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Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 1:51 pm
by tagh
Assuming frost and or a longish cold period this winter how do you overwinter your germaniums please, both in pot and bare root? Information gratefully received with thanks
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 2:16 pm
by Blaze
I'm not an expert on geraniums, but I put them in a cool shed that doesn't risk frost and doesn't get too much light. I cut them back first then let the stalks heal before putting them in the shed. They're all in pots and I give them a drop of water every 3 weeks or so.
At the moment they're outside as there's little risk of frost here. The temps have rocketed today and I see the geraniums have sprung back to life.
If we had a veranda that wasn't too hot, it would be my choice. I could put them inside in the spare bedroom, unheated but not cold but if someone did come to stay .......
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 3:05 pm
by ajm
Blaze wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 2:16 pm
I'm not an expert on geraniums, but I put them in a cool shed that doesn't risk frost and doesn't get too much light. I cut them back first then let the stalks heal before putting them in the shed. They're all in pots and I give them a drop of water every 3 weeks or so.
At the moment they're outside as there's little risk of frost here. The temps have rocketed today and I see the geraniums have sprung back to life.
If we had a veranda that wasn't too hot, it would be my choice. I could put them inside in the spare bedroom, unheated but not cold but if someone did come to stay .......
Good advice.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 4:00 pm
by Quiksilver
+1 for leaving them in their pots, letting them and the compost dry out and keeping them cool but frost-free.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:23 pm
by exile
Bare root storage is supposed to work well ( same conditions as Blaze has suggested for potted ones) but like others I keep ours in pots or troughs but in a greenhouse. I rarely water during the winter, they are in a dormant condition - at least here where the storage temperatures are often barely above freezing - so should not be transpiring and so in need of fresh moisture.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 8:54 pm
by Polly
I also leave mine in pots in the shed after cutting them back and don’t water them at all. They mostly emerge in good health ready for re-potting and watering, then another lovely display.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 8:37 am
by Spectrum
Having done thousands of the B***** things, as said take out of pot, cut down to a few inches leave upside down for a week or so, on a tray underneath the staging turn the right way up throwing away any with mould or rot on them, leave them in a frost free place, in spring cover with compost and a bit of water, they then will start growing, start to take cuttings when about a couple of inches, pot them up and onwards as necessary, you can still plant out the original, we never did.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 1:14 pm
by Sparkle
We keep ours in their pots and put the pots in brown paper bags and store in the shed.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 1:27 pm
by MAD87
I don't like them at all. I have lots of garden (real) geraniums, but no pelargoniums. Just leave them in the soil and they come up every year.
Overwintering geraniums
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 4:35 pm
by Polly
I have loads of geraniums, which take over the garden if they’re allowed, useful for keeping weeds away.