Geraniums are not hardy and must therefore be kept frost-free but cool over the winter. You can also overwinter the flowers without soil and in the dark basement, for which you only need a little space. This also minimizes the care required for the sensitive plants. However, the prerequisite is that the geraniums are cut back radically in good time before the winter break.
Geraniums should be cut back before overwintering
Cut back before winter dormancy
First, start by removing all leaves, buds, and flowers. The leaves in particular would only rob the plant of its strength in winter, and they are also a dangerous gateway for bacteria and other germs. Once everything green has been removed, all that remains is the bare framework of woody and fresh shoots - which are also shortened by about a third to a half. After pruning, the geranium should be about 20 centimeters high.
Don't forget to trim the roots
Just like the above-ground parts of the plant, the roots should also be pruned to thin and rejuvenate them. For this purpose, the thin, fibrous roots in particular are removed, while the thicker and stronger main and main roots are only slightly shortened. You should also carefully cut away rotten and dead parts.
Also cut geraniums in spring
In spring, another pruning is necessary before the first sprouting to remove water shoots that have grown over the winter. These weak branches cannot develop flowers and only hinder the plant in its development. After spring pruning, plant the geraniums in a pot or balcony box with fresh substrate.
tips
Nevertheless, you should only put the freshly trimmed and planted geraniums outside in mid to late May, when there is no longer any risk of frosty temperatures. Geraniums (which, botanically correct, are actually called pelargoniums) are very sensitive to cold and should not be exposed to temperatures below five degrees Celsius.