Geraniums bring bright color to your garden, but cold weather can threaten their survival. You can save your favorite geraniums by overwintering them indoors and practicing effective winter care for them.
With proper care, you can keep your geraniums alive through the winter and replant them in the spring for beautiful blooms.
There are several options for wintering geraniums, depending on the climate and available space.
You can bring potted plants indoors, store dormant plants, or take cuttings.
Each method has advantages, and you can choose the method that best suits your situation.
It takes a little effort to revive a geranium that has been stored for the winter, but by properly caring for your geranium in the winter, it is worth it to enjoy these beautiful flowers every year.
By following a few simple steps, you can bring your geraniums back outdoors when warm weather returns.
Important points
Geraniums can be overwintered indoors as growing plants, dormant plants, or cuttings. Proper storage conditions and care are important for the survival of geraniums during the winter. Gradually return the geranium to outdoor conditions in the spring for successful regrowth.
Preparing outdoor geraniums for winter
As cold weather approaches, it’s time to prepare geraniums for the winter. Begin this process in late fall when temperatures drop below 45°F (7°C).
First, check your plants for pests such as aphids and spider mites. To keep your geranium healthy, remove any damaged leaves or stems.
Next, cut the plant back by about a third. This will help it adapt indoors and encourage new growth. Shape the plant by cutting off long or weak stems.
If you have geraniums in the ground, carefully dig them up. Remove excess soil and plant in a well-drained pot. Give it a boost with fresh potting soil.
Condition your geranium before bringing it indoors. Place the pot outdoors in a shady area for several days. This helps reduce stress on the plants.
There are options for overwintering geraniums.
Place it on a sunny windowsill as a houseplant. Let it rest in a cool dark place. Grow new plants by taking cuttings.
Take cuttings to preserve geraniums
If you don’t have space for multiple large plants indoors during the winter, you can also save or propagate your plants by taking geranium cuttings and propagating them over the winter.
Follow these 10 steps to grow geraniums from cuttings and grow lots of beautiful new plants in the spring.
Preparing cuttings: Use a clean, sharp instrument to take cuttings about 3 to 4 inches long. Remove the lower leaves and flowers from each cutting. Leave a few healthy leaves at the tip of the cutting. Apply rooting hormone. Dip the tip of the cutting in rooting hormone or honey. Select a container. Please use a container with good drainage. Fill them with a light, airy, well-draining medium, such as vermiculite, perlite, or coarse sand. Moisten the planting area: Moisten the planting area and make holes in it to accept the cuttings. Planting the cuttings: Place the cuttings in the hole and provide optimal conditions. Place the cuttings in a location that is always warm and receives plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. Maintain humidity. You may want to place a clear plastic bag lightly over the plant to keep it moist and moist. Improves humidity levels. Water carefully: Maintain the rooting medium at a moderate humidity level. It should never be wet or dry. Monitor growth: Within a few months, the cuttings should begin to root and show new leaf growth. At this point, you can plant it in a 3- to 4-inch pot using a high-quality, well-draining commercial potting mix. Care for young plants: Place young plants in a sunny location and care for them as you would a mature plant. In winter, stay indoors.
Indoor management of geraniums in winter
To keep your geraniums healthy indoors in winter, follow these steps:
Prune before bringing indoors: Prune geraniums in late fall, before the first frost. Remove diseased or damaged leaves and stems. Reduce the size of the plant by about half. Inspect for pests: Check for pests such as aphids and spider mites. Treat any intruders to prevent problems indoors. Pot your plants: If your geraniums are in the ground, dig them up. Plant in a well-drained container using high-quality, well-drained commercial soil. Avoid poorly drained garden soil suitable for containers. Choose the right location: Place your geranium near a sunny window that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you don’t have enough natural light, use grow lights. Store in a cool place to prevent active growth. A temperature of 55°F to 65°F (12°C to 18°C) is ideal. Water properly: Water the plant thoroughly first. Next, use the immersion drying method. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Make sure the pot has good drainage to prevent root rot. Control growth: Pinch off new tips and buds as they appear and discourage active growth during the winter. This will prevent weak, leggy growth. Provide humidity: If your home is dry, use a humidification tray or humidifier. Geraniums love moisture in the air. Monitor for pests and diseases: Check your plants regularly for signs of pests and diseases. Remove dead leaves to keep them clean and healthy. Avoid winter fertilization: Do not fertilize during the winter. Feeding can promote unwanted growth. Wait until early spring and start fertilizing lightly with a balanced fertilizer. Fertilize in spring: Once the weather warms, fertilize lightly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to encourage growth. Transition outdoors: Feed gradually after the danger of frost has passed. Before replanting your geranium in your garden, make sure to acclimate your geranium to outdoor conditions.
