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How to overwinter geraniums


Overwintering geraniums | UMN Extension

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Geraniums (Pelargonium) are favorite annual flowers in Minnesota. Easily grown in planting beds, pots, window boxes or hanging baskets, annual geraniums can also be overwintered.

If you have included geraniums in your garden this year, you might be considering bringing them indoors to save for next year’s garden. There are several options for accomplishing this. Geraniums can be overwintered indoors by taking cuttings, potting up individual plants or storing bare-root plants in a cool, dry location. Make sure to do one or all of these things before the first frost.

Take geranium cuttings

They should root in six to eight weeks. When the cuttings have good root systems, remove them from the rooting medium and plant each rooted cutting in its own pot. Place the potted plants in a sunny window or under artificial lighting until spring.

Overwinter geraniums as potted plants

Geraniums prefer daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F and slightly cooler nighttime temperatures. They are likely to become tall and lanky by late winter. Prune your potted geraniums in March, removing one-half to two-thirds of each plant. They will begin to grow again within a few days and should develop into attractive plants by May. 

Overwinter geraniums as bare-root plants

In March, remove all shriveled, dead material and prune back to firm, green, live stem tissue. After pruning, pot the plants and water thoroughly. Place the potted geraniums in a sunny window or under artificial lighting. Geraniums that are pruned and potted in March should develop into attractive plants that can be planted outdoors after the last frost.

Find out more about growing geraniums in Minnesota.

Author: Robin Trott, Extension educator, Douglas County

Related topics: Yard and Garden News Featured news

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4 Easy Ways to Overwinter Geraniums

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. I’ll walk you through the options and provide winter care tips.

If you have trees in pots, this shows how to overwinter a potted tree to keep it safe for the winter.

Overwintering Geraniums

Geranium | Genus:
Pelargonium

The Geraniaceae family of plants includes Geranium (430 species), Pelargonium (280 species) and Erodium (80 species).

Pelargonium common names include: zonal, scented, ivy-leafed, and Martha Washington geraniums.

Misnomer: We commonly refer to Pelargoniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) as ‘geraniums’ but that’s not their botanical name. At this point it’s more like a misplaced nickname that won’t go away.

Geranium (Pelargonium) Growing Tips
Long-living flowering annual (tender perennial)
• Hardiness zones: 10 to 11
• Full sun
• Soil: well-draining
• Propagation: grow from cuttings or division
• Cold climates: overwintering tips
• Grow indoors or outdoors

Gardeners have all sorts of ways to keep geraniums over the winter and regrow them in spring. I like to save particularly beautiful specimens, knowing I may not be able to find similar ones at plant nurseries next spring.

Some gardeners save them as family keepsakes, both overwintering the plants and taking rooting cuttings to ensure they survive for years.

There is some name confusion with these plants. The Geraniaceae family of plants includes Geranium (430 species), Pelargonium (280 species) and Erodium (80 species).

We commonly refer to Pelargoniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) as ‘geraniums’ but that’s actually another genus in the family. I’m using the two words interchangeably here.

Many Pelargoniums grow as bush-type plants with thick, succulent stems, which is why they are good candidates for winter storage.

The flowers are traditionally red, salmon, violet, white, or pink.

While they are sold as annuals, they are actually tender perennials, and tolerate temperatures down to about 45°F (7°C) while actively growing.  Their sweet spot is between 55°-65°F (12°-18°C), which is ideal for indoor growing as well. 

Contents

4 Easy Ways to Overwinter Geraniums

1Bring Inside as Houseplants

If you have room for the pots in a sunny location, you can bring your potted geraniums (Pelargoniums) into your house for the winter.

While they need sun, they do best with moderate temperatures  55°-65°F (12°-18°C). I have great success with a west-facing window that is slightly drafty, keeping the air around them a little cooler than the rest of the house.  

Dig Up and Repot if Desired

There is some preparation necessary to ensure they are happy, healthy, and insect-free.

Tag by Colour
Hard Prune
Bug Inspection
Bring Inside
Winter & Spring Care

2Take Cuttings

Instead of bringing the entire plant indoors for the winter, you can also take cuttings. This is a good solution if space indoors is limited, or you want more plants.

For step-by-step instructions, see How to Take Cuttings from Geraniums.

I’ve included videos (from other gardeners) for those who learn better this way. Keep in mind that each gardener has their own methods and they may vary (but still work) from what I’ve advised here.

3Cool Storage

I find this method is unreliable—some years the geraniums do fine, other years they don’t—but it’s not a bad choice if you just want an easy option and don’t mind if the plants die.

