Geraniums are the absolute stars of summer balconies and patios, usually showing off in big pots or long window boxes. But while it’s easy to find a spot for them in the summer sun, finding room for those bulky containers in a cramped garage or basement over the winter is a whole different story. If you’re short on space, your best bet is to overwinter your geraniums bareroot—without any soil at all.
Bring Them In Before the First Frost
Geraniums (technically *Pelargoniums*) hail from South Africa, so they are big fans of heat and dry spells. They prove how much they love our summers with their incredibly long blooming season—unless we get hit with non-stop rain. However, a chilly northern winter is definitely not their vibe. Frost is the enemy here; it literally freezes the sap inside their stems. Once temperatures consistently drop below 50°F (10°C), their growth grinds to a halt. When you see the thermometer hitting those numbers, it’s time to get them ready for their winter nap.
Pruning and Cleaning Off the Soil
Before you go pulling your geraniums out of the dirt, you’ll want to prune them back first. Trust me, it’s much easier to handle them this way. Once the shears have done their job, that once-lush plant is going to look like a bit of a skeleton. Here’s the game plan:
- Trim all stems back to about 6 inches (15 cm).
- Make sure each stem has about 3-4 leaf nodes left.
- Strip off all remaining leaves, buds, and flowers.
After the haircut, dig the geraniums up. Shake off the excess soil from the root ball, and then grab your scissors again for some root maintenance:
- Thin out the fine, wispy roots.
- Completely remove any dead or rotting roots.
- Shorten the main root system slightly.
Two Ways to Overwinter Bareroot
Bareroot geraniums need a spot that is frost-free, cool (between 40-50°F or 5-10°C), and dark—a windowless basement or a cool crawl space is perfect. You can store them using one of these two popular methods:
If you go the newspaper route, use several layers of paper to wrap bundles of 3 or 4 plants together. Place these “geranium burritos” into a breathable wooden crate or cardboard box and tuck them away on a shelf. You’ll just need to give them a light misting with water every now and then so they don’t completely dry out.
If you have the space to string up a line, hanging them upside down is a fantastic option. Before hanging, tuck the root system of each plant into a clear plastic bag and tie it loosely around the base of the stems. This helps lock in essential moisture. Because the plant is upside down, any remaining moisture naturally flows toward the roots. The best part? No watering required!
Pro Tip:
Stick to standard black-and-white newspaper for wrapping. Those glossy, colorful magazine pages don’t breathe well and aren’t right for the job.
