How exactly do you 'bring on' a plant?

[paininthepoinsettia]

Last year to save money I bought multi packs of pelargoniums from a hardware store, which aren't actually that much bigger this year. My garden centre used to sell really big established ones that looked more shrubby and were really healthy and 'full' if that makes sense? I've been looking online and it says the plug plants need bringing on. What exactly does this mean? I don't have a greenhouse and would need to plant out immediately. Is it possible to get the plug plants looking like the garden centre ones?

What size pots are they in at the moment? They will need some space for roots to grow so if they are in those plug plant trays you will need to move to a bigger pot. Are you feeding them and what with?

They need light - a greenhouse, conservatory or whatever you can manage.

Bigger pots and some compost mainly I think. I had my plug plants in a cold frame until recently to keep them warm but I recently got some pelargonium "jumbo plugs" and just planted them straight in pots and left them out on the back patio so🤞 they grow. (I'm in the south and it's pretty warm). N.b. I'm no expert but that's what I'm doing FWIW.

They have been in window boxes, really spaced out so in theory have lots of space. They are still very leggy, even after being fed nitrogen rich fertilizer before flowering and then tomato feed after.Unruly where did you buy the jumbo plugs from?

J Parker's.

Sorry, just realised you said you got yours last year and they're still not looking great.. idk what the answer would be tbh, unless they just haven't woken up yet after winter? how did they look during the summer last year?

It might just be the lack of light. It's been a wet few months. Are they in a sunny place? See how they do the next few weeks as now is growing time.

They are in a sheltered porch with good sun. My 'bushy' ones die back every winter, I prune them then they come back to life as good as new. I think i might just invest in a few good plants that I'll then take cuttings from next spring.

They are still very leggy, Pinch out the tips to encourage them to branch.