Whether standing, hanging or climbing: geraniums are among the most popular balcony plants of all. The easy-care flowers are available in numerous colors and bloom tirelessly. However, the plants that are not hardy are usually disposed of in winter, although they can be overwintered quite easily.

Noble geraniums can be overwintered in the light as a houseplant

Table of Contents

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  1. Are geraniums hardy?
  2. Overwintering geraniums - makes sense or not?
  3. Overwinter geraniums properly
  4. Cut cuttings and overwinter - Here's how
  5. When should geraniums be put into winter quarters?
  6. How can I overwinter geraniums?
  7. When is the right time to clear out in spring?
  8. Are there differences in the overwintering of the different types of geraniums?
  9. Proper care for geraniums after winter
  10. frequently asked Questions
  11. Why do my geraniums get yellow leaves in the winter quarters?
  12. Help, the geraniums are full of aphids. What to do?
  13. How often can you overwinter geraniums?
  14. Are Geraniums and Petunias the Same? How to overwinter these plants?
    • "Real" geraniums are not hardy, but the native cranesbill (geranium) is
    • Geraniums should be light and dry in winter
    • Geraniums can also be overwintered in the dark without soil, e.g. in the basement

    Are geraniums hardy?

    Many a hobby gardener gets confused when the garden center advertises "hardy geraniums". Is there suddenly a new variety of the popular balcony flowers that can actually stay in the garden?

    Unfortunately, the answer to this question must always be "no", because the hardy geraniums are native cranesbills, which are botanically referred to as geraniums. The balcony plant is instead a pelargonium, the term "geranium" is only popular.

    Nevertheless, we will stick to the usual name in this article, after all, it has become commonplace over the decades. The geranium is originally from South Africa, where they are used to a warm and dry climate. So it's no wonder that the plants don't survive a typical German winter - wet and cold.

    Geraniums are not hardy

    Geraniums have not come all the way from South Africa to end up on the compost after just one season.

    Overview of geranium species

    However, not all geraniums are the same, because there are a whole range of different species and a much greater variety of varieties. The various forms differ in terms of their use, and some require more light and higher temperatures during the cold season.

    variety group Latin species name growth habit growth height particularities wintering
    Upright geraniums Pelargonium zonale (hybrid forms) standing up to approx. 40 centimeters great variety of flower colors and shapes well, preferably dark and cool
    Hanging Geraniums (“French Geraniums”) Pelargonium peltatum hanging shoots up to 150 centimeters long great variety of flower colors and shapes well, preferably dark and cool
    Climbing Geraniums Pelargonium zonale (hybrid forms) climbing up to approx. 100 centimeters need climbing aid (e.g. trellis) well, preferably dark and cool
    scented geraniums Pelargonium odorata standing up to 40 centimeters small, bicolored and fragrant flowers, "mosquito geraniums", keep mosquitoes and wasps away well, preferably dark and cool
    butterfly geraniums Pelargonium crispum standing up to 30 centimeters lush, two-tone flowers basically possible, but difficult, are often attacked by fungal diseases
    Noble geraniums (“English geraniums”) Pelargonium grandiflorum standing up to 40 centimeters particularly beautiful flowers, especially suitable as a houseplant basically yes, but bright and warm
    bed geraniums Hybrid varieties of standing and hanging species spherical, slightly overhanging up to 40 centimeters mainly suitable as ground cover well, preferably dark and cool

    Overwintering geraniums - makes sense or not?

    Geraniums are available every year for little money and in a huge selection in every garden center and even in discount stores. Of course, this raises the question of whether it makes sense to spend the winter, after all it involves some effort. In fact, there are some very good reasons for this, as the following video impressively shows:

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    Anyone who overwinters the flowers and does not buy new plants for the balcony or garden every year actively contributes to environmental protection - after all, geraniums that have traveled far do not have to be bought and planted again in spring, only to end up on the compost again in autumn. Furthermore, the plants can be stored quite easily even in the dark basement and can beautify the balcony or garden bed again and again for many years. If you overwinter the geraniums without pruning, the once small plants will grow into large, lush bushes over the years.

