Overwinter geraniums in pots
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
- Take 3- to 4-inch stem cuttings from the tips of the plant.
- Remove the lower leaves and dip the base of each cutting in a rooting hormone.
- Stick the cuttings into a pot or flat with drainage holes containing vermiculite or a mixture of perlite and sphagnum peat moss.
- Insert the cuttings into the growing medium far enough to stand on their own.
- Water the container after all the cuttings are inserted.
- Allow the medium to drain for a few minutes, then place a clear plastic bag or dome over the cuttings to prevent the plant foliage from wilting.
- Place the cuttings in bright, indirect light.
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
- Dig up each plant you want to save, making sure to get most of the root ball, and place in a large pot.
- Water thoroughly, then place the plants in a sunny window or under artificial lighting.
- Water plants about every two weeks.
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
- 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. The foliage and the shoot tips will eventually die.
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:
PelargoniumThe 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
- Bring Inside as Houseplants
- Take Cuttings
- Cool Storage
- Store Bare Roots
- Watch Geranium Tips
- Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
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.
- If your geraniums are in the ground, dig them up and pot them about six weeks before first frost.
- If they are already in pots, you can repot them if desired but hard prune and do your bug inspections first (see below).
- While potting, trim back any super long roots or any gnarly root balls.
- Use potting mix suited for flowering plants in containers.
Tag by Colour
- Sort your geraniums by color and tag them if you want to keep track.
Hard Prune
- It is commonly advised to cut back the entire plant by one-third to one-half.
- You should also remove any dead, damaged, moldy, unhealthy, or diseased parts.
- While this hard pruning is best in the long run, you can try keeping any buds or flowers if the plant is otherwise nice and healthy.
Bug Inspection
- Check for aphids, spider mites, fungal gnats, and other sneaky beasts.
- Apply an insecticidal soap spray made specifically for transitioning plants indoors.
Bring Inside
- Water moderately, and get your plants settled in a sunny but not hot location.
- See How to Grow Geraniums Indoors as Houseplants for more tips.
Winter & Spring Care
- Keep moist, not dry or damp.
- Room humidity at 50% is optimum (without risking mold)
- Pinch back shoots.
- Fertilize lightly in spring.
- Begin to harden off (prepare plants for life outdoors) a few weeks before last frost.
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
- Check monthly or more often and remove any moldy or dead parts.
- If you’re concerned conditions are too cold, use a simple kitchen thermometer with a probe to measure the temperature at root level.
- Water lightly every now and then.
- In spring, gradually reintroduce to outdoor light and normal watering routine.
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
- First, plan to label your plants if you want to keep track of the flower colors.
- You could store them in groups by color or place tags (loosely) around their roots.
- I write the details on little strips of cardstock and staple it like a wristband around the stems.
Dig Up or Unpot
- Gently shake off all loose soil.
- You can air dry the plant for a few days and then shake off more soil.
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:
- Suspend the plants from ceiling hooks.
- Place in paper bags and hang from hooks or set on shelf.
- Wrap in newspaper and sit on shelf.
- Place in cardboard box.
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
- Check on your plants every week or two. I put a reminder in my computer calendar.
- The plants should remain firm, not withered or unhealthy looking.
- Remove any mold, black parts, or dead matter.
- Soak in warm water for one to two hours each month.
- Allow to dry before returning to bags, newspaper, or box.
Six Weeks Before Last Frost
Reviving Dormant Geraniums
- Prune as needed and remove any excessively long roots.
- Pot in moist potting mix, burying the plant two leaf nodes deep (these will form roots).
- Gradually re-introduce to light.
- New growth should appear in 1-2 weeks.
- Gradually introduce to life (harden) outdoors in anticipation of last frost.
Watch Geranium Tips
Resources
- Overwintering Geraniums | Iowa State University (PDF)
- How to Take Geranium Cuttings | Thompson & Morgan
- How to Buy and Care for Pelargoniums | Oregon State University Extension Service
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can I overwinter my geraniums in Canada, the United States, or UK?
Yes, you can overwinter geraniums (Pelargoniums) anywhere.
It’s the storage conditions that matter. As long as the plants do not freeze or dry out, they can survive the winter.
How do I winterize my geraniums indoors?
You can keep geraniums (Pelargoniums) 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 from geraniums (Pelargoniums) 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 ♛
Print Instructions Pin It5 from 9 votes
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
- ▢
Paper Bag
- ▢ 1 Geranium plant (Pelargonium) Healthy
- ▢ 1 Paper bag or cardboard box
Remove plant from container and gently shake off soil.
Air dry for a few hours if needed for more soil to fall off.