Keep the plant in its container, prepare it, and place in cold storage. The idea is to let the plant go dormant for the winter without letting the plant freeze or potting mix dry out. The stems and foliage can be cut back and/or protected with straw mulch if there is a chance of freezing.

You’ll need a cold space like a garage, shed, cold cellar, or unheated greenhouse or basement that does not dip below freezing. A good range is 34 to 40°F (2 to 4°C).

Prepare For Storage

To get started, clean up your potted geraniums by removing dead, damaged, moldy, diseased parts, and cutting the entire plant back by one-third to one-half.

Check and treat for insects.

Water deeply and place in storage.

I like to place some support rods in the soil and hang a blanket over the whole thing or cover in straw mulch as mentioned.

Winter & Spring Care

Related: More Tips For Overwintering Plants

4Dormant Bare Root Storage

This is a popular method that has been done for generations. You’ll need a garage, shed, cold cellar, or unheated basement that does not dip below freezing or go beyond 45°F.

We call it ‘bare root’ storage because the plant is removed from the soil, pruned, and placed in cool storage. Pelargoniums can handle this because of their thick, succulent roots, which survive so long as they do not dry out or become diseased.

Here’s what you do.

Label Your Plants by Color
Dig Up or Unpot 
Storage

Whatever you do, you don’t want the plants to get damp or sit on moisture because they are prone to mold.

You do, however need to keep them watered, and not allow them to dry out (they’ll die).

There are several options:

As far as I can tell, the advice to always hang the plants upside-down for better results seems to be a wives’ tale.

Winter & Spring Care
Six Weeks Before Last Frost

Reviving Dormant Geraniums

Watch Geranium Tips

Resources

Frequently-Asked Questions

Can I overwinter my geraniums in Canada, the United States, or UK?

Yes, it does not matter where you are, it matters what conditions you can provide during the colder seasons. As long as the plants do not freeze, they can survive the winter.

How do I winterize my geraniums indoors?

You can keep them as houseplants, propagate cuttings, or store the entire plant or just the bare roots, in a dry, cool location.

Can geraniums survive a freeze?

No, geraniums (Pelargoniums) are tender perennials, hardy down to about 45°F (7°C). True geraniums (genus geranium) like cranesbill are hardy perennials.

Can I grow geraniums (Pelargoniums) from cuttings?

Yes, you can take cuttings any time in the growing season and root them for new plants.

Fungus Gnats

If you notice tiny mosquito-like insects flying around your houseplant, it may be fungus gnats. You can trap the adults using these sticky yellow cards which will in turn prevent females from laying eggs. This has more tips for dealing with fungus gnats.

This has more ideas for garden jobs to take care of on a sunny fall afternoon.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

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How to Overwinter Geraniums

Also known as the bare-root method, this shows how to keep a geranium plant (Pelargonium) dormant for the winter for replanting in spring.

Total Time20 mins

Author: Melissa J. Will

Cost: $5

How to keep geraniums at home in winter

Geranium or pelargonium comes from southern Africa. The genus includes almost 300 species. In room conditions, zonal, royal, Angels, ivy-leaved, fragrant and felt (mint) pelargoniums are most often grown, and in the garden - Balkan (large-rhizome), swamp, lush, etc. Since this is a southern plant, many flower growers are concerned about questions: how save geraniums in winter at home, what to do with it in winter and whether it blooms at that time. Let's take a closer look at this in our article. nine0003

Winter storage conditions

Autumn is a crucial time for gardeners to get their favorite plants ready for the winter. How you want to keep all the flowers, so that next season they will again please the eye with an abundance of colors. Many housewives use geraniums not only as a houseplant, but also decorate flower beds with them, plant them in pots in the open air in spring. With the onset of cold weather, you need to decide how to save geraniums during this period.

From December to February, Pelargonium enters a dormant phase, so its growth and flowering slows down. It is for this reason that it is not necessary to feed the plant during this period. She needs to be allowed to get stronger, gain strength before a new vegetative period. Until about January, pelargonium will delight its owners with bright beautiful flowers. Its growing season starts from mid-spring to autumn. nine0003

There are several ways to preserve geraniums in winter: in the basement and in the apartment. The plant can be used as a houseplant. One of the most common ways is to cut cuttings, root them, and plant them outdoors again in the spring.

Wintering Rules

If you want to help your geraniums get through the winter, you need to select the plants that are going to be wintered. Severely ill plants or plants that are too weak are not suitable for wintering. Strong and healthy plants overwinter better, because then you have the highest probability that the pelargonium will bloom again in a year, and the cuttings from it will be bred equally healthy and strong. nine0003

Pelargonium must not be stored for more than two years. Old plants should be discarded, as they lose their decorative value.

