Geraniums - or, as they are called botanically, pelargoniums - come from the hot and rather dry climate of southeast Africa and are therefore used to completely different weather conditions than those common in Central Europe. This means that the popular balcony flowers are not hardy, but – as many balcony gardeners do – they do not have to be thrown away immediately in autumn. Instead, you can easily overwinter the plants - even without soil and in the dark.
How can you overwinter geraniums without soil?
Geraniums can overwinter without soil by storing them bare-rooted in a dark cellar at 5-10°C. To do this, cut back shoots, leaves and roots, wrap the rhizome in a plastic bag or newspaper and hang it upside down or place it in a box.
Geraniums overwinter best in the cellar
In any case, geraniums overwinter at best when cut back, without leaves and bare roots in the dark cellar at temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius. Before the first frost (around mid-October), pot the geraniums out of their planters, cut off the shoots, leaves and any remaining flowers and buds, remove the soil around the rhizome and also shorten the roots a little. When it comes to storage, you now have several options:
1. You pack the rootstock in a plastic bag and hang the plant upside down.2. You wrap the rhizome in newspaper and put the geraniums in a box.
With this type of wintering, watering is usually not necessary.
Tip
Instead, you can overwinter your geraniums in a pot or flower box, although they must then be brighter and warmer.
