Overwintered geraniums are certainly not beauties: Naked and bare, apart from a few long and spindly shoots that have grown due to the lack of light in winter, the plants do not give much of an idea of their future splendor. To get the summer flowers back on track, they should be cut back again in early spring and then repotted into fresh substrate.
How do you properly repot overwintered geraniums?
Repotting overwintered geraniums consists of several steps: First, weak and dead shoots and roots should be cut back vigorously. The geraniums are then repotted into fresh, pre-fertilized substrate and watered vigorously. The plants should be kept bright but not too warm and should be carefully fertilized after four to six weeks.
Before repotting, cut back vigorously
Dry, weak shoots often grow during the winter and must be cut back before repotting. They just rob the plant of unnecessary energy and won't produce any flowers anyway. You should also remove all dead and sickly branches, although you should proceed with caution: older, woody shoots may look dried out at first glance, although they are not. If in doubt, you can do the finger test: Take the shoot in question between your thumb and index finger and squeeze gently. Dead and diseased shoots feel soft and yielding, “rotten”.
The roots also need to be cut back
The roots must then be cut back heavily. Remove long and thin, weak roots as well as diseased and dead root components. This pruning is important so that the roots are stimulated to grow strongly and new, so that the plants can grow and thrive even more luxuriantly above ground.
Repotting geraniums in pre-fertilized soil
Now you can repot the geraniums, which have been cut back by about a third, into a clean planter with fresh, preferably pre-fertilized substrate. To do this, use a mixture of 1 part compost or potting soil, 1 part coarse sand and 1 part perlite or similar clay granules. You can also add a handful of horn shavings (€52.00 on Amazon) to the substrate for better nutrient supply. The plants should be placed 30 to 40 centimeters apart in balcony boxes or other planters, but can also be planted individually or together with other summer flowers.
- Water the freshly repotted geraniums vigorously.
- Place it brightly, but not too warm (not directly above a heater, for example)
- Start fertilizing carefully about four to six weeks after repotting.
- From around mid to late May, the plants can finally go outdoors.
Tip
Overwintered geraniums should be brought out of hibernation by repotting in March / April at the latest.
