Quick and easy way to save your geraniums for next year, by Pat's Home Projects and More on YouTube. 6 min 2 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 2 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick a dry day just before your first expected frost. Geraniums spoil quickly once temperatures drop below freezing, so do not wait for the leaves to go black.
Water the plants the day before lifting. Moist soil holds together and makes the roots easier to lift without tearing.
Dig around the plant with a fork and lift the whole root ball. Shake off as much loose soil as you can without breaking the thick roots.
Cut the stems back to about 10 cm (4 in) with clean, sharp shears. Snip off any flowers, buds and yellow or damaged leaves.
Leave the plants somewhere dry and airy for a day or two so the soil on the roots dries and any damp patches disappear.
Place the bare-root plants in a paper bag or cardboard box, roots at the bottom. Do not seal it shut; air needs to move around them.
Store the bag in a cool, dark, frost-free place at about 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F). A garage, shed or unheated spare room works well.
Check the plants every few weeks through winter. Remove any soft or rotting stems and lightly mist the roots if they look very dry and shrivelled.
Pot them up in fresh compost in early spring and water well. Keep them somewhere light and warm, and new shoots should appear in a few weeks.
Tips and common mistakes
Never water bare-root geraniums in storage, as wet roots rot fast in a cool, dark place.
Take a few stem cuttings in late summer as a backup in case the stored plants fail.
Label the bag with the variety name so you know which colour is which when spring comes.
Wear gloves and use sharp, clean shears when cutting stems to avoid crushing them.
Questions
Can I just keep geraniums in their pots over winter?
Yes. Bring potted plants indoors before the first frost and keep them on a bright windowsill. Water sparingly, just enough to stop the compost drying out completely.
How often should I water stored bare-root geraniums?
Hardly at all. Check them monthly and mist lightly only if the roots feel bone dry and look shrivelled.
When do I start them back into growth?
Pot them up in early spring, once the risk of hard frost has passed and light levels are rising. Water them and keep them warm to wake them up.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
