Image: Geranium ‘Jackpot Mixed’ F1 Hybrid from Thompson & Morgan
If you want to know how to overwinter your favourite tender geraniums (more correctly called pelargoniums) to enjoy the following year, we’ve got you covered. Pelargoniums don’t have a dormant period, so the easiest way to keep them going through the winter is to dig them up and keep them as indoor houseplants on sunny windowsills. Here’s our how-to guide and video to tell you everything you need to know about overwintering pelargoniums.
How do I choose which geraniums to overwinter?
Image: Geranium ‘Tall Dark & Handsome Hot Pink’ from Thompson & Morgan
First, consider whether the variety you have is a favourite and worth spending time and trouble on. If it’s not, leave it in the garden to fend for itself and buy a different variety next year!
Second, think about whether you have enough space for all your tender geranium plants. Few of us have enough frost-free room to keep every plant, especially if they’ve grown very large. You can either:
- Cut back the plants you have in pots, so that they spend the winter re-growing and bushing out. This works if you have plenty of frost-free space.
- Take pelargonium cuttings and leave the old plants to get on as best they can, or throw them away. Cuttings are much smaller than full sized plants, and make better use of limited storage space.
Top tips for overwintering your geranium plants – video guide
Watch our video and follow these top tips to successfully overwinter your favourite pelargoniums:
- Before bringing your geranium plants inside for the winter make sure you examine them well first. Clean off any dead leaves or dying flowers and look for signs of pests and diseases like rust. This only affects the zonal pelargoniums but it’s getting more common. It first came into the country in 1968 and particularly thrives during a damp summer or autumn. Luckily, it doesn’t seem to infect the plants very rapidly and is easily treatable, so simply removing the affected leaves is a good control. You could also try spraying with a fungicide called Dithane945.
- Light is still important in the winter so place your overwintering plants somewhere bright and sunny. If your plants are over three feet away from the window they get 50% less light!
- Keep the roots moist because your plants continue to grow over winter. Geraniums will often survive a drought, but will not thrive. People growing show plants are careful to ensure their plants’ roots are moist but never wet during the winter.
- Ventilate as often as possible to keep the atmosphere around your plants dry. If you don’t allow the air to move, your plants will end up a mouldy, rotting heap. Automatic electric fan heaters are best as they move the air around whilst also increasing air temperature.
- Geraniums only need to be kept frost free, so are very economical to overwinter in the greenhouse. However, we do recommend using a heater to ensure temperatures stay above freezing. If your heater has a thermostat, set it at 5°C or 41°F. If the stems get frosted then the plant will die and not recover! Porches, sunrooms or conservatories are also excellent places to keep your tender pelargoniums through the winter.
We hope we’ve given you plenty of ideas to help you enjoy your geraniums from one year to the next. For more information about growing and caring for these popular plants, visit our geraniums hub page, packed with great resources. And do get in touch via our social channels to share your own favourite geranium plants with us – we love to hear from you.
These are not geraniums, which are mostly hardy in Britain! What we’re talking about here are pelargoniums, which (I believe) originate in South Africa.
You are absolutely correct Elaine. However, many gardeners are not aware of this distinction and still refer to pelargoniums as ‘Geraniums’ which is why the article has used this familiar term. Many people will search for ‘geranium’ on internet search tools, when what they really mean is ‘pelargonium’. But yes – pelargoniums are half hardy, whilst geraniums are hardy border perennials.
My mother never attended the garden and she had geraniums every year, nasturtiums , rambler roses. Lupins. . My one and only lupin was eaten in 5 minutes by aphids. I am thinking in putting mine into a propagador with plastic lid. It should keep them frost free and I can add covering to the roots . It’s worth a try I think
Hello! I took geranium cuttings 6 weeks ago (late summer) and now have about 40 rooted plants in 10cm pots. Can I overwinter plants that small? I can keep them above freezing in my garage (lowest temp 3C) and give them supplemental light -or- my other option to bring them inside (21C, weak northern sun.) I can dry-store mature zonal geraniums in the garage just fine, but these rooted cuttings are still quite small. Is there hope?
