how to care for Ivy geranium Ivy geraniums pelargonium potato my herbaceous perennials native to southern Africa they are characterized by their thick lobed leaves trailing stems and single or double blossoms that range from white to pink pale purple or red these warm weather plants do best in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 11 though they are also often grown as annuals in all zones home gardeners often cultivate Ivy geraniums and outdoor window boxes or indoor hanging baskets but these versatile plants also work well outdoors and flower beds or as ground cover they are generally healthy and easy to care for watering requirements Ivy geraniums grow best in moderately moist soil they cannot tolerate wet feet plant your outdoor Ivy geraniums in well-drained soil and make sure containers have drain holes so excess water can escape Ivy geraniums should be thoroughly watered but the top two inches of soil need to dry out before you water them again apply the water directly to the soil and avoid wetting the leaves or blossoms fertilizing plants avoid over fertilizing geraniums as this can limit blooms warns the University of Minnesota Extension add two teaspoons of a water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 to a gallon of water and feed outdoor geraniums approximately every three weeks adding a teaspoon of epsom salts to a gallon of fertilizer will supplement the Ivy geranium as magnesium needs Bruning Ivy geraniums dead had spent blossoms from your Ivy geranium plants you can also pinch back long stems to promote bushiness pruning tools can spread disease from one plant to another so disinfect your shears before and after use by soaking them for at least 5 minutes in an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and water or one part household bleach to three parts water climate and temperature Ivy geraniums grow best in temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in hot climates plan outdoor Ivy geraniums in a location where they will receive midday shade move outdoor container plants into a shadier location of temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit they are sensitive to cold so bring in container plants before the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit overwinter your plants indoors if you live in a cold climate or simply treat them as annuals and replant each spring health problems edema is a common problem in Ivy geraniums yellow spots formed between the leaf veins and clear watery blisters form on the underside of the leaves below the yellow spots the blisters grow and turn brown and develop a cork like texture the leaves turn yellow and fall from the plant this disorder usually occurs during periods of cool humid overcast weather when the plant absorbs more water than it loses ensure you are not over watering the soil is well draining and there is enough space between plants for proper air circulation Ivy geraniums planted in poorly drained soil may also develop root or stem rot water your plants in the morning so that the excess water has a chance to drain and does not stand overnight and avoid wetting the foliage best insects such as aphids mealybugs and white flies extract sap from Ivy geranium plants and excrete the sugary liquid called honeydew an unsightly black fungus called mold can form on the honeydew remove a that's by mixing a tablespoon of liquid soap into a gallon of water and spraying the plant dip a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to wipe mealybugs off plants to spotted spider mites drain plant juices from the leaves creating yellow spots and leaving unsightly webbing on the foliage spraying Ivy geraniums with a heart spray of water will dislodge mites and their eggs you can also use a horticultural oil such as neem oil to control aphid mealy bug white fly and spider mite populations spray plants thoroughly making sure to apply the oil to the undersides of leaves you