Complete Guide to Overwintering Geraniums

[@mickydub3]

As a novice gardener i found this very informative ...... " Many Thanks " .

[@AstridSaunders]

Excellent video. Just pure gold gardening information shared. Thank you

[@mrscaldwell3147]

Thank you for your information; this will be my first attempt to overwinter this plant!

[@scottishdancer8823]

that's brilliant, dave. thankyou so much. love the friend in the background going "yeah". lovely video, great info. so clear .

[@lindamastropietro4429]

I left mine in the house in the sunny location and they grew through the winter and then I put the pots back out

[@SusanOlejnik]

Yes thatscwhat my mum used to do - it worked .

[@katepavelle9465]

Thank you so much for sharing! My granma in Prague used to overwinter her geraniums in the unheated staircase of our house, right by the windows. I was a kid so I didn’t pay too much attention, but I knew there was cutting involved, and then a certain level of fuss until spring 😄. Her plants were huge for that climate. She never took cuttings, but her biggest plant had a pride of place on top of our garden staircase, in a big pot, and was knee-high on an adult. In the 90’s, my husband and I visited San Francisco and when I saw their geraniums, I began possessed with geranium envy! The plants grew form little patches of soil between the concrete footpath and the house wall, and they reached up to my chest! Their stems were so thick on the bottom, I couldn’t reach around with my thumb and forefinger. They looked lush and gorgeous, and loved that climate. (I wish she could’ve seen them!) Currently we live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the US. Our climate has 4 seasons and the winters have deep freezes, but snow is spotty. Now with climate change, it can be unpredictably cold or mild. We get dry freeze, too, so I mulch all my outdoor plant with wood chips. I tried overwintering geraniums last year. The plant in my heated office (no pruning, full light and water) got all leggy, but it survived. I had to cut it way back before planting outside. The second plant, in a half-heated den by the window, dried out. I thought it was hibernating but we often have only 20% humidity, so this time I will give my plants a bit of water here and there.

[@shannonmuessman2232]

Kate, we lived in North Dakota for several years, and always had Geraniums. My school boss brought potted ones and kept them in the cafeteria and hallway windows. -- They stayed there for years and bloomed beautifully all the time, regardless of the season. I discovered that she'd pinch off the seeds (pointed) that periodically came through the top of flower pedals, so by not "going to seed", they continued to flower! Now, I do that, too! HaPpY HaPpY Geraniums Memories to You & Me All Year Round! xo

[@leeway4451]

Last yr. I brought my geraniums inside and they grew all winter under a grow light. As soon as the weather broke I took them back outside. They are just beautiful. one plant had 30 flowers on it. I am bringing them in again this yr. I was just experimenting . Very surprised.

[@AlanBrownPhotography]

This is a great tip. Our winters (Vermont) are very cold and I don't have a lot of room under indoor grow lights. I'll try potting up as described and store down in the basement - assuming they don't need much light if dormant.

[@marigeobrien]

I'm watching this as a refresher. I've overwintered my geraniums for two years now but I always like to check to make sure I don't forget anything. BUT-- what I wanted to add here is, be sure your geraniums are fully protected. Last spring, when I opened my box (I keep mine in a cardboard box), I found mice had gotten into the container because it had little hand-hold openings on two sides. They got about half of my geraniums. (Waah!) This is also why I prefer a cardboard box instead of a bag-- they'll eat through bags in no time, I'm sure.

[@michaellyne8773]

Many thanks for your tutorial, keeping geraniums over the winter period, you have given me an idea in making a shelf in our small shed. Very clear tutorial, many thanks, have a great day 😊

[@dustyflats3832]

Another great helpful video! I already lifted mine, but I seen so many different ways to do this. I cut all the leaves off and put roots up in a cardboard box. Some leave the leaves on and I think they will mold. With any luck I will be able to save these huge plants I grew from seed!👏🏼👏🏼

[@gracesmith6199]

Years ago I had 2 geranium plants, I brought them in, put them in a dark cupboard, left them till the spring, my sister said " bring them out & put them in the light" , I did that & they came back to life, I was well chuffed, maybe that was just luck. Just thought I'd tell you my wee story 🫢

[@melaniehunter6612]

My friend told me that too. I brought them back out and put them in to water and they sprouted new roots and were great

[@isabelchilian2930]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. Great video. Iiked and subscribed. Watching you from Ontario Canada

[@FloralSmith-u7k]

Very clear instructions. Thank you. Will do.