A really great blog I’m amazed you don’t get fed up with repeated questions
Up here in the north east of England I simply dig mine all up and put them into pots which I store outdoors on top of my woodstore under a covered pergola. My experience is that it’s the wet that kills them more than the cold. Give them a little splash of water now and again just so they don’t dry out completely. I accidentally left some under my garden bench one year and they survived
Hi, i grew my Geraniums from seed on my window sill last January. In April I planted them out into terracotta pots and they flourished through summer. In seot/Oct I dug them up and left a little bit of soil around the root, placed them in a paper bag and left them in the shed. I did the same with a few more but left them outside in a closed wicker basket sheltered. I also took cuttings and placed some in an insulated cold frame and left some in pots in an outside sheltered herb planter, all of the methods were purely experimental. Will I have any luck in using them for this year and when should I plant them outside. Or should I start again from seed ?
What a great idea! I love horticultural experiments. All of these methods stand a good chance of survival so I would pot them up in March and keep them in a sheltered spot until the weather warms up. Keep us posted on their progress!
All the best
Sue
I inherited a geranium classic red (reminds me of Italy, this type was all over in S.Italy) I kept it outside right up til the freaky snow storm that hit Oklahoma. I had it and my asparagus ferns on our porch covered with a canvas tarp. I pulled all inside, Of course all the leaves wilted,and it is very leggy (25″ atleast) can I crop this down and have it recover?
Hello
It’s worth a try – you’ve nothing to lose! I would wait until you see signs of growth in the spring before cutting it down though.
Hope it works
Sue
Hi, I pruned and took pelargoniums (angel type) cuttings in the autumn and put them in my unheatedt but sunny conservatory. Apart from one, the cuttings have thrived, so much so that they are several inches high with lots of broad healthy leaves. My question is should I prune the plants, now, possibly taking a few more cuttings; or should I let them grow until the spring by which time they could be quite large?
Hello
Well done! Sounds like they are doing well. I would be inclined to let them grow on until spring before trimming them back. Cooler temperatures tend to slow their growth significantly so they shouldn’t get too big over the next few months. However, if a few stems are getting out of hand then you could snip these back to maintain them.
All the best
Sue
Hi, when instructions are to prune back to healthy growth, is that green or stem? I have inherited some potted pelargoniums and they are very tall and leggy. I’ve brought in for the winter and they’re romping away.
Hello. Simply prune back to just above a healthy set of leaves and be sure that the stem is green with no signs of damage or disease. Hope that helps.
All the best
Sue
Hi, I brought my geraniums into the conservatory (cool, lots of light) 10 days ago. I re-potted a couple and left a few in their original outdoor pots. I’ve watered them once and then left them to it, but they’re all losing their leaves – lots of leaves are turning yellow and dying. Is this a normal winter thing or is it something I’ve done/not done? I don’t know what sort of geraniums they are. Thanks
Hello
It doesn’t sound as though they are very happy. It may be that it is too cold in your porch, especially if the soil is sitting quite wet. Cold and wet are a lethal combination. Let them dry out – they will cope with cold weather much better. If they are still alive in the spring then you can cut them back to healthy growth, and they will begin to produce new leaves.
All the best
Sue
Thank you!
Received my plug plants yesterday transferred the to seed trays should i have potted them straight into 9cm pots
Definitely pot them up into small pots. The whole point of plug plants is to avoid that seed tray phase 😉
My pelagonians cuttings are beginning to flower and it’s only just march – should I cut off budding flowers so the concentrate on their roots?
Hello Polly – Yes if they are cuttings you don’t want them to flower at this stage. Also you need to encourage them to bush out, otherwise you will end up with a stick-like plant. So pinch them back to encourage side-shoots. This will delay flowering but will result in a much better plant.
I left my geraniums outside in the ground all winter and amazingly they all appear to have survived. But the stalks are quite long and thick. Should I prune them back. There are buds starting to appear on the stalks.
Hello Ronnie
I did the same and mine all survived the winter without any protection. It was quite a mild one this year though so I think we just got lucky!
I have pruned mine back to new growth. Admittedly they look a little straggly, but I’m going to leave them for the time being to give them a chance.
All the best
Sue
Hi,
Mine over wintered outside this year too. We had a massive display in early May, and they continued all through the summer into Autumn. They were in the front of two borders under windows, about two feet from the south facing wall. I am wondering if this was just because we had hardly any frost, or perhaps this position provides sufficient protection. Time will tell.
