Overwintering Geraniums

Would you believe this Geranium is 5 years old? With a total outlay of approximately $10, the total cost per year is $2. When it is time for frost, bring your geraniums into the garage/shed for the winter. I hang mine from the ceiling with hooks. Let it go dormant and when March rolls around and the weather gets nicer, start putting it out in the sun during the day and start watering it. (I don't water all winter long.) It will get ratty looking, but in the Spring, remove all the yucky stuff, it'll grow back. I had about given up on this one this Spring, and look at it now!

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81 Comments Displaying 25 of 81 comments | See Previous

Ruth H Vicksburg, MI

I absolutely am going to try this!

on Sep 20, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

I always overwintered my ferns just didn't know it would work for geraniums...

on Sep 20, 2012 · Like 1
Kate F New Britain, CT

I don't understand what ferns people are throwing away?! My yard is filled with about 4 different varieties of ferns and they stay in the ground and return each year. I live in CT. Even my Himalayan Fern! Are you guys bringing them inside? I'm confused - I guess I don't understand the process.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I think they are talking about Boston ferns or other types that wouldn't be hardy outside, Kate.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

I Have Some ferns that live outside year round , but my artillary fern I bring in the garage to over winter it, because it won't survive otherwise.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Terry T Arcanum, OH

I've had geraniums last from year to year and I live in OH. I bring them in the day of the 1st frost and put them in the basement. I don't water them until the spring and usually start them indoors for a week or 2. Repot, refertilize, and they are huge! This picture is a 2-year old geranium. Like the pot? It says Bless My Bloomers. I got it at blastedideas.com and love it!
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on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Patty A New Milford, CT

Sharron, I live on two wooded acres, those trees are the Bain of my existence! Never enough sun...it's amazing I get blooms at all on the geraniums. I actually move the heavy pots all over my deck at this time of year to maximize the waning sun. So when the leaves fall...my overwintered friends are very happy to be near the western windows facing the woods.!

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 1
Patty A New Milford, CT

Btw,Kate, I'm in New Milford, CT,and with all my woods I've got tons of ferns that I've dug up and put in the gardens and all come back perfectly over the years. Why do some have to dig them up, I wonder.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Dotty S Plummer, ID

I had Geraniums for years in Alaska, I brought them in during winter, but I also cut them back and planted all the shoots, then I had that many more the next year. Worked for me.

on Sep 23, 2012 · Like 0
Lori J Broken Bow, NE

Our house is small and I have lots of houseplants, so I am glad to have the cellar. I propagate mine the same way, Dotty S.

on Sep 23, 2012 · Like 0
Kate F New Britain, CT

ok - so I'm guessing the "digging up the ferns" folks are referring to potted houseplants that perhaps they are putting outside.

on Sep 23, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Kate F, that's exactly right....I have ferns that have lived outside year round for years....and two others that are not winter hardy and I bring them in the garage for winter...BUT I also keep a space heater out there so it doesn't get below freezing.... OK, I'm not sure why I got "bold" when I typed the eariliest part of this post...

on Sep 23, 2012 · Like 0
Becky J Troy, IL

that's weird Sharron! when I put my cursor over the bold print it's red too! oh, now I get it, you tagged her.

on Sep 24, 2012 · Like 1
Kate F New Britain, CT

Wow - isn't it amazing how we learn some of the features of our computer programs and applications by accident?

on Sep 25, 2012 · Like 1
Stacey Montuori

does anyone know if this will work with scented geraniums?

on Sep 27, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Yes it will, Stacey Montuori . See this from the Missouri Botanical Garden:
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/garde...

on Sep 28, 2012 · Like 0
JANIS S Hugo, MN

Hi I do this every winter here in MN and save ALOT. I love all my geraniums. I put them on a wall ledge in my basement where they get sun.

on Oct 05, 2012 · Like 0
Phyllis tomelloso Louisa, KY

tys for that super tip didnt know you could do that

on Oct 09, 2012 · Like 0
Edna bates Ogallala, NE

I am going to try this, I love this idea, as well as my geraniums.

on Feb 24, 2013 · Like 2
Becky J Troy, IL

This is the geranium pictured in the post as of yesterday. I put it outside for the first time this year and watered it good. So don't get discouraged if yours looks as bad as this.
on Mar 16, 2013 · Like 0
sanlebru@tampabay.rr.com Lakeland, FL

To bad I didn't know this before now as I have lost many of them especially getting to wet in the winter. Thank you so much for sharing this.

5 days ago · Like 1
Becky J Troy, IL

you are welcome.....I had to finally get rid of one of my 3 this year, but the other two look pretty good right now.

5 days ago · Like 0
Lori J Broken Bow, NE

I lost a few little cheapies that just hadn't gotten strong enough to overwinter. Our growing season was just hell last year.

5 days ago · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Well I had 50% success with your post/idea over the winter...of the two I bought last year, one made it and one did not...but the one that did is HUGE this year and blooming like CRAZY...I'm going to try, if it's not too late to find another pink one to replace the one I lost...I simple pulled them out of the dirt and hung them upside down....tied a ribbon on the hanging cord that indicated which color the plant was...AND the reason I think I lost the pink...(I was faithful about taking ...»
them down and soaking the roots a couple of hours at least once a month) is because our weather was so crazy, we had a warm spell in FEB and everything outside started to look like it was going to bloom and then we had a cold snap with freezing temps that hung on WELL past our normal "safe" time...I noticed that the pink one not only started to put out leaves, but actually got a tiny bud...all while it was hanging upside down without any dirt...When that happened I SHOULD have realized it was expending it's last energy because it thought it was spring and gone ahead and put it in a pot...but instead I simply soaked the roots and hung it back up...the Red one that "Made it" is HUGE and I am SO thrilled to know this works!

3 days ago · Like 2
Patty A New Milford, CT

if you have the room, mine bloom indoors all winter and just get bigger each year....my geranium 'tree' outside now is over 10 yrs old!

3 days ago · Like 1