Remove any dead or dying leaves or flowers.
Place plant in paper bag or cardboard box in cool, dry location.
Check every two weeks to ensure plant remains healthy looking not moldy.
Six weeks before last frost, return to clean container with fresh potting mix. Water.
Gradually reintroduce to light and warmth indoors.
New growth should appear in 1-2 weeks.
Gradually reintroduce to outdoors after last frost.
Rules for wintering pelargonium on the windowsill and in the basement, refrigerator. Care. Photo - Botanichka
Pelargonium often spends the summer outside, decorating terraces or balconies. Fresh air is good for flowers, and in the summer it blooms unusually profusely, building up lush branched bushes. But now the heat is coming to an end, and you have to clean the plants for the winter in a warm room. Many flower growers notice that pelargoniums are usually not happy with such a move and begin to actively turn yellow, shedding foliage. This feature of indoor geraniums causes a lot of trouble, because a lot of debris appears on the windowsill from fallen leaves, and the suffering flower itself no longer looks so attractive.
But is it possible to minimize stress when returning pelargonium to the apartment and provide the flower with an ideal wintering? Let's try to understand this article.
Most flower growers stubbornly call pelargonium geranium, although pelargonium and geranium are different plants. But since for most the name "geranium" is more familiar, in the article we will use it on a par with "pelargonium".
When should Pelargonium be brought indoors?
To begin with, let us recall that indoor geraniums are divided into several independent types: zonal, ivy (ampelous) geraniums, Angels, royal and fragrant pelargoniums.
The situation is easiest with the wintering of fragrant pelargonium and traditional zonal pelargonium (“kalachiki”). With constant cultivation in an apartment, old "grandmother's" varieties require a minimum amount of attention, but with a sharp change in conditions, even they can react negatively, not to mention modern hybrids.
As you know, the older the plant, the harder it tolerates changes in environmental conditions, so many flower growers prefer not to mess with overexposure of mother liquors, but decide to renew flowers from cuttings every year so that small young plants leave for wintering.
To do this, it is necessary to cut cuttings from pelargoniums without waiting for autumn - in mid-late August, and initially grow young growth as indoor flowers. Then the onset of winter will not cause much stress in the geraniums.
But not every flower lover raises his hand to throw away a chic voluminous bush. In addition, it is noticed that in the second year the plants give a particularly lush flowering. Moreover, in modern dwarf and mini-cultivars, bushes develop very slowly and this method is unacceptable for them.
Pelargoniums are able to tolerate a slight temperature drop for a short time. But if you are determined to move the geraniums to an apartment for the winter, then it is better not to bring them to significant cold weather.
The later the plants get into the room, the longer the period of adaptation to the changed conditions will last.
For the most painless adaptation, it is better to plan the move (on average) at the end of August-beginning of September. It is also possible to determine that the outdoor temperature is no longer comfortable for plants by signs such as significant reddening or yellowing of foliage and peduncles.
Read more about the types and varieties of pelargoniums in the material Pelargonium is the most hardy of the flowering plants.
How to help Pelargonium adapt on the windowsill?
When placing geraniums on the windowsill, make sure that the leaves are turned to the light on the same side from which they were most illuminated on the street. To remove fungal spores and pest eggs that may remain on the flower, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the stems and leaves with Green Soap.
It is also possible to help plants to endure adaptation using treatment with anti-stress preparations (Epin, Zircon, Stimulus, HB-101, succinic acid).
Even if the pots in which they lived outside have become too small for flowers, it is better to postpone transplanting until the end of winter so as not to create additional stress factors.
Should Pelargoniums be pruned?
The need for autumn pruning of geraniums before wintering is a debatable issue. As a result of pruning, any plant inevitably loses its strength, but if the overgrown bushes literally do not fit on the windowsill or shelving, then the grower has no choice.
It is a well-known fact that pruning stimulates the awakening of sleeping buds, so if there is a need to trim a geranium, it is best to do this a couple of weeks before its planned move. In this case, in the presence of warm and sunny weather, pelargonium will grow healthy, abundant shoots. But if you transfer this procedure to autumn, then indoors with a lack of light, the young growth will be elongated and weak. This rule does not apply to the removal of flower stalks, which must be cut off so that the plant does not waste energy on flowering.
In the case when you send geranium grown in a flower bed for wintering, you need to do this without waiting for night temperatures to fall to +12 ... +15 degrees. This is due to the fact that in autumn it often rains regularly, and the presence of plants in wet soil can lead to rotting of the roots. The root system of pelargoniums is small, and even in powerful bushes growing in open ground, it does not grow too much.