Hi there. I have a geranium 3 years old and its about 3ft x 3ft. Its massive. Will garden fleece protect it enough if we have a severe frost? I have it next to the wall where it seems to like it. It just keeps on getting bigger. Its beautiful. Any tips?
Hello
I personally leave all of my Pelargoniums outdoors each winter and they survive perfectly well. However, I do grow them in a very sheltered position next to the house wall. They benefit from being kept warmer and (more critically) drier over winter. I would say that if you are prepared to take the risk then its definitely worth a try. It saves a lot of bother bringing them indoors!
All the best
Sue
Please clarify where a fleece should be placed around geraniums in the winter? Do you mean around the stems or around the flowers? Will pots of geraniums survive in a cold frame over winter if I use bubble wrap and a fleece around each plant?
A frost free green house or cool room indoors is always the best choice. However if these aren’t available then pop them into a cold frame in a sheltered position close to a wall or fence. Cover the whole plants with several layers of fleece. You could try packing loose straw between the pots too. You can cover the frame with bubble-wrap if you have some. You will need to lift the fleece in the daytime and vent the frame to allow good air circulation. If a particularly cold spell is forecast then cover the frame with extra layers.
Whether they survive or not will really depend on the severity of the weather and climate but if you keep them dry then they will stand a better chance.
Hope that’s helpful
Sue
I have no natural light in my cool basement, where I winterize my geraniums. This will be my second year saving them…i was told originally to do, and did…shake loose all the dirt from their roots,..prune them back dramatically, and hang them upside down…so air could circulate around them. What do you think of this idea….and what is the likelihood of them re-blooming for me next spring? Tho I am away for 7 months…I could have someone check on them…I LOVE saving what can re-bloom, Thank you so much!
Hi Nancy. I’ve never heard of this method before so can’t say whether it would be effective or not, but if it worked for you last year then its worth a go again!
Good luck with them
Sue
Sue – ALL the advice & YouTube clips for over-Wintering geraniums suggests this method. Personally, all I do is bring all my pots indoors & put them in the bright utility room & keep them watered – that way they just keep getting bigger each year.
Deryck, I agree with you entirely – I would just bring them indoors, give them a trim and reduce watering throughout the winter. That said, I’m always open to new ideas!
This system works just fine. We have a cold garage that doesn’t get below freezing. (I overwintered one plant for 7 years!)
I did this a couple of years ago and put them in the loft out of the way. In Spring I potted them up and had the best display ever!
I took all mine out of the pots last year, shook off all the soil let them dry and hung them upside down in a paper bag, I stored them in the garage and they were fine. Have a look on YouTube on how too.
Thank you for an enlightening column. I start afresh each season with Geranium as they are relatively cheap and grow them on from plugs. My plugs are enormous and I was checking if they could be planted out yet, its getting desperate. From what I read, they will not take frost, although here (Cotswolds) we have not had any and if so it was miniscule. This next weekend they must go out and currently are hardening to colder weather on my patio. Hopefully, they will survive – they are Hot & Spicy.
Glad to hear your Geraniums are off to a flying start!! If they are heading outside then I would recommend keeping them in a cold frame or similarly sheltered spot. Keep some horticultural fleece to hand that can be thrown over them at night just to keep out the chills. Fingers crossed for warmer weather now, but if we do have a cold snap then bring them undercover again.
All the best
Sue
I potted my geraniums from the garden and placed them in my summer house over winter On checking to see if they needed some water ( first time since bringing them in ) I discover they had mildew What can I do? Will they survive ? Regards Sue
Hello
That’s a shame but not uncommon. Water them very sparingly but don’t allow them to dry out completely as Pelargoniums don’t actually go dormant over winter. Increase ventilation around them by spacing them out a little if you can. You may need to give them a light spray of fungicide too. Remove any infected plant debris and pop it into your waste bin or burn it. Don’t add it to the compost heap.
Hope that helps
Sue
I have about 100 geraniums that belonged to my dad who recently passed away. I have a greenhouse that I keep at 40-45F in the winter. I don’t know if I should cut them back hard, partially, leave the leaves on or remove them. I’m at a loss. Suggestions would be very helpful.
Hi I have some geraniums which I would like to try and keep over winter. I have a partial memory of my dad putting layers of newspaper between the compost and the lower parts of the plants taking the final flowers off and covering with of all things a plastic carrier bag and taping it to the pot. Would this work or have I mixed this up somehow?
