There are several ways to save your geranium over the winter for next year:
1. Take cuttings and root them. Take 4 ” cuttings of healthy tips, remove flowers and lower leaves . Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and insert 2″ deep in a light well drained soil. Keep cuttings in a filtered light until roots form (3-4 wks).
2. Pot them up (trim up to 1/3 ) to keep them from getting to leggy. Grow them as houseplants by placing them in the brightest window for the winter. Water when needed and fertilize once a month.
3. Store geraniums in a dormant state. Dig up the plant and place it in a papper bag with holes in it or wrap the roots in newspaper. Hang the bag in a cool, dark space (basement, crawl space).
Another old way is to hang them upside-down, bare roots in a cool, dark basement. Rehydrate the roots a few times during the winter by soaking them in water for a few hours. Pot up the plant in late winter (Feb) and resume watering. When the weather warms up place your wintered geranium outdoors .
More info on geranium care: http://hortchat.com/info/geranium-pelargonium-spp
From the reader archive
Useful reader questions
I live in Payson AZ . Our geraniums are in a big pot, too big for inside . I have the pot on our covered patio and cover it at night with a fleece blanket. Do you have any suggestions ?
Read Marie Shaughnessy discussionI am in north central Ohio. What can I do to winterize and keep geraniums and mums. It is expected to frost and maybe freeze tonight (10/4). Thanks for your help. Geraniums are not hardy and will need to be brought inside.…
Read Kris discussionIs it possible to bring your potted geraniums in in the fall cutting them down to 3″ and put them in the basement for the winter after. Then begin to water in March. Hi Ann That is another way to winterover your…
Read Ann Matthewson discussionHELP I brought my Geraniums in for the winter and they grew like crazy.I just repotted them and put them outside in the same spot they were last year. After just 2 days the leaves are turning very pale green and curling…
Read Kelly discussion
I am in north central Ohio. What can I do to winterize and keep geraniums and mums. It is expected to frost and maybe freeze tonight (10/4). Thanks for your help.
Winterover tip
Hi Kris, for years I have just brought them in and treated them like house plants. I put them in a sunny window and water about every third week. Then I gradually increase the amount of direct sun they are allowed once I move them outdoors.
Is it possible to bring your potted geraniums in in the fall cutting them down to 3″ and put them in the basement for the winter after. Then begin to water in March.
I have a few scented geraniums and I am wondering how to overwinter them or even if it is possible to do so. I’ve taken some cuttings from all and plan to keep them as house plants but I would really like to keep the parent plant also. Thank you for any information.
Minimum temperature
At what temperature do geranium need cover so they wont get frost damage.
HELP I brought my Geraniums in for the winter and they grew like crazy.I just repotted them and put them outside in the same spot they were last year. After just 2 days the leaves are turning very pale green and curling up. I know they don’t cost too much to replace but…..
I’ve taken cuttings of my geraniums and planted them in tubs and pots and placed them on south west facing windowsills and a patio area. They are doing fine and one or two are even flowering. I live in Doncaster in Northern England; we haven’t had a frost yet, which is a bit unusual, but it never gets much below freezing here anyhow.
I live in Payson AZ . Our geraniums are in a big pot, too big for inside . I have the pot on our covered patio and cover it at night with a fleece blanket. Do you have any suggestions ?