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The Daily Insight

How do you take care of a Calliope geranium

Author

William Smith

Updated on April 22, 2026

Calliope likes lots of sun and is both heat and drought tolerant. Geraniums don’t like “soggy feet,” so plant Calliope in well-draining soil and water when soil is dry to the touch. Feed twice a month with an all-purpose fertilizer and, for the best flower display, deadhead spent blooms as needed.

How do you overwinter Calliope geraniums?

To overwinter geraniums, bring them indoors prior to frost. If you are growing them in a tub or container and time is at a premium (as it usually is in fall), simply drag the entire pot indoors where they should keep for a few weeks while you tend to other more pressing garden chores.

How big do Calliope geraniums get?

Growing 10-12″ tall, Calliope has a vigorous, mounding to semi-trailing plant habit that will quickly fill your hanging baskets, patio planters and garden beds with Dark Red color. Its large, semi-double flowers bloom in American Horticultural Zones 3-11, under conditions with full sun to part shade.

Are Calliope geraniums perennial?

Calliope® Large Geranium An herbaceous perennial in mild winter regions; treat as an annual elsewhere. Water regularly – weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers.

Can I leave my geraniums in pots over winter?

Often geraniums are grown in containers, and this is a great way to grow them if you are looking to overwinter them. If your geraniums are already in pots, in fall, before the frost arrives, these pots can simply be moved under cover into a light, airy and frost-free place such as a greenhouse or conservatory.

What colors do Calliope geraniums come in?

Syngenta Flowers has introduced three new Calliope geranium colors in Spring 2012 — Hot Pink, Lavender Rose and Burgundy. These new varieties join Scarlet Fire and the original Dark Red.

Should geraniums be cut back in winter?

Cutting back after flowering Early-flowering perennials such as geraniums and delphiniums are cut to near ground level after flowering to encourage fresh foliage and late summer flowering. These are then cut back again in autumn or spring.

What is a Calliope geranium?

Calliope is an “interspecific hybrid” series, developed by crossing normal zonal (upright) geraniums with ivy geraniums. Well-grown Calliope baskets and containers have excellent sell-through at retail because of their controlled mounding habit, vibrant colors and superb outdoor performance.

Are Calliope geraniums edible?

The leaves and flowers of scented geraniums are edible.

What is the darkest red geranium?

With an outstanding deep red velvety flower color and great branching habit, Calliope® was unmatched in the AAS Trials when compared to other market varieties. Calliope® Medium Dark Red geranium is an interspecific hybrid with zonal-type flowers and leaves.

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How do you plant Calliopsis?

Calliopsis is easily grown in full sun and soil that is well-drained. It tolerates dry, sandy soil, as well as loamy soil with medium moisture. This annual grows well in heat, humidity, and some drought. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost.

Is Miracle Grow good for geraniums?

The best soil for both perennial and annual geraniums is one that is both fertile and well-draining. … For best results when growing geraniums in containers, fill pots with light and fluffy Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix.

Why are the leaves on my geraniums turning yellow?

One of the most common causes of yellowing leaves is too much moisture or overwatering. … Cold snaps in the spring or extended cool weather, especially cool, wet weather, can cause geraniums with yellow leaves. In addition, when the geranium leaves become more yellow than green, a nutrient deficiency could be the cause.

Do geraniums like shade or sun?

A. The two most common reasons for geraniums not blooming prolifically are too little light or too much fertilizer. Geraniums are a sun loving plant that need 4-6 hours of full sun a day, or perhaps longer in somewhat filtered light. South and west exposures are usually best.

Do geraniums come back?

True hardy geraniums are perennials that come back each year, while pelargoniums die in the winter and are frequently treated like annuals, re-planted each year.

When can geraniums go outside?

For the first week, move them back inside as soon as the evening temperature drops to 50 degrees. The second week, you can leave them outdoors until the temperature falls to 40 degrees. After that, they should be ready for anything except a frost.

