Overwintering Geraniums

Geraniums are one of the easiest and most outstanding plants to grow in the home garden. They are a very popular plant, so much so that Penn State Cooperative Extension notes that $1.00 out of every $5.00 spent on bedding plants in the United States is for geraniums. Many gardeners like to keep their geraniums from one year to the next. This provides nice flowering plants inside during the winter and reduces the cost of new plants the following spring. Taking cuttings is one way to carry over the plants from year to year. In the fall, just prior to frost, stem cuttings, sometimes referred to as “slips”, can be removed from the tip of the plant stem. They should be three to four inches long; however, shorter ones can be taken if necessary. Strip off the lower leaves (the placewhere new roots will grow) before sticking the cuttings into a rooting medium. A half and half mix of perlite and peat works well; you can also use a soilless potting soil. Dipping cuttings into a rooting hormone can speed the rooting process.

 

Place the cuttings an inch or two in the medium and water thoroughly. Set them in a north or east window until rooted. This generally takes from three to four weeks. During this time, water sparingly-just enough to keep the cuttings from shriveling. The trick to successful rooting is to run the cuttings dry. After cuttings have been rooted and potted, they should be placed in a well lighted spot such as a south window. This could be a basement window if you are not particularly interested in them flowering, but just maintaining them until spring.

 

If grown in a flower bed the plant that remains after cuttings have been taken can be potted. Cut the plant back to about 1/3 its original height and shake most of the garden soil off the roots. The size of the pot to use will be determined by the size of the plant. Plant in a soilless potting soil, leaving about an inch between the plant and the pot. After potting water thoroughly. Begin fertilization (use a household fertilizer at half strength) in about a week and there after every two months. This same schedule should also be followed for the rooted cuttings.

 

Amore traditional, but successful method of carrying geraniums over the winter is to dig the entire plant prior to frost, shake off the soil, and then hang it from the rafters in the basement. Years ago root cellars were quite common and they made an excellent place to hold over plants. Most basements were cool and moist and this method was successful. Today you can still do it this way provided your basement is not as warm as the living area of the house. Since there is no sure way of knowing whether this will work for you, why not try it if you don’t want to take cuttings or pot up plants?

 

In most homes it will be necessary to occasionally take the plants down and put the roots in a bucket of tepid water to soak for a couple of hours. Then hang them back up. This may have to be done 3-4 times during the winter to prevent the plants from totally drying out.

 

Whether or not you have to do this will depend on the temperature and humidity of your basement. Don’t be surprised when the leaves start to dry up and fall off. This is normal and will not cause any problem. In March you can take plants from the basement upstairs. Cut them back to almost 1/3 their original height, pot them up, move them to a south window and begin to water and fertilize. Soon your plants will begin to put out new green leaves and flower buds. Or, you can wait in the spring until after the last frost, bring plants up from the basement, cut them back 1/3 and plant them directly into the ground. The first method will give your geraniums a jump on the season, the second is less work.

 

Whether you take cuttings or winter over entire plants, it’s always satisfying to see those new, fresh blooms the following year. It’s also a great way to be sure to keep that special color or special plant your grandmother had.

 

Call the UNH Cooperative Extension's Family, Home & Garden Education Center 's Info-Line toll-free at 1-877-3984769 for "Practical Solutions to Everyday Questions." Trained volunteers are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm .

 

By Margaret Hagen, Extension Educator, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension