With their diverse blooms, geraniums not only look great in tubs, boxes, pots or beds, but also make a great cut flowers. As these flowering plants tirelessly produce new blossoms from spring through to autumn, it’s no problem if you cut their flower stems. In fact, it stimulates even more flower formation. The experts at Pelargonium for Europe (PfE) offer some decorating ideas featuring cut geranium stems or flowers that are easy to recreate and show off the colourful diversity of these low-maintenance summer flowers perfectly, both indoors and out.
Geraniums are so much more than red or pink trailing plants that adorn facades, balconies or lampposts. These easy-care blooming marvels are among the most versatile summer flowers of all. Their blooms dazzle, not only in red and pale pink, but also in hot pink, lilac, violet, salmon, orange, white and even in two or more colours at the same time. Geraniums come in large, medium and small sizes and with single, semi-double and double flowers. Some look like tulips or roses, others like stars or butterflies. Decoration ideas using them as cut flowers emphasise their rich colours and variety of shapes especially well.
(Mini) Bouquets with geraniums
Whether large or small, in combination with other plant material, or as a single variety arrangement, a summer bouquet is an effortless way to show off the beauty of geraniums. Geranium bouquets don’t just make great gifts or summer table decorations, however. Mini vases filled with their colourful blooms can even turn a plain fence into an attractive feature instantly.
Pictured top are mini bouquets consisting of two types of geranium and a different variety of statice (Limonium Latifolium). The distinctive mini-vase attracts attention on the coffee table and makes a surprise little gift.
In this summer bouquet, various geranium varieties have been combined with statice (Limonium Latifolium), sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), decorative seed heads and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla Mollis) from the garden.
Summer arrangements featuring geraniums
Their wide range of flower colours and shapes make geraniums an ideal choice for flower arrangements in floral foam. This sumptuous wreath makes a pretty feature on fences, walls and doors, while these colourful flower balls are perfect for dressing bowls. Tip: Place the foam op top of a bucket of water and allow them to sink into the water for one to two minutes to soak fully. Then push the cut flower stems into the foam close together, with heads touching to avoid gaps.
How to take geraniums for cut flowers properly
Geraniums love to flower. With the right care and mild temperatures, they will bloom profusely and continuously from spring until well into autumn, tirelessly producing new flowers. This means taking geranium stems as cut flowers is no problem at all for the plants. If the blooms are cut or picked off at the bottom of the stem, this has the same effect as pruning: it promotes flower formation. After a short time, the plant will bloom even more abundantly than before.
How to keep cut geraniums fresher for longer
To make cut geraniums last, they need to have their water changed regularly. Dirty water causes the stems to deteriorate more quickly. Adding a flower food also prolongs the vase life of the geraniums. It’s also important to make sure no leaves come into contact with the water. Strip any leaves that will be below the water line before placing the stems in a vase.
Detailed advice on all aspects of geraniums is available from specialist retailers.
Below: You can make this DIY idea in no time at all: simply fill various decorative glass bottles with scented geraniums and arrange them next to each other on the windowsill. The scented leaves will give off their delicious aroma even when they have dried.
