardens, and hanging baskets.
Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Fertilizer for Geraniums
Geraniums are quite sensitive when it comes to fertilizers. Thus, you need to choose a fertilizer for feeding them carefully. In this regard, there’re certain factors you should consider to make a more informed choice when shopping. These factors include:
1. Fertilizer analysis
One of the major factors to consider is the fertilizer analysis of a particular product. Fertilizer analysis is represented in terms of NPK ratio. Preferably, choose a fertilizer with a complete NPK formula. This is to mean that it should at least contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. This will promote all-round growth and healthier plants.
2. Ease of feeding
To avoid burning your plants, consider choosing a water-soluble fertilizer. This will make it easier for the roots to absorb essential micronutrients in the right amounts. Some fertilizers allow for feeding through both leaves and roots. Such fertilizers have the added advantage of promoting faster results.
3. Growing environment
If you only grow geraniums in your garden, you’re likely to find it safe to use any top-quality fertilizer for geraniums to feed them. However, if you grow geraniums in hanging baskets or pots and containers, ensure the fertilizer you’re choosing is recommended for use in such growing environments. Also, if you grow indoor geraniums, ensure the fertilizer is ideal for application to indoor plants.
4. Mixing and application instructions
Before choosing a specific fertilizer, ensure it has mixing and/or application instructions. The instructions should be clear and easy to follow. This will assist you to use the fertilizer appropriately to avoid burning or underfeeding your plants.
Final Words
While you may use any suitable fertilizer to feed your geraniums, water-soluble fertilizers are considered the best fertilizer for geraniums. This is because geraniums can absorb them more easily than insoluble fertilizers. Ensure the fertilizer you choose is water-soluble for easier absorption and to avoid burning your plants. Regardless, ensure you read and adhere to the instructions label for the product you choose before application. Only apply the right fertilizer at the right time and in the right way to avoid burning your geraniums. While geraniums may grow in any healthy soil, they require fertilizer to bloom more beautiful flowers. Hopefully, our reviews and buyer’s guide will help you find the right fertilizer for your geraniums.