Following these steps will keep your geraniums healthy indoors over the winter and ready to grow again in the spring.
Growing geraniums as houseplants in winter
It’s easy to pot up your garden geraniums and bring them indoors for the winter. Follow these 8 easy steps.
Prune before frost: Prune geraniums properly in late fall, before the first frost. Remove diseased or damaged leaves and stems. The size of the plant should be reduced by about half. Pest Inspection: Identify and treat pest infestations. Potting the plant: Let the plant rest for a few days, then dig it up and place it in a container. Use a high-quality, well-draining commercial potting mix. Avoid using garden soil as it is heavy and does not drain well enough to be used as a container. Choose the right location: Choose a bright, cool location for indoor geraniums. It needs plenty of direct sunlight, but it shouldn’t be kept so warm that it continues to actively grow through the winter. I need rest. Water properly: Water your plants well first, then use the soak-dry method. Control growth: Pinch tips and buds as they appear to prevent active growth over winter. Fertilize in Spring: In early spring, when the weather starts to warm, give your plants a light application of a standard houseplant fertilizer to give them a boost for warm-weather growth. .Moving outdoors: After all danger of frost has passed, begin moving the plants to an outdoor setting.
Return geraniums outdoors in spring
Once winter is over and spring is here, it’s time to prepare your geraniums for outdoor use. Start after the last frost, when nighttime temperatures are above 50°F (10°C).
Revive dormant geraniums:
Remove from storage: Remove dormant geraniums from storage in late winter or early spring. Prune dead material: Cut away dead or shriveled stems to encourage new growth. Pot your plants: Plant them in containers filled with fresh, well-drained potting mix. .Provide light and water: Place the pot indoors in a sunny area. Gradually increase watering. Additional fertilization: Start fertilizing lightly when new buds appear.
Adaptation to outdoor conditions:
Gradual exposure: Place the geranium outdoors in a shady spot for several hours each day. Slowly increase your sun exposure over 7 to 10 days. Monitor stress: Watch for wilted or sunburned leaves. If you notice these signs, reduce sun exposure and increase shade. Prepare your planting site: Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. Mix in compost for additional nutrients. Transplant carefully: After acclimatization, plant your geranium in the garden or in a large pot. Keep it at the same depth as the container. Water thoroughly: Water thoroughly immediately after transplanting.
Resume regular care:
Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Fertilizer: Continue using a balanced fertilizer to support growth. Remove dead flowers to encourage more blooms.
With proper care, geraniums will grow and produce beautiful flowers all year round.
About overwintering geraniums
Geraniums can survive the winter with proper winter geranium care. Some varieties naturally go dormant, while others require assistance. Your location and the type of geranium will determine the best overwintering method.
Biology of geranium dormancy
Geraniums go into dormancy to survive the cold. In this state, growth slows down and energy is conserved. The leaves may turn yellow and fall off.
While dormant, geraniums store nutrients in their roots and stems, which helps them survive the cold season. You can promote dormancy by:
Reduce water: Reduce the frequency of watering. Stop fertilizing: Stop fertilizing during this period. Cut back stems: Prune plants to minimize energy consumption.
Dormant geraniums require minimal attention. Store in a cool, dark place between 45 and 50°F (7 and 10°C). Inspect it monthly and remove any dead parts.
Distinguishing between perennial and annual geraniums
Understanding the type of your geranium will help you choose the appropriate winter care method.
Perennial Geranium: Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. It is characterized by small flowers and palmate leaves. In warmer regions, you can spend time outdoors even in winter. Annual Geranium (Pelargonium): A tender perennial that is hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11. It is characterized by its large, showy flowers and round shape. In cold regions, you will need to bring it indoors.
By identifying your geranium, you can properly manage your geranium in the winter so that it survives and thrives by spring.
Distinguishing between perennial and annual geraniums
Perennial geraniums come back year after year. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. If you live in a warm region, these plants can survive outdoors even in the winter.
Annual geraniums, also called pelargoniums, are tender perennials. It is only available year-round in USDA zones 10 and 11. In colder regions, it may be necessary to bring it indoors during the winter.
To distinguish them:
Perennial geraniums have small flowers and palmate leaves. Annual geraniums have large, showy flowers and rounded leaves.
Knowing the type of geranium you have will help you choose the appropriate care method for geraniums in winter. Perennials often require less work to overwinter than annuals.
