Information on the Pinto Red Geranium

Characteristics

• "Pinto Red" geraniums produce the characteristic zonal geranium leaf that is medium green in color with a dark green band running around the midway point. This geranium cultivar has an upright, mounding habit with a mature height of 12 to 14 inches and a mature spread of 12 inches. Deep red blooms appear in ball-shaped clusters atop thin green stems. "Pinto Red" geranium plants bloom continuously from late spring through the summer and into the beginning of fall.

Culture

• Grown as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 10, the "Pinto Red" geranium will grow in all zones as an annual. They grow best in fast draining soils with average fertility. Nutrient rich soils will cause an abundance of leaves with few flowers and soggy soil will cause root rot. "Pinto Red" geraniums thrive in full sunlight, but will tolerate filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These herbaceous plants do not tolerate cold and outdoor planting must occur after the last average spring frost date, once the soil warms to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Uses

• The bright red blooms and green foliage of the "Pinto Red" geranium makes it a fitting choice for use in mixed flower beds, planted in groupings or singly. When planted in masses, these plants create a mounding carpet of color. "Pinto Red" geraniums work well in borders, along walkways or paths. Their use is not limited to the outdoor landscape as they grow well in containers, such as hanging baskets, window boxes, planters and pots.

Problems

• Insect pests, such as spider mites, mealybugs, cabbage loopers, whiteflies and aphids, cause damage as they feed on the stems and foliage of "Pinto Red" geraniums. Control these pests by washing them off with water, or spraying plants with insecticidal soaps or neem oils. Common fungal diseases of this geranium cultivar include black rot, Botrytis gray mold and rust. Fungicide sprays will eradicate these diseases. Bacterial blight and bacterial stem rot sometimes affect geraniums and have no cure. Infected plants require removal to stop the disease from spreading.