Plants bloom best in the first year after rooting. To overwinter geraniums, you need to choose healthy plants that bloomed profusely and grew luxuriantly.

How to prune geraniums for the winter

Remove geranium shoots before the onset of winter with a disinfected tool. This is a sharp knife (kitchen or stationery) or blade. nine0003

Scissors are not suitable for this procedure as they pinch the stem.

  1. Cut off the stem of the geranium above the leaf node in three to five millimeters.
  2. Cut at a sharp angle.
  3. Nodules should be chosen, directed to the outer side of the bush.

With the growth of shoots from such a bud, the shoots will not lead to thickening of the crown, as they will tend to separate from the center of the bush.

How to winterize geraniums in apartment

Glazed loggia or insulated balcony

Most of the pelargoniums overwinter on a glazed loggia, where the air temperature on frosty winter nights does not drop below +12°C. Under these near-ideal conditions, some plants continue to bloom (not as luxuriantly as in summer) through most of the winter. Some pots with bushes are placed in hanging baskets and planters, others are placed on tables and a ladder-stand for plants. This option allows you to get by with corrective pruning in the fall and more radical pruning in late February - early March. nine0003

Moderate watering. No top dressings. With this content, pelargoniums bloom for a long time, and by spring they themselves go into "standby mode". The buds almost do not open, allowing the plant to rest and accumulate strength. Part of the leaves periodically dries up.

Window sill

There are no problems with growing geraniums on the windowsill. The main thing is to find a place for them. Pots or boxes are placed on foam sheets or packing troughs so as not to chill the root system. The danger is represented by open windows and transoms on frosty days. It's bad if the battery is nearby. Autumn pruning when grown on a windowsill is gentle, as pelargoniums do not hibernate and continue to bloom. But a strong spring pruning is necessary. Care comes down to fairly rare watering, cleaning of dried leaves and peduncles and pest control. nine0003

Frost-proof garage and stairwell

Many amateur growers I know keep flowerpots, boxes and large pots with pelargoniums in winter-proof garages and stairwells. Before this, the plants are heavily pruned, leaving parts 15–20 cm high. Large branches are shortened, but not removed. It is watered several times during the winter, very sparingly, only so that the earth with roots does not dry out.

Refrigerator

When storing pelargoniums in the refrigerator (on the top shelf, shelves on the door, in vegetable drawers), you need to work with the bushes first. In dry weather at the end of September or in October (depending on the weather and life circumstances), pelargoniums are removed from the ground along with the root system. After that, most of the roots are carefully cut off, leaving a root ball with the ground (about 8 - 10 cm). nine0003

This ball does not need to be moistened, it is better if it is sufficiently dry. It is wrapped in a film so that the earth does not spill out. Pelargonium is cut off, leaving a stump of such a size from the ground part that two plants fit in a liter bag of juice or milk. The package is wrapped in a newspaper folded into several parts. From time to time, the condition of stored pelargoniums is checked. See if the paper is wet. In February, pelargoniums are taken out, planted in containers and begin to germinate. nine0003

“Upside down”

There are many other ways to save geraniums brought from the garden into the house. Among them, attention is drawn to hanging a bush “upside down”, when a lump of shortened roots with earth or peat is packed in a plastic bag, tied tightly and hung from a hook or shelf in a cool place (for example, in the basement). The ground part is also greatly shortened. Connoisseurs consider this unusual wintering option for pelargoniums to be very effective and guarantee lush flowering next year. nine0003

Old growers say it's good to sprinkle sulfur powder on the roots to prevent root rot.

At the end of winter, the geranium is taken out of the basement, pulled out of the paper, and the rotten roots cut off. After that, they are planted in fresh, moist soil. Water only when the first leaves appear on the stems.

How to keep geraniums in the basement in winter

Some geranium lovers plant them in the garden all summer long. Before the winter cold, they have a problem how to save garden geraniums. nine0003

There are several ways to store geraniums in the cellar:

  1. Pelargonium bunches are hung in the cellar at a constant temperature of 2 to 7 degrees above zero. Some growers wrap plants in newspaper or paper bags instead of hanging them. In this case, you need to ensure that the packages are open for ventilation. The roots of plants are periodically moistened. This method is called "dry storage".
  2. Geraniums are planted in pots, before which the roots and stems are cut by two thirds. The prepared plant is stored in the basement at a constant temperature of up to 10 degrees, the room should be twilight. Pelargonium planted in this way is watered infrequently, only when the soil becomes dry. This method of storing geraniums is called "canning". nine0034

Of course, not every cellar is suitable for wintering your pets. Several conditions must be met:

  1. The room must be frost-free and dry.
  2. Temperature range - within +7 degrees.
  3. It is good if natural light is supported by a small window.
  4. Geranium must be pruned (all flowers and leaves are removed, leaving only the woody parts of the plants).

