There are several ways to overwinter geraniums (Pelargoniums) from your garden. With some newspaper, a cardboard box, paper bag, or a sunny windowsill, you can keep these tender perennials for the winter and have fresh blooms next spring and summer.
Should you cut back geraniums for winter?
After a perennial geranium has spent the season in bloom and begins to die back, you’ll want to prune it. This keeps the plant dormant for the winter and also helps it store energy for spring. Depending on your zone, this might need to happen anywhere from August to late October.
Can you bring geraniums indoors for the winter and they’ll still grow?
Potted geraniums (Pelargonium species) are excellent indoor plants and can be grown indoors throughout the year.
Can you overwinter geraniums in a garage?
Steps to Overwintering Dormant Geraniums
Store the dormant plant containers in a cool, unheated, slightly damp basement or garage. Check the geraniums every few weeks to make sure the leaves and stems are not shriveling. If they show signs of drying, spray them with water or slightly water the roots.
Can I save my geraniums for next year? – Related Questions
What do I do with my potted geraniums over winter?
Geraniums only need to be kept frost free, so are very economical to overwinter in the greenhouse. However, we do recommend using a heater to ensure temperatures stay above freezing. If your heater has a thermostat, set it at 5°C or 41°F. If the stems get frosted then the plant will die and not recover!
When should I bring geraniums inside?
At what temperature should geraniums be brought inside? Once nightly temperatures fall below around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to bring your geraniums inside if you plan to overwinter them indoors. If they’re exposed to frost, it might already be too late to overwinter a healthy plant.
What is the best way to store geraniums over winter?
Carefully dig up the geraniums before the first fall frost. Remove all of the soil from the plant’s roots. Place one or two plants in a large paper sack and store in a cool (45- to 50-degree F), dry location. Or hang the plants upside down in a cool, dry location.
What is the lowest temperature that geraniums can tolerate?
During winter, geraniums grow best with night temperatures of 50° to 60°F (10° to 16°C) but will survive if they drop to 32°F (0°C) and/or rise above 80°F (27°C), as long as they are kept relatively dry. When new growth appears in the spring, cut off all the old leaves.
How do you keep geraniums out of winter storage?
Can I overwinter geraniums in a shed?
This method does not require a greenhouse, they can be stored in a shed or garage. Dig them up If using this method, before fall, dig them up and shake off all the soil from the roots and let them dry out for a couple of days.
How do I overwinter my geranium in my basement?
Close up your box and store your bare root geraniums in a cool, dry place. Your geraniums will overwinter best in a dark, cool area. 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal temperature. Without light, warmth or moisture your geraniums will go dormant and “sleep” until spring.
How do I know if my geraniums are annual or perennial?
The main separation between these two is their hardiness. Geraniums are perennials that return each year. Pelargoniums are annuals that can be semi-hardy in some climates, but they’re generally used for one season.
Do geraniums in pots come back every year?
Pelargoniums are not frost hardy, so plants can be tossed in the winter or brought indoors to overwinter. Perennial geraniums, also known as hardy cranesbill, also grow well in containers and will come back year after year. They require little maintenance beyond dividing and repotting overgrown plants every few years.
How many years do geraniums last?
The average life expectancy of a geranium is about two years, and although they will last much longer than that, they tend to get woody and the blooms diminish. Luckily, propagation is easy with geraniums. Simply take four-inch stem tip cuttings with at least two pairs of healthy leaves.
How do you get geraniums back every year?
Once a month, soak the roots of the geranium plant in water for an hour, then re-hang the plant. The geranium will lose all of its leaves, but the stems will remain alive. In the spring, replant the dormant geraniums in the ground and they will spring back to life.
Can you keep geraniums indoors?
You can grow geraniums (Pelargoniums) indoors as houseplants all year-round or overwinter them inside during the cold months and return them outdoors again in spring. Either way these plants will keep producing bold, beautiful blooms all the way along.
How do you take care of a potted geranium indoors?
While indoors they’ll need at least four hours of direct sunlight at normal room temperature to flourish and flower. Water them moderately while they are actively growing, ensuring that the potting mix is wet throughout but never soggy. Allow the top half-inch of the soil to dry out between waterings.