How to Store Geraniums Over Winter Successfully
Learn how to store geraniums over winter successfully with this step-by-step guide. Discover methods to keep your geraniums healthy through the cold months and bring them back in spring.
As temperatures drop and the winter chill sets in, many gardeners face the sad task of saying goodbye to their beautiful geraniums. But wait—did you know that you can keep those lovely blooms alive and well through the winter? If you’re wondering how to store geraniums over winter successfully, you’re in the right place.
This guide dives into the best methods for winterizing your geraniums, from bringing them indoors to storing them in a cool, dark place. With just a bit of preparation and care, you can preserve your geraniums through winter and have them blooming again in spring. So, let’s keep those geraniums cozy all winter long!
Why Bother Storing Geraniums Over Winter?
Geraniums are beautiful, versatile flowers that add a splash of color to any garden, porch, or window box. They’re a popular choice for gardeners, but here’s the catch—they’re not frost-tolerant. Once temperatures dip below freezing, they’re at risk of damage or death.
The Benefits of Winterizing Geraniums
Cost-Effective: Buying new geraniums every spring adds up. By overwintering, you save money on replacements.
Fuller, Healthier Plants: Stored geraniums tend to be fuller and healthier in the following growing season.
Sustainable Gardening: Keeping your geraniums alive through the winter reduces waste and is better for the environment.
Winterizing geraniums offers several significant benefits for gardeners looking to enhance their planting experience. First and foremost, it’s a cost-effective approach; purchasing new geraniums each spring can become expensive, but by overwintering your existing plants, you save money on replacements. Additionally, geraniums that are stored properly during the winter tend to emerge as fuller and healthier plants in the following growing season, allowing for a more vibrant display. Beyond the financial and aesthetic advantages, winterizing your geraniums supports sustainable gardening practices. By keeping these plants alive through the winter, you reduce waste and contribute to a healthier environment. Embracing the winterization process ensures that your geraniums thrive year after year, enriching your garden while being environmentally conscious.
How to Store Geraniums Over Winter Successfully: Methods to Consider
There’s more than one way to store geraniums through the winter. The method you choose depends on your space, time, and personal preference. Let’s look at the top methods and how to do each one successfully.
1. Bring Geraniums Indoors as Houseplants
The simplest way to store geraniums over winter is to bring them indoors and care for them as houseplants. This method works well if you have indoor space with ample sunlight.
Steps for Bringing Geraniums Indoors
Trim Back: Prune the plants, cutting them back to about 6-8 inches to encourage fresh growth.
Repot if Needed: If the geraniums are in large outdoor containers, consider transferring them to smaller pots for easier indoor care.
Check for Pests: Inspect for any bugs or pests and treat with a gentle insecticidal soap if needed.
Place in Sunny Spot: Position the plants in a sunny window or a spot where they’ll get at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
Water Sparingly: Indoor geraniums don’t need as much water in winter. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch.
Bringing geraniums indoors for the winter requires careful preparation to ensure they thrive in their new environment. Start by trimming back the plants to about 6-8 inches, which encourages fresh growth and helps them adapt to indoor conditions. If your geraniums are in large outdoor containers, consider repotting them into smaller pots for easier care and management. Before moving them inside, it’s essential to check for pests; inspect the leaves and stems for any bugs, treating them with a gentle insecticidal soap if needed. Once indoors, place the geraniums in a sunny spot where they can receive at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Lastly, remember to water sparingly, as indoor geraniums require less moisture in winter; only water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
2. Dormant Storage in a Cool, Dark Location
If you don’t have the space to keep geraniums as houseplants, the dormant storage method might be for you. This technique involves storing the plants in a dormant state, allowing them to “sleep” through the winter and wake up in spring.
Steps for Dormant Storage
Lift the Plants: Before the first frost, gently dig up the geraniums, keeping some soil around the roots.
Shake Off Excess Soil: Remove loose soil from the roots, but don’t wash them.
Hang or Bag the Plants: Bundle the plants together and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and dry place, like a basement or garage. Alternatively, you can store them in paper bags or boxes.
Check Periodically: Every month, check on the roots. Lightly mist them with water if they’re starting to shrivel.
Revive in Spring: In early spring, take the geraniums out, trim any dead growth, and replant them in fresh soil.
Dormant storage of geraniums is an effective way to keep your plants healthy through the winter months. Begin by lifting the plants before the first frost, gently digging them up while keeping some soil around the roots to protect them. Afterward, shake off excess soil—removing any loose dirt without washing the roots is crucial to prevent damage. You can then hang the plants upside down in a cool, dark, and dry location such as a basement or garage, or store them in paper bags or boxes. It's important to check on the plants periodically; if you notice the roots starting to shrivel, lightly mist them with water. When spring arrives, revive your geraniums by trimming any dead growth and replanting them in fresh soil for a healthy start to the growing season.