[@zigtonswizard3670]

A Polish immigrant tought me to bring the Geraniums inside, remove all soil, then hang upside-down inside a brown paper bag until Spring. All survived and grew real well when brought into yard. Do you have any experiences like this?

[@karmelicanke]

This technique is widely used in Canada with consistent success.

[@wintersky_]

@@karmelicankeI have succeeded with paper bags, cardboard boxes and simply setting multiple barefooted plants (roots down) in a tall plastic bucket. They have survived in cool basements and fruit cellars. They do quite well overwintering when potted up and placed in a window. Geraniums are very hardy. One mistake I made was to cut the plant back before dry root storage. I think The roots need nourishment from the drying greens when in dormancy.

[@pikkuli1]

Täytyykö niitä kastella talven aikana? Voiko ne säilyttää huoneenlämmössä?

[@karmelicanke]

@@wintersky_ You are right about the necessity of not cutting the withering greens which maintain the life of the geranium in dry root storage. They do look sad but spring back to life when repotted.

[@karmelicanke]

@@pikkuli1 No watering necessary when in storage in a cool dry place. If the geraniums are in room temperature conditions, keep the plants growing planted in a pot at a window, sunny if possible. They would likely bloom all winter.

[@1943L]

Nice and clear information, thanks.

[@wingabouts]

My insulated garage dips to about 55 F during the coldest part of winter. I will put mine there this winter. There's only a north facing window but hopefully that is enough light. Thank you for the video. I have a gorgeous grouping of geraniums in a large pot. I was fortunate to find just the right combination of colors this year - the blend is stunning! I'm so excited to think it might last through till spring!

[@joebarrett4353]

Brilliant advice. Thank you

[@melluques8475]

I’ll try this on the pot tomorrow and bring them to my kitchen. Thank you🙏🏻

[@magsmcqueen249]

Very easy to understand and follow. Will be trying it out this weekend. Look forward to spring video. Thanks for sharing.

[@maryvalentage6403]

This was very helpful and to the point Thank you for the information

[@sharonphelps]

Wow, what a helpful video! Thank you. I have just seen this at the right time before a frost. I'm going to follow your advice, and then put my geranium in my unheated greenhouse to overwinter.

[@Andreacokely]

I have already taken cuttings so hope they will grow in the spring.excellent video

[@5670gemini]

Very helpful - thankyou - look forward to the cuttings video in spring!

[@capablemaria]

Thankyou,i have had some extra lovely huge plants this year,and i was wondering how to preserve them for next year, this is very helpful. I shall leave them in their huge pot &move into the unheated green house & keep dry. Fingers crossed .

[@janespond922]

Last year I overwintered my plants , barerooted in brown paper bags in the garage and they all did " cum back ter life!"❤ Thanks !

[@faridayasmin8051]

Informative video Thanks for sharing

[@GoldenPowergardens]

Thanks for info in video. I like the old fashioned method and I have a bay window that’s too cold for houseplants which seems the easiest way for me. I subscribed and will be excited to see the cutting vid in spring. I do have an outlet under the window and indoor grow lights but guess I am undecided on that point. I did bring in a Boston style fern and it was beautiful all winter last year with a grow light in the pot and additional sunshine. This year I divided into 4 plants and used grow light’s so it’s all a nice experiment over winter.

[@naomiwoodstock110]

Really helpful… thank you 🙏🏼

[@helenweatherby1694]

This is a revelation to me! Thank you.

[@angelabrooke5059]

Thank you. Very informative. 😊

[@martinhorridge4794]

Thank you. Very informative video. Approximately when will you produce a video showing how to take cuttings?

[@enviiuk]

Thanks for watching Martin, glad you found it useful. We will most likely take the cuttings in Spring 2023 so stay tuned and we will demonstrate how this is done!

[@tinaknutsen]

Martin Horridge; 1) spray plant w/ insecticide or neem oil. 2) remove flowers, buds, dead leaves any rotted stems..you can tell by gently squeezing the stem it will feel soft, mushy or hollow. 3) cut just below leaf node 4”-6” from the tip. Remove lower leaves, so you have a few inches of bare stem.

[@pablo9364]

Very nice video , I have to call these pelargoniums

[@davidmorley7354]

I liked the comments in the background! Aaay thet's raigght!

[@gardentours]

Thanks for sharing 🌱🌸👍

[@enviiuk]

No problem, thank you for watching!