What do you do with potted geraniums in the winter?

To overwinter geraniums in dormant storage, dig up the entire plant before frost and gently shake the soil from the roots. Place the plants inside open paper bags or hang them upside-down from the rafters in a cool, dark location for the winter. Ideally the temperature should be between 45-50 F.

Do you deadhead geraniums?

You should deadhead whenever your geranium blooms begin to look brown or weak. … Deadheading will encourage new, full blooms to grow in and replace any that look weak or less full. Work through your plant, doing this throughout its sections. You’ll begin to see fresh new blooms in just a few days.

How do you keep geraniums looking good?

In order to keep a geranium compact and bushy and prevent it from getting leggy, it needs to be pruned hard at least once a year. The more regularly you prune your geranium, the better able a geranium is able to keep a pleasing shape. Spindly geraniums can also be the result of poor light conditions.

How do I know if my geranium is annual or perennial?

It’s an annual. The plant in the garden is officially named geranium and commonly called cranesbill. It blooms for a few weeks in late spring or summer, but survives really cold winters. It is a perennial.

What does a geranium symbolize?

The geranium flower symbolizes happiness, good health, good wishes, and friendship. They are associated with positive emotions, with the exception of the Victorian symbolism of stupidity or foolishness.

Can you change the color of geraniums?

Your geraniums mutated to a different color. Sounds like science fiction but it really is just science and fairly common in the plant world. In fact plant propagators are always on the lookout for changes in flower and foliage color, growth habit or other features.

What plants go with red geraniums?

Plants that Grow Next to Geraniums Geraniums are known to repel earworms, cabbageworms, and Japanese beetles. Because of this, the best companion plants for geraniums are those that are prone to suffering from them, like corn, roses, grapes, and cabbage.

Is there a difference between geraniums and pelargoniums?

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? The flowers of geranium and pelargonium are not the same. Geranium flowers have five similar petals; pelargonium blooms have two upper petals which are different from the three lower petals. … Within the Pelargonium genus are perennials, sub-shrubs, shrubs and succulents.

How do you grow geranium calliope?

Calliope likes lots of sun and is both heat and drought tolerant. Geraniums don’t like “soggy feet,” so plant Calliope in well-draining soil and water when soil is dry to the touch. Feed twice a month with an all-purpose fertilizer and, for the best flower display, deadhead spent blooms as needed.

How do you make geranium tea?

You can make a tea from dried or fresh geranium leaves. For dried leaves, use 2 teaspoons, for fresh use /14 cup. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the leaves and let sit for 5 minutes. Strain the leaves out and drink.

Can geraniums survive 40 degrees?

Temperature Thresholds According to Protabase, geraniums grow well in the temperature range of 65 to 95 degrees F during the growing season, and in the winter low temperatures between 40 to 50 degrees F, according to the “A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.”

How do you take care of zonal geraniums?

Care and Maintenance As noted, geraniums are heat-loving plants. Just as they prefer sunlight to shade, they do not do well when overwatered. Instead, they thrive with a moist soil that is allowed to dry out between waterings. If you want to fertilize your plants, use a water-soluble fertilizer once per month.

What does interspecific geranium mean?

The effort combines the heat tolerance and durability of common zonal geraniums with the good looks and heavier bloom of ivy geraniums to come up with a new type known as an “interspecific geranium.” Interspecific means the result is a cross of two different species in the same family or “genus.”

Can I buy geraniums online?

They are available in a wide variety of colors and plant types and fortunately, there are lots of different online retailers where you can find geraniums. Below we have found the top 40 online stores to help you find your perfect plant! … Or get some inspiration from this list of 15 pink geranium varieties.

What plants go well with coreopsis?

Pair the bright, cheerful yellow selections with contrasting blues or purples for a classic color combination. Combine with Echinacea (coneflower), Hemerocallis (daylily), Monarda (beebalm), Achillea (yarrow), and Gaillardia (blanket flower) in an informal meadow setting.