How to Harvest & Grow Geraniums Seeds [Easy Guide]

Geranium can reward you with cleft leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers containing distinctive veining, which is easy to reproduce through seeds. 

If you are a beginner, you need additional requirements before you jump into making mistakes in collecting and germinating seeds.

So, continue reading the entire article.

What do Geraniums Seeds Look Like?

Geranium takes from 13 to 15 weeks after sowing to bloom in the spring to late fall. They last for a month and dry to produce seed pods. 

The seed pod on Geraniums are like long, thin spikes that develop out of dying flowers.

Once dried, these pods break open to release seeds;  some Geranium’s seeds look like oat seeds, while others look like pepper. 

How to Collect Geraniums Seeds? [Harvesting Steps]

While extracting the Geranium seeds, you must be careful as a slight wind can easily drift the seeds.

You can ensure that the ready-to-open seed pods are green to black. There are two ways you can extract Geranium seeds.

The first way is to put the mesh bags on the seed head and close them up so the seeds gather inside the bag without drifting from the wind.

You can follow the second method to collect the seeds.

• Firstly, cut the dehydrating Geranium flowerheads that have spiky seed pods.
• Place the flowerhead under the sun for the flower to turn dry before harvesting the seeds.
• Identify the seed pods, mostly brown with hairs, and dry them for 2 days in the sun to easily remove the mericarps.

Garden Geranium does not have mericarps, and Geranium phaeun seeds rarely pop out of their mericarps, so you need not worry if they do not squeeze out.

• However, other different varieties can be easily popped out of the mericarps by squeezing them or rubbing them in a circular motion in your palm. You can also use tweezers to take them out if they are stubborn.
• Save the seeds in the ziplock bag or brown paper bag with labels for further use.
• You can place them in a refrigerator or cool place where the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

After successful extraction, plant the seed immediately or the following spring because Geranium seeds are generally viable for a year only.

Geranium Seeds for Sale

Below are some online stores where you can buy Geranium seeds if you have not grown the adult plant. 

How to Grow Geraniums from Seeds?

The seed-grown varieties are often smaller and produce more blooms than cutting-propagated plants. 

Likewise, hybrid Geraniums produced from seed have exceptional vigor, heat tolerance, and disease resistance and are free-blooming.

You need to sow Gereanium’s seeds in early to mid-February to produce flowering plants for spring with the following steps.

First Step: Prepare the Seed and Potting Mix

• Pre-soak the seeds on damp paper for two days to soften seeds.
• Create a soil mixture of vermiculite, peat moss, and perlite and moisten it before putting it in the seedling tray.
• Choose a clean and good drainage germination tray to avoid potential damping off fungus. 
• Use the prepared soil mix and lightly pat each tray cell to settle down the soil.

Second Step: Sow the Seeds

• Put two seeds per plug to increase the probability of achieving germination success.
• Sprinkle the soil lightly on the top of the seeds or use vermiculite to cover them.
• Water the seeds sparingly using a spray bottle and ensure they are not overwatered. 
• Cover the tray with clear plastic or glass to maintain the humidity level.
• Place the seed tray in a warm place where they will receive bright indirect light.
• You can also keep the tray on a heating pad under fluorescent lights for 12 to 16 hours daily.
• Remove the plastic or glass cover when seeds germinate in 7-10 days.

Third Step: Transplant the Sprouts

Lastly, use a well-drained commercial potting mix and transfer the seedlings into a plastic pot.

You can transfer the seeds to a larger pot once they have about three sets of leaves and the roots have filled the germination tray. Also, the pot should be about two to three inches wide.

Remember to handle the small seedling by their leaves, as the thin stems can break off easily.

Besides, you need to plant the Geranium seedlings in a shallow container with holes in the bottom for proper drainage and to prevent root rot.

Fourth Step: Care for Propagated Geraniums 

Geraniums are perennials that grow in climates ranging from zones 9 to 12.

Also, be aware of pests like aphids, cabbage loopers, scales, and slugs which can damage the plant and affect the foliage.

You can try to remove them by hand using gloves or use neem oil or insecticides to remove them.

Another common fungal disease in Geranium is botrytis leaf spot; hence, remove the discolored leaves and use fungicidal sprays to prevent them.