    Overwinter geraniums properly

    Geraniums show their blooms well into autumn, but should be prepared for winter quarters before the first frost. Overwintering the robust plants is uncomplicated, because

    • Geraniums only need a little water: Moisture is stored in the fleshy stems and leaves
    • can be overwintered without soil: after a vigorous pruning, the plants overwinter even without any soil in a dark, cool basement
    • can also be overwintered in the flower box (€16.99).: as long as there are no other types of flowers in the planter and the geraniums are kept to themselves

    In the following sections we have compiled for you what options you have for overwintering the popular flowers and how these work best.

    Do you have to cut back geraniums before wintering?

    In principle, you can cut back geraniums before wintering - or just leave them as they are. A pruning is not necessary before putting them into winter quarters, it is better to just pinch off any flowers and flower buds that are still there. These cost the plant too much energy during the winter. However, plants that have not been pruned must never be placed in a dark place: due to the mass of their leaves, they need light and also more moisture. So put these geraniums in one

    • cool location with five to ten degrees Celsius temperature
    • bright place, such as directly behind a window in an unheated room
    • not directly sunny location, as this affects growth

    A pruning is only necessary if the plants should or must overwinter in the dark. In addition, the method has proven itself when there is a lack of space - for example in a rented apartment in which the basement often does not offer much space for accommodation.

    Best Method: Explained step by step

    However, the easiest way is the method explained in the following section, which has already proven itself many times:

    1. Repot geraniums from the planter
    2. If possible, do not damage roots
    3. and get a lot of fine roots - these are important for the water and nutrient supply
    4. remove adhering soil
    5. Cut back geraniums with sharp pruning shears
    6. Shorten all shoots to a length of about ten centimeters
    7. Two to three buds should remain per side shoot
    8. these are recognizable as thickened nodules
    9. Remove most of the leaves as they are susceptible to disease and pests
    10. pack several geraniums in a large flower pot
    11. and cover the roots loosely with a mixture of sand and soil
    12. Put the pot in a dark and cool place
    13. five to ten degrees Celsius are ideal

    With regard to the brightness at the wintering site, the rule of thumb is that the warmer it is, the brighter it has to be. Otherwise, the plants will sprout quickly with long, thin and weak shoots, which you should always remove if the worst comes to the worst.

    Proper care for geraniums in winter

    Otherwise, there is not too much to consider when it comes to winter care. You can safely do without fertilization - after all, the plant is practically in cold sleep - but occasional watering is essential. Geraniums that have been cut back and wintered in the dark only need a little water every three to four weeks, whereby the substrate may only be made slightly damp. If in doubt, keep the plants too dry rather than too wet, as waterlogging is a much greater risk than drought.

    Cut cuttings and overwinter - Here's how

    You do not necessarily have to dispose of the plant material that occurs during pruning on the compost or with the household waste. Instead, you can specifically cut cuttings of around ten to 15 centimeters in size and thus multiply your plants on the windowsill. The propagation of cuttings is also very easy with geraniums:

    • Use preferably young shoots.
    • These should have about two to three young, not yet fully developed leaves.
    • Carefully pluck them from the plant.
    • Or cut them off with a sharp and clean knife.
    • Fill small growing pots (€16.68) with a low-nutrient growing medium.
    • You have first made this sterile in the oven or in the microwave.
    • A few minutes at high wattage are sufficient in the microwave.
    • Stick the geranium cuttings individually into the substrate.
    • Moisten the soil.
    • Place the pots in a light and warm place.
    • Keep the substrate evenly moist.
    • Avoid drafts or other sudden changes in temperature.
    • Do not fertilize the cuttings.

    By spring, the young plants have rooted and can be potted and cared for in regular potting soil.

    When should geraniums be put into winter quarters?

