How to Overwinter Your Geraniums: A Guide to Indoor Care and Climate Adaptation

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 As temperatures drop, gardeners in cold climates often wonder how to save their beloved geraniums. The good news is that you have a couple of easy, proven options to keep them healthy through the winter. The key is to understand your climate and choose the right strategy.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps to safely overwinter your geraniums, ensuring they come back to life in the spring.

Method 1: Bring Them Inside as a Houseplant

This is the most common and easiest way to keep your geraniums alive through the winter.

  • Before the First Frost: Before the first frost hits, bring your potted geraniums indoors. It’s a good idea to bring them in a few weeks before the cold to help them acclimate.
  • Inspect and Clean: Check the plant for any pests. You can wash the leaves with a gentle insecticidal soap to make sure you aren’t bringing any unwanted guests inside. Remove all dead or yellowing leaves and any spent flowers.
  • Pruning: Give the plant a light trim, cutting it back by about one-third. This helps to reduce stress and encourages new growth.
  • Find a Sunny Spot: Place the potted geranium in the sunniest possible location, ideally a south-facing window.
  • Water Sparingly: Geraniums are not actively growing in the winter. Drastically reduce your watering schedule. Water only when the soil is completely dry to the touch, which might be as little as once every two to three weeks.

Method 2: Dormant Storage (For Cold Climates)

This is a space-saving method that allows you to store many plants at once.

  • Prepare the Plant: Before the first frost, dig up your geraniums. Gently shake the excess dirt from the roots.
  • Cut it Back: Prune the plant severely, cutting the stems back to about 6-8 inches long.
  • Store in a Cool, Dark Place: Place the bare-root geraniums in a paper bag, a box, or wrap them in newspaper. Store them in a cool, dark location, such as a basement, a cool garage, or a root cellar, where the temperature stays above freezing.
  • Rejuvenate in Spring: In early spring, take the plants out, prune off any dead roots, and repot them in fresh potting mix. Water them well and place them in a sunny spot. They will quickly bounce back.
Geraniums

Geraniums

Winter Care in Mild Climates (Zones 9-11)

In warmer, frost-free climates, geraniums are true perennials.

  • Light Pruning: Give the plant a light trim in late fall.
  • Reduce Watering: Cut back on watering significantly during the winter months.
  • Let Them Be: Your geraniums will go semi-dormant but will likely start producing new growth and blooms as soon as the weather warms up again.

No matter your method, successfully overwintering your geraniums is a simple way to enjoy their beauty year after year.

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