How Much Water Do Geraniums Need?

Geraniums are an attractive and colorful flower that’s easy to care for. They’re typically planted in pots, planting beds or as part of a perennial border and like moist soil that’s not too wet or too dry. You should water geraniums whenever the top inch or two of soil is dry to the touch. Check the dirt’s moisture content every few days with your finger or a moisture meter. When ready, add water to the base of the plant until the soil is moist but not soaked. If your geraniums are potted, make sure there are drain holes to release excess water. If water pools on the surface or the soil starts to get muddy, you’ve over-watered them.

There are two main groups of geraniums, annual geraniums (Pelargonium species), which usually only last for a year, and perennial geraniums (Geranium species), which return season after season. Both types have colorful flowers that open either sporadically or continuously from Spring through Summer. Both types of geranium are hardy and don’t require much maintenance. They can tolerate dry periods without wilting so it’s better to let the soil be a little dry vs soaking wet.

With annual geraniums, check the soil weekly and water when the top inch is dry.
Keep newly planted perennial geraniums in consistently moist soil for the first growing season.
Established perennial geraniums can usually survive on rainfall unless there’s a drought.

Geraniums are a hardy plant that’s easy to care for and don’t require much water. Check the moisture content of your soil by hand or with a moisture meter periodically. When the soil is dry, add water to the base of the flower until the dirt is moist.

How Often Should You Water Geraniums?

You should water geraniums 1-2 times per week. However, you should vary your watering schedule based on the temperature, humidity, direct sunlight and where the flowers are planted. In general, geraniums planted indoors or in a greenhouse require less water than flowers planted outdoors because there’s better climate control and less evaporation.

In most conditions, it takes 1-2 inches of water per week to keep garden soil moist. However, it takes less water when the flowers are planted indoors or in pots.

Water geraniums when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry. They like damp soil that’s not too dry or too wet. Check the soil every few days with your fingers or a moisture meter. If it’s dry, add water slowly until it becomes moist.

Don’t over-water geraniums. If the soil becomes muddy or you see pools of water, you’re giving them too much water.

A geranium in late Summer needs more water than perennial geraniums growing in Winter.
Check the soil’s moisture level by hand or with a moisture meter.
If the top 1-22 inches (2.5-5 cm) of soil are dry, it’s time to water.
Add water slowly to the base of the flowers until the soil is moist.
Do Not over-water geraniums.

If you use a moisture meter to monitor your geraniums soil. wait until the needle is in the upper “Dry” section before watering. Water until the needle points to the upper “Moist” section. Do not let it enter the “Wet” section or you’ll over-water the flowers.

Should You Water Geraniums Every Day?

No, under normal circumstances you should not water geraniums everyday. However, if there is a drought or extreme heat and the soil is quickly drying out, they may need to be watered everyday. When a geranium needs water is based on the moisture content of the soil. When the soil is dry, they need water. Typically they need water every 3-4 days or 1-2 times per week.

Geraniums grow best when the soil is allowed to dry between waterings. If you try to keep the soil constantly moist you run the risk of over-watering and damaging the flowers.

Geraniums are a hardy flow that are healthier with less water vs more.

Geraniums shouldn’t be watered every day except in rare situations when the soil is drying extremely fast.
Don’t water geraniums until the soil is dry.
If the soil is moist, don’t water your geraniums not matter what you watering schedule says.
In extreme heat, the soil may dry out in a day. If this happens, watering your geraniums everyday is OK.

Geraniums in pots, larger containers and/or greenhouses typically need less water than outdoor flowers because there’s less evaporation and more climate control.

Typically, you shouldn’t water geraniums everyday. They only need water when the soil is dry. However, if your soil is dry every day due to extreme heat, then it’s OK to water your flowers every day.

Can You Over Water Geraniums?

Yes, it’s fairly easy to over-water geraniums. They’re a hardy plant that’s drought tolerant, so let the soil dry out before adding more water. Over-watering will make the leaves of annual geraniums turn yellow and the blossoms to wilt. If you see signs of over-watering, reduce the amount of water you give them. Check the first 1-2 inches of soil before watering. If the soil is moist, wait another day.

Trying to maintain soil that’s constantly moist makes over-water geraniums easy to do.

Add too much water and the soil will become wet, the flowers will wilt and the leaves will turn yellow.

Geraniums react badly to overly wet soil. The excess moisture can cause health problems like yellowing, limp flowers and stunted growth.

Geraniums are easy to over-water which can lead to diseases.
Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Plant your geraniums in loose soil with proper drainage to minimize the risk of over-watering.
If you plant geraniums in pots, make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom and that you use high quality potting soil.

It’s important to plant geraniums in well-draining soil and to have drainage holes in your pots. Geraniums like loose soil because excess water drains away quickly.

Over-watering is less likely during hot summers, but it can be a big problem in cool and/or wet months. Make sure to check the soil by hand or with a moisture meter before watering to make sure it’s dry.