It is better to choose a pot for wintering such pelargoniums no more than 15 centimeters in diameter. After transplanting, the flowers will take time - from two weeks to a month - to get used to the pots and new conditions, and prepare for a dormant period. During this period, it is better not to disturb the plants with pruning and top dressing, keep them in the shade in the open air. For some time, the leaves will inevitably turn yellow and fall off, and as soon as the dormant buds begin to wake up, you can bring them into the house to the south window.
Note: even in the best scenario, when living conditions change, part of the geranium leaves will turn yellow and fall off. It is better not to interfere with this natural process “in the name of beauty”, and do not remove the leaf that begins to turn yellow, but wait until the leaf blade dries out completely.
Pelargonium stalk managed to grow and bloom before wintering. © Lyudmila SvetlitskayaBasic rules for wintering pelargonium
In order for pelargoniums to winter safely, it is necessary to help them decide on a course of action for the coming months. Pelargonium zonal is not a winter sleep-demanding flower, but these plants behave differently depending on external conditions. Therefore, wintering can become a period of complete rest for pelargoniums or a time when they will gradually continue the growing season.
The signal for this or that behavioral strategy for plants is the average temperature level and the degree of illumination.
But in the conditions of a city apartment in winter, both factors, as a rule, are in an imbalance, because in nature, with the onset of cold weather, daylight hours usually decrease, and vice versa. But on the windowsills during this period it is usually excessively warm, but there is not enough sunlight for full growth.
Therefore, in order for pelargonium to rest a little in winter, the temperature in the room must be maintained at +10 ... +15 degrees. At the same time, when airing, make sure that the plants are away from cold drafts.
And if you provide flowers with illumination for 12 hours a day, the temperature can be even higher than 20 degrees. Indoor geranium does not belong to plants of a short or long day, therefore, under such conditions, it can even please with flowering. Bushes grow moderately and do not stretch. For further propagation, the first cuttings can be removed in early January. As a rule, cuttings work best at this time.
Features of the wintering of Pelargonium "Angel"
If most varieties of zonal Pelargonium can somehow survive the winter on the windowsill without creating special conditions, then for Pelargonium "Angel" this is hardly possible.
For this species, proper wintering not only ensures the laying of buds for the subsequent flowering of bushes, but is also a guarantee of plant survival during this difficult period.
It is very important not to be late with the beginning of the dormant period of the "Angels", because the later it starts, the further the flowering period will move. On average, the winter sleep of these flowers should last from October to February. At this time, the temperature regime is maintained in the range not lower than +9and not higher than +15 degrees. It is also desirable to use the backlight at the rate of 14-hour daylight hours.
But, as practice shows, low temperature prevents stretching, and if the temperature regime is observed, plants have enough natural light on bright windows.
Details of wintering of royal pelargoniums
For royal pelargoniums, the winter temperature should be even lower - from +8 to +10 degrees. At such a reduced temperature, watering should be extremely careful - rare and very moderate (depending on the size of the pot, it is 50-100 ml, once every 3 weeks).
Otherwise, wintering flowers may be affected by fungal diseases.
The insidiousness of such a defeat lies in the fact that the signs of the disease do not appear immediately. And when the symptoms become visible, the disease is already in its heyday and can even lead to the death of plants. Therefore, it is very important to inspect the leaves and stems for plaque or discoloration.
It is also recommended to carry out preventive treatments with antifungal drugs before wintering the royal geraniums. This should be done a few days before their move, so that the treated plants have time to dry well and do not fall under the draft and exposure to cool temperatures.
It is also useful to pinch the bush a little before retiring, but radical pruning can be fatal. The first feeding is carried out in late February-early March, by this time the bushes are building up side shoots, which soon begin to bloom. The optimal daylight hours for royal geraniums should be 14 hours, so it is advisable to organize a backlight for these flowers.
Features of wintering Pelargonium ivy
Unlike zonal pelargonium, ivy geranium is most often pruned before its placement in a winter apartment. According to experienced flower growers, for standard varieties after pruning, the length of the lashes should be 10-15 cm, and for dwarf ones - a little less - 5-10 cm. All dry and diseased parts of the plant are removed at the same time.
From November to February, it is desirable to provide flowers with a temperature not higher than 18 degrees and very rare watering. Some varieties winter well on southern window sills in ordinary city apartments at a higher temperature, but during this time they weaken and stretch a lot.
Watering and feeding Pelargonium in winter
Of course, Pelargonium is far from cacti, but due to the ability to accumulate moisture in a thickened stem, this flower belongs to semi-succulent.