    Finding the right time to move into winter quarters is not that easy. After all, the hibernation phase should only last as long as necessary and as short as possible so that the plants are not unnecessarily stressed. When the right time has come depends very specifically on various factors: On the one hand, the region and the climate in which you live are of great importance for an assessment, on the other hand the current weather conditions. In areas where winter comes early in the year and gets cold quickly, flowers should be planted as early as September. In milder areas - for example on the coast or in the wine-growing regions - you can take your time until October or even November, depending on the weather. It is particularly important that the geraniums are brought into the house before the first frost to avoid serious damage from the cold.

    How can I overwinter geraniums?

    In addition to the two options described, there are other ways to get geraniums through the cold season. Each of the variants presented here has its own advantages and disadvantages, so that you can find the most suitable one for you. But be careful: Not every overwintering method is equally suitable or has the same success rates.

    In a flower box or bucket

    The geranium should be cool and bright in winter

    Now a standard geranium is difficult to cut back before winter and then sprout again in spring: in this case you would no longer have a standard, but a normal geranium bush. So leave the plant in its planter and overwinter it as follows:

    • bright location (e.g. in the unheated stairwell)
    • cool temperatures
    • optimally between five and ten degrees Celsius
    • avoid sudden drops in temperature and drafts
    • pour little
    • do not fertilize

    tips

    Of course, you can also overwinter normal geraniums in this way, but only if they were not kept in a planter together with other plant species. In this case you should unpot the geraniums and place them separately in a fresh sand-soil mixture.

    In the burrow

    If you don't have a basement and live in a region with mild winters, you can let the geraniums overwinter in a hole in the ground. However, this only works if it doesn't get colder than about minus two degrees Celsius - otherwise the sensitive plants will freeze to death. And this is how the method works:

    1. Dig a hole in the ground about 80 centimeters deep.
    2. This should be in a little-frequented and, above all, dry place in the garden.
    3. Avoid a permanently damp location!
    4. Line the hole in the ground with branches, brushwood and/or straw.
    5. Repot the geraniums and remove the soil.
    6. Cut the plants back to about four inches.
    7. Remove all leaves.
    8. Place the prepared geraniums in the burrow.
    9. Cover the plants with a coconut or straw mat.
    10. Backfill the hole with the excavated soil.

    In the bag

    With this method, the roots of the geranium are packed in a plastic bag so that the plants do not dry out if they overwinter bare-rooted. So you can do without soil and flower pots, and you should hang them upside down. A dark, cool room is best for this - in addition to the basement, this can also be the attic or the garden shed. The main thing is that the hanging geranium is protected from frost. And this is how wintering in the bag works:

    1. Pot and cut back geraniums.
    2. There must be no soil or leaves left.
    3. Plastic bag provided with some air holes.
    4. A fresh food bag, for example, is suitable.
    5. Wrap roots in these.
    6. Tie the bag with a ribbon or rubber band.
    7. Hang geranium upside down in a dark and cool place.

    In newsprint

    Instead of a plastic bag, you can wrap the geraniums in several layers of newspaper to protect the plants from the cold and dehydration. Again, you have to cut back the flowers vigorously and remove the leaves and soil. Bundle three to four plants into a package, which you keep in a frost-free, but cool and dark place. A basement is suitable for this, but also the garage, the attic or an (unheated) garden shed.

    In the living room

    Geraniums are better wintered in a cool place

    Hibernation in the living room is basically possible for geraniums, but difficult. The reason for this lies in the unfavorable combination of warm heating air and lack of light, which inevitably results from the short days. As a result, warm overwintered geraniums are often plagued by diseases and pests. If possible, always give preference to a cool hibernation. But this does not always work, so please note the following:

    • Place the geranium in a location that is as bright as possible.
    • If necessary, install a plant light.
    • Do not place the plant directly over a heater.
    • Avoid sudden changes in temperature, e.g. B. when airing.
    • Water little, but more often than during a dark winter.
    • Don't fertilize!

    When is the right time to clear out in spring?

