Geranium problem

[Chocolate]

I bought a number of geraniums (Pelargoniums) from a range of sources this year; local market, 2 different nurseries and a branch of a large specialist gardening chain. The compost was for bedding plants in general and was sold on the basis of buy 2 get one free from the last place. I was able therefore to give the third free bag to my elderly French neighbours.

However, over the last two months I have steadily lost plants. They all fit a pattern. The leaf edges flop into their centres, then the whole leaf goes yellow and limp, then brown then die. With the steady loss of leaves the flowers are small, brown and also die. Then the plant has had it basically. When I pull gently the plants come easily out of the pot and none of them seem to have made a root system. Some of them did make some sort of growth above the compost but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. There are two sets of plants, one set at the back of the house and one set at the front. One set gets morning sun the other set gets early afternoon to sunset sun.

To make matters worse, the plants I over-wintered last year and were strong, large, green and covered in flowers seem to be going the same way. I have fed the plants weekly with a well-known liquid fertiliser for flowering plants.

Is this a compost problem? A watering problem, (it has been so wet here earlier on as everywhere)? A feeding problem?  Is it a virus/insect/mould problem? I can't see anything obviously visible.

Help please someone before I lose all my plants.    

[Russethouse]

You may well have a plant disease of some kind, easily spread by just using the same secateurs on both groups of plants......

I think pelagoniums prefer free draining  soil in general. The UK national collection holders are Fibrex : http://www.fibrex.co.uk/pela_intro.asp

This is from the RHS: http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Events/londonlectures/southafricanpelargonium.htm

Could the compost have been too rich or moisture retentive ?

[Chocolate]

Ah! A good idea, thank you. I had wondered about the compost. It does seem to be very 'peaty' and water-retentive. What can I do in that case? Is it too late to re-pot even if I could still get 'geranium' compost ?

[Russethouse]

I guess you could try repotting either with a more free draining compost or mixing what you have with garden soil (if its not too rich or heavy) and horticultual grit.   I use tomato food (high potash) liquid feed but I think in the circumstances I might not to do this and see how it goes, if they start to bud fairly quickly, fine, if not supplement.

[Chocolate]

To add - thank you Russethouse also for the links. Really useful. 

[Chocolate]

Our posts crossed! Thank you. Will try your advice. It does rather point to the compost. My neighbours used it for Petunias so as they seem to like water perhaps that it why they haven't had problems. (And they are more knowledgeable than me given they have lived all their 80 years here.)