Can I keep my geraniums?

[Cheffi]

I'm a complete flower dork so the geraniums I planted in my flower beds...can I do anything to keep them for next year please? If so detailed instructions for dummies would be helpful. Thanks.

[Flummery]

If they are pelargoniums (the ones we usually call geraniums and use as bedding plants) they can be kept if you have somewhere to keep them away from frost. I pot my best ones up and bring them into our garden room - a well insulated and light room half way down the garden - a sort of detached conservatory! You can bring them onto your windowsills indoors. I don't know if an unheated greenhouse would do - I suspect in all but the harshest winters it would. Keep them ticking over - water a little, not too much.

In the spring they will begin to grow actively. At this point you can take the growing bits - a few leaves and a growing tip, cut them off the main plant and pot up individually - a seed and cutting compost is best but you can usually get away with general purpose. These will form new plants - they root readily so you will increase your stock. Otherwise you can just use the original plant but I like something for free don't you?

[Cheffi]

Thank you very much, I will certainly give it a go and of course, yes, I like to get something for free too.

[rustylady]

They are actually quite hardy if kept on the dry side. Won't survive outside, but a cold greenhouse or porch would do nicely. Most losses are due to rot through overwatering.

[MrsC]

hi cheffi, i do this every year, geraniums are one of the easiest to propagate, i never buy them, i always keep mine on the bathroom windowsill over winter they come on a treat, you can just place a geranium leaf into the soil and it should root, my mum's terrible for picking leaves off geranium plants in the garden centres or when we are out and sticking in some compost, am going to try some this year though in an unheated greenhouse

[Cheffi]

That's what I think I'm going to try, putting them into an unheated greenhouse and see how they do as I hate plants in the house.

[nick the grief]

Hi Cheffi

They're not always as good in year 2 as these bedding types are hybrids and tend to loose vigour quickly. Unless they are really good I wouldn't bother, I just go to one of our local nurseries and buy a 3" pot full of seedlings for about £2 and prick them out - it's cheaper than buying seed or taking cuttings and I get a pot at the end of it

With named varieties it's different of course you have to do this but they're worth it as about £2-50 a cutting to replace