Geraniums are not hardy in our latitudes. They can be overwintered in light or dark conditions and require little care until wintering out. Pruning depends on the overwintering method. Geraniums that have overwintered in the dark should be pruned. Cuttings can also be taken for next year. Lightly overwintered geraniums do not need pruning and can survive the winter in a pot.
How do I overwinter geraniums correctly?
Geraniums should be brought into winter quarters before the first frost and, depending on the location, hibernate in light or dark conditions at temperatures between 5 and 22 degrees Celsius. Pruning is necessary in dark winters and the watering of the geraniums is adapted to the respective location.
How are geraniums overwintered?
Geraniums must be overwintered from < 5 °C degrees. Overwintering is possible in the light at around 15 degrees; pruning is not necessary. If you spend the winter in a dark basement or attic at around 5 to 10 °C, you need to cut it back. Geraniums are only watered lightly when the soil is dry. Fertilization is not necessary in winter.
Are geraniums hardy?
Geraniums are not hardy in our latitudesNot hardy Due to their low frost tolerance, they should be overwintered from October, before the first frosts and persistent temperatures below 5 degrees. In their natural environment in South Africa, geraniums are perennial plants. By overwintering, geraniums can decorate our balcony or terrace for years.
Are all geraniums overwintered?
The overwintering of geraniums isvariety-independent - they all need winter protection. Overwintering is beneficial for several reasons.
- Costs: Wintering requires effort. If you overwinter the plant in the light without pruning, it will reward you with strong, vigorous growth for years to come. There will be no need to go to the garden center next year.
- Sustainability: Prototypes of new geranium varieties are bred in Germany and their seeds are sent to Gran Canaria for breeding. From there they are sent back to Germany as small plants. They are cloned in the propagation laboratory and sent to Africa to grow as mother plants under optimal conditions. Cuttings are taken from these mother plants, which are then shipped back to Germany to be grown in pots and sold in garden centers, hardware stores and supermarkets.
All geraniums must be overwintered in our latitudes.
When do geraniums need to be overwintered?
Alreadybeforethefirst frostthe geraniums cultivated outdoors have to move to their winter quarters. Due to the low frost tolerance, this point is usually reached in October. Especially at night, temperatures should not permanently fall below the limit of5 degrees. Please pay attention to the current weather report and react to the conditions at short notice.
In October, before the first freezing temperatures, geraniums can move into winter quarters.
Four ways to overwinter geraniums
There are many methods available for overwintering pelargoniums. The individual variants differ in the lighting intensity of the location and the pruning. In order for the plant to survive the winter unscathed, the right combination of factors is necessary. Plants that have not been pruned in particular require significantly more light than plants that have been cut back. In addition, bright and warm locations require noticeably more watering than dark and cool places. Therefore, please take note of the instructions listed below regarding the respective procedures.
The wintering methods fundamentally apply to the following types of geraniums:
- Pelargonium zonale (standing geraniums and climbing geraniums)
- Pelargonium peltatum (hanging geraniums)
- Pelargonium odorata (fragrant geraniums)
The flowering of hanging geraniums can decrease due to overwintering. Noble geraniums or English geraniums were bred for indoor use. They should definitely be overwintered in the light and without pruning. Only remove new and old flowers and inflorescences.
Method 1: Overwinter geraniums indoors (without pruning, bright)
Wintering indoors is possible, especially in cool and bright locations. In principle, wintering in the living room is possible, but it is unfavorable due to the mixture of heating air and lack of light. If a cool room is not available, you should:
- Do not place the geranium near the heater.
- install a plant lamp (€39.00 on Amazon).
- water little, but don't let the geraniums dry out.
- Avoid high temperature fluctuations through e.g. ventilation.
Instructions
- Wintering when the temperature is permanently below 5 degrees Celsius
- Move indoors to a bright and warm location, ideally a windowsill
- Moderate care during wintering with moderate watering and one-time fertilization
- Planting possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius
Location: bright spot with at least six hours of sunshine
Temperature: Room temperature, range from 18 to 22 degrees Celsius
Watering: Moderate irrigation on a weekly basis, regular checks for waterlogging
Fertilization: reduced fertilization, at most once during the wintering period
Pruning: No pruning of the geranium, both leaves and flowers remain on the plant
Wintering out: Wintering out possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, usually after the Ice Saints
Method 2: Overwinter geraniums in the cellar (with pruning, dark)
If the geranium is cut back, it should be kept dark over the winter. By losing the leaves, the plant no longer needs light for photosynthesis and can go into hibernation.
