- Cut back hanging geraniums before winter
- The right winter care for hanging geraniums
- Waking hanging geraniums from hibernation
Hanging geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) originally come from southern Africa and are therefore used to a completely different climate than we are used to. Therefore, the popular balcony flowers are not hardy, but must be wintered frost-free and cool. The advantage, however, is that geraniums do not need light in winter, provided they have been pruned back accordingly.
Hanging geraniums should be cut back before overwintering
Cut back hanging geraniums before winter
For a dark and cool hibernation, prepare your hanging geraniums as follows:
- First, all shoot tips, buds and flowers
- and almost all leaves removed.
- Now cut back the remaining stems
- and cut out what has dried.
- Now take the flowers out of the planter
- and separate any geraniums that may have grown together.
- Remove excess soil
- and pack the roots in a clear plastic bag.
- Hang the plant upside down in a cool and dark place.
- Temperatures between eight and ten degrees Celsius are ideal.
Hanging geraniums should be moved to their winter quarters before the first frost - around mid to late October.
The right winter care for hanging geraniums
The advantage of the method described above is that hanging geraniums that overwinter in this way require practically no further care. Finally, the plastic bag, as well as hanging it upside down, prevents it from drying out completely. However, if you don't cut back your hanging geraniums as much and want to overwinter them in the flower box (€16.99), you will need to water them occasionally. However, fertilization is not necessary, but is instead stopped from the beginning / middle of September.
Waking hanging geraniums from hibernation
Hanging geraniums that have been severely pruned should be awakened from hibernation in February so that they sprout again in good time. At this point, plant the flowers again in a suitable substrate or repot them and slowly (!) get them used to warmer temperatures. The warmer it gets, the more light the plants need - overgrown shoots should finally be cut away in March / April.
tips
From around the middle / end of April you can put your hanging geraniums outside for a few hours, weather permitting, but you should still bring them inside overnight.