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Want to keep your geraniums alive through winter?
With the right care, it’s possible!
Discover 2 effective ways to save your geraniums in the fall and ensure they thrive until spring.
Ready to protect your plants?
Let’s dive in!
Take Them Indoors Before It’s Too Late
When temperatures start to dip into the 50s and 40s, it’s time to bring your geraniums indoors. Geraniums really don’t do well in the cold. Just a light frost can harm their roots severely, and that can be difficult to recover from.
Cold temperatures cause the roots to suffer, leading to die-off, which isn’t something you want. The stems and leaves might look bad, but it’s the roots where the real damage happens. If the roots get too damaged, there’s not much you can do.
Taking action early not only saves your plants but also helps you tidy up your garden and containers before winter hits. Moving your geraniums inside at the first sign of cool weather keeps them safe and your garden neat and ready for the next growing season.
Remember, once geranium roots take a hit from the cold, there’s no turning back. So don’t wait too long; protect your precious plants before it’s too late.
How to Overwinter Geraniums
There are two ways to safely overwinter your geraniums. You can either bring the whole potted plants inside or overwinter them as bare root plants. Each method has its own perks, so choose the one that works best for you.
1. Bring Your Geraniums Indoors
When frost threatens, you can bring your geraniums inside to save them. Smaller planters and hanging baskets are perfect for this. Once inside, treat them as houseplants to maintain some green during winter.
Geraniums, originally from South Africa, prefer bright, warm spots around 70°F. Water them when the soil’s top dries out. This care may keep them blooming indoors, though it’s not guaranteed. Even without flowers, you’ll have a healthy plant ready for spring.
For a dormant overwintering approach, trim the plant to half its size. Store it in a cool, dark place, such as a garage, and cover it with a paper bag or burlap. Check it every few weeks, and water sparingly, about once a month. With this method, your plant will be ready to move outside come spring.
Watering During Winter
To keep geraniums happy in winter, ensure the soil remains slightly moist. Water them when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry. Typically, this means watering every 10-14 days in a household with about 40% humidity.
Winter Care
Place your geraniums near a bright, south-facing window, which provides ample sunlight without scorching the foliage. If you lack such a window, use plant grow lights. Avoid drafty spots near heaters, AC vents, or old windows to prevent stress from temperature changes.
2. Store as Bare Root Geraniums
Another space-efficient way to overwinter geraniums is to store them as bare root plants. This method is especially helpful if you have limited indoor space or want to preserve garden plants.
Start by cutting your geranium back to a third of its original size. If it’s in the ground, dig it up. For plants in containers, pull them out carefully. Trimming them before uprooting makes the process easier.
Next, you need to store the plants. Place them upside down in a brown paper bag or a cardboard box, with the roots at the top. Find a cool, dark place to store them, like a garage or shed, ensuring it doesn’t freeze.
When the weather warms up in spring, replant the bare root geraniums in containers or directly in the ground. These steps will help you enjoy your geraniums again when the new growing season begins.
Spring Care for Geraniums
Plant your geraniums outside once the risk of the last spring frost is over, typically around May. Then, give them a light feeding of a well-balanced fertilizer. Many gardeners prefer using compost or worm casting teas for quick nutrient delivery, but commercial liquid fertilizers work just as well.
Apply diluted fertilizer every 2-3 weeks for about a month and a half. This will help your geraniums grow vigorously. Alternatively, slow-release fertilizers are an option; they take longer to feed the plants but can last up to three months. Just follow the instructions on the package for best results.
Water your geraniums regularly in the spring as they start growing. Adding companion plants can enhance your garden’s floral display.