Geraniums, also known as pelargoniums, are essential flowering plants for your balcony or terrace. Geranium is perfect for dressing gardens, balconies and terraces in summer. This pretty perennial plant is very popular with its pink, white or yellow flower petals. But this plant is very sensitive to cold and must be overwintered when temperatures reach 0°C.
After overwintering your geranium indoors, you want to bring it outside for the sunny days of early spring. Here’s how to get these flowering plants out of winter.
How to get geraniums out of winter?
Geranium is a perennial plant with flexible and thin stems which can be raised or hung depending on the many varieties. This flowering plant is very easy to grow and maintain but it does not resist winter. It must be brought in to be out of the frost. Depending on its variety, its foliage contains particular aromas such as lemon, apple or even pepper. The geranium blooms all year round with beautiful large flowers, which is why it can be ideal on a balcony or terrace.
Geranium in Winter
Geranium is a flowering plant that cannot stand the cold. When low temperatures arrive, it is important to bring it inside to save it from the first frosts. It should be stored in a cool, ventilated place away from frost. For good wintering, bring your potted planters into a place with a temperature between 10 and 15°C. Cut the stems of your flowering plants about 2/3 from their root. To get through the winter, reduce the watering of your potted plants and then stop watering them completely. Give them a little water from February and March and bring your planters outside in the spring.
If you have geraniums in your garden, grown in the ground, pull them out before the first drop in temperature. Cut the ends of the roots and prune the branches by 2/3 of their length. Store your plants in a cool, bright place until spring. Water them when the soil is dry to the touch and then place your geraniums in a bright location with a temperature ranging from 8° to 35°.
After Wintering Geraniums
At the end of the winter cold, it is time to take your annual plants out of wintering. As soon as temperatures begin to rise and leaves begin to appear on the trees, you can move your flowering plants outside. First, to get it out of its wintering period, you can water your plant and put it in a room with a higher temperature. Your geranium will surely have dry foliage, a few soft branches and dry soil. To revive your flowering plant, you will have to go through different stages. Gradually, accustom your beautiful plant to natural light. Take it out of its wintering and place it outside in the shade then in the sun, while it gets used to these new temperatures. In all cases, it must remain in a sheltered place and avoid too much exposure to the sun. Sprinkle it with a little water to wake it up.
To ensure good flowering and a good restart, you can repot your geranium. Remove your geranium from the pot or your planter and prune half of the roots. Make sure the container is clean to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. Repot your geranium with potting soil and compost. Once your plant is well established again, cut off any dry parts such as leaves or stems that could not withstand overwintering. After completing your spring cleaning, your geranium can be maintained regularly throughout the year.
After a good winter, geraniums can live up to 20 years and they can decorate your balconies or terrace with their colorful flowers. Also, their scent perfectly perfumes your exterior.
