Looking after geraniums

[homeschoolchaos]

Hello gardeners!

We moved into a house with a wonderful greenhouse at the end of last summer. The greenhouse was absolutely full of geraniums, which I promptly forgot about and neglected. I had assumed that they were dead and have been studiously ignoring them but many of them are now growing new leaves and flowering. I have no idea what to do with them so could I have some tips please? I’ve taken off all the dead leaves and flower heads and watered them. Since these plants clearly want to live, what should I do with them? I have about 20 plants with different coloured flowers

You’re lucky, how nice to be left them.

Keep watering them when they dry out, do not overwater as they can rot.
After any chance of frost is over you can put them out into the garden and feed once a fortnight

Yes, very lucky! They were so beautiful when we moved in, and I didn’t mean to neglect them, but the house is a project and we have been occupied with the inside. I think they must be at least part of someone’s collection. To be fair, they are looking an awful lot better now I’ve taken all the crispy bits off them, and many of them are flowering already. I’ll water sparingly, do I need to feed them?

I'm assuming, since you're talking about a greenhouse, you mean the non-hardy "geraniums" which are in fact Pelargoniums, which bright white, pink or red flowers, and not the hardy Geraniums, with soft pink or blue flowers? If so, Beebumble2's advice is good.

Cuttings root very easily, so if any are going leggy, you can cut off the most leggy branches (leave enough leaves on the main plant to keep it going), then cut most of the bare stem off and put the ips in a pot of moist well drained composts, and there's a very good chance they'll root. Meanwhile the main plant will throw out new shoots from where you cut, and will be better-shaped.

put the tips in a pot of moist well drained composts, and there's a very good chance they'll root.
I put mine in water, using old jamjars or glass herb/spice jars. Then you can see if they are rooting or not. No need to feed; change the water if it gets a bit green-looking.
Put them on the kitchen windowsill and you won't forget about them.
Plant up the survivors.

I agree with senua mine are just getting roots. Took about 2 weeks.

I’ve really no idea so I’ve taken some photos. Some of them look as though they might be in pots that could pop onto the patio, but I’m afraid I didn’t pay enough attention on the visits we made before we moved in

They are quite well-established plants so it's looking good. Prune them because that will force them to re-shoot, as PP said, and try your luck with the cuttings. Nothing to lose and lots of little plants to gain!

Take the flowers off because that is a drain on their energy. You only want leaves, to photosynthesise. Before you take the flowers off, make a note so you can remember which plantlets are which colour.

The greenhouse looks like a lovely one as well!

Thanks @bee - the greenhouse is Proper, and is wasted on me but I’m trying to change that. It has a grapevine inside it!

Loads of great tips @senua - but then I will have many many geraniums, though perhaps some kitchen windowsill ones would be nice too, or I could give them to people as presents... it can be my lockdown project

the greenhouse is Proper, and is wasted on me If nothing else, put a comfy chair inside it. It's a lovely quiet place to retreat when you'd like to be outside but it's too chilly to sit outside.

Great idea - I already use it to hide from the children. They never look in there!

Just a quick update to show happier looking geraniums!!

I think the first plant you showed is 'Vancouver Centennial' or possibly 'Bird Dancer', both very similar, with nicely marked leaves. If they get straggly, don't hesitate to prune wayward stems, and as already said, they are easy to propagate from cuttings.

Thanks - they don’t all have labels so I’m not sure what most of them are!

If that was me, I would turn the green house into a woman bolt hole. Big comfy chair, a fridge full of wine and snacks, lots of gardening books while you plan what to do with it.

I have just seen that I am not the only one with that idea😃

a fridge full of wine and snacks, For most of the year, a kettle and ajar of coffee is more useful.

@Homeschool your fab greenhouse reminds me of the one where Harry etc get their Mandrakes lesson in Harry Potter!

I do seem to be the only one interested in it... even if I’m the most clueless gardener ever! But I like the idea of turning into a hideout, DH has a shed, the kids have another potting shed type thing. Makes sense that this one is mine!

Thankfully no mandrakes were left by the previous owner! Just geraniums and a grape vine