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.
