Winter is approaching. September is the time to overwinter geraniums

It is practically impossible to imagine many porches, balconies and window sills without geraniums. Geraniums are beautiful and perfectly complement the overall appearance of a house. These are flowers that bloom for quite a long time; however, winter is a period when they simply cannot be left outside. The reason is quite clear. Quite simply, they would freeze. That is precisely why we must prepare them thoroughly for the cold season. How? We’ll tell you in the following paragraphs.

How to prepare geraniums for overwintering?

It’s simple. First and foremost, you need to completely rid the plant of anything that has been sapping its energy. Both dry and yellowed leaves must be removed – in short, any that look unhealthy. The shoots must also be cut back, just above the node. It’s definitely essential to cut back on watering and feeding your geraniums too. In autumn, it’s also worth giving your geraniums a preventative spray with a product against pests and mould.

When should you move geraniums indoors?

This must be done before the first frosts arrive. In some areas, these come very early. Geraniums are quite hardy and will probably survive the odd cold night, but it’s a shame to put them through unnecessary stress.

Photo: Radek Stepan

Where should geraniums be kept over winter?

You need to choose a spot with plenty of natural light. A windowless garage, or a dark cellar, can really take its toll on geraniums. The right temperature is also important for overwintering geraniums. This should be between 6 and 10 °C. An unheated conservatory, for example, is excellent for overwintering geraniums. However, they can also be kept in a conservatory, or in the loft, a workshop or other rooms with the aforementioned temperature.

Tip: Geraniums will bloom all season. All it takes I the simple trick.

How does the winter regime work for geraniums?

Even during overwintering, geraniums require a certain amount of care. The most important thing is to check on them regularly. Watering and feeding must be kept to a minimum in winter. Otherwise, the plants tend to flower, which is undesirable. If they do happen to start flowering, the flowers should be removed and the plants moved to a colder spot.

Short on space? A pot isn’t necessary for overwintering

Sometimes we simply don’t have enough space. That’s no problem. The plants can be removed from the soil, any remaining soil shaken off, and their roots then trimmed. Each plant is then wrapped in paper and hung upside down. Although the plants will look as if they have completely dried out in the spring, they will come back to life during the growing season and bloom beautifully.

Sources: Author – grower, Meta

Photo: Pixabay