How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Geraniums
Geraniums are a longtime favorite of gardeners. With colorful flowers and lovely scents, they grow easily in garden beds, containers, or hanging baskets. In the autumn, take geranium cuttings as they all root reliably in fall and it’s much cheaper than replacing them. See how to grow and care for geraniums.
(Note: This page is not about “hardy geraniums,” also called cranesbills. This is about annual geraniums, also called pelargonium, which are annuals that aren’t cold-resistant and need to be moved indoors for the winter.)
Geranium or Pelargonium? A Case of Mistaken Identity
The plants that we commonly call “geraniums” were introduced to Europe by Dutch traders who brought them from South Africa in the early 18th century. Because these new plants resembled the hardy wild geraniums already growing in Europe, botanists mistakenly grouped them together into the same genus.
In 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus classified them under the genus Geranium. When it was later discovered that these new “geraniums” differed from European geraniums in the shape of their petals, the number of stamens, and other factors, they were reclassified under Pelargonium, meaning “stork’s bill”—a reference to the long, sharply pointed shape of their seedpod.
Their original common name stuck, however, and we still say “geranium” when we actually mean “pelargonium.”
How to Care for Geraniums
- Allow soil to dry to some extent between waterings, then water thoroughly.
- During the winter, water much less, but do not let the roots dry out entirely. Geraniums do best when given a period of dormancy through the winter months, during which they use less water and do not grow much. See below for more overwintering instructions.
- To encourage blooming, deadhead spent flowers regularly.
- To promote bushiness and curtail legginess, pinch back the stems.
- During active growing months, fertilize every 2 weeks or so. Use a water-soluble fertilizer at half strength. Don’t fertilize in winter, when the plant should be dormant.
- Geraniums can be re-potted in spring to encourage new growth—or if they look like they need to be refreshed.
Overwintering Geraniums
- Geraniums that have spent the summer outdoors can be kept as houseplants, provided they get lots of sun. In northern climes, the sun may not be strong enough in late winter to stimulate buds on some varieties.
- Before the first fall frost (find your local frost dates here), lift the plants and, using a sharp, clean knife, cut the stems back in a shapely fashion to about 6 to 8 inches. They should not have to support great masses of leaves in the low-sunlight environment they are about to enter. Save a few stems as cuttings to root—an easy way to multiply your plants.
- Transplant the “mother plant” to the smallest pot possible—enough to just fit the roots—using regular potting soil to fill.
- Keep the plants in shade for a week, then place them in a sunny spot (they need all the sun they can get) and keep them cool.
- During winter, geraniums grow best with night temperatures of 50° to 60°F (10° to 16°C) but will survive if they drop to 32°F (0°C) and/or rise above 80°F (27°C), as long as they are kept relatively dry.
- When new growth appears in the spring, cut off all the old leaves.
The only thing more difficult than getting the new growth to appear is keeping it. And here’s some help with that:
- Water only when the leaves show signs of drooping and provide only small amounts. Do not fertilize or feed the plants. It is critical that these plants get rest.
- If you want your overwintered geraniums to bloom for Memorial Day, pinch them back in February. Once warm weather returns and all danger of frost has passed, take the plants outdoors and transplant them to beds or pots, as you wish.
ADVERTISEMENT
I have a 5 year old geranium. It's leaves have all turned Red this year? Any suggestions to get them back to green?
Have any environmental factors changed this year? It could be responding to more or less light, or more or less water. If it’s especially dry, this could be the cause.
I got a geranium from my son for mother's day 4 yrs ago. It has sprouted next to the original and has branched off. How to I tend to it to keep it from growing more? I'd like it to be bushier
In the wild, geraniums are naturally spreading and leggy. If you want them to be bushier, prune them once new growth has reached a few inches. Just inch out about 1 inch from the tips. Also, once a year (in late fall), you can prune them hard by cutting back a third.
I bought 1 red geranium 3 years ago at Aldi. Only bought 1 because I didn't know what to expect. Oh my goodness what a beautiful and hardy plant. I live in southern Wisconsin. I kept her outside in full sun, in the pot it came in all summer. Southern exposure. I brought her in and kept on breezeway all winter, rarely watering. The breezeway stays around 45° in the winter. There is a sheer curtain at the patio door that has protected her from direct sun during winter. We do use the patio door during winter and she's been exposed, indirectly, to colder air on occasion. She's not right next to the door opening but the temp does go down on breezeway while door is opened. Back out she went after the 1st winter, in the same pot. She did beautifully again the 2nd summer. I kept taking off the spent blooms and she proudly produced new blooms over and over. Mainly let nature do the watering but occasionally had to water myself. (well water) I brought her inside for a 2nd winter same as before. She's still very green and I water about once a month. I plan to repot her and put her outside for the 3rd summer just like before. I don't have lots of space for indoor plants so this is my favorite. I buy others that I allow to die when the frost comes. I have never enjoyed a geranium as much as this one. Very easy to care for.
Comments