Pelargonium

[ashley]

My Pelargonium ‘Ardens’ flowers wonderfully every year but steadfastly refuses to branch, so now the stem is about 10 cm long and rather bare.  How best to propagate it - take courage and chop the stem in sections       And for P. sidoides, which does branch but not much?

Any advice much appreciated.

[mark smyth]

You'll have to wait for Ardens but you could try pinching out the tip. I'll look closely at mine and take a photo later. Are you attending Termonfeckon?

[mark smyth]

Mine is barely branched also after two years. The stems on my plant are 10cm c. 4 inches with flower stems reading 50cm 20 inches.

I'm happy you asked this qiery because I didnt realise my plant was infested with white fly. Only three species in my collection are bothered by this fly

[ashley]

No unfortunately I won't make it to Termonfeckin this year Mark. 

Re P. 'Ardens', mine's now putting out new leaves but ne'er a branch.  Although it's getting late for slipping pelargoniums this year I'd dearly like to multiply this one up (if only as an insurance policy, or to do as Helen Dillon might say 'the Protestant thing'! ), whereas I've managed to increase sidoides (slowly) over the years. 

[ashley]

What about detaching a tuber - is this likely to reshoot?
 
... maybe it's time to experiment

[mark smyth]

Wait until I ask around

[mark smyth]

No answers so far Ashley.

Here's 'Ardens' a lovely Pelargonium for the greenhouse or conservatory. It's darker in real like

[ashley]

Thanks Mark; I'll hold off a bit longer.  Yes the flower colour is unique, with patches of deep brownish-orange coming through the rich red.

Brian Duncan's talk in Cork last night was a great success, showing us amazing pictures of daffodils in the wild and their growing conditions.  From such a reliable source I had no hesitation in buying bulbs as well as seeds!

[mark smyth]

We got together to try and sort out a good power point presentation .... Over the winter we're going to meet up for a full day with no distractions to put one or two together