Variegated Geranium 'Occold Shield' flowering on balcony 13th July 2022 003

Lovely foliage.

Thanks, Shirley! When I bought it last year it was a Geranium that cried out "Buy me! Buy me!" I couldn't resist & I'm glad I got it as I now have half a dozen plants that really light up on the balcony!

Sounds lovely ... well done David!

Thanks, Shirley! The original plant is still growing but a few days ago I moved it out on to the balcony railings; it had been on the shelving inside the balcony but I thought with more light than it got there the leaves might intensify in colour & instead of being a lime green they might actually turn yellow. Though that happened at first along came the wind & ripped many of the leaves to shreds! 😪 The plant will survive, at least I hope it will, but it will take some time for new leaves to develop.

The 6 cutting I rooted from it have grown very well but there's a caterpillar that is eating the leaves. I found some & got rid of them but there must be others I've not found as the leaves continue to be eaten away. 😪 While they don't bore into the stems & eat them the plants are unlikely to die.

Many years ago some boring caterpillars almost killed off all the Geraniums I had growing on the street balcony railings in Spain. I eventually managed to save a few but most died from this caterpillar munching safely hidden from view, & predators, inside the stems. They drilled a tiny hole in the stem almost at soil level that was very difficult to detect for a long time hence why I lost so many Geraniums.

David, Nature really can be uncooperative at times!!