Care for Geraniums in Winter

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Geraniums are perennials that require special care in the winter because they cannot survive hard frosts. You can, however, overwinter your geraniums and replant them every spring.

Steps

Move Geraniums Indoors From Your Garden

  1. Prune back your geraniums to about 1/2 of their original height.
  2. Use a trowel to carefully dig up each plant.
  3. Put each geranium plant in a pot that is at least 6 to 8” (15.2 to 20.3 cm) in diameter.
  4. Set each pot in a sink and water them until they are thoroughly soaked, but not soggy.
  5. Place your geranium pots in a sunny window.
  6. Monitor the room temperature. Geraniums prefer room temperatures that range from 65° F (18.3 C) during the day to 55° F (12.7 C) during the night.
  7. Water your plants when the soil is dry.
  8. Pinch off top growth occasionally throughout the winter so your plants produce hardy branches.

Overwinter the Roots

  1. Cut back your geranium plant until it is about 1/2 its original height.
  2. Dig the geraniums up using a trowel.
  3. Gently and carefully shake all the soil from the roots.
  4. Place the plant in a large paper bag.
  5. Keep the bag in a cool, dry location (45-50°: F (7.2-10 C.) Most basements are the perfect temperature for overwintering geraniums.
  6. Remove the roots from the bag once a month and soak them for 2 hours.
  7. Prune back any foliage in the spring; most of the leaves will have fallen off by spring, but they will be contained in the paper bag.
  8. Replant in your garden in the spring when all danger of frost is over.

Tips

  • Pinching your geranium plant (removing the main stem) will force it to grow 2 new stems just below the pinch point. Doing this periodically throughout the winter (and spring) will result in a sturdier, bushier plant.
  • Geranium pots can be stored on an unheated sun porch if the nighttime temperatures don’t fall below (45-50°: F (7.2-10 C.) Test the temperature of your unheated room with an indoor temperature gauge before storing your plants. If your unheated room doesn’t have a sunny window, you will have to provide at least 6 hours of artificial light every day.
  • Use fluorescent lighting or grow lights if you don’t have a sunny window to overwinter your plants.

Warnings

  • Potted geraniums will become tall and spindly if you overwinter them in warm, poorly lit areas.

Things You’ll Need

  • Trowel
  • Pots
  • Paper bag

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  • Overwintering geraniums
  • Michael Wright, The Complete Indoor Gardener, (New York, NY: Random House, 1974)
  • Joan Benjamin, Great Garden Shortcuts, (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1996)

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