Overwintering geraniums

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tagh
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Overwintering geraniums

#1 Post 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

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Blaze
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Overwintering geraniums

#2 Post 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 .......

ajm
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Overwintering geraniums

#3 Post 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.

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Quiksilver
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Overwintering geraniums

#4 Post by Quiksilver »

+1 for leaving them in their pots, letting them and the compost dry out and keeping them cool but frost-free.

exile
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Overwintering geraniums

#5 Post 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.

Polly
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Overwintering geraniums

#6 Post 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.

Spectrum
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Overwintering geraniums

#7 Post 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.

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Sparkle
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Overwintering geraniums

#8 Post by Sparkle »

We keep ours in their pots and put the pots in brown paper bags and store in the shed.
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MAD87
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Overwintering geraniums

#9 Post 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.

Polly
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Overwintering geraniums

#10 Post by Polly »

I have loads of geraniums, which take over the garden if they’re allowed, useful for keeping weeds away.

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