SCENTED GERANIUM

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SCENTED GERANIUM

 

Geraniums are indigenous to South Africa, but have spread throughout

the world as treasured pot plants.

The are many different types of geraniums, but rose-scented,

peppermint and citrus remain old favorites.

They like a sunny spot, with well composted, light soil. A thorough

watering one a week and a spadeful of compost twice a year, is all

that they ask for.

Prune well in January to discourage straggly growth.

Pull off a sprig at any time of the year except the coldest months,

strip the bottom leaves and press into a box filled with wet sand.

Keep in the shade, and within a month they will be sturdy little

plants ready for transplanting.

The leaves can be picked at any time of the year. The leaves are rich

in oils and are best used when fresh.

The small pink flowers are prolific in spring, and are edible. Plant geraniums near cabbages to repel white cabbage butterfly. Rose geranium planted round the edge of a vegetable garden repels

beetles.

MEDICINAL USES

Rose geranium is the best for relaxation. A cup of rose-scented

geranium tea is one of the best medicinal teas around. It relaxes the

entire nervous and digestive system.

Geranium tea is excellent for headaches, stiff muscles, cramps and

spasms. To make the tea, pour a cup of boiling water over a 1/4 cup

of fresh leaves, stand for 5 minutes, then strain. Sweeten with honey

if desired.

Essential oils are used to aid stress, sleeplessness, pre-menstrual

tension, skin ailments and depression.

CULINARY USES

Rose-scented geranium is the only edible species, although peppermint

and citrus geraniums add flavor to drinks, desserts, syrups and jams. Use rose geranium leaves in scones, cakes, pancakes and dough. Make some rose geranium butter (recipe below) to serve with your

scones.

COSMETIC USES

Rose geranium makes a lovely bath vinegar.

Tie a few leaves and sprigs in a face cloth and use, with soap, as a

scrub for a penetrating cleansing and relaxing treatment.

Use rose-scented geranium massage cream (recipe below) on tired legs

and feet or for dry skin on hands and feet.

OTHER USES

Scented geranium spray is ideal for treating stale, smoked-filled

rooms.

Foliar spray (recipe below) made from a mixture of comfrey and

scented geranium leaves makes an excellent booster for slow growing

plants.

Use the strong smelling citrus- or camphor-scented leaves, the tiny

nutmeg-scented leaves, the peppermint- and rose-scented leaves or a

mixture of all of these for aphids, mildew and thripps on plants.

ROSE GERANIUM BUTTER

3-4 Tablespoons of Rose-geranium Leaves, finely minced

1 Cup Soft Butter

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients well, then spread onto toast, scones,

pancakes etc., and top with a little apricot jam or apple jelly.

GERANIUM MASSAGE CREAM

1 Cup Chopped Geranium Leaves

1 Cup Aqueous Cream

2 teaspoons Vitamin E Oil

Simmer the leaves and cream in a double boiler for 20 minutes. Cool and strain. Add the vitamin E oil and stir well. Seal in a sterilized jar.

FOLIAR SPRAY

Take 1/2 a bucket of fresh leaves, stems and flowers, and pour over

this 1 bucket of boiling water. Add 1/2 bucket of chopped comfrey

leaves if available. Stir, cover and leave for 3 days. Strain off the

liquid and splash or spray onto plants and water in a little around

them. Do this once a week for 3 weeks, and you can watch them grow.

 

"A clean house is a sign of a misspent life"

 

 

 

 

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