The temperature regime, the degree of illumination, the humidity of the air in all basements are different. Therefore, in order to understand which method will help to effectively preserve most of the plants in your particular case, you need to try them all. Regardless of which storage method you choose for your plants, make sure the danger of frost has passed before planting them outside. Then lush flowering will be guaranteed throughout the next season. nine0003

Wintering of large-flowered geraniums

Large-flowered geraniums do not have to go through a pronounced dormant period like zonal geraniums and can be stored at a higher temperature. In order for them to bloom again in spring, they must be stored in a well-lit room with a temperature of 12-14 ° C, but no more! Under such conditions, they will grow all the time. They need 2 months to create new flower buds.

When you notice the first buds, raise the temperature to 18°C. Thanks to such winter conditions, geraniums will bloom in April. If for some reason you cannot provide the plant with the above conditions, it is necessary to overwinter the geraniums in the same way as the previous zonal pelargonium. Then the plant will remain dormant. It won't hurt them, they'll just bloom a little later. nine0003

How to take care of the flower in winter

In winter, flower growers should pay attention to the following conditions for keeping pelargonium.

Temperature control

In the cold season, geraniums should be kept in a cooler room than in summer. If this cannot be ensured, then you can put the pot on the northern windowsill, making sure that the leaves of the plant do not touch the glass. Ideally, the temperature of the content should not exceed 10-15 degrees above zero. If it is much higher, then there is a risk of dropping just started buds. The temperature of the geranium content can be lowered to 4 degrees. nine0003

Protect the flower from drafts.

Lighting

Since the geranium is of South African origin, it loves bright light. If the flower is located on the northern windows, then it needs to provide additional lighting. If this is not done, then the pelargonium will not bloom, and its leaves will become small. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. To create additional illumination, you need to use a lamp marked "phyto", placing it at a height of 10 centimeters from the top of the flower. nine0003

IMPORTANT: Do not be afraid of direct sunlight: the flower tolerates them calmly in winter.

Watering

Pelargonium likes regular watering. In winter, it is permissible to water it once a week. It is necessary to ensure that the earth in the pot is always evenly moist. Stagnation of water at the roots of geraniums leads to the death of the flower! To adjust the irrigation system, select a suitable drainage system and light soil for the plant. Expanded clay and perlite can be used as drainage. nine0003

Spraying of geraniums is not recommended as the leaves may turn yellow or become mottled.

Pruning

If not regularly pruned, the plant will stretch out and stop flowering beautifully. It must be borne in mind that uncircumcised pelargonium is prone to various diseases. When pruning, use only sterile tools (scissors or a knife). Remove all shoots growing from the axils, leaving only 6-7 leaves on the stem. Carry out such a procedure in the fall or at the very beginning of winter. nine0003

From December to January, geraniums should not be pruned.

Dried peduncles and leaves should always be trimmed, even in the cold season. They can be easily detached without harm to the plant, even without scissors. Several times in the cold season, the plant needs to be pinched. Miniature varieties of geraniums do not require pruning.

How to welcome spring

Closer to spring, when the temperature outside reaches 2 degrees above zero, you can take pots with pelargonium to the balcony. You need to start from half an hour, gradually increasing the time the geranium stays on the balcony. In this way, pelargonium can be helped to bloom constantly. nine0003

  1. If the geranium was stored in the basement, then before taking it outside, soak the bunches in water with fertilizer, then plant them in a pot.
  2. Potted geraniums should be kept indoors for about a week. Only after the onset of the last frost, pelargonium is planted in a garden flower garden.

Thus, geraniums should be placed in a cool room in winter, provide additional lighting and monitor soil moisture. You also need to break off dried leaves and flower stalks from time to time. Subject to all these simple rules, pelargonium will delight with its flowering and aroma immediately after leaving the rest phase. nine0003

Inspect the plants every month to see if they are getting too dry and shriveled. Spray hanging plants with water if necessary. If the geraniums become so dry that the stems begin to shrivel, remove them from the bags and soak the roots for an hour or two in cool water. After soaking in water, let them dry before placing them in paper bags. Do this several times during the winter to keep the plants from drying out. Plants that have overwintered may take several weeks to start growing again in the spring. nine0003

home care and maintenance in the basement, as well as pruning and watering, dormant period of the plant, required temperature and light Dacha expert

Description of the plant

Pelargonium is a genus of plants of the Geranium family. Under natural conditions, it grows in South Africa. This genus includes about 250 species. The smell of pelargonium is very specific, it cannot be confused with anything. The essential oils contained in the leaves of the plant create a natural barrier to bacteria and viruses .

