So, you’ve been checking on your geraniums and noticed they’re loaded with buds—exciting, right? But then, instead of bursting into those gorgeous blooms we all love, the buds just shrivel up and turn brown. It’s a total bummer for any gardener, but don’t panic! Your plants aren’t necessarily goners. We just need to do a little detective work and act fast to get them back on track.
Common Culprits
When your geraniums (or pelargoniums, if you want to get fancy with the botanical name) start losing their buds, it’s usually down to one of these four things:
- Too much water (yes, really!)
- Fertilizer mishaps
- Not enough sunlight
- A lack of “hardening off”
Quick Tip:
If the buds aren’t just drying out but are turning yellow or white and falling off, you might be dealing with a disease like gray mold (Botrytis). This usually happens when plants are sitting in soggy soil or getting way too much fertilizer.
The Overwatering Trap
While all geranium varieties are thirsty plants, they absolutely hate “wet feet.” When they get too much water, the buds dry up—which is super confusing because it looks exactly like they need *more* water. If you keep pouring it on, you’ll only make things worse. Here’s the golden rule for watering:
- Water more often, but use less water each time.
- Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings.
- Push the leaves aside and do the “finger test” to check soil moisture.
- Make sure your pots have great drainage (big holes or a layer of gravel at the bottom).
Don’t worry about them drying out too much; geraniums are actually pretty tough. In fact, a little bit of “drought stress” can sometimes even encourage them to bloom more!
Fertilizer Fails
Getting the fertilizing right is a bit of a balancing act. Geraniums are heavy feeders, but they need the right touch—too much or too little can cause those buds to fail. Make sure you’re using a fertilizer designed for flowering plants. You don’t necessarily need a “specialty” geranium brand, but a high-quality bloom booster works wonders.
Too Much Shade
Geraniums on the balcony crave light and heat. They really need a spot that’s full sun to very light partial shade. If they’re stuck in a dark corner, they’ll stop blooming. Once you move them back into the light, they’ll usually bounce right back. If the weather is just being gray and gloomy for days on end, you’ll have to be patient. Just try to keep them under a roof or awning to protect them from constant rain until the sun comes back out.
The “New Plant” Shock
This happens a lot with upright geraniums, trailing varieties, and even scented geraniums that you just brought home from the nursery. Those greenhouse-grown plants have been pampered with constant warmth. When you move them outside, the fluctuating temperatures can shock them, causing them to drop their current buds. Give them about four weeks to get used to their new home, and they’ll start producing fresh buds soon enough.
Pro Tip:
Always pinch off dried-up buds and spent flowers as soon as you see them. If it gets rainy, those dead bits can quickly become a breeding ground for mold and rot.