Hi Jacqui
I have never heard of this method before – not sure whether it would work or not, although I would be concerned about the plastic bag reducing ventilation and encouraging disease.
If it were me I would simply clean the plants up, removing any plant debris. Cut them back a little if necessary to make them fit the available space, and then move them to a bright, frost free greenhouse, conservatory or similar. Reduce watering so that the compost is kept barely moist throughout the winter months.
Good luck
Sue
I am overwintering my pelargonium cuttings on my kitchen windowsill which faces SSE. The window is double glazed. The cuttings are well rooted and looking healthy. The compost is fairly dry. How far should I restrict watering over the winter?
So many ways of over wintering geraniums can I not just shake the soil off the roots put them in a box until next year.
Probably! But if you are feeling lazy then you don’t even need to uproot them – just move the pot to a cool, frost free position and reduce watering.
I have removed the Ivy leaved trailing Pelargoniums plants from my hanging baskets hopping to keep the plants for next year. They will kept in a slightly heated greenhouse The branches are very straggly and about 30cm long. There is already a few new shoots near to the plants base. My question is, to what length should I reduce the branches.
Hi Harold
I would be inclined to cut them back by about a third at this stage. This will allow for any die-back that may occur over the winter, and still leave enough stem to regrow in spring. Keep the soil barely moist throughout winter with just the occasional drop of water as and when required. Good luck!
Sue
What an interesting read and most informative. You really are very kind and helpful and give details that I, as an ancient but fairly new gardener. can understand!!! Do you have any other pages please I need help with my indoor African violets. Thank you so much
Hi
I have purchased some regal pelargoniums for summer bedding but I am wondering how I can over winter them with no greenhouse or conservatory and very little windowsill space? Anne
Hi Annette,
you should be able to protect them by moving them all together in a very sheltered area in the garden and then wrapping them in a protective layer such as horticultural fleece, if you have a garden table that you won’t be using over the winter, put them underneath that and still wrap them up too!
I hope this helps
Graham
I triple-fleeced mine last year. They all died. The fleece gets wet & then icy. They just couldn’t stand those temperatures. Mine are all in pots, so I just bring them in & put them in the bright utility room until risk of frost has gone.
Can I put my well established geranium cuttings into unheated greenhouse now
Hi Bob,
as long as there’s no risk of frost & they’re well proteced, they should be fine 🙂
Cheers
Graham
Hi Graham, interesting reading all the above but no mention of my problem. I bought some pelargoniums late in the year and moved them, in their pots, to sit in the conservatory in full daylight through the winter. Have kept the compost moist with occasional watering but have now realised they are infested with white fly. Also, I didn’t cut them back when I brought them in. The Grey Lady Plymouth is now very tall and leggy. The others are Fragrans Variegata and Erodium pelargoniflorum, which has continued flowering beautifully. How should I proceed with them re the fly and cutting back?
Hi Laura, I would cut them by the end of the month to give them a chance to recover before the new season begins, I too have a large pot actually in my garage which has flowered all through the winter. I will give it a top dressing with feed mixed in and then cut them back fairly hard. As for the white fly, if there’s a day above freezing (8-10 degrees) then pop the pots outside for a few hours and give them a spray, you can either use a specific whitefly killer – obviously being very mindful of bees etc later in the year – or try the diluted soapy water approach , entirely up to you. Make sure you bring the pots back in fairly quickly after that as you don’t want to shock them!
I hope this helps
All the best
Graham
If I overwinter geraniums under flourescent lights how long should I set the light period for? I am located in Southern Michigan, USA USDA zone5/6
Hi Doug,
I would set the lights for 4 or 5 hours maximum, to still let the plants think it’s winter and the days are shorter than summer. they will survive on very little light over the winter as they aren’t trying to grow.
I hope this helps
All the best
Graham
I’ve overwinter mine some in pots some bare rooted , shall I repot these now and cut back. They are in a non heated greenhouse currently but good signs of growth and new shoots. Or would I be better taking the new shoots off as cuttings ?
Hi Jo, I would cut them back and let them grow in the spring, you can take cutting later in the year and get yourself some new plants growing ready for next year too!
