Geraniums are perennials that require special care in winter as they cannot survive severe frosts. You can, however, have them overwinter and replant them the following spring.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Move the Geraniums indoors from the Garden
Step 1. Prune your geraniums to about half their natural height
Step 2. Use a garden shovel to carefully dig up each plant
Step 3. Place each geranium plant in a pot that is at least 15-20 cm in diameter
Step 4. Place each pot in the sink and water it until it is completely wet, but not soaking it
Step 5. Place your geranium pots on a sunny window sill
Step 6. Monitor the room temperature
Geraniums prefer temperatures close to 18 ° C during the day and 12.5 ° C at night.
Step 7. Water your plants when the soil is dry
Step 8. Prune the main stem growth occasionally throughout the winter so that the plant produces strong branches
Method 2 of 2: Overwintering the Roots
Step 1. Prune your geranium plant until it reaches half its original height
Step 2. Unearth the geraniums using a garden shovel
Step 3. Remove all soil from the roots by shaking it gently and carefully
Step 4. Place the plant in a large paper bag
Step 5. Keep the bag in a cool, dry place (7-10 ° C)
Many cellars have a perfect temperature for geraniums to survive in the winter.
Step 6. Remove the roots from the bag once a month and soak them for 2 hours
Step 7. Prune the foliage in spring; many of these leaves will have already fallen before spring, but they will have remained inside the paper bag
Step 8. Replant geraniums in your garden in the spring once the risk of frost has been averted
Advice
- Use fluorescent or plant-specific lights if you don't have a sunny window.
- Removing the main stem of your geranium plant will prompt it to grow 2 new stems just below the cut point. By doing this periodically throughout the winter (and spring), you'll get a more resilient, bushy plant.
- Geranium pots can be stored on an unheated veranda if the night temperatures do not drop below 7-10 ° C. Test the temperature with an indoor thermometer before storing your plants. If this room does not have a sunny window, you will need to provide at least 6 hours of artificial light every day.
