How to Grow Rose Geranium

The rose geranium is a hardy, evergreen shrub with lemon-rose scented pink and purple flowers. The leaves and the oil from the plant are used to promote relaxation, as an anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and for it's antiseptic properties. Rose geraniums are also used for culinary purposes.

Instructions

1. Plant rose geraniums in sterile pots when daytime high temperatures are no warmer than 75 degrees and nighttime lows are no colder than 50 degrees.

2. Water your geraniums when the soil is dry, and continue watering until it drains out the bottom of the pot.

3. Add fertilizer with every sixth watering. Every fourth time you fertilize, add a teaspoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water, which contains magnesium. Rose geraniums thrive on magnesium.

4. Bring your rose geraniums inside when the temperature begins to drop below 50 degrees. Place them in a sunny window where they'll get at least four hours of direct sunlight each day.

Tips & Warnings

• The flowers of the rose geranium may be tossed in your salad. The leaves may be used as a garnish or in teas, cakes, jellies or other recipes.

• You can find recipes for rose geranium by using the Cooks.com Recipe Search or checking out tea recipes on Old Fashioned Living's website.

• Don't use the rose geranium for medicinal use while pregnant unless your doctor says it's OK.

• Don't let your geraniums stand in a container of water. This could promote root rot in your flowers.

Resources

• Cooks.com offers recipes using rose geraniums.
• Old Fashioned Living has tea time recipes using rose geraniums.