I hope this helps
Graham
I overwinter my geraniums in pots in the basement under grow lights. They bloom all winter, and are good to be moved outside in the spring. I water sparingly, and keep the lights on timers for a good tropical 12 on-12 off. I live in southeastern Wisconsin.
Its February , I concur with the article, flowering during the winter. I have pelargoniums in unheated conservatory , Essex UK, and they are flowering.
Hi Graham. I put all of my potted geraniums in the summer house over winter. I’ve just checked them, and they have all survived well 🙂 The soil in the pots is dry, so I have taken off the dead leaves, put them outside, and watered them. Is it safe to leave them outside from now on (unless there is a frost) and how often should I water them? Also, when should I expect them to start flowering? It is now the 11th January, and the temperature is 7 degrees. Kindest regards
Hi Elaine,
I really wouldn’t leave them outside at all until well after all risk of frost has passed, we haven’t had the worst of the weather by far as yet, the summer house really is the best place for them!
All the best
Graham
Thanks Graham…Very much appreciated. I have put them safely back inside 🙂
Ian and Liz,
Our conservatory window sills are currently full of flowering geraniums- a lovely splash of colour on these dreary grey January days. We are divided over whether to cut them drastically back now in order to allow them “to rest” or leave them as they are for now? What to do for the best?
Hi Ian and Liz,
I would keep dead-heading them for now, they will need cutting back at some point, but you can probably leave it for another month as yet – you might as well enjoy the colour for as long as you can! – Don’t forget to feed the pots in the spring!
All the best
Graham
Thanks Graham, we’ll enjoy them for another month before they go under the knife!
Best wishes
once the roots are wrapped in paper does there have to be light in my shed for them to survive?
Hi Tony,
As there will still be some foliage on top, then ideally they would need some light, otherwise there’s a good chance they will die. it doesn’t have to be much light at all, just enough to keep them going.
All the best
Graham
Thanks Graham do you think im better leaving them in a non heated greenhouse and if so would I just put a fleece over them ? my greenhouse was put up yesterday.
Hi Tony, yes, I’d definitely do that, the greenhouse is the best option (better air circulation/light etc)
All the best
Graham
Hi Graham.
I’ve put my geraniums in pots in a garage without windows.I’m leaving a flourescent light on in the garage for about 4 hours a day, will this work the same as natural lighting.
Hi Lynda,
yes, that will be absolutely fine, the geraniums will be well protected, have enough light and should be fine next spring. Don’t forget to check on them from time to time though, for signs of mould etc!
All the best
Graham
Thanks Graham.
Thanks for your reply 2 more question please. I wrapped paper around roots put all in boxes in greenhouse and there is a compost bed in ghouse so should I unwrap and put them in the soil or leave as they are? and is it necisery to heat the green house I wonderd or ok to just leave them. thanks . Tony
Hi Tony,
you might as well leave them as they are now to be honest, they’re wrapped up nicely, all kept together and should be fine over the winter. No need to heat the greenhouse as it should keep the plants from freezing, if there’s a really, really, cold snap and the temperature in the greenhouse drops below freezing for a long period then perhaps extra fleece would help over the plants.
All the best
Graham
Hi Graham,
This blog is really useful. I am still a little unclear about how to follow your ‘wrapping in newspaper and stacking in the garage’ method.
1. Do you remove all the soil or just leave compost around the root ball?
2. I assume you still leave the foliage sticking out above the newspaper? (so the newspaper is really acting like a pot ?)
3. Do they still need light ? I have a shed which does have a window but it is in a very shady spot with no direct sunlight so is quite dark – would the shed window ledge be suitable ?
Sorry if these are daft questions, I am rather new to gardening, but bought quite a few pelargoniums last year that I would like to keep if possible, but don’t have a greenhouse or suitable window ledge in our house.
Thanks for your help
Simon
Hi Simon,
There’s no such thing as “daft questions” 🙂
When I lift geraniums from the garden I do tend to leave the soil around the root ball as it helps to prevent it drying out too much over the winter. The newspaper is also acting as a temporary pot, like you say, I prefer to use it rater that putting them in plastic pots as it will stop any “sweating”, which can lead to rot. The foliage can remain on the plant too and the light level in the shed should be adequate as the plants will be dormant anyway.
I hope the above helps you out. Please let me know if you need anything else.
