Overwintering geraniums

Overwintering geraniums

1. 01

   When to bring geraniums in

   Geraniums are not frost hardy. Bring them in before the first frost, check them for pests and pick off dead leaves and flowers.

2. 02

   Bright, basement or bare root?

   The easiest way is a bright, airy, frost-free spot at about 7 to 10 °C (45⁠–⁠50 °F), such as a cool stairwell window or a conservatory. Some keep flowering there. Don’t keep them below 5 °C (41 °F).

   A dark basement works if it is cool and frost free. Cut the plants back hard first, or they grow long, pale shoots looking for light.

   If space is tight, store them bare root: dig them up, shake off the soil and keep each plant in a paper bag somewhere cool and dry, at about 7 to 13 °C (45⁠–⁠55 °F). It saves room but is less reliable than keeping them potted.

3. 03

   Watering and feeding in winter

   Water sparingly and let at least the top 3 cm (1.2 in) of soil dry between waterings. In a cool room that takes much longer than in a warm one. In a dark basement they need very little.

   No feeding in winter.

4. 04

   Pests in winter quarters

   Watch for whitefly under the leaves. Removing dead leaves regularly gives gray mold less of a chance.

5. 05

   Pruning before and after winter

   Cut back by a third to a half in autumn before moving them in, or wait for spring. If you barely pruned in autumn, prune hard in March back to healthy green stems.

   Bare-root plants get potted up in March, trimmed back to healthy green stems and watered well.

6. 06

   When they can go back outside

   Once frost has passed. Harden them off for about two weeks. Start with sheltered shade for part of each day, then gradually give them more time outside and more direct sun.

7. 07

   Common mistakes

   Waiting too long: the first frost can already damage them.

   Dark and unpruned: without light the stems grow long and pale.

   Too much water: wet soil in a cool room makes them rot.

Common questions