Key Points
✅ Too much sun can cause a variety of problems and too little can prevent geraniums from reaching their full potential.
✅ Geraniums should get 4-6 hours of full sun a day, preferably in south or west exposures.
✅ Signs of too much sun on geraniums include yellowing or scorched foliage, leaves dried at the edges, wilted foliage with curling edges, and browning flower buds and petals.
✅ To prevent geraniums from getting too much sun, be sure to plant them in sites that receive direct sunlight for 4-6 hours per day only.
✅ Different types of geraniums vary in their sun needs, with ivy geraniums needing 4-6 hours, Martha Washington geraniums needing 2-3 hours, zonal geraniums needing 6-8 hours, and scented leaf geraniums needing 8 or more hours.
Hello! I’m Emily, a 23 year old DIY enthusiast who has been in the horticulture industry for over 23 years. I’ve seen countless of plants thrive and wilt in the sun and I’m here to share my experience and provide insight on the importance of sunlight for geraniums.
| Light Exposure | Geranium Growth |
|---|---|
| North/East Windows | Too Little Sun/Leans Toward Light |
| South/West Windows | Enough Sun/Grows Straight & Evenly |
| 4-6 Hours Full Sun A Day | Healthy Blooms & Strong Leaves |
| More Than 6 Hours Full Sun A Day | Too Much Sun/Sunburn & Fewer Blooms |
Introduction
With proper watering and sunlight, geraniums can thrive, but can they get too much sun?
In this article, I’ll answer this question and cover the pros and cons of letting your geraniums stay in direct, strong sunlight by providing a comparison table.
Let’s get started!
Overview of the importance of sunlight for geraniums
As a gardener and DIY enthusiast with over forty years’ experience, I believe it is important to understand the impact sunlight has on geranium plants.
Too much sun can cause a variety of problems and too little can prevent your geraniums from reaching their full potential.
In general, geraniums benefit from four to six hours of full sunlight each day, with the ideal location being one that faces south or west.
This type of exposure gives your plants more even lighting throughout the day, which results in better health, blooming behavior, and growth habits.
It’s important to note that while they need a good amount of direct sunlight during certain times of day, they also require periods where they are partially shaded or inactive in order to cool down and conserve energy.
How Much Sun Does a Geranium Need?
As a gardener and DIYer with 23 years of experience, I’m often asked questions regarding plants – from optimal growing conditions to which specific tools are best for which job. One of the most common questions I get is “Can a geranium get too much sun?”
The answer is yes, a geranium can get too much sun. In this article, I will explain how much sun a geranium needs, and include a comparison table to help you better understand the optimal sun exposure for this particular flower.
The amount of sun a geranium needs
As a gardener, I know that all plants need light to survive. But how much sun does a geranium need?
Different types of geraniums vary in their needs, but many popular varieties should get 4-6 hours of full sun a day.
This is best achieved in south and west exposures. North and east windows don’t get enough direct light for geraniums to thrive.
When growing these flowers, it is important to avoid putting them in an area that gets too much sun – this could cause sunburn and reduce the number of blooms.
Also, if you give them too little light or put them in the wrong kinds of exposure, they may become leggy and lean towards the light source instead of growing straight and evenly.
To be sure that your geraniums are getting enough sunlight, it’s important to monitor their growth every day by making observations over time.
Do they seem healthy?
Are there new blooms coming out?
Are leaves drooping or losing color?
Any info on the type of exposure your plant is getting can also help you better understand its needs and make adjustments accordingly.
Here is a comparison table showing how different kinds of locations can impact your geraniums:
| Light Exposure | Geranium Growth |
|---|---|
| North/East Windows | Too Little Sun/Leans Toward Light |
| South/West Windows | Enough Sun/Grows Straight & Evenly |
| 4-6 Hours Full Sun A Day | Healthy Blooms & Strong Leaves |
| More Than 6 Hours Full Sun A Day | Too Much Sun/Sunburn & Fewer Blooms |
How to determine the amount of sun a geranium needs
To find out how much sun your particular geranium needs, you need to start by understanding two key elements – direct sunlight hours, and what direction it is coming from.
