This hasn't happened for me in at least a couple of decades. This plant has survived summer, and even quit being suicidal long enough to bloom a little more. I'm definitely scooping this up and putting it in a pot to bring inside for winter. That will probably kill it, but those are better odds than letting winter kill it 100% for sure.

My red geranium has taken to blooming like crazy this month, too, but not going to bring it inside. Just don't have any more room for one more potted plant inside. I'll get another one if I want more geraniums next year.

I ended up bringing in a few geraniums and replacing the crocodile geraniums.

Oh bummer not the crocodiles….they are a bit finicky..

I potted up the plant from my last pic & it is, so far, stayin' alive. Most of the peat was gone, so I have a measure of hope for it.

Hi Tiffany, Loretta and Peggy.... Hope you are all doing well. Winter has arrived and with big storms from east to west. Still cleaning up after 2 inches of rain, 65 mph winds in less than 22 hours. Blame it on La Niña.

I'm sure some of these methods to over winter geraniums/pelargoniums are probably nothing new. To share my experience trying to save these beautiful plants a couple of methods have worked for me. I have never managed to save a whole geranium plant over winter in this cold, snowy climate.

In some cases removing all the top growth from the plant in late fall, use the stems removed and save for cuttings later as starts in separate containers. Place the trimmed container in a dry area above 50-'55' , then over winter the whole pot . This method has been mildly successful. Bring container out of storage when temps allow for spring. Replant in new pot add fresh soil clean out any dead roots. Water fertilize 1/4 strength once new growth appears.

I have tried using root hormone from commercial products to home made liquid hormone with water and willow bark. In my experience the growth hormones added don't seem to add a higher percentage rate of success with geranium cuttings.

In some cases taking cuttings from each plant is more successful for maintaining quality . Place each cutting in a sterilized soilless mix slightly dampened and cover keep temps 66'-70'. I use a heat pad on low to place all the cuttings on and grow lights. By spring all the cuttings have developed well enough to cover several 15" pots. Mix or match different hybrids in new soil with fresh clean pots. By spring when temps are warm enough after hardening off new plants, place out in garden area protected from direct sun.

In other cases just take geranium cuttings by removing the bottom 3 to 4 leaves place the stems and lower the leaf nodes in water until roots appear is another method for propagating geraniums.

Important for cuttings to use grow lights and by using warm bottom heat pads to allow for the correct temps, cover cutting's to maintain moisture conditions for correct growing conditions. In most cases light, heat and moisture fools them into longer days as a result healthier plants for spring.

Don't forget to prick out the top two leafs after 2-3 new leafs have grown from in each cutting. This technique will help the plants to send out more branches and in the long run will produce more flowers throughout the season.

Thank you, @bumplbea. Very detailed, informative, helpful tips.

Peggy8b… your always .. geraniums is a fav for many years and so many hybrids to choose from and one of the easiest plants to propagate.

I have learned a lot from the many posts here and also enjoy reading thru the low carb recipes link you posted.
If you haven't tried the Shrimp-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms it's very tasty and easy to make.

Useful tips, Bea. My problem with geraniums is when I take a cutting the remaining stem dies back. I suppose I have some kind of disease here that goes after them. I have been able to root stems but they remain scrawny for a long time. I should try adding the heating pad for more robust results and remember to pinch early on. Have you ever tried the bareroot method? I see people do it on YouTube but my results have not been so good. However, after watching another person, I see that you really need to bring them back out indoors early on and mist them occasionally in the box. Bringing them back out early defeats the purpose of keeping them bareroot in the first place. I am going to do some cuttings of Lady Plymouth. I have two plants with long stems. Hopefully, the stems won't die back.

I replaced the Crocodile geranium with more of the same. I got them from Pepper's Greenhouse which was new to me. At first I was disappointed because the plants were mostly solid, but they reverted to the patterned leaves so I am happy and would use them again.

eber1140 said: I see gorgeous geraniums on porches that look pretty all summer. I am starting to think some of them may be plastic.

I missed that one the first time around.

Thank you for sharing, Bea!!

One thing to consider with geraniums is that some of the big greenhouse growers spray the plants with dwarfing chemical. I think that it takes a full season for that to wear off sometimes.

I ended up with 2 plants, excavated from growing in the ground all summer to bring inside. One is 99% dead and the other one looks really good.

I lost three out of nine geraniums. The survivors are doing well. There are three in this pot including a piece of the original Crocodile Geranium that reverted. It is mixed with Brocade.

Those look great! And the other plants sneaking into the pic. : )

Thanks Tiffany.
I meant to say that crocodile reverted back to show the pattern again after going solid.

Loretta ~ Where did you get your crocodile? So pretty.

Just found this thread and enjoyed reading.
I decided to "conquer" the pelargonium a few years back and am getting better at it.
There is a guy on YouTube called Mr. Pelargonium that grows them exclusively in the UK.
His videos are long sometimes but informative.
https://www.youtube.com/channe...

I LOVE Well Sweep Farm...I've purchased a number of their scented geraniums.



Surprised how will these guys are overwintering under the bench.




Can someone ID this cascading variety?

I bought some plants last summer from Pepper's Greenhouse's online store - Accents for Home and Garden. I had never heard of them and took a chance. I would buy from them again. You have to scroll down.
https://www.accentsforhomeandg...
These are three plants bought in August. Right now, it is in my 100-year-old basement under lights. The pattern wasn't strong when they came but it developed right away.

Mike, I love your greenhouse! I like Well Sweep too but sometimes their plants are not groomed well so they don't have a good shape. Still, I like to visit every other year or so.
This year, I didn't bring in 'Gray Lady Plymouth' in soon enough, so I lost those two. That one I will replace.

It would be hard to tell what kind of geranium that cascading type is. Once it flowers, we might be able to suggest similar ones but couldn't say for sure which one it is.