I originally wrote this post late last fall, but I had to "re-post" it again since the response was great on the original, but also because the amazing deep red geranium that I spoke of in the first post was successfully overwintered using "option #2 below. This geranium impressed me so much in its first summer with its deep green leaves, and phenomenal blooms I just had to try overwintering and I sure am glad I did. This year I'm overwintering six new geraniums, and I can't wait to see what I get in the spring.
So if you have geraniums that you just can't bare to compost, take a look at the options I've outlined below for overwintering, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Option #1
Dig your geraniums just before a frost shake all the soil from the roots, and hang them in a dry location where the temperature will remain in the 40s or low 50s. Once every month you should soak the roots for about an hour or so to prevent them from completely drying and dying. All the leaves will die but the stem will remain thick, and healthy. In the spring plant the geraniums in pots and remove any dead stems. I also suggest feeding the plant right away with Authentic Haven Natural Brew for a nice boost, which can be found at http://www.manuretea.com.
Option #2
If your geranium is located in a flowerpot like mine is, bring it inside and don't water it. Store it in the same environment you would uprooted plant. Check on the plants occasionally, and add a little water to the soil once in a while to keep them barely alive. Next spring, remove the dead areas and begin watering, again I suggest Authentic Haven Natural Brew for a nice boost, which can be found at http://www.manuretea.com. Place them in a sunny window, and voilà!
This is the geranium I used "option #2" on last year. I'll be using "option #1" this year since I have so many, and so little space.
Option #3
First, cut the top 4-6 inches off each branch. Remove and discard any flower stalks, even if they have buds on them. Next, take off all the leaves on the bottom 2-3 inches of the stem, and dip the cutting into rooting hormone powder or liquid. Finally, Place the stem in sand or perlite, add water, and place it/them in a sunny window. Once the roots start to develop, you can either pot them inside or wait until spring to plant them outside.
Many of your other favorite outdoor potted plants can be saved through the winter in the same ways. However, the proper research should be conducted for the best results. As I said I think the methods above are going to be most successful for my geraniums, and if you have your own favorite geraniums I would recommend trying at least one.
Thanks to:
http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/
http://www.timeinthegarden.us (Image)
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