Can I keep my geraniums over the Winter?

[LemonMousse]

I have loads of pots outside and this year have quite a lot of geraniums (which are still in full bloom and looking lovely).

I don't have a greenhouse so was thinking about re-potting them (well, some of them, there will be too many to keep them all) and bringing them in on to windowsills.

Can I do that? Is it worth it? (I don't have a great record with house plants )

Last winter I left mine outside and they survived, but we did have a mild winter and no snow. This summer they have bloomed (but not quite as well as the first summer). I'd be interested to know others experiences.

I usually bring my scented one in during the winter but last year, because it was so mild, left it out and it survived. I was just thinking yesterday that I need to dig up the cuttings that are planted out of those, and the lemon verbenas, and get them inside before November.

I had 3 scented geraniums outside over last winter. I did wrap them in fleece though.

they may survive outside if we have a mild winter but it's better to bring them in to a conservatory / windowsill and next year you'll be able to push the new shoots into pots of compost to make more little plants :)

Thanks everyone. I don't think I can take a chance on leaving them out where I live (hills of Co.Durham) - our Winters are particularly 'Wintry' - it snows here even when Newcastle and Durham have none!

Shall I cut them back when I repot them?

ooh Durham how nice! I would just pull off any dead flowers and yellow stalks / leaves but I'm not an expert, Monty Don's on tv tonight he might mention it!

I give mine a trim but that's because I take cuttings as I do it!

Whilst we are talking about geraniums, can anyone advise me about cutting them back hard? I have two that have formed a lovely shape, but one is all gangly and floppy. Would it object if I were to give it a hard prune?

I'd cut the gangly one back but pot on the cuttings just in case the parent plant doesn't survive. I do this with all my pelagoniums (admittedly usually in the spring) as after 3-4 years they get leggy. I over winter some in the porch by the front door which is fairly sheltered. I used to bring them indoors but dh was bothered in having all the windowsills covered.

Mine over wintered outdoors this last winter and flowered really well, but I did fertilise them a lot.

I cut mine back and they always come back.