[@annemaria5126]

My daughter says, I treat my 'outside' plants like diva's. They remain in the livingroom, I place them in the sun if he is there, nice and warm. And they flourish!. They grow like trees!

[@misstrekfreak]

Great info 🫵🏻👍🏻

[@hemaleite6331]

They grown well inside!!!

[@veroniquesterckendries9143]

Thanks for your clear instructions. I have french geraniums that grew a lot this year (they are like 30 cm long). Should I shorten them? I hope you can help me survive them as I really like them.

[@esmeraldamansky7130]

Thank you .nice to. Know .

[@mollypitcher9380]

Thanks!

[@janw491]

I’ve had geraniums last years. I just treat them as houseplants until spring. It’s too cold here to leave in a greenhouse🇨🇦

[@huguettelarochelle6843]

i bring mine just as they are , and they continue all winter and even flowers i got one for 7 years like that.

[@pogojet]

Thank you. BTW 30 degrees fahrenheit is below freezing (32).

[@plasticbucket]

Mine are indoors I don't do anything special just leave as they are. Of course they need little water in the winter months. Come spring they begin flowering again.

[@GTR-Ovat]

Great advice 👍🏼 can I put fleece over the plants over winter? I tried overwintering chillies in the greenhouse once but they were damp and got mouldy. So now I over winter my chillies indoors 👍🏼

[@enviiuk]

Thanks for watching. Yes you can and that is worth doing of frosts are particularly bad. Good call on the chillies. 🌶

[@Minerva-b6h]

I put the whole pot and quite large Pelargoniums (used to be called Geraniums, but real Geraniums can stay in the garden all year) into an unheated greenhouse. Perfect except the ones in the coldest corner last year! They lost a few branches.

[@derekmccullagh7866]

thanks for great information is it the same for pelagoniums?

[@shelleyrusnell155]

He is working with pelargoniums. As an expert he should be identifying his gardening zone and use the correct name for plants.

[@AshHum1955]

I replanted the old plant and had a wonderful show of white. Hopefully will try it again next spring for a 3rd year !!!

[@serephina2252]

That's interesting as he said the original plant wouldn't flower as well. I'm hoping to do what you've done and not take cuttings

[@dakotahstr]

Ive always brought my geraniums in.

[@sofiepekri6635]

Can we overwinter fascia’s in the same way please

[@alinafrost7796]

If the plants are already in pots do you suggest repotting the, or just let them dry off etc

[@roontunes]

I got geranium rust this year, never seen it before and it was a struggle all summer to manage it. I might have to dump them all and get new next spring but it seems it's in nursery stock as well

[@valjalava1951]

Yes I will give this a try,how cold does your non heated green house get or do you just leave out there all wintet

[@enviiuk]

It’s generally safe as long as the temperature stays above freezing, ideally above 5°C (41°F).

[@Trish-ql9kz]

My unheated greenhouse will no doubt be cooler then then the temperature you advised for inside window sill? I will try it this way as I don’t have any space inside the house for them

[@MarkColeman-t4h]

Won't a hard frost in an unheated greenhouse kill them? My Oxfordshire greenhouse got to minus nine last winter.

[@davidkemp4212]

I put mine in an unheated greenhouse but protect them with fleece and/or scrunched up newspaper. Works for must of them every year. Have also tried the upside down in a paper bag as well. Not successful

[@judysmith9642]

didn't read ALL the comments......but wish you had said something about using your cutting tool and perhaps spreading any diseases from what you were cutting off and going on to the next plant without any apparent sterilizing the cutting blades....

[@enviiuk]

Hi Judy, sorry this wasn't clear. We will consider explaining this in future.

[@amyohl5037]

Thank you ever so much.

[@pepsi666]

Mine live in my conservatory, unheated and they still flower I don’t mind, gives a bit of colour during the winter

[@singingelaine]

Do you continue to water them whilst they are in flower like a house plant? Thank you!

[@pepsi666]

@@singingelaine yes, but not very much, just keep the solid damp Put your finger in the soil about 2 inches, just to feel if it’s damp, should be fine

[@mollypitcher9380]

Must be beautiful.🌸

[@maryjones4029]

Very clear directions. I've overwintered geraniums before but not all of them survive and some seem to lack roots. Based on your guide I think it might be because I've put them away when the soil has been too damp. I also tend to get mouldy leaves and I'm thinking it's possibly because moisture may be dropping from the insulated plastic covered greenhouse onto the leaves. Do you have a guide for overwintering non-hardy fuchsias?