All the best
Graham
Hello, here in middle Germany have two large Terraces to property, protected by upstairs balcony, have previously, successfully wintered other pot-plants there, well wrapped up. First time with Geraniums Could my Geraniums (still flowering) survive this way once cut back and well wrapped? Have no Garden shed, our cellar too small and the underground garage is forbidden to store anything except vehicles!
Hi Karen,
If you wrap them all up, protect the tops and put them all together is as much shetler as possible then they should survive. It’s definitely worth a try, it really depends on how cold this winter gets!
I hope it all works for you!
All the best
Graham
Hi
Unfortunately I left my geraniums in the ground whilst I was on holiday. they have turned black from the frost.Can I do anything to save them, will the roots be ok ??
thank you
Hi Bob,
If I’m honest, it’s not looking good for them. All you can do is lift them and store them somewhere dry and hope for the best – if the frost was a hard one it may have gone into the roots, in which case they’ve died – there may be hope though, albeit a small one.
All the best
Graham
I have about 20+ very large bright orange/red geraniums (each one is between 2-3ft high and 2ft wide!) which have all come from one cutting I was given about 5 years ago which originally came from Greece. They are far too big to store in my greenhouse as they are, (& I don’t have big enough pots!) so can I cut them in half now or would I be better just wrapping them in newspaper and hanging them in the garage or greenhouse?
Hi Carolyn,
yes, wrap each root well in newspaper and stack them in your garage, preferably upright, for the winter, I wouldn’t recommend hanging them as the roots may dry out too much and might not recover next spring.
I hope this helps
All the best
Graham
Hello, I was wondering if you could help me. I am very much a begininer gardener and want to save my plants – two of which are pelargoniums. I have bought a plastic greenhouse and have placed them in there with other plants. I have put polystyrene on the paving under the plants. I know this may sound stupid but do I have to wrap them in bubble wrap as well and should I open the door of the greenhouse in the daytime for extra light? I have nowhere in the home these can be placed. thank you
Hi Nichola. The polystyrene will certainly help with insulation. I wouldn’t worry too much about the light as the plants will be pretty much dormant anyway, however a “change of air” now and then will help prevent some mildew and dry rot type fungi growing. If you wrap each plant pot in bubble wrap, or horticultural fleece, it will also provide an extra layer of insulation, which always helps in the dead of winter!
I hope this helps
All the best
Graham
Thanks so much for this. I will wrap them up to be sure. As there are other plants in there as well I am going to open it up in daylight hours now and again (when sunny) and try and avoid the fungi and mildew (also new to me). Trust me with the plants Google has become my gardening partner – finding this lovely blog for example. Thank you again. Best wishes Nikki
Hello Graham
Over the last few winters I’ve kept my geraniums in the laundry room and quite well lit garage attached to our cottage. A couple of the bigger ones went into and the conservatory and continued to flower over the winter.
I’ve been so successful at keeping them (and making new plants from cuttings in the summer too!) that I’ve now got so many that there won’t be room for them this year. So I just bought a mini-greenhouse. A hardwood version with slatted shelves and polycarbonate glazing with vented windows in the top.
Having read all your previous advice I’m now wondering if my geraniums will survive the winter outside in it. What are your thoughts?
Hi Amanda, it’s tricky to say for sure, if it’s really well sheltered then they could be fine, I would be tempted to add extra insulation, such as newspaper, corrugated cardboard or bubble wrap to help keep a constant temperature though – better to be safe than sorry!
All the best
Graham
Hi I’ve dug mine out of the garden shaken all surplus soil off. Then put them upside down in a cardboard box and placed them in the garage Hopefully they will b ok It’s the first time I’ve tried to over winter them so fingers crossed
1 have about 36 small plug plants which were delivered late (September). They have been repotted into small pots and are doing well. I have a small plastic greenhous, a garden shed and a cold frame which is susceptible to slugs!!.
How can I overwinter so many plants successfully? Will they need any water
I live in rural Shropshire.
Hi Joan,
I would put them on the shelves of the small greenhouse and give them extra insulation by making a “tent” of bubble wrap, newspaper or fleece over and around them, keep them all together to preserve heat and also check them occasionally for mildew/dry mould, sniping off any affected bits as needed.
All the best
Graham
Ive taken my geraniums out of the garden and put them into pots.I only have storage in the garage which has very little light. Will they survive the winter.
