If your garden is full of this flower, it’s probably worth it tooverwinter some plants.
If you harvest too late, the plant might have already entered its die-off phase.
On the other hand, harvesting too early can mean sacrificing peak blooms in your garden.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
A sunny west- or south-facing window (or grow lights) assures that they won’t grow spindly.
Just ensure to situate the plants away from drafts that might force dormancy.
Your should only overwinter healthy plants.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If your plant looks like it’s struggling, consider letting it go dormant until spring.
Dig Up, Pot, and Prune
Dig up and pot the healthy plants.
Then, prune them to one-third of their size.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Water the pots well, and then allow the soil to dry out.
This gives the geraniums time to adjust to the drop in humidity that occurs indoors during winter.
Overwintering Geraniums as Cuttings
Many plants can be propagated with cuttings, including geraniums.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cuttings will take up less space than a potted plant indoors.
Don’t use woody or old stems.
Dip the stem in the powder or use a gel rooting hormone.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Plant the Cutting
Use your finger to make a 2-inch deep hole in the soil.
Plant the cutting in damp soil, making sure not to remove the rooting hormone when planting.
Firm the soil around the cutting, and place it near a bright window.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
you might plant several cuttings in one pot.
Water the Cutting
Water the cutting, and don’t allow it to dry out.
The cutting should root in six to eight weeks, although it may be slightly sooner.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Grow the new geranium as a houseplant until spring, and then move it outside.
A cool, unheated, slightly damp basement is ideal for storing dormant geraniums in pots.
Allow the soil in the pot to dry out.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Place a Paper Bag on Each Pot
Place an overturned paper bag on top of each plant.
Store the plants in the basement.
If they show signs of drying, spray them with water or slightly water the roots.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Then, allow the plant to dry completely before replacing the paper bag.
Overwintering Dormant, Bare-Rooted Geraniums
Another approach to overwintering geraniums involves storing them withbare roots.
Dig Up the Geraniums
Dig up your geraniums before the first frost.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cut back the plants by approximately half, and shake the soil from the roots.
Set the plants in a spot to let them dry for a few days to avoid mold in storage.
Then, store them in a cool, dark room.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If you opt to use bags, confirm not to seal them tightly.
The plants need some airflow.
Check Plants Every Few Weeks
Check your plants every few weeks.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If they are shriveling, spray them with water or slightly dampen the root area.
Allow the plants to dry completely before placing them back into the bags.
Clean up the plants, snip off dead leaves, and cut stems back to healthy green growth.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
You should start to see new green leaves after a couple of weeks.
Move them back outside once the danger of the season’s final frost is past.
If you love your geranium varieties, then its likely worth it to overwinter them.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
You might not have the selection of the same varieties if you were to repurchase them each year.
Potted dormant geraniums can be cut back to about half their size.
If theyre exposed to frost, it might already be too late to overwinter a healthy plant.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Growing Geraniums and Annual Flowers in Minnesota.University of Minnesota Extension
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