WARNING : Many people think that pelargonium and geranium are the same, but they are not. Geranium, or crail, is also a representative of the genus of the geranium family.

Wild geraniums. In Russia, among flower growers, it is not customary to distinguish between these plant species, considering the words "geranium" and "pelargonium" as synonyms. Geranium is used in folk medicine: for insomnia, depression, rheumatism, heart disease .

If aphids have attacked domestic flowers, it is advised to place a pot with pelargonium next to them, expelling pests. nine0003

Periods of growth and dormancy

From December to February, Pelargonium enters a dormant phase, so its growth and flowering slows down. It is for this reason that it is not necessary to feed the plant during this period. She needs to be allowed to get stronger, gain strength before the new vegetative period (read about how to feed geraniums for lush flowering, and from this article you will learn how to properly use iodine with hydrogen peroxide to feed a flower). Until about January, pelargonium will delight its owners with bright beautiful flowers. nine0175 Her vegetative period starts from mid-spring to autumn .

How to care at home?

In winter, growers should pay attention to the following conditions for keeping pelargonium.

Temperature control

In the cold season, geraniums should be kept in a cooler room than in summer . If this cannot be ensured, then you can put the pot on the northern windowsill, making sure that the leaves of the plant do not touch the glass. Ideally, the temperature of the content should not exceed 10-15 degrees above zero. nine0003

If it is much higher, then there is a risk of dropping just started buds. The temperature of the geranium content can be lowered to 4 degrees.

Protect the flower from drafts.

Lighting

Since the geranium is of South African origin, it loves bright light . If the flower is located on the northern windows, then it needs to provide additional lighting. If this is not done, then the pelargonium will not bloom, and its leaves will become small. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. nine0003

To create additional lighting, you need to use a lamp marked "phyto", placing it at a height of 10 centimeters from the top of the flower.

IMPORTANT : No need to be afraid of direct sunlight: the flower tolerates them calmly.

Watering

Pelargonium likes regular watering . In winter, it is permissible to water it once a week. It is necessary to ensure that the earth in the pot is always evenly moist. Stagnation of water at the roots of geraniums leads to the death of the flower! nine0003

To adjust the watering system, select a suitable drainage system and light soil for the plant (you can find out what soil composition should be for indoor geraniums and whether universal soil is suitable here). Expanded clay and perlite can be used as drainage.

Spraying of geraniums is not recommended as the leaves may turn yellow or become mottled.

Pruning

If not regularly pruned, the plant will stretch out and stop flowering beautifully . It must be borne in mind that uncircumcised pelargonium is prone to various diseases. When pruning, use only sterile tools (scissors or a knife). Remove all shoots growing from the axils, leaving only 6-7 leaves on the stem. Carry out such a procedure in the fall or at the very beginning of winter.

From December to January, geraniums should not be pruned. Dried flower stalks and leaves should always be cut, even in the cold season. They can be easily detached without harm to the plant, even without scissors. Several times in the cold season, geraniums need to be pinched. nine0003

Miniature geranium varieties do not require pruning. Learn how to prune geraniums here.)

Basement storage rules

Some geranium lovers plant it in the garden for the whole summer (we talked about how to care for geraniums in the open field in our material). Before the winter cold, they have a problem how to save garden geraniums. There are several ways to store geraniums:

  1. Pelargonium bunches are hung in the basement at a constant temperature of 2 to 7 degrees above zero . Some growers wrap plants in newspaper or paper bags instead of hanging them. In this case, you need to ensure that the packages are open for ventilation. The roots of plants are periodically moistened. This method is called "dry storage".
  2. Geraniums are planted in pots, before that the roots and stems are cut by two thirds ). The prepared plant is stored in the basement at a constant temperature of up to 10 degrees, the room should be twilight. Pelargonium planted in this way is watered infrequently, only when the soil becomes dry. This method of storing geraniums is called "canning". nine0034

TIP : Basement humidity must be at least 80%.

How to celebrate spring?

Closer to spring, when the temperature outside reaches 2 degrees above zero, you can take pots with pelargonium to the balcony.

Learn more