Geraniums are popular flowers in window boxes due to the abundance of blooms they produce during the summer months. There are hanging geraniums and standing geraniums. They have fleshy leaves and sturdy stems. That's why they can manage without water for a while. The flowers are perennial, but many discard them in the fall. So that you don't have to buy new geraniums every year, we'll explain how you can overwinter the balcony flowers properly.
Different denomination
Is there a difference between geraniums and pelargoniums?
The correct name for geraniums is actually pelargoniums. Its botanical name is Pelargonium. The botanical name "geranium" correctly means the plant cranesbill. Both belong to the cranesbill family, which bears the name "Geraniaceae".
In German usage, it has become so common that pelargonium is usually called geranium. This is probably due to the fact that these bear a close resemblance to the cranesbill "Geranium". The name pelargonium comes from the Greek word for stork: "pelargos". However, geraniums and cranesbills have very different living conditions.
origin
From warm South Africa to cooler Europe
The popular balcony plants originally come from southern Africa. They have been cultivated in Europe since the early 17th century. In their natural habitat, they are rarely confronted with light frost. A sunny and warm climate predominates. That is why the geranium is not used to winter. She needs support to get through the cold season. With the right preparation, the geranium survives the winter months unscathed - as long as it has been nurtured and cared for beforehand.
time
The right time to hibernate
In late autumn, it's time to prepare the geranium for hibernation. Then she almost faded. Most of the leaves have taken on their orange-brown fall color or have already fallen off. If this is the case, you should stop watering the geranium too much. Otherwise there is a risk that the branches and roots will begin to rot. You should start hibernating before the first night frost at the latest. If temperatures have been near freezing for several nights, it's about time too. This also applies if the geranium still has fresh flowers, leaves or buds.
- in late autumn
- before the first frost at the latest
- when several nights are at freezing point
stuffing
How to pot the flowers properly
A hand shovel works best for this. Carefully remove each geranium from the flower box. Then remove the excess soil that just hangs loosely on the plants. You should make sure that the fine roots are preserved as completely as possible.
pruning
Prune the geranium before hibernation
Before you bring the geranium indoors for the winter, you should cut it back. Take the flowers out of the tubs or window boxes. Using clean, sharp scissors, cut off leaving 17 to 20 cm. In most cases, this means cutting back the plant by around a third or half.
The geranium does not need all of its soil from the flower box or tub to hibernate. It is therefore advisable to remove the excess soil from the roots. There should only be enough left over to just cover the fine branches of the roots with soil.
- clean and sharp scissors
- cut back to 17 to 20 cm
- this is usually 1/3 or ½
- remove excess soil
If the geranium still has green leaves, flowers or even buds at the time of pruning, you should remove them. If these remain attached, they could unnecessarily dry out the remaining soil or the roots. Disease or pest infestation could also occur.
- remove green leaves
- remove flowers
- detach buds
You can reuse the removed parts of the shoots by making cuttings from them. You can grow these in a bright and warm spot on a windowsill.
winter quarters
Where is the best place to winter?
The place for hibernation of balcony flowers should be cold. But there must be no frost here. The ideal temperature for the geranium is around 5 to 10 °C. The flowers must be protected from direct sunlight or light. If they get too much light and warmth, they would start sprouting again too soon. That would cause them to die for lack of water. Suitable places are, for example, a basement, a garage or a garden shed.
- cold
- protected from frost
- ideal temperature 5 - 10 °C
- dark
- protected from direct sunlight
- Cellar, garage, garden shed
Which geranium can stay in the balcony box over winter?
Overwintering in boxes is not recommended for every geranium. You should only use this method if there are only geraniums in the window box. If you have placed different plants in the container, it is better to remove the geranium and immediately plant it in new soil.
plant overwinter
Overwintering geraniums - whole plant in a flower pot
Another option for overwintering is to plant the geranium and put it in a flower pot. You can loosely bundle three to four flowers for this. Then cover the plants with potting soil. You should mix these with sand beforehand. Bring the flowers to a winter quarters that is bright and cool. Geraniums prefer five to ten degrees. If the room is dark, the temperature must be lower. If it is too dark and too warm, the geranium will sprout too early. However, weak shoots and small leaves then develop. Keep the potting soil slightly moist in winter.
- Loosely bundle 3-4 geraniums
- put in a flower pot
- Mix soil with some sand
- Cover flowers with soil
- bright and cool
- 5 - 10 °C
- keep it slightly moist
Geraniums overwinter - in the ground hole
The pretty balcony flowers can also spend the winter months in a hole in the ground. However, this method is only recommended if you live in a region with mild winters. Temperatures should always remain above -2 °C. If this is the case, you can dig a hole in the ground in the garden. It should be an 80 cm deep aisle. Fill these with branches, brushwood or straw. Then you can remove the foliage and soil from the plants and place them in the burrow. Cover the plants with a straw or coconut mat. Finally fill in the excavated earth on top.
- in mild regions
- Temperatures must remain above -2°C
- dig a hole in the ground in the garden
- 80 cm deep
- Put branches, brushwood or straw in it
- Add geraniums without leaves and soil
- Straw or coconut mat on top
- fill in with excavated soil
Overwintering geraniums - in a bag
In order for the flowers to survive the cold winter months, they need some protection. It has proven best to pack the roots in a plastic bag. This could be a fresh food bag, for example. It is important that the geranium gets some air. At the same time, however, it should be prevented that it dries out completely. The plants should be hung upside down. This ensures the supply of water without losing too much moisture. Hanging geraniums will feel comfortable in a dark and cool place in winter. Five to ten degrees is ideal. The winter quarters must always be protected from frost.
- Pack roots in plastic bag
- ensure air supply
- hang upside down
- dark, cool place
- protect against frost
- 5 - 10 °C
Overwintering geraniums - in newspaper
You can also use old newspaper instead of plastic bags. Bunch three or four plants together and wrap them in several layers of newspaper. You can then store these warming packages in the basement, for example. The temperature should be two to 10 degrees Celsius. If your basement is too warm for this, a garage or a garden shed are ideal.
- several layers of old newspaper
- Bundle 3-4 plants
- store at 2 to 10 °C
When to get out of the basement?
When winter is slowly coming to an end, geranium lovers ask themselves the question: when to get it out of the cellar? If you have a conservatory or a greenhouse, you can take the plants out of their winter quarters as early as February. However, they should not go outside at this point. The flowers must not get frost under any circumstances. The plants can be put on the terrace or balcony in April. This applies to standing geraniums and hanging geraniums.