Wish you could save your potted geraniums instead of watching them die off every fall with the first hard frost? Why not bring them indoors and save them for another year! Believe it or not, with just a little fall care, you can keep your plants alive through winter and have them ready to grow and bloom beautifully again next summer.
Geraniums are loved for their bright flowers, lush green foliage and ability to thrive in containers. Although they are often grown as annuals, geraniums are actually tender perennials. Unfortunately, they simply can’t survive the freezing temperatures that winter brings in colder climates.
The good news is that you don’t have to watch your favorite plants perish when cold weather arrives. By bringing your potted geraniums indoors before frost, you can easily overwinter them – saving money and enjoying bigger, more established plants next year!
How To Save Potted Geraniums Indoors
When to Bring Geraniums Indoors
There are actually a couple of simple ways to save geraniums growing in pots over the winter. And although both are easy to do, as you will see below, selecting the best method for you really comes down to what kind of space you have available for overwintering.
The good news is that no matter if you have lots of available room or hardly any at all – there is a method that will work. But whatever space you might have indoors, success all begins by making sure you get your plants inside before the first frost or freeze!
The best time to bring your geranium inside is before the first frost. One thing is for sure, freezing temperatures will injure geraniums quickly. And if it’s cold enough, it will take them out completely!
To always be on the safe side, you should start moving geraniums indoors in early to mid-fall when nighttime temperatures start to dip below 45 to 50°F.
How To Save Geraniums As A Houseplant
If you have the space and lighting available, this method is by far the easiest. It really is as simple as treating your geraniums like regular houseplants throughout the winter.
Geraniums need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. If you have a southern facing window, this usually will provide enough light to keep the plants alive and well all winter long. You can also use a grow light as well to provide the necessary light.
Before bringing your plants indoors for winter, there are a few simple tasks you need to do. For starters, check the plant for any pests. Look at your geraniums closely to make sure there are no bugs such as aphids or spider mites that will be hitching a ride inside.
Next, trim off any dead or yellow leaves and cut the stems back to about half their height. If the pot is too small or the soil is old, move the plant to a new pot with fresh soil. Make sure the pot has drainage holes so the roots won’t rot.
Getting Geraniums Adjusted To Indoor Life
When saving geraniums it’s important not to shock the plant. The best way to do that is to get it used to being indoors slowly. Place it in a shaded area outdoors for a few days before bringing it inside. Once inside, treat it as you would your houseplants.
You will water less in the winter. This is because the plants will slow their growth without outside warmth and air. Always wait until the top inch of the soil feels dry before watering and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Last but not least, keep the room temperature between 55-65°F so the plants stay healthy but don’t grow too much.
When spring arrives and the weather warms up to above 50°F, start to move your geraniums outside. To help them adjust, put them in a shaded outdoor area for a few hours a day and increase their time outside over the span of a week. Once they’re used to being outdoors again, you can keep them outside full time.
Storing Geraniums Dormant – Another Great Way To Not Let Potted Geraniums Die!
If you don’t have enough space or available light to take care of the plants all winter, you can save geraniums as dormant plants. This is a great way to store a large amount of geraniums without much worry at all. And you can even store them in a cool basement or unheated but protected garage.
To store as a dormant plant, begin by cutting back the stems and foliage. Leave about 5 to 6 inches of plant along with the roots. Next, take the entire plant out of the pot. At this point, carefully brush off any soil on the roots, making sure you don’t damage or cut into the roots.
You can now hang the bare roots in a cool, dark place. You can also store them in a cardboard box or brown paper bag. The key here is to make sure to store them in a cool area such as a basement or insulated garage. For best success, try to keep them around 45-50°F.
Don’t Over Water Cuttings
You will not need to water the dormant plants often. About once a month, lightly mist the plants with water. This is all they will need to stay alive through winter. When spring arrives, soak the roots in water for a few hours and then plant them in fresh soil in a pot. Then, simply place them in a sunny location. Within a few weeks, your geraniums will be thriving again!
Here is to saving your potted geraniums this fall – and to saving big on your plant budget next spring and summer! For more on saving outdoor plants as houseplants, check out our article How To Keep Your Ferns Alive As A Houseplant – All Winter Long!
This Is My Garden
Follow Our Facebook Page For Great Gardening Tips And Advice! This Is My Garden Facebook Page
This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!