Folks, winter is coming, which can mean only one thing! It’s time to protect your geraniums from the cold months that are about to hit your garden. But they are a bit different from other plants because geraniums require some special care during winter!
I planted these flowers five years ago, and they are still thriving in my garden. They were definitely one of the easiest plants I’ve ever grown until winter arrived!
In the beginning, I didn’t pay as much attention to my geraniums as I should have and they almost didn’t survive the first cold month. Luckily, I rushed to bring them inside and quickly helped them recover!
Then I found out that these plants just can’t stand frost and cold outdoor conditions. But that’s not the only thing I learned! I also discovered some amazing tips and tricks on how to overwinter them so they come back every year.
After using these effective methods, I found my geraniums became healthier and stronger each year! Let’s take a look at the first trick.
Easiest Way To Winterize Geraniums By Using A Cardboard Box
Believe it or not, cardboard boxes play an important role when it comes to winterizing your geraniums! What you actually need to do is grab your geranium from the base and pull it out gently.
When pulling geraniums, make sure to capture as much of the roots as possible! Next, brush off the soil from the roots by tapping them with your hand. By doing this, you’ll be sending the geranium into dormancy for a few months.
Since it’s time for geraniums to go for a long nap, you should pinch off flower stems and remove any wilted leaves because if any flowers remain, the geraniums will use their energy for blooming, which is not what you want.
Now, be careful while stacking them into the cardboard boxes so they don’t get crushed inside. Once you’ve closed the box, store your geraniums in a cool, dark place over the winter!
Bring Your Geraniums Indoors And Grow Them As Houseplants
Bringing geraniums into the house is also a great way to overwinter them! First, you’ll need to trim off every wilted or damaged leaf with sharp pruners.
Trim it back by about one-third of its original size. Be careful not to damage the new growth while pruning! Now, gently take the plants from their original containers and place them into pots with plenty of drainage holes.
Place the pots on a sunny window that provides lots of sunlight. Make sure to water them only when the soil feels dry and pinch them back from time to time!
Don’t Forget To Take Cuttings Before Colder Days Arrive
Last but not least, the method of the day is overwintering geraniums from cuttings. You can take geranium cuttings at any time of year, but it’s best to do it now if you want to winterize them!
Look for new shoots, and then use sharp scissors or secateurs to cut just below the leaf node and remove any leaves left. Once you have done this, get a pot of compost, place the geranium cutting in it, and water it.
Your beautiful geraniums are now ready and prepared to survive even the coldest winter. Thanks to these amazing tricks, you’ll be able to overwinter them in the easiest way possible by using the fun methods you’ve learned today.
I sure know one thing, with just a little care, my geraniums have thrived for many years! If you also want your garden to experience the beauty and stunning scent of geraniums, start overwintering them now.
Good luck!