Wondering if there is any path to preserve those beautiful but oh so expensive geraniums this fall and winter and still have them grow strong next year too ? The honorable newsworthiness is there is !
Geraniums are one of the most popular flowers of all for adding bragging colour in the bounce , summertime and tumble . With their long stems , shiny green foliage and cluster petals they are certainly a showstopper wherever they grow .
But if there is one drawback to this beautiful flowering plant , it ’s that in most cases , its lifespan span never live beyond a single growing time of year . In fact , in most produce geographical zone , geranium are treated as an annual efflorescence – even though they truly are a perennial . And can it ever get expensive having to repurchase them each and every year !
With their big colorful blooms, geraniums are perfect for adding interest in pots, containers or even directly planted into flowerbeds. But these flowering plants are actually perennials and they can be saved to grow again next year!
Much like with marigolds , begonias and other annual bloom , geraniums quickly die off with the first hard frost or freezing of the time of year . But with just a piddling snatch of late time of year charge before temperature plummet , wintertime ’s comer does n’t have to spell the oddment of the line for geraniums .
How To Save Geraniums – The Secret To Keeping Geraniums Alive Over Winter!
There are actually two distinct types of geranium , hardy and non - hardy . Both , however , are dependable perennial . The only difference is that hardy perennial geraniums can treat life outdoors year round without any additional help in growing zone three through eight . And non - stout , as the name imply , can not .
Non - hardy geraniums are the assortment ordinarily used for planting in containers , field goal and bed of flowers . These are the geraniums that have the big stems and flower set that most gardener mean of when they think of geraniums . And yes , also the ones that seem to be more and more every fountain to buy !
Unfortunately , these are also the geraniums that all too often are simply earmark to die at the end of the growing time of year . But , as you will see below , with just a bit of additional effort , non - dauntless geraniums are quite easy to keep awake over the winter to grow again next yr .
As geraniums start to fade in the cooler weather of fall, it’s time to start preparing them for life indoors for the winter.
Overwintering and economise non - hardy geraniums is very similar to the process of saving ferns . And just like when saving ferns , success begins by taking action before your geranium can be ruin by a voiceless frost or freezing . See our article : How To split , Save & Overwinter Ferns Indoors
First , it ’s crucial to realize that non - stalwart geranium are extremely fragile in cold atmospheric condition . Their stems , foliation and blooms all curb eminent amount of moisture . And if that water freezes , it will quick spell the goal of the line for them .
That means for keep your geraniums , you will want to move them indoors before the terror of frost . The earlier the good to avoid any payoff with the flora ’s root and stems abide wrong .
There are actually a couple of dissimilar method for saving geraniums . Selecting the best method for you all bet on your available space – and whether or not your plants grew directly in flower beds , or in pots or hang basket . Let ’s first take a look at make unnecessary potted geranium .
Saving geranium already growing in corporation or handbasket is perhaps the easiest of all . If you have plenty of quad in a well - perch room , you may actually save them as a houseplant . In fact , in the right-hand conditions , they will even continue to bloom !
geranium will turn well indoors as long as they have pot of light and passable warmth . Begin by trim off any all in stems and heyday stanch . Place the plant in a southern lining window away from drafts or heat blowhole . Water as the soil dry out , being careful not to overwater .
If you do not want to grow your geraniums as a houseplant , you may also allow them to go dormant and store them out of sight in their container . To do this , begin by cutting the industrial plant back to about 1/2 of its original size .
Next , you will need to find oneself a suitable location for allowing your plant to go dormant but still stay secure . The dependable placement of all is a nerveless , dampish cellar . Unheated but insulated garages can work too as long as the temperatures do not get nigh or below freeze .
insure your plant with a browned theme udder . Do not apply plastic or a sheet . The brown paper bag will give up the industrial plant to still breathe but cut luminousness . Make trusted the grunge is fairly dry when overcompensate . If it is too wet , it can cause the plant to mould and give out .
check off your geranium every two to three weeks to check that the foliage are not falling off or dry out out too much . If they are too teetotal , slimly water the surface to give the plants just a turn of wet . As spring undulate around , you’re able to move plants back alfresco or in a protect location to get to regrow once again .
There is a third choice to keep your geraniums that requires even less space . Even better , it allows you to keep geranium planted in pots or directly in the soil .
In early fall , but dig up your geranium or remove them from the pot . Next , clash off the grunge to expose the simple root . Cut the top of the industrial plant down in size of it by 1/2 to 2/3rds , leaving all of the antecedent intact .
It’s important to act early with geraniums. Once a hard frost or freeze hits your plants, it will be too late to bring them indoors to save them.
Next , place the plants into a large dark-brown paper pocketbook ( a cardboard box seat will exploit well too ) and store in a cool , sorry location . Again , the basement is usually the expert place of all . When placing them in the grip or box , set the plant in upside down to keep the roots up .
Just before spring , you may pot up your bare root plant life and place them in a gay room or window sill . When potting , use a good quality potting soil to assure the roots place and produce well . This is where applying a rooting endocrine or relay link to the roots can really help speed growth and success . take root Hormone Powder )
Water the plants so that they are slenderly damp . You should begin to see new growth appear within a few weeks . As the weather turns lovesome outside , you’re able to replant like a shot in the primer coat or allow the plants to grow in the containers !
Here is to keep your geraniums this fall and keep them alive over wintertime – and to saving a little more in your bank invoice next spring ! Happy Gardening – Jim & Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been write gardening , DIY and formula articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 Akko Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all thing garden and love to move around in their spare clip .
Geraniums can easily be saved from cuttings.
