What's wrong with my Dreamland hardy geranium?

[Ramblethroughthebrambles]

Can anyone advise? I got it from a reputable online nursery and planted it towards the end of last summer. It grew a fair bit and produced plenty of flowers. This spring it came back with paler leaves, stronger veins on them and white edges. I waited in case it was recovering after winter but, although I've had a few greener leaves since, they all have the white edges and it has produced only a couple of flowers that are smaller than last year. It gets direct sun for a few hours in the morning then dappled shade or complete shade for the rest of the day. It's in front of an east facing wall with other plants that are flourishing. Three weeks ago I tried a fungicide spray. Anything else I could do? Thanks.

Sorry, I can't work out how to attach photos.

Aha 'add image!'

It sounds like it's lacking some sort of nutrient. Iron?

Thanks @Reonie I just looked that up and it does fit. I'm reading that a cure can be well rotted compost. I forgot to mention that I did add some, produced from horse manure etc a few weeks ago, and also used a liquid general plant food. Should I try adding more of these or are there any risks from too much compost? I'm not a very experienced or knowledgeable gardener.

So long as it's well-rotted, it should be fine, but it's true that it doesn't look too happy. If I were you I'd move it to a different spot and see if it fares any better. Beneath walls can get dry and depleted of nutrients but your rotted manure and plant food will surely improve it in time.

Thanks @Reonie. It's annoying because I bought it for that exact spot and other plants are growing fine in the same bed. I'll try and coax it over a few weeks with some more nutrient rich delicacies and move it if it's still being stubborn. I should stick to interior decor that accepts being put where you want it to go!

I wonder if the compost from horse manure is the problem? I'm guessing that it might have a bit of an unbalanced nutritional profile that the geranium doesn't like. Is it a commercial compost or someone's home-made stuff?

I probably wouldn't add more nutrients at this stage as they might make the problem worse.

EDITED to add: I don't think that geraniums are very heavy feeders. They can thrive on quite poor soil. It think your soil may be too rich for it.

That's interesting @PlasticAcrobat, thanks. It was a homemade compost but well rotted, with lots of plant matter in it too, from a specialist nursery that should know what they are doing and the problem with the leaves was clearly there from February. I only added the compost early May. I'm loath to move the plant if that can be avoided. Is there anything else I could try? Thanks

I suspect it might be a manganese deficiency, which is a micronutrient. Perhaps you could try giving it some seaweed + sequestered iron tonic - available in garden centres as a liquid, follow pack instructions. It comes in a purple bottle.

Don't fertilise it at all for the rest of the year.

Thanks @Yamadori. It does look similar to that too. I've just read that manganese deficiency can be associated with high Ph, so I guess that's why you're saying don't fertilize any more? I'll test the soil Ph and get some of the seaweed tonic you recommend. Thanks

It is more to do with an imbalance of nutrients. Some plants will take up too much of the wrong thing if there is an excess of it, which interferes with chemical reactions and affects their metabolism. Take so-called lime haters. Because they evolved in areas with high acidity, they will take up as much calcium as they possibly can because it is so scarce where they grow. Put them somewhere with high alkalinity and they basically overdose and poison themselves. Stupid things. 😂

I'm trying to get a handle on this plant science stuff - scientists are finding out more all the time and I can't keep up!