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'Geraniums'

Dear Moira,
Good to hear from another Zonals  enthusiast.  don’t know that I can help
you with your problem of large flower heads though.   Some of our members
over here would like the same problem, when looking for  good show blooms.
  In an effort to get a good straight stem on the bloom some people put
stakes into the pot and wire each bloom to  a stake,  until the plant is
ready to show.  I’ve never heard of the blooms being too heavy.     I don’t
know what you can do about it.  I pick a lot of my blooms and bring them
into the house, specially if they grow on the wrong place. 
The fertiliser I use most is Phostrogen, given as liquid feed.   Sometimes
I use Miracle grow.  Th main thing is that  before and during  flowering
time  Potash should be higher than the Nitrogen content of the fertiliser.
In other words  in the N.P.K. analysis the K should be higher than the N.
That helps to bring on the flowers.  You probably know all that anyway.
Mine usually get fed at least once a month.  We don’t use Osmacote here as
it’s not recommended for our  conditions.  We have a slow release fert.
called Apex, it has bright green spheres/granules.   That is already in the
potting mix I use and I add more after 4/5 months... if I think of it!
I met two ladies from N.Z. at the Geranium Conference in Melbourne Oct
1996, but can’t remember their names.  Are you in a geranium Society?. 
 I’m wondering where you buy your plants, are there many specialist
geranium (Pelargonium) Nurseries over there?  Do you ever get plants from
Eastern Australia?.     I get them sent over here and the distance wouldn’t
be much more to you in N.Z.    Marjorie Edwards in Bendigo (Victoria) is a
very good hybridiser and had introduced some lovely new varieties.
I am in another discussion group, just for geraniums,  however most of the
members are in USA and have different climate to us. Also a lot grow true
Geraniums (not our Zonal Pelargoniums).   However it is very interesting.
Sorry I’m a bit late getting back to you, but I use my partner’s work
computer to send and receive stuff. So it comes back to me on disc each
evening.  May get the ‘net at home soon. though.
All for now
   best wishes 
    Joan Steele.       
     W. Australia
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