It follows from this that pelargonium is much more terrible to transfuse, and high humidity at low temperatures is especially critical.
When you see that the geranium is ready to rest (it stops blooming, old leaves turn yellow more often, and young foliage practically does not develop), watering should be reduced. When watering, do not moisten the soil too much (no more than 100 ml per medium pot). Such maintenance watering is carried out approximately once every two weeks. Young bushes are watered a little more often.
Water along the edge of the container, away from the root collar. It is better to water pelargoniums in the morning, no later than 11 o'clock.
If your flowers overwinter with illumination at a high temperature, then watering is carried out as usual - plentifully, but only after the surface of the soil dries out by 2-2.5 centimeters. Next time, water only when the substrate is almost completely dry.
Because Pelargonium has slightly hairy foliage, foliar feeding is not recommended for this plant at any time of the year.
And you can feed the bushes in the winter only if they get enough light and bloom profusely.
In the rest mode, top dressing is completely stopped and resumed only from the end of January, when active vegetation begins. To do this, it is better to use a ready-made complex fertilizer for flowering plants.
Possible problems when wintering pelargonium indoors
Even after successful adaptation to the conditions of the apartment, yellowing and drying of the leaves may be observed in geraniums. There can be many reasons for this. In particular, leaf fall provokes a lack of light, dry air, or excessive or insufficient watering.
In winter, pelargoniums are usually weakened and can be easily attacked by pests. Most of all indoor geraniums are annoyed by whiteflies, spider mites and mealybugs. Of the most common diseases of pelargonium, fungal diseases should be noted. Most often, pelargoniums are affected by the black leg. The disease is easily identified by the characteristic decay of the stem near the root collar.
If this happens, then the treatment usually does not work, and the only way to save the variety is to establish healthy tops. Moreover, the cuttings must be cut, retreating as high as possible from the affected area.
In case of botrys disease, geraniums are covered with characteristic fluffy gray spots similar to mold. If the fungus has struck the root system, then this is manifested by yellowing of part of the leaf blades. In the future, the yellow areas turn brown or blacken, and the bush is covered with a cobweb-like coating. In most cases, timely treatment with antifungal drugs gives a positive result.
Pelargonium needs to be drastically trimmed to keep it in the refrigerator. © empressofdirtAlternative overwintering of pelargonium
The physiology of pelargonium allows plants to hibernate for several months, which makes it possible, if there is not enough space on the windowsill, to organize wintering for flowers in the basement or vegetable section of the refrigerator.
At a temperature of +4 degrees, which is maintained in a refrigerator, a cold basement or a glazed balcony, pelargonium can be without light. Therefore, these places are quite suitable for organizing alternative wintering.
In preparation for the dormant period, all plants undergo radical pruning to the state of stumps (3-4 buds), and in species of plants with a large root system, the roots are also partially pruned. In the final state, the root group of geraniums should not exceed the size of an apple of medium size.
Then the prepared specimens are kept in this state (without bowls) for several days so that the soil dries. After that, the whole plant “with its head” is wrapped in several layers of newspaper and, in this form, is placed in a Tetra Pak-type juice or milk package. For greater tightness, the package is wrapped with cling film on top.
It is advisable to check overwintering plants about once a week and, if necessary, replace newspapers with new ones if they become excessively wet.
In the case when wintering is successful, after planting in the ground, the plants quickly start to grow and gain green mass before our eyes.
However, as practice shows, this method does not guarantee 100% survival. With minimal losses, zonal and fragrant geraniums emerge from such a dormant period, but among the ivy, Angels and royal geraniums, the largest losses are observed.
How to save geraniums for the winter until spring
Many flower growers grow geraniums on their windowsills. And in summer, these luxurious flowers can be seen on garden beds. It is not surprising, because this plant pleases with its beautiful flowering and delicate aroma for many months. Only by autumn the geranium begins to fade. During this period of time, the perennial needs care. Let's talk about how to save geraniums in winter so that next year it will again give us the beauty of its fragrant flowers.
Pixabay
Proper winter care of geraniums at home prevents the bare stems from stretching out.
It guarantees abundant flowering, active growth of lush, juicy greenery.
Contents of the article
Geranium is considered an unpretentious home flower. It takes root on the windowsill and flower bed, pleases flower growers with brightness, there are many other advantages. Breeders brought amazing varieties. They amaze with their diversity, fall in love, delight the eye and cheer up.
The importance of winter care for geraniums
Geranium is a flowering plant. Therefore, in the winter months, he begins a state of rest. It happens in December.
For three months, until March, the plant goes dormant and gains strength for the next growth. At this time, flowering often stops.