Also the plants are very bushy, so should I cut them down and if so ,how much.
Hi,
They will survive as long as they’re frost free. I would cut them down a little now, just to remove finished flower stems and any “weedy” looking growth, and then cut them again , about in half in spring. On warmer days prop the shed door open to allow some air circulation too, this will help prevent rot.
Cheers
Graham
Perfect! Thanks Graham that’s really helpful.I can make a start now before its too late and the frosts start.
Hi, can I just put the whole pot, I have about 10 of them, in the garage over winter? It will be frost free in there but no light. Or be better to leave them outside but covered with many layers of the fleece stuff from garden centres? I live in Chessington area.
Many thanks for your reply
Cheers
Ed
Hi Ed,
The lack of light will not do the plants any good to be honest, also there won’t be any air circulation which will encourage mould. If you could prop the garage door open during the day to allow light and air in then they would be fine. The fleece alternative will also work, but make sure that the fleece doesn’t touch the plants – especially when it’s wet!
All the best
Graham
Thanks Graham. think I will fleece them and leave them outside in the plastic greenhouse so they get light but should be protected from frosts.
Cheers
Ed
Hi Graham, I have quite a few potted pelargoniums and usually leave them in the garden over winter and most years they survive quite well. I have a very small garden and this year I’d like to re use the pots(for winter cyclemen?) and overwinter my pelargoniums wrapped in newspaper and put them in my outside shed. Do you think this is a good idea?
Hi Maria,
That’s exactly how I overwinter my geraniums, I lift them and then roll the root balls up individually in newspaper and keep them in my shed, It won’t hurt to put a few sheets of newspaper loosely over the top as well, for a bit of extra insulation!
All the best
Graham
Hi Graham, when do you repot them up after being wrapped in newspaper over winter and do you give any water at any time?
Hi Topsy
They can be repotted in spring, when they will be wanting to start to grow again, When the are wrapped, the compost should be barely damp, which should be enough to keep them going while they are dormant. Wetting them too much will cause mould and rot to set in!
All the best
Graham
Hi again Graham, so when the Pelargoniums are in the shed for the winter, do I need to keep them moist regularly?
Hi Maria,
I usually leave them alone, they have gone into dormancy and won’t be taking in any water via the roots anyway, the “barely damp” compost is purely to stop the roots drying out and becoming brittle. just keep an eye on them and if they look exceptionally dry then moisten them slightly, literally just a few drops of water will suffice 🙂
Thanks Graham
Graham, I should say that my shed is quite dark inside, so maybe for me it’s not a good idea to put my geraniums there for the winter. Usually my geraniums do survive the winter outside, maybe because I live in central London. To re use the pots could I just wrap them up and store them on the roof of my shed?
Hi Maria, yes that sounds like a good solution to me!
All the best
Graham
My geraniums are still in flower. Is it ok to put them in my conservatory, they r in large pots and r too big to put on window sills.? Do I have to cut them back? I was thinking of putting them on the floor on newspaper!
Hi Jane,
they will be fine like that, if they continue to flower due to the good temperature in the conservatory, keep them fed, otherwise they will become exhausted!
All the best
Graham
When you say cut back for geraniums…to what approx. height do you recommend…I have around eight to bring in from the garden…into a warm upstairs room with a radiator in….will this harm or help or what…..they will be in plastic boxes with approx. 12 inch sides…..no lid of course
Hi Carol,
It really depends on the plant, younger plants tend to be cut back quite low – say 3 inches but larger plants can be 8 – 10 inches. It really depends on the strength of the stem you’re cutting back and where a good looking leaf joint is too. It’s a case of best judgement on each individual plant.
I hope this helps
Graham
I have been growing my 20 geraniums in pots outdoors and have now cut them back and will put them in a garage for the winter. How can I get rid of any bugs etc. that might be in the soil?
Hi Pat, other than repotting, and cleaning off the roots with water before transplanting, there is no sure-fire way of removing any bugs that might be in the soil. Using an insecticide would probably prove ineffective. It’s mostly a case of keeping an eye on the plants.
All the best
Graham
Is it possible to overwinter outside under some sort of transparent (for light) frost protecting cover or fleece? Thanks for your help.
Hi Hazel,
yes, it is possible, but only really in the event of light frosts, heavy snowfall of prolonged periods below zero will cause the plants to die off!