[@tinaknutsen]

Mary Jones; I take off all flowers, buds and just give your fuschia a haircut taking off about 1/3 of the plant just below the leaf nodes. I place in my non-heated garage with grow lights. I water every 3 weeks- just moistened the soil don’t soak it…that can cause mold on the 🍃 leaves.

[@mollypitcher9380]

Mary Jones- thanks for telling me what NOT to do. I’m a novice. 🌸

[@gillianleyland198]

⁠

[@pumpkineater_69557]

Hmmmm. Those aren’t Geraniums…..😂

[@GoldenPowergardens]

@@tinaknutsenI was so happy Mary mentioned her Fuchsias. I desperately brought mine in yesterday. Right now, it’s in my northeast facing bay window which is cool. I will try cutting back like you suggested. These plants get expensive to repurchase every spring! Then some animal ate all the flowers off so it was my second plant.

[@cherylhaskell9830]

Thank you

[@Bonniebrubeckjeter]

What variety is this? love the variegation

[@leswall3061]

Does this apply to summer bedding Geraniums? great video

[@enviiuk]

Yes, absolutely! Thanks for watching.

[@ruthiehardee8805]

I follow your tips and clips - they are great. But I have a question: I live in Colorado (4B zone), have a huge high shelf in a heated garage that can house my 40 gorgeous geranium potted plants with mixed annuals and perennials. I have clipped them all back, sprinkled systemic house plant insect control granules on soil near roots and they are ready for winter. There will be blast of cold when we open & close the garage door all winter, there is also light coming in from overhead lighting. Garage stays about 65- during the winter. They sit high so heat rises. Do I need to put paper bags over each pot so they think they’re in dormancy or just let them be and water very little once a month?

[@manivirdee9838]

I do the same no need for paper bad at all just keep checking them add a bit of water good luck from the uk

[@gladyslove3227]

Can you do this with hanging geraniums too?

[@lyndaodell3619]

Many people put them in paper bags put in garage or sheds look at them monthly to check for disease.Or you can put them in a cardboard box.

[@wyominghome4857]

Trying this with my one geranium. Does it work with other kinds of plants? I have a pineapple sage I would love to have again for next summer. So far my attempts at getting cuttings have not done well.

[@hw476]

Can they be stored in a cold frame as we are going to heat our greenhouse this winter ?

[@enviiuk]

Sure, a cold frame will work just fine. Good luck!

[@cathyhaase1550]

I don't have a cool spot for my plants over winter, so I just keep them in their pots and water them over winter. Should I just keep them in their pots and not water them so they go dormant? They bloom all winter. I live in a very cold climate.

[@singingelaine]

Great video Dave. Is it OK to keep each geranium in its original pot( I cannot use my limbs easily), cut back as described, leave in cold conservatory but without ventilation?( no window too open!🙁) Can you also just let them keep flowering and treat as a house plant re watering and even feeding?

[@enviiuk]

Yes this will be absolutely fine Louise. Thanks for watching!

[@margaretvanson3601]

Here in New Zealand we just leave them outside. I put my special potted ones under trees, and that's about all. The ones left in the main borders just snuggle up to their neighbours.

[@helendavies2742]

If going into a cold greenhouse with no heating , what happens if we have extreme frost, will the plants survive?

[@plasticbucket]

Yes.

[@maggiemathars235]

Great video thanks. Could I keep geraniums in an unheated potting shed which has a window? Would the plants die if temp fell below freezing?

[@tinaknutsen]

Maggie Mathers; Yes your geraniums will die if they freeze. Do you have a way to put a small portable heater on a timer that would keep your shed at 50 degrees? Another option would be a heat lamp, but Not placed close to the plant, just to keep it from freezing. Last option is a heat mat with the plant a few inches above as you don’t want to cook your plant. You will need to check regularly to make sure they aren’t drying out completely nor do you want them soaked. If they look like they are drying out just mist with water bottle. Hope this answers your question.

[@maggiemathars235]

@@tinaknutsen thankyou Tins. That's so helpful. I'll follow your advice!

[@mypreciousgarden]

Thanks ! For the potted version, does he take cuttings too or he keeps the plant ?

[@MoonSpinners]

It looks like he just keeps the plant, but I’d be tempted to take cuttings too. I take cuttings every year, I root them in water, and I also root them in a pot of compost, they’re easy both ways. 😊

[@mypreciousgarden]

Thanks ! :) @@MoonSpinners

[@MoonSpinners]

@@mypreciousgarden …no problem 👍🤗

[@grahamhulson6611]

do,s the same apply to trailing ones ???