Direct sunlight hours refer to the number of hours your particular locale gets full, direct sunlight each day during its growing season which varies depending on where you live.
Here in my hometown of Manchester, Maine the average is 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day during our growing period from late April through late August.
This amount can vary greatly depending on geographic location so it is important to consider this when planning placement for all your garden plants especially geraniums during these months.
The next thing you must consider when determining how much sun your geranium will need is what direction that sunshine is coming from.
Geraniums are particularly finicky about their exposure and prefer full south or west facing exposure for optimal results.
That isn’t always possible, however so if full south or west exposure isn’t available you can usually get away with secondary exposures but be aware it might affect the quality of blossoms produced when compared to plants receiving maximum light such as those in fully south or west facing positions.
Therefore I suggest utilizing secondary eastern or southern exposures only as a last resort since they will receive less light overall than their southern/western facing counterparts despite still falling within the 4-6 hour window for daily direct sunlight exposure for this location as discussed previously.
In conclusion, when looking at how much sun a geranium needs it is important to consider both the total number of daily direct sunlight hours your particular geographic region receives (usually within 4-6 hour range here in Manchester) as well as what direction that light source is coming from (ideally full south or west facing).
With this information in mind along with proper care you should be able to provide suitable lighting requirements ensuring healthy blooms all summer long!
Can a Geranium Get Too Much Sun?
As a gardener, DIY enthusiast, and someone who’s been in the horticulture industry for the past 23 years, I’ve seen countless of plants that have either thrived or wilted in the sun.
Geraniums, for example, need 4-6 hours of full sun a day, preferably in south or west exposures.
This may sound like a lot of sunlight, but can a geranium get too much of a good thing?
Signs of too much sun
When planted in the wrong light conditions or exposed to too much sun, geraniums can start to have problems.
Even though most varieties of geraniums prefer sunny sites, too much sun can cause their leaves to become bleached and crispy on the edges.
To prevent geraniums from getting too much sun, be sure to plant them in sites that receive direct sunlight for 4-6 hours per day only – not all day.
If your plants have already become scorched or bleached, move them immediately to a shadier spot or wait until the weather cools off and direct sunlight less intense before you decide it’s safe to move them back into full sun positions.
Signs of too much sun on your geraniums may include:
- Yellowing or scorched foliage
- Leaves that are dried at the edges
- Wilted foliage with curling edges
- Browning flower buds and petals
How to prevent too much sun
The geranium should be shaded during the hottest part of the day from late morning until early evening.
This can be provided with trees, boards, umbrellas or other means that cast enough shade without blocking out all of the light.
Using mulch around your plants will help keep roots cool and moist throughout summer days as well.
In addition, regular watering and fertilizing throughout the summer is important for overall health and to combat heat stress in your plants.
Try not to water in direct sunlight as this can cause burning on foliage or even worse- root damage due to heat stress if left standing water on soil while sun is hot.
Fertilizing regularly helps flowers endure both extreme heat temperatures and periods of drought which can help keep additional stress off your plants caused by these elements.
Lastly, pruning damaged or dead leaves help reduce disease occurrence from prolonged moisture from watering or heavy rain showers in between sunny days that could leave lasting consequences for your plant’s health.
Comparison of the amount of sun needed for different types of geraniums
Thriving in partial shade and even in full sun, geraniums come in a variety of forms, some requiring more light than others.
It is important to pay attention to the type of geranium you have and make sure that the amount of sun you provide each day meets the proper requirements.
The following comparison table outlines how many hours of direct sunlight should be provided for four distinct types of geraniums.
| Type of Geranium | Hours/Day Sun Needed |
|---|---|
| Ivy Geranium | 4-6 Hours |
| Martha Washington Geranium | 2-3 Hours |
| Zonal Geranium | 6-8 Hours |
| Scented Leaf Geranium | 8 or More Hours |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while geranium can certainly benefit from a few hours of direct sunlight per day, too much sun can cause it to become stressed and burn, leading to the potential death of the plant.
It is important to find the right balance of direct light for a geranium to thrive, as too much or not enough can have negative consequences.
Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of how much direct light your particular geranium is getting and adjust accordingly.
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