Geraniums / perlagoniums over winter

[BasiliskStare]

I have some in a couple of window boxes - I have dead headed and pulled out the stalks and leaves which will come out. There are few flowers but nothing like in the summer .

Will they last over the winter or should I just take out the healthy looking ones and put them somewhere more sheltered ( have a tiny space at the back outside kitchen ) and replace with some winter bedding which will look nice and then can swap geraniums back next sprintg( for winter I was thinking cyclamen ? )

Or do I just accept these are a one season plant ?

Any advice appreciated.

Ooooh following for tips. I have some planted in borders and they've done really well this year so I'd like to try and over-winter them if possible. My plan is to dig them up this weekend (before any frosts) and pot them up, then I can move them into the greenhouse when it starts getting cold. My green-fingered DM says to cut them back to above a leaf joint then they should sprout from there next year. The bit I'm unsure about is the watering - if they're in the greenhouse the chances are I'll forget about them and they'll die of thirst or I'll over-water them and they'll rot...

You’re supposed to bring them indoors over winter, but someone on MN said they kept theirs in the greenhouse and they were fine. Mine have been in the green house since September and are doing very well, but I’m keeping an eye on them. The winters here can be brutal.

They survive well in a greenhouse. If it’s very frosty they need covering with bubble wrap, if it’s very very cold they need moving out of the greenhouse and somewhere warmer. The plants need to be somewhere above freezing.

Mayblossom, bubble wrap sounds a good idea, I don’t really want to bring them indoors unless I really have to.

Last year, for ones in pots, I just cut them right back and put the pots in a sheltered position out of wind/frost - and they survived to flower again this year! I have just done the same again (most were new plants this year).

I'm in Scotland and leave mine in their window boxes. The previous lot lasted three years before they gave up the ghost.

I've brought mi e indoors and put them on a sunny windowsill. Will cut back when they stop flowering (soon)

Thank you all - I do not have a greenhouse ( my entire outside pace is probably less that most people's greenhouses ) but I shall read these all again and see what to do

Thank you all

I am planning on making new small plants from cuttings on the assumption that the ones in borders will die horribly from the cold. Have bought rooting compound and on a mission.

I have a very small paved space outside kitchen - you could not really call it a garden - and it is basement level - do you think I could buy something to over winter plants - would need to be v slim have googled and there are some things - but are they effective ?

TIA

I thought you were supposed to dig them up and store them in paper bags over winter? Mine are actually still flowering at the moment, but it's getting pretty cold now, so I don't see them lasting through winter outside, and I have nowhere to keep them indoors.

Haba I think you’re thinking of begonia and Dahlia tubers. Geraniums are usually left, pruned and growing in their pots, in a frost free place.

Yes you can dig them up and put them in bags - but I have never tried that - I might give it a go with some of mine!

@mrsrobin

Last year, for ones in pots, I just cut them right back and put the pots in a sheltered position out of wind/frost - and they survived to flower again this year! I have just done the same again (most were new plants this year).

I do this too and most survive. I’m in the south east.

My geraniums are 5 years on in tubs outside. My neighbour has her geraniums in flower beds and they are 4 years on now. Mine thrive on neglect.

I don't do anything special other than position them near to the house. We are far south so warm zone 9. That may make the difference.

We take them out of the window boxes, cut right back, shove in earth in a pot and leave in the I heated garage for the winter and they thrive (famous last words).

That should be unheated garage!

@mrsrobin

Yes you can dig them up and put them in bags - but I have never tried that - I might give it a go with some of mine!

I dug mine up last year and stored them upside down in cardboard boxes. Lost about 2, the rest survived. I'm a novice so I googled it.

Lurking

For those that stored them. Where did u store them and in what conditions? Bare roots? Paper bags? Well trimmed?

Mine got killed by frost in the greenhouse last winter (and I live in SE England). This year I have got them all in one pot that fits on a little alcove windowsill inside. We might get our first frost tonight, I didn't want to chance leaving them out.

@TheElderleyBrothers

For those that stored them. Where did u store them and in what conditions? Bare roots? Paper bags? Well trimmed?

Trimmed off any rotten bits, bare roots, stored upside down in cardboard boxes in an unseated garage.

Unheated

Fab thanks!

Did you leave many leaves on them? How cold did you let it get (overnight) before uprooting them? I have a cold but frost-free place I could store them. They're in a sheltered spot atm, but we still get plenty of frosts.