The flower uses almost no nutrients, it does not grow or develop. The grower needs to create optimal conditions for geraniums.
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Later, from March to August, the next period will begin when the plant starts growing.
Then the conditions of detention will be completely different. Yes, and additional care is required.
How to save indoor geraniums in winter
First, let's talk about indoor geraniums, familiar to everyone since childhood. How to keep geraniums in the winter in an apartment? You need to think about the right light, watering and possible top dressing.
Air temperature
If the geranium stood on the sunny side in summer and everything was fine, then in the cold season the air temperature should be lowered.
Optimally, if in the room where the geranium will winter, it will be from +10 to +15 degrees. The temperature may drop slightly, but not more than +6 degrees.
Otherwise the flower may be lost. To do this, you can put pots of geraniums on a closed loggia, or move them to the north side if it is very cool there.
Light
Geranium loves good lighting.
During the period of rest, her addictions do not change. Lighting should be sufficient and long (up to 12 hours a day).
If there is not enough light, it is recommended to use phytolamps. They are placed at a distance of at least 10 cm from the plant.
Watering
Reduce the watering of geraniums during the dormant period. In winter, on average, geraniums are watered no more than once a week. It is necessary to ensure that the earth is moistened evenly, otherwise water will stagnate and the roots will begin to rot.
To maximize the humidification of the air, you can place a container of water next to the geranium or turn on a stationary humidifier.
Pruning
How to prune indoor geraniums for the winter? This question worries many.
Autumn pruning of geraniums at home starts in September-October.
- Remove all flower stalks, even if they still have flowers.
- All damaged and yellowed leaves must also be removed. This can be done with a sharp pruner, scissors, or simply pinch off.
- Geranium sprigs are cut in such a way that a beautifully flowering shrub will form next year. Therefore, all elongated shoots are cut off, leaving branches. Cut cuttings can be easily rooted.
Top dressing
Geranium fertilization during dormancy is optional. Many flower growers believe that top dressing should be postponed until March.
If the flower does not look good, withers before our eyes, you can fertilize the soil with a fertilizer with a minimum nitrogen content. Once per rest period will be enough.
Water the plant first, then fertilize. In order not to destroy the plant, it is worth avoiding the introduction of fresh manure and bird droppings.
Transplanting geraniums in autumn
Is it possible to transplant geraniums in autumn? Or should we wait until spring?
It is best to wait until the plant comes out of hibernation.
Of course, this does not apply to emergencies if your pot has broken or the roots are already sticking out of the ground.
How to save garden geraniums in winter
Those who grow geraniums in the garden should take care to store them for the winter.
How to store garden geraniums, care for which in autumn is slightly different from care for indoor flower, where to store it?
Care of garden geraniums in autumn, preparation for winter
Do not be afraid that the slightest drop in temperature in September will harm the plant. But the first frosts can destroy geraniums.
Approximately in October, care must be taken to transfer the pelargonium indoors from the open ground. To do this, you need to prune and transplant each bush.
How to prune geraniums for the winter?
- Shoots are cut with a sharp knife above the node. About 15 cm should remain.
- Remove all dried leaves and faded flowers.
Now let's talk about how to transplant geraniums in the fall.
- Carefully dig the plant out of the ground.
- Drainage pots filled with garden soil and sand are prepared in advance. You can use large containers. For each bush you will need to take a separate pot.
- Geraniums are planted at a distance of about 25 cm from each other. If planting is carried out in pots, their diameter should be at least 25 cm.
- If the geranium has been growing outdoors all summer in a box or planter, you just need to remove the flower from the street.
How to store geraniums in a cellar or cellar in winter
A cellar or cellar is a good place for geraniums to survive the winter months.
But it is necessary to carry out the appropriate preparation of the premises:
- A place is being cleared in the cellar or basement. And then carefully ventilate the room.
- Check the air temperature.
It should be around +7 degrees. There should not be excessive moisture. - Lighting must be considered.
How to store outdoor geraniums in the cellar or basement in winter? Flower growers offer 3 ways:
- The easiest way is to put pots with transplanted geraniums in the cellar. During the winter, you need to monitor the temperature and humidity, provide sufficient lighting. Moderate watering is carried out as it dries.
- Another way is to dig up geranium bushes from open ground. Then they are released from the earth. The roots are placed in cool water, and kept for some time so that they are saturated with moisture. The roots are thoroughly dried. The stiffened stems are placed in newspaper bundles and lowered into the cellar for further storage.
- In the third method, geranium bushes are dug out of the garden. But the roots are not cleansed from an earthen clod. Let dry. Then the geraniums are wrapped in paper bags.
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