DIY: Overwintering Geraniums

You may not be aware that some varieties of Geranium can actually be treated as perennials. In other words, it is possible to bring Geraniums indoors and store them to plant again next spring. This is a particularly valuable characteristic when you find a color that you really enjoy. Not all Geraniums are good candidates for this process. You can attempt to do it with other varieties but Zonal Geraniums are the most successful types. A Zonal Geranium is one that has a dark, circular streak in its leaves. The stems are fleshy and it is this trait that allows them to be wintered over.

In ideal circumstances, you would start this process when the weather is still relatively warm so that taking the Geraniums indoors won’t be as much of a shock to the plant but you can do this successfully as long as the plants are dug up prior to frost damaging the leaves.

Here are the steps to follow to prepare the plants for storage:

  • Make sure the pruners you use are clean to prevent the spread of disease. You can dip them in some rubbing alcohol to sterilize them.
  • Dig up the plants and sort them by flower color so you know next year which ones are which. Gently shake the dirt off the roots.
  • Remove any dead leaves, flowers, and flower buds. Clip off any moldy or soft parts of the stem. This is also a good time to check for aphids and other pests. You may want to spray the plant with some insecticidal soap just as a precaution.

You now have two choices to make when it comes to the next step in the process. It is possible to pot up the plants and either use them as houseplants or put the potted plants in a garage or basement for the winter. The spot you choose should be able to maintain temperatures of at least 50 degrees and you will need to check the plants regularly to make sure they don’t rot or become desiccated.

The 2nd choice is to store the bare-rooted plants. Here are the steps to follow if you want to attempt to store them in this fashion:

  • After following the 3 steps above you want to then remove about 1/3 of the plant including stems and leaves.
  • Place the plant in a paper bag with the roots sticking out the top of the bag. Tie the bag shut with string or a twist tie and then hang the bag in a cool garage or basement. You should check the plants monthly to make sure they are not rotting and they may need to be misted if they are drying out.

You can also store the plants in a cardboard box. You would follow the same steps but rather than placing the plants in a bag put them in a box with the roots sticking out of the top of the box. Try not to store the plants on top of one another as this can promote disease or cause the plants to rot.

Finally, when late winter arrives you can start to pot the plants up and in no time your plants will be ready to be moved outdoors.

Photo Courtesy of Jill Mazur.

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