| I would like to know what to do to keep my geranium plants through the winter and plant them outside again next year and am I able to take cuttings? |
| There are two ways to overwinter geraniums. The easiest is to pull the plants up, roots and all, remove the leaves, and then hang them upside down in a cool, dark area, like a garage or basement. In the spring you can plant the dead-looking roots, snip back the stems, and wait for new growth. If your geraniums are in pots, you can cut the stems back to 6-8 inches (usually even with the edges of the pots), then store the entire container, including the plant, in a cool, dark location. In the spring the plants will begin to form green leaf buds. Water them when they start to show signs of life, then take them outdoors to a protected area. When the weather has warmed up, place the containers in a sunny location. You can start new plants from the stems you cut off - just cut each stem into sections, making sure that there's a leaf node scar on each section. Lay the stem section lenghtwise on moistened sand and partially bury, so that only the node is exposed. The stem should form roots on the underside, and sprout a new leaf on the topside. |
