Re-Potting Root-Bound? Geranium (Pelargonium)

Been recently getting a lot of limp, floppy, yellowing leaves after watering the geraniums in the house. Although they recover, and also produce large flowers, the plants are not as attractive as they could be. The yellow leaves fall off, leaving bare bases to the stems. Plants flower best when they are root-bound. But I am wondering if this has gone too far. Time to check.

The pot is getting rather full of roots. And there is not much evidence of new growth; the fine feeder roots look old and tired - I don't think they can sustain the plant for another full season, not as they are.

Now is a reasonable time to re-pot the plant (spring). I know there are buds about to break open. But they haven't yet done so. And the plant may never stop flowering for the rest of the season. Growing is always a compromise.


Gently brushed away old roots and compost to reveal the inner core and the main root system. Careful not to damage the new fine white roots growing out of the old stuff. This reduced root ball by about two thirds (left). Stood this in water for a few minutes. A drink will help sustain the plant till it can establish itself.

Until now, I have always used plain multi-purpose compost. Time for a change. Used a slightly damp multi-purpose:sand:perlite medium (same one as used on fuchsias), mixed in the ratio of 6:1:1. Carefully coaxed it into spaces around roots with a finger, tapping pot on floor and bashing sides as I went along. Then gently firmed, to give plant support.

I only did one of the two plants. So it will be interesting to see how the other one gets on.

The only thing that worries me about all this is that the over-watering symptoms seem to have occurred since re-commencing feeding after the winter, and since the weather started to warm up. This could be an indication of bacterial or fungal disease. But it seems unlikely. Let's see how things go for now. Time will tell. . ..