As soon as the first warm and sunny days of the year lure people outside, balcony gardeners and other plant lovers want to bring their summer flowers outside and bring color to the still monotonous nature. However, you should not be too impatient, because geraniums (pelargonium) - like many other summer and balcony flowers - should be protected from cold temperatures.
The geranium does not like temperatures below 10 degrees and should therefore not go outside too early
Beware of late frosts
The "geraniums", botanically correct as geraniums, originally come from the rather hot and dry regions of Southeast Africa, where they are naturally exposed to completely different living conditions than here. The warmth-loving plants stop growing at temperatures below 10 °C, and even a light frost can mean death for the sensitive plants. Geraniums do not tolerate frost at all and should therefore not be placed on the balcony or in the garden too early.
Best planting date: after the ice saints
According to an old peasant rule, summer flowers should only be brought outside after the ice saints. The ice saints mark a climatic singularity when, after the first warm days, it gets really cold again around mid-May - but this rule should be used with caution these days. According to the calendar, the Ice Saints end on May 15 with the “Cold Sophie”, but climatically not until the end of May. Therefore, keep a close eye on the weather report and, as a precaution, bring the plants indoors overnight.
Planting geraniums in the garden?
Due to their sensitivity, geraniums are generally known as balcony or container plants, but can also be planted directly in the garden - provided they are in the right location. However, the flowers cannot hibernate there, but must be dug up again by mid-October at the latest and prepared for hibernation. The easiest way to do this is to bury the geraniums and their planter in the garden - a clay pot or other natural material is best suited for this. When digging up in autumn, there is a higher chance of getting the plants out of the ground safely.
tips
If you live in a climatically favorable region with mild winters, you can easily overwinter your geraniums outdoors in a hole at least 80 centimeters deep. Pad the pit with leaves and straw for extra insulation.