3. Storing Geranium Cuttings
Another option is to take cuttings from your geraniums and root them indoors. This method is ideal for those with limited space or who want to start fresh with new plants.
Steps for Storing Geranium Cuttings
Select Healthy Cuttings: Choose cuttings from healthy, mature plants. Aim for about 4-6 inches of stem.
Remove Lower Leaves: Strip the leaves from the bottom half of each cutting.
Dip in Rooting Hormone: Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone to encourage root growth.
Plant in Soil or Water: Place the cuttings in small pots filled with moist soil or in a jar with water.
Provide Light: Position the cuttings in a sunny spot and keep the soil or water moist. Roots should develop within a few weeks.
Storing geranium cuttings is a straightforward process that can help ensure your plants thrive for the next growing season. Start by selecting healthy cuttings from mature plants, aiming for stems about 4-6 inches long. Once you have your cuttings, remove the lower leaves from the bottom half to promote healthy growth and minimize moisture loss. To encourage robust root development, dip the cut ends in rooting hormone before planting. You can then place the cuttings in small pots filled with moist soil or in a jar of water. It’s essential to provide adequate light by positioning them in a sunny spot while keeping the soil or water consistently moist. With the right care, you should see roots developing within a few weeks, setting the stage for a successful garden revival.
Tips for Success When Storing Geraniums Over Winter
Storing geraniums isn’t difficult, but there are a few tips to keep in mind for the best results:
Prune Regularly: Trim your plants to remove dead or weak growth, helping to promote strong, healthy regrowth.
Avoid Overwatering: Whether you’re overwintering indoors or in storage, too much water can cause root rot.
Monitor for Pests: Indoor plants can attract pests, so keep an eye out and address issues as they arise.
Provide Good Air Circulation: Good airflow helps prevent mold and mildew, especially for dormant storage.
Even seasoned gardeners can encounter challenges when overwintering geraniums, leading to potential pitfalls that could harm their plants. One common mistake is waiting too long to bring geraniums indoors or store them, particularly waiting until the first hard frost, which can result in damage to the plants. If you choose to store your geraniums in a dormant state, it’s crucial to check on them monthly to ensure that the roots don’t dry out completely, as neglect can jeopardize their survival. Additionally, when geraniums are brought indoors, they require much less water than they do outdoors. Overwatering can easily occur and lead to root rot, which is challenging to reverse. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can successfully overwinter your geraniums and ensure their health for the next growing season.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Geraniums
Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes with overwintering geraniums. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:
Leaving It Too Late: Waiting until the first hard frost to bring your geraniums inside or store them can result in damage.
Forgetting to Check Dormant Plants: If you store geraniums in a dormant state, remember to check on them monthly to ensure the roots don’t dry out completely.
Overwatering Indoor Geraniums: Indoors, geraniums need much less water than outdoors. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which is hard to reverse.
Even seasoned gardeners can encounter challenges when overwintering geraniums, leading to potential pitfalls that could harm their plants. One common mistake is waiting too long to bring geraniums indoors or store them, particularly waiting until the first hard frost, which can result in damage to the plants. If you choose to store your geraniums in a dormant state, it’s crucial to check on them monthly to ensure that the roots don’t dry out completely, as neglect can jeopardize their survival. Additionally, when geraniums are brought indoors, they require much less water than they do outdoors. Overwatering can easily occur and lead to root rot, which is challenging to reverse. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can successfully overwinter your geraniums and ensure their health for the next growing season.
Conclusion
Storing geraniums over winter doesn’t have to be complicated. With a bit of preparation, you can keep these vibrant flowers alive through the cold months and have them thriving again come spring. Whether you decide to keep them as indoor plants, store them in a dormant state, or root new cuttings, this guide on How to Store Geraniums Over Winter Successfully gives you all the tools to make it happen.
So, don’t say goodbye to those beautiful blooms just because winter’s approaching. Instead, give these methods a try and look forward to a garden filled with color and life when warmer weather returns. Happy gardening!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I store geraniums in a garage over winter?
Yes, as long as the garage doesn’t drop below freezing. A temperature of 45-55°F is ideal for dormant storage.
2. How often should I water indoor geraniums over winter?
Water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Indoor geraniums need less water during winter, typically every two weeks or so.
3. Can I skip pruning when storing geraniums over winter?
Pruning is recommended to help the plant conserve energy, but it’s not strictly necessary. However, trimming back will encourage healthier growth in spring.
4. When should I bring my geraniums back outside?
After the last frost, when temperatures are consistently above 50°F, it’s safe to transition your geraniums back outdoors.
5. Can I store geraniums in pots instead of digging them up?
Absolutely! If your geraniums are in pots, bring them indoors or move the pots to a cool, dark location for dormant storage.