How Do You Know If Geraniums Are Under-Watered?

You’ll know if geraniums are under-watered because they’ll start to wilt and turn yellow. At this point, there’s still time to give them water and bring them back to health. If left uncorrected, the flowers will continue to wilt and eventually die.

A sign of under-watered geraniums is wilting and yellowing.
If wilting plants aren’t watered, they will eventually die.
To make sure geraniums aren’t under-watered, water them every time the soil becomes dry.
Under normal conditions, geraniums need water about 2 times per week or about every 3-4 days.

If your geranium is showing signs of under-watering,water them when the soil becomes dry. Make sure to check the soil every 2-3 days with your hands or a moisture meter. Check it every day in Summer or during extreme heat. When the soil is dry, add water.

Do Geraniums Like Rain?

Geraniums like the rain. In some areas they can survive outdoors without needing to be watered. However, they’re very sensitive to being over-watered so you should bring them in if it’s raining unusually hard or too often.

The same general rules apply to rain as they do to watering. If it rains while the soil is moist, it’s too much water. Geraniums only like to be watered when their soil is dry. If it rains a few days in a row while the soil is still damp, take the flowers in.

There’s nothing you can do for your geraniums that are planted in a garden bed, however, you can prevent potted outdoor geraniums from bring over-watered by rainfall with the right pot and soil. Use high quality potted soil that drains well and use a pot with drain holes.

Rainwater is pure water with less additives, chemicals and minerals. For this reason, many gardeners will collect rainwater and use it to water flowers and other plants.

Geraniums like rainwater because it lacks chemicals and other additives.
Too much rainfall can over-water geraniums.
If it rains while the soil is moist, bring your potted geraniums inside.
Make sure outdoor potted geraniums have drain holes.
Use high quality potting soil that drains well.

Remember, it doesn’t matter if it’s rain or water from a hose, geraniums don’t like to be over-watered. Only water them when their soil is dry. If you have potted geraniums with moist soil and it starts to rain, bring them inside if possible.

How To Water Geraniums

You should water perennial and annual geraniums when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry to the touch. Check the soil every day or two by hand or with a moisture meter. Add water to the base of the plant rather than spraying them with a hose. On average, geraniums need water every 3 days or about twice a week. But this can very if it rains or is extremely dry.

How much water geraniums need can change based on the weather, temperature, direct sunlight and humidity. Geraniums planted in a garden bed usually need more water than those planted in a pot or greenhouse because of evaporation, sunlight and less control over factors like rainfall and humidity.

Don’t water geraniums until their soil is dry.
Check the moisture content in the top 1-2 inches of soil by hand or with a moisture meter.
Don’t water geraniums every day unless the soil is dry.
Geraniums do not like to be over-watered.
If your geraniums are under-watered their leaves will turn yellow and they’ll start to wilt.
Add water to the base of the flower.

It’s much easier to over-water geraniums than to under-water them. They’re a hardy plant that don’t need much care or water. In fact, in some areas, geraniums can survive a season outdoors without ever needing additional watering because of natural rainfall. No matter what your watering schedule says, if the soil is moist, don’t water your geraniums.

How Do You Know If You’re Over-Watering Geraniums?

When geraniums are over-watered they’ll turn yellow and start to wilt. To know if geraniums need water, check the soil by hand or with a moisture meter. You should only add water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. If the soil is moist, don’t add water. Excess rainfall can cause over-watering too. If it rains while the soil is damp, take your potter geraniums in or cover them up.

Do Geraniums Need Too Much Or Too Little Water?

Geraniums are a hardy flower that don’t need much care or water. They like too little water much better than too much. In fact, in some areas outdoor geraniums don’t need watering because natural water sources are enough. You should only water them when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry to the touch. If the soil is moist, adding more water could over-water them, which is something geraniums are very sensitive to. If over-watered, they’ll turn yellow and wilt.

How Often Should I Water Potted Geraniums?

You should water geraniums in pots when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Add water to the base of the flower until the soil is damp but not wet. How many times per week this is depends on where the flower pots are kept. Outdoor flowers usually require more frequent watering because of factors like heat and direct sunlight which evaporates their water faster. However, this may not be true if you see a lot of rainfall in your area.

Indoor plants generally need less water because the climate can be controlled and they receive less direct sunlight. This means they lose less moisture to evaporation.

On average, potted geraniums need water every 3-4 days. However, no matter what your watering schedule says, don’t give them water if the soil is still moist. Over-watering geraniums is worse than under-watering them and can cause the leaves to turn yellow and the flowers to wilt.

Summary: How Much Water Do Geraniums Need?

With annual geraniums, check the soil weekly and water when the top inch is dry.
Keep newly planted perennial geraniums in consistently moist soil for the first growing season.
Established perennial geraniums can usually survive on rainfall unless there’s a drought.

If you have any questions or comments about how much water a geranium needs, email any time.