Instructions
- Implementation if the temperature is permanently below 5 degrees Celsius
- Pruning the above-ground plant parts with secateurs to a height of about five centimeters, removing all leaves and flowers
- Cutting cuttings from the cut shoots possible
- Relocation inside to a dark and cool location, ideally the basement
- hardly any care during wintering with little watering and no fertilization
- Planting possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius
Location: dark place with no direct sunlight
Temperature: Range from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
Watering: light watering as needed, regularly checking for drought
Fertilization: no fertilization during the wintering period
Pruning: Complete pruning to a height of around 10 to 15 centimeters, seven to ten centimeter long cuttings can be cut from the shoots for propagation
Wintering out: Wintering out possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, usually after the Ice Saints
Method 3: Overwinter geraniums in newspaper (with pruning, dark)
The method is particularly suitable when there is little space. Here, too, the geraniums have to be kept dark and cool over the winter due to the pruning.
Instructions
- Unpot the geranium and remove soil
- Pruning the above-ground plant parts with secateurs to a height of 10 to 15 centimeters
- Wrap individual plants separately in newspaper
- Set up newspaper rolls as upright as possible
- Relocation inside to a dark and cool location, ideally in the basement
- hardly any care during wintering with little watering
- regular inspection for dryness and rot
Location: dark place with no direct sunlight
Temperature: Range from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
Watering: light watering as needed, regularly checking for drought
Fertilization: no fertilization during the wintering period
Pruning: Complete pruning to a height of around 10 to 15 centimeters, seven to ten centimeter long cuttings can be cut from the shoots for propagation
Wintering out: Wintering out possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, usually after the Ice Saints
Method 4: Overwinter geraniums in bags (with pruning, dark)
If you have an attic or just a small basement, roof beams and ceilings can be used as storage places for overwintering geraniums. It is important to specifically check the bags for mold over the winter. However, small air holes in the bags can prevent mold formation.
Instructions
- Unpot the geranium and remove soil
- Pruning the above-ground plant parts with secateurs to a height of 10 to 15 centimeters
- Put the soil balls of the plants individually into bags
- Tie the bag lightly with a thin string
- also close the bottom end of the bag
- Prick holes for ventilation
- Hang geraniums upside down in a dark and cool location, ideally in the basement or attic
Location: dark place with no direct sunlight
Temperature: Range from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
Watering: no watering during the wintering period
Fertilization: no fertilization during the wintering period
Pruning: Complete pruning to a height of around 10 to 15 centimeters, seven to ten centimeter long cuttings can be cut from the shoots for propagation
Wintering out: Wintering out possible from mid-May at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, usually after the Ice Saints
We have put together additional information on propagating geraniums using cuttings in this article.
Not recommended: Overwinter geraniums in a box
Compared to the methods mentioned above, overwintering in a box without pruning and with a ball of soil in place is not recommended. Plants that have not been pruned require significantly higher light intensity than their pruned relatives. In addition, leaving the potting soil on the ball can lead to root diseases. So choose one of the well-known methods to overwinter the geranium in the best possible way.
Can geraniums be overwintered outdoors and on the balcony?
Overwintering outdoors or on the balcony is only possible if the minimum temperature is not permanently below -5 degrees Celsius over the winter. This is possible in regions that have particularly mild temperatures in winter. The geraniums should remain in their original balcony or flower box. In addition, the individual plants should be protected from wind and rain with fleece, jute or brushwood. Moderate watering should also be ensured during wintering. The pelargoniums do not need fertilizers during this time.
If the temperatures have fallen into the minus range, the geraniums can usually no longer be overwintered.
Winter geraniums
After overwintering, you should repot the geraniums or, if you have cut them back, repot them. Potting and repotting can be done in March or April. Mid-May, after the Ice Saints, is the best time for final winterization. At this time there are usually no more night frosts. For more information on potting and repotting geraniums, click here.
FAQ
What wintering temperature do geraniums need?
The ideal wintering temperature is between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Geraniums can usually cope with small temperature fluctuations without any problems. While lower temperatures lead to frost damage, higher temperatures cause premature sprouting.
Where are geraniums overwintered?
Geraniums can be overwintered in a dark place such as a cellar or attic, but also in the light of an apartment. Pruning is only necessary if the geranium is overwintered in a dark place.
What happens if geraniums are overwintered too early or too late?
If you overwinter too early, there is a risk of pest infestation and premature sprouting. In contrast, overwintering too late can lead to the death of the plant due to frost damage.
How are geraniums overwintered?
Depending on the location selected, geraniums require different care during wintering. Overwintering in a bright and warm location requires moderate watering and fertilization. In contrast, geraniums in a dark and cool place require little liquid, no fertilizer and pruning. Be careful not to let the plants dry out.
Can geraniums be overwintered outdoors?
In principle, it is possible to overwinter geraniums outdoors in flower or balcony boxes. However, this option is only available if the weather conditions are mild over the winter months. Sustained temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius lead to irreparable frost damage and subsequent death of the flower.