[@enviiuk]

Yes, you can apply these same methods to trailing geraniums.

[@Anna-jt3xu]

In bygone days the bare geranium was wrapped in newspaper and stored under the bed.with no heating in the bedroom the temperature was ideal 🥴

[@OriginalMariAnnaWolf]

I thought were annual! 😮 what other plants that are said ain't perennial actually are?! What a shame ppl throw away.. I think waste of money too. Knowledge is power! Learn n dig deep about ur plants n experiment if they are perennial! ❤

[@lesleyrussell8557]

I have beautiful ‘annual’ begonias just completed their fourth summer. I just stick them in their pots in my cold spare bedroom where there is no heating from October to early June. I live in the North of Scotland. They look straggly but I cut them back and they flower again beautifully. I do the same with geraniums.

[@irishka_zolotse]

Сoleus is great to take back in and back out in spring!

[@desireeleighton6522]

I know right 😢I am so sad and frustrated

[@kaittemurry4740]

They are Annuals.. but you can take inside your home and winter over

[@patriciaelg1464]

I live in California so I just leave mine outside. I love geraniums but I never know how much to water them.

[@mollypitcher9380]

Must be beautiful.🌸

[@sarahhayhurst9944]

Is it possible to just bring the plants in, flowers and everything, and have them as indoor plants over winter?

[@enviiuk]

Absolutely!

[@JamesWoolfordDesign]

Hmm so if I where to take my pots into the greenhouses trim them down and use a grow light over winter, it'd basically stay alive growing?😊

[@enviiuk]

That would certainly work! Just make sure there is good air circulation and let the soil dry out between light waterings. Hope this helps.

[@mrsm9443]

Can I ask what compost you use?

[@enviiuk]

We use Bathgate Peat Free Champions Blend 🙂

[@mrsm9443]

Thank you. It looks good

[@petermalna5987]

@@mrsm9443 I overwinter my geraniums in a greenhouse with a small heater to keep the frost at bay, but I never use compost. The idea is to keep the plants just ticking over without them making any growth which would be spindly and weak. Compost you buy from the garden centre contains fertiliser/nutrients which would make the plant grow. I use spent compost and repot with compost in Spring when the new growth starts, never had a problem. I do the same with tender fuchsias.

[@arlenesinclair9038]

Do I do the same with trailing geraniums

[@Anna-jt3xu]

Tried the cardboard box but they rotted so I will try this thank you

[@tsheringdorji5148]

liked bye drrchop fan 👍🙌🦄👼🏽💕

[@helenbenjafield7351]

Pelargonium!

[@suecollison4639]

Very informative but surely you mean Pelargoniums?

[@R35635]

nis to si pl prepare for winter

[@mayam1141]

All that hassle, I'd rather to throw them out and buy new ones in the spring 😊

[@litzacats5628]

❤

[@jcr_jcr]

Pelargoniums

[@g.johnson3119]

very helpful guide apart from annoying voice in background thought it was a parrot!

[@ritaC345]

Seriously?

[@dustyflats3832]

I think there was feedback in the recording. Not a problem though as it was great quick info for those of us that live in cold country.

[@2000disneyland]

Funny comment, made me laugh, but I think it was feedback, and not a parrot.

[@milkshake3350]

I think he's actually talking to someone and they are agreeing with a " yep " or " right ".

[@vanessaeden8174]

😂The other voice was just someone he was speaking to and the person was agreeing etc. Nothing annoying at all. Chill out❤

[@zuzauramek9850]

It's no geraniums. Its pelargonium. 🤦

[@petermalna5987]

Trivial, who cares?

[@Julian-pb4lr]

Excellent informative video, but spoiled by annoying background music.

[@mihaeladog7187]

This plant is cheap just buy another one next year 😁

[@Anna-jt3xu]

That’s not the point by doing this you can keep the plants for years or until they get a pest then buy new

[@gordbaker896]

Great but too much repetition.

[@Odo55]

This is not necessary in all climates.

[@Liz-qq8pl]

Would have been better if the camera had been on what he was showing us rather than his hands! Otherwise some useful advice.

[@rogernorman5241]

Please stop calling Pelargoniums Geraniums its very confusing for new gardens thanks

[@sharonphelps]

Wow, what a helpful video! Thank you. I have just seen this at the right time before a frost. I'm going to follow your advice, and then put my geranium in my unheated greenhouse to overwinter.