How to Grow Geraniums in Florida

Plant geranium transplants in a planter 3/4 full of moistened potting medium. Plant 6 to 8 inches apart to ensure that the geraniums do not become crowded but that there is full coverage of the planter. For example, a 12-inch hanging basket will hold four transplants that are planted equidistant from each other. Press the soil firmly around the roots of the transplants and water them thoroughly until water emerges from the drainage holes.

Locate an outdoor area for growing geraniums. Geraniums prefer daytime temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. In south Florida, this means that geraniums can be kept outside from October to May to avoid the heat of the summer. In north Florida, the perfect outdoor temperatures for geraniums occur from March to November. Geraniums should be placed in full sun for at least six hours per day.

Water the potted geraniums at least once per day. The Florida heat can dry out the soil quickly and stress the flowers. The soil surface should be moist at all times.

Feed the geraniums every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or 6-6-6. Follow feeding instructions on the package for amounts and dilution. Geraniums are heavy feeders and require continual fertilizer applications to maintain bloom over long periods of time.

Remove the spent blooms from the plants weekly to encourage further blooming and reduce the possibility of attracting rot and disease to the plants. Geraniums are naturally resistant to many plant diseases, but check over the plants for signs of disease or insect pests regularly.

Bring the planters indoors when the weather is regularly hotter than 85 degrees or less than 60 degrees. Geraniums will grow well indoors for short periods of time if placed in a sunny window and watered and fed regularly.