Keeping Geraniums Over the Winter

A few years ago I bought my first geraniums. Even though they were a little more expensive than I was used to spending on annuals, I figured they were worth it. Besides, they looked so pretty in their pots, sitting there among the petunias and alyssum.

One day when I was talking with a gardening friend of mine, she told me about drying geraniums so that I could plant them in the spring. Always on the lookout to save money, I was eager to try it...and guess what? It worked!

Here's what I did: First, I dug out the plants and gently shook as much dirt as I could off the roots. Then I snipped off all the flowers and buds. Placing three to four plants in each brown paper shopping bag, I then left them in a cool, dark spot in my basement- a spot that averages about 60 degrees (if your basement is warm, after a couple of weeks, place the shopping bag full of plants in a large plastic garbage bag and seal it). Then in February, I brought out the plants. They looked a little shriveled, but still green. After soaking them in warm water overnight, I then potted them up. Then it was just a matter of keeping them in indirect light and watering them until all danger of frost was past.

Before placing them outside, I did harden them off. This is done by increasing the exposure of the plant to the sun. You could either set them outside for an hour a day and gradually increase it until they can spend the whole day in the sun, or, do what I do: I just placed them under my picnic table. That way, they get sun in the early morning and late evening, but are sheltered from the harsh midday sun.

It is very exciting to see those first shoots appear on the geraniums, especially when there is still a foot of snow outside. That is what makes it so worthwhile. That and being able to save money!

P.S. My original plants are still doing fine. I only lost one; due to under-watering while it was still in the pot. :(