overwintering potted geraniums

Becky in PA · Post by **Becky in PA** » Oct 05, 2005 8:41 pm

Howdy--
I've heard that you can overwinter geraniums in the basement somehow. Can someone tell me how to do this? (My mom is running out of room in her greenhouse!) Thanks,
Becky in PA

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Oct 05, 2005 11:38 pm

Mom used to let them dry out, then hang them roots up, in a cool place in the cellar. You can also keep them in a sunny window till mid winter, start new ones from cuttings, toss the old one. If you do it that way, nip off any flower buds so it will spend it's energy on climatizing to the house.

Becky in PA · Post by **Becky in PA** » Oct 06, 2005 8:12 am

Thanks, OED--I'll try both ways!
Becky

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Oct 07, 2005 7:31 am

If you winter them over in a window, put them in the coolest room in the house and water them so rarely that most of the leaves fall off. If you try to keep them actively growing, they are going to be leggy. Come March, cut them back HARD and start feeding and watering. Cuttings are best taken when the new growth has four leaves on the shoot. Remove the bottom two leaves and stick in sand, perlite or vermiculite to root.