Guide to Overwintering Geraniums: Ways to Store Geraniums During Winter

Geraniums are the commonly grown bedding plants. These plants bloom from May through frost. Geraniums are available in various colors & fragrances at nurseries & botanical centers. These plants are quite dependable. They need special care especially during winter period. But if they are stored carefully during frost period Geraniums can be replanted when the frost period is over & they will bloom again. You might wonder how these survive without the help of soil; the key here is there thick & fleshy stems. The vascular bundles of there stem are collateral & are numerous which helps to store water for a long period. Therefore the mainstay of overwintering is just to help them in retaining water.

There are three methods of overwintering Geraniums viz. Potting, Cutting & storing. For this dig out the plant before the first frost. Lets start with the methods of overwintering.

Method 1: Storing as Potted plants

Step 1: carefully dig out the plant before the first winter frost. Get rid of diseased plants as they may harm the storage of other plants.

Step 2: Select a 6 to 8 inch pot (or suitable size depending on the size of the root mass) with a hole at bottom which facilitate drainage of excess water.

Step 3: Add a one inch layer of coarse gravel for drainage in the pot.

Step 4: Trim the Geranium to half or one third of its height.

Step 5: Put the healthy plant in the prepared pot, now fill the pot with soil just up to the level of junction between the root & stem not above that.

Step 6: Now water the plant thoroughly & keep them in bright sunlight or under artificial grow lights for 6 to 8 hours.

Step 7: Geraniums grow well at cooler temperature, desirable day & nighttime temperatures are 18 degree & 12 degrees Celsius (55 to 65 degree F) respectively. Try to maintain the temperature for a considerable period of time.

Step 8: During the indoor period of Geraniums keep a watch over the moisture content of soil. Water the plant regularly when the soil becomes dry but don't over water it as it may rot the roots.

Step 9: After every week or two cut a small portion of developing branches, so that at the place of cut two or three new branches appear & by the end of winter you will have a stocky, puffy, branched Geranium.

Step 10: Actually it's not a step but a caution statement- Do not add fertilizers in the soil during overwintering.

Method 2: Making a cut

Geraniums can also be overwintered as cuttings.

Step 1: Using a sharp knife cut a 4 to 5 inch long part of the shoot from terminal portion of the stem.

Step 2: Cut of the leaves, braches to have a single stick of the shoot.

Step 3: Now immerse the lower end of cutting in a rooting hormone for an hour or so.

Step 4: After the treatment with hormone insert the cuttings in a plastic or clay pot with hole at bottom filled with Rooting medium: mixture of coarse sand & sphagnum peat moss. The cuttings are gently pressed in the medium to a depth at which the cuttings just stand on their own.

Step 5: When all the cuttings are inserted, water them thoroughly.

Step 6: Allow the water to drain. When it drains completely cover the cuttings with a clear plastic bag. This prevents wilting of cuttings.

Step 7: Keep cuttings in bright light.

Step 8: Generally the roots appear after around 6 to 8 weeks. On 9^th or 10^th week check the extent of rooting. Don't be eager & check after every week, it will harm your cuttings.

Step 9: When you think the cuttings now have a goods root mass, carefully remove the cuttings & transfer them to other pots as stated in earlier method.

Step 10: Further procedure is same as previous method.

Method 3: Bare roots bear it all

Another effective way overwintering Geraniums is storing there roots. It can be done by two ways.

First way: Hanging method

Step 1: Dig out plants & gently shake their roots to remove excess soil attached to them. Don't be vigorous as it may damage the vascular bundles of the roots & plant may die.

Step 2: Spray water over the roots to make them moist.

Step 3: Prepare a room for hanging the bare roots. The room should be dark, cool with temperature around 7 to 10 degree Celsius (45 to 50 degree F) & adequately humid.

Step 4: Now hang the plant upside down in the room.

Step 5: Keep a track of temperature with a thermometer & check for the conditions of roots regularly. Look for drying roots & make the moist by spraying water.

Step 6: In March prune each plant & cut down the dead parts such as dead leaves branches of the plant.

Step 7: After trimming the plant pot the plant & follow the steps of Method 1.

Second way: Paper bag method- better than hanging method.

Step 1 & 2: Same as hanging method.

Step 3: Keep 1 to 3 plants in a large paper bag. Keep in a cold dark room.

Step 4: After every month the roots of Geranium are soaked in water for 2 to 3 hours. During the course of time all the leaves fall off.

Step 5 to 7: same as for Hanging method.

Quick tips:

-To get better growth after overwintering use these methods 3 weeks before the expected time of frost.

-When you are about to replant Geraniums think of cutting each branch at the tip.

-Don't be afraid of falling leaves this is a normal phenomenon.

Overwintering Geraniums is an effective way of reducing the expenses of gardening. So get ready for a great bloom of geraniums in upcoming spring.