    At the end of winter, the question arises as to when the geraniums can move out of their winter quarters again. Basically, you should do this as early as possible, especially if you have cut back the flowers a lot. In this case, they need some lead time to sprout again in early spring. The easiest way to do this is in a greenhouse or in a conservatory, but it also works on the windowsill at home. And this is how you do it:

    • Get plants from winter quarters.
    • Place the geraniums in fresh, nutrient-rich substrate.
    • Moisten the potting soil.
    • Place the newly planted geraniums in a light spot.
    • However, this should not be too warm.
    • A little or unheated room with about 12 to 15 degrees Celsius is best at first.
    • Do not place the plants in full sun.
    • Get the geraniums used to a brighter and warmer location first.
    • Gradually increase the temperatures.

    However, the flowers are only allowed outside when it is warm and sunny enough outside - you should not put the geraniums outside until April at the earliest. Now is the right time to start fertilizing again.

    tips

    Bring the plants in in the evening, as night frosts also threaten them.Only after the ice saints from the middle to the end of May are they allowed outside completely.

    Are there differences in the overwintering of the different types of geraniums?

    Last but not least, it should be mentioned that there are sometimes big differences in the overwintering of the various geranium species mentioned at the beginning. So the rules and wintering methods described apply in principle only to geraniums of the species

    • Pelargonium zonale (standing and climbing geraniums)
    • Pelargonium peltatum (hanging geraniums)
    • and Pelargonium odorata (scented geraniums)

    In the case of (Tyrolean) hanging geraniums in particular, it can be problematic that the willingness of the plants to flower can decrease after the winter. Standing varieties show no abnormalities in this regard. Noble geraniums, which are also known as English geraniums, should never overwinter in the dark. They are mainly cultivated as houseplants and do well all year round in a bright and warm location. However, it makes sense to install a plant lamp during the winter months to compensate for the lack of winter light.

    Proper care for geraniums after winter

    To ensure that your geraniums thrive after the long winter, you can best help them with the following care measures:

    • Repot in fresh, nutrient-rich substrate in March / April at the latest
    • Pre-fertilized soil is best
    • Cut back winter shoots, as well as diseased or dead plant parts
    • The same applies to the roots: cut off thin and dead roots
    • Increase pouring quantity gradually, do not pour over
    • start fertilizing about four weeks after potting

    Also, do not place the geraniums in the blazing sun right away, but rather get them used to the new location first. Otherwise there is a risk of leaf damage in the form of unsightly brown spots due to sunburn.

    frequently asked Questions

    Why do my geraniums get yellow leaves in the winter quarters?

    If geraniums suddenly get yellow leaves in winter, this can have different causes. This can be due to a lack of nutrients (in the case of a warm hibernation), but also a lack of water or watering too often. Frost damage (e.g. after airing) or pest infestation are also possible.

    Help, the geraniums are full of aphids. What to do?

    Pests such as aphids, but also thrips, whiteflies, spider mites and others are not uncommon after overwintering. The plant is weakened and is therefore attacked more quickly by the annoying little animals. Now it's time to act quickly: fight the pests with a suitable agent and carefully care for the infected geranium so that it recovers quickly. Washing off the leaves and shoots of the plant - for example with a water-oil mixture - or showering them off helps against aphids in particular.

    How often can you overwinter geraniums?

    In principle, there is no limit to the number of overwinterings, as long as the geraniums remain healthy and vigorous. Some people have been caring for theirs for 20 or more years - so geraniums can get quite old.

    Are Geraniums and Petunias the Same? How to overwinter these plants?

    Even if the plant names "pelargonium" and "petunia" sound very similar, they are actually different species. The colorful and large-flowered petunias belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and originally come from tropical South America. They are also not hardy, but like geraniums, they can be overwintered at five to ten degrees Celsius and cut back heavily.

    tips

    Since geraniums and petunias also have very similar requirements when it comes to their location and keeping, they can be wonderfully cultivated together in a balcony box.

Category:

Indoor plants