All the best
Graham
Great advice but I have a very old geranium which I bring in every year to over winter in my garden room.It has beautiful orange flowers with dark ‘red’ leaves edged with green. However is is getting rather ‘leggy’. Shall I repot it, cut it back or what can I do? I have never been able to take successful cuttings and I would hate to loose it. Thank you for reading my comment.
I would definitely cut it back as geraniums will readily re-shoot further down the stem to give the plant a better shape. repotting it, or at least changing the compost and giving it a new lease of life is never a bad idea either!
All the best
Graham
Great advice, will give it a go. Thank you so much.
Hi Graham
Thanks for that!! Need some more advice!! being a beginner at this should i not have spring bulbs in pots!!and then planting summer plants in them. If thats the case should buying more pots for the summer.
No problem at all Iain!
you can happily have the bulbs in the same pot but the compost will become exhausted fairly quickly, regular watering is the key to successful container gardening and so is feeding the plants too!
Hi Graham,
Have cleared out most of my summer plants ie Lobilia also geraniums. But am finding that the pots are very root bound will this effect the spring bulbs within.
Hi Ian,
It probably will affect the spring bulbs, there’s not going to be much compost around the bulbs and so a shortage of nutrients too, I would personally “bite the bullet”, empty out and replant the bulbs in fresh compost and also mix in some slow release fertiliser too to ensure great flowers next spring!
I hope this helps
Graham
Helpful advice. However, I have a question.
We are going to be moving the beginning of January (landlords selling the house, so most likely we will be in temporary accommodation until we can find somewhere else). I have potted up all my oudoor plants and will be keeping them at my daughter’s. However, she has no room indoors to look after my geraniums, nor my solanum.
I wondered if it is possible to keep these plans outdoors in pots by protecting them with fleece, bubble wrap or some other way…especially if the weather does not get too cold (we live in the Bristol area.
Hi Jean,
if you can put the plants somewhere as sheltered as possible, place them in a group and use bubble wrap around he pots to protect the roots and a generous amount of fleece around the tops then they have a very strong chance of surviving. on brighter days, check the plants for mould and remove any offending leaves etc. Other than that, they should be fine!
Best of Luck
Graham
Thank you very much for your quick reply. I will try this. Fortunately my daughter’s garden is quite sheltered, so they will survive.
Hi all .
This has been so helpful, first year I’ve put my gerainums in a green house over winter , Very excited .
I tried different ways to overwinter my geraniums last winter and found the best results to be the easiest.
When You take in the geraniums shake off all soil from the roots, soak the roots in a bucket for an hour and then hang upside down in a cool place i.e. Garage. Roughly 4-6 wkly soak the roots again and hang up again.
Then in February plant up in compost and I had the best display ever and no rot or disease.
will it be ok to pot down from 5 to4inch pots.any need for a weak feed.
Hi Peter,
That will be fine; I wouldn’t worry about feed at this stage, use fresh vompost where possible though.
All the best
Graham
Hi Graham
My neighbour leaves their geraniums in the ground all through the winter & survive !! Is that normal because I thought frost killed them ?? I would like to leave in my garden rather than have to mess about lifting them !!
Hi Bob,
it is fairly unusual, frost would normally kill off zonal geraniums as they are considered tender. Are your gardens particularly sheltered, or do you have a micro-climate that means better winter temperatures? Alternatively, does your neighbour protect the plants whilst still in the ground with fleece, a cloche or a dry mulch of any sort?
Many thanks
Graham
Hi Graham
Thanks for your reply.
My neighbour does not cover his geraniums but they are in a border that is close to his house. He has a great display the following year after being left in the soil. We are based in the NE too & can get very cold spells !!!
Hi Bob, I wonder if your neighbour has Hardy Geraniums in his garden not tender Pelargoniums(commonly called Geraniums).
Jan
Hi Jan will hardy geraniums survive the winter outside ??
my plants are near to a fence and fairly protected ??
Thank you
When is the best time to take cuttings?
Hi Paddy,
we have another blog all about taking geranium vuttings right here! – I hope this helps you
All the best
Graham
Should I cut the geraniums back for the winter? They hsve gotten a little leggy.
Hi Lynda, yes that’s the best plan, obviously keep an eye out for any die back and don’t allow the stems to rot either.
All the best
Graham