Scented geraniums exude an intense aroma of mint, apple, lemon or rose - a wonderful treat on the summer balcony. But summer is inevitably followed by winter - a time when plants that are not hardy should definitely be moved to winter quarters. Before that, however, the scented geraniums are severely cut back.

Scented geraniums should be cut back before winter

Cut back scented geraniums before the winter break

The scented geraniums should be placed in their winter quarters before the first frost. For a space-saving and low-maintenance winter storage, you can cut back the plants as follows:

  • Remove shoot tips, flowers and buds
  • as well as almost all leaves.
  • Now cut back the bare stems to about 10 to 20 centimeters.
  • This depends on the size of your plant.
  • Now take the plants out of their planter
  • and remove excess soil.
  • Pack the root ball in a plastic bag.
  • Keep the naked geranium hanging upside down in a cool, dark place.
  • Temperatures between eight and ten degrees Celsius are ideal.

This overwintering method has the advantage that you do not have to water the scented geranium in winter - the plastic film ensures that the plant does not dry out.

Alternatively spring pruning possible

Alternatively, you can of course choose to leave your scented geranium in its planter and overwinter it in a bright light. In this case, the plant is pruned as follows:

  • In autumn, only cut back long and weak shoots.
  • Buds and flowers should also be removed.
  • Overwinter the plant as usual
  • and finally cut them back to 10 to 20 centimeters in spring.
  • This cut should be done before the first sprouting
  • and is necessary because scented geraniums only bloom on new shoots.

The heavy pruning is of course also possible in autumn, but the plant then often drives overgrown shoots during a light winter, which then have to be cut back.

tips

Scented geraniums that have been cut back very heavily should be slowly awakened from hibernation from February. For this purpose, plant the flowers in fresh substrate and put them in a light but not too warm place. Slowly increase the amount of water and start fertilizing from around April.

Category:

Vegetable garden