How to Bring Your Geraniums Indoors for the Winter and Encourage Blooming

Geraniums and Pelargoniums: A Rewarding Plant for Winter Care

Geraniums (Pelargoniums) are delightful and rewarding plants that, with a little effort, can be successfully overwintered indoors, allowing you to enjoy their blooms even through the colder months.

If your geraniums are potted, simply bring the pot indoors. To ensure survival, it's crucial to place the plant in a bright window or under grow lights. With sufficient light, geraniums often continue to bloom. Their large size, however, may require some creative storage solutions. For those with limited space, taking cuttings is often a more practical choice.

Taking Cuttings for Overwintering

Geranium cuttings are easy to root, making this a efficient method to preserve your favorite plants. Here are the steps to follow:

Preparation: Gather several small pots (moderate size) and fill them with moist potting soil. Keep the soil moderately moist, but not overly wet. Preparation and Planting: Take a pencil and poke a hole in the soil for each cutting. Choose a stem without blossoms, and remove the leaves from the bottom 2 inches of each cut. Insert the cut stem into the hole and gently compact the soil around it. Thoroughly water the cutting and place it under good lighting. Warming and Moisture: Utilize a seedling warming mat to help maintain the ideal temperature for root growth. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogged conditions. Root Check: After about two weeks, gently tug on the cutting. If it resists, it has likely rooted; if it pulls easily, it may not have rooted yet. Keep the cutting in the pot until the roots form or until it becomes clear that the cutting is not viable.

Some gardeners use rooting hormone to increase success, but I've achieved good results without it.

Geranium Survival and Spring Bloom

Geraniums are inherently hardy and forgiving. If they make it through the winter, they will thrive in spring. One personal experience involves a scented geranium that I kept warm indoors during winter. When the weather improved, I moved it outside for more light despite a cold night that dipped slightly below freezing. The plant suffered some leaf damage but, remarkably, began to produce new leaves. Now, it is stronger and more robust than it was in the fall.

Another cautionary tale involves a geranium that looked compromised with leaves falling off and half-frozen. Surprisingly, in the spring, it bounced back to great condition and bloomed abundantly.

In conclusion, with proper care, even the most challenging climate conditions can be overcome. Whether through bringing potted plants indoors or taking and nurturing cuttings, your geraniums can thrive and bloom beautifully throughout the winter months.