Why Your Geranium (Pelargonium) Won't Flower — I Have the Same Problem!

If your Pelargonium — or what many people still (inaccurately) call a Geranium — is putting out plenty of green growth but won't flower, you're not alone. I grow twelve of them in my greenhouse and I have exactly the same problem. In this video I explain why, and what it tells you about what these plants actually need. The honest answer in my case comes down to a decision I made a couple of years ago — adding bubble foil insulation to cut heating costs. It worked brilliantly for much of my collection. But for pelargoniums it created three problems: reduced light levels, increased humidity, and poor ventilation. Three things pelargoniums really can't tolerate well. *What pelargoniums actually need to flower well:* Maximum light — they evolved in South African sunshine, not a British greenhouse Low humidity — high humidity encourages the fungal problems they're prone to Good ventilation — stagnant air is their enemy Frost protection in winter — but otherwise surprisingly tough *Where they genuinely thrive in a UK climate:* An frost free, cool greenhouse A bright conservatory A south facing windowsill Outside in summer — bring in before the first frost *I also grow three species pelargoniums:* Pelargonium trifidum — introduced to England in 1792, native to hot dry karroid scrub in South Africa Pelargonium sidoides — currently flowering, native to South African grasslands up to 2,300m altitude, and the source of the herbal remedy Umckaloabo used across Europe for respiratory conditions Pelargonium ardens — native to Western Cape fynbos, one of the world's most biodiverse plant communities, characterised by intense light, low humidity and excellent airflow — almost the exact opposite of my greenhouse conditions All three species share the same basic requirements despite coming from different parts of South Africa — and they tell you everything you need to know about what the hybrid pelargoniums in garden centres are also asking for. *Growing in mixed conditions — an honest conclusion* My greenhouse isn't optimal for pelargoniums and probably never will be. But even a slight tweak — removing some shading from the roof — has already triggered new buds. Sometimes good enough is good enough. Growing a wide range of plants means accepting you won't optimise perfectly for any single genus. But understanding where a plant comes from is always your starting point for diagnosing why it isn't performing. --- Do you grow pelargoniums — and if so where do you keep them? Let me know in the comments. And if you grow any species pelargoniums I'd especially love to know which ones. --- 🕘CHAPTERS🕘: 00:00 Intro 00:30 Why My Pelargoniums Won't Flower — The Honest Truth 00:52 How Bubble Foil Insulation Ruined Things for My Pelargoniums 01:35 The Three Things Pelargoniums Actually Need to Flower 02:49 Pelargonium ardens — Fynbos Origins and What That Tells You 02:51 Pelargonium trifidum — Species Care and South African Origins 02:58 Pelargonium sidoides — The Medicinal Pelargonium Currently in Flower 06:38 Where Pelargoniums Genuinely Thrive in a UK Climate 07:52 Why I Still Grow Pelargoniums in a Tropical Greenhouse 08:58 The Key to Diagnosing Any Plant That Won't Flower 1. #pelargonium — pelargonium won't flower 2. #geranium — why won't my geranium flower 3. #pelargoniumcare — species pelargonium care 4. #greenhousegrowing — growing pelargoniums UK 🔴 Subscribe for more videos on Tropical Plants & my Greenhouse:    / @grow_up_man55   📸Instagram:   / grow_up_man55   👥Facebook:   / growupman55   YouTube Handle: @Grow_Up_Man55