Fall Geranium Care: Your Guide to Repotting, Pruning, and Propagation

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 For many gardeners, fall is a time to put the garden to bed. But for geranium lovers, it’s a golden opportunity. As temperatures cool, your geraniums are ready for a final tune-up that will ensure their health for the upcoming winter and set them up for an explosion of growth next spring.

This guide will show you how to take advantage of the autumn season with three key tasks: repotting, pruning, and propagation.

Repotting: A Fresh Start for Winter

If your geranium has been in the same pot all season, its soil has likely become depleted of nutrients and compacted. Repotting in the fall gives it a fresh foundation for the winter ahead.

  • Timing: Repot your geraniums 6-8 weeks before your first frost date. This gives the roots enough time to settle in before the plant goes dormant.
  • How to Repot: Gently remove the plant from its container. Check for a healthy root system. Move the plant to a new pot that is only 1-2 inches wider than its current one. Use fresh, well-draining potting mix to replenish the nutrients.

Pruning: Essential for Overwintering

Fall pruning is crucial for the health of your geranium. It helps the plant conserve energy and prevents it from becoming leggy and woody.

  • Why Prune? Pruning helps the plant manage its resources. It’s especially important if you plan to bring your geraniums indoors for the winter, as it reduces the size of the plant and helps prevent pests and diseases.
  • How to Prune: Cut the plant back by one-third to one-half. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves and spent flower stems. Make your cuts just above a leaf node to encourage new growth in the spring.
Geranium

Geranium

Propagation: From One to Many

Fall is an excellent time to take cuttings from your geraniums. The cooler temperatures are perfect for rooting, and you can get new plants for next year.

  • Timing: Take cuttings in early to mid-fall, using the stems you’ve just pruned.
  • How to Take a Cutting: Select a healthy stem that is 4-6 inches long. Remove the lower leaves and any flower buds.
  • How to Root: Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with a well-draining, sterile rooting mix (such as perlite or a mix of perlite and sand). Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a bright location with indirect light. Roots will form in a few weeks, and your new plant will be ready for winter.

By completing these three simple tasks in the fall, you’ll be giving your geraniums the best possible chance to survive the winter and put on a spectacular show of blooms next spring.

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