If you’re a geranium lover, chances are you’ve got quite a collection going. But let’s be real—trying to find space for a dozen bulky flower boxes indoors over the winter is a total headache. Luckily, seasoned gardeners have a clever little trick up their sleeves that lets you overwinter a whole bunch of geraniums at once without taking up all your floor space.
The Perfect Winter Spot
For this method to work, you’ll need a spot that stays frost-free but cool—somewhere between 40°F and 50°F (5-10°C). It also needs to be dark. You’re going to string up a clothesline or heavy twine to hang the plants from, so make sure it’s long enough that your geraniums aren’t touching each other.
When to Bring Them In
I always suggest leaving your geraniums outside as long as possible. They’ll usually keep popping out blooms right until the end! Once the temperature consistently stays below 50°F, they’ll stop growing. That’s your cue to move them from their outdoor spot, and definitely get them inside before the first frost hits. While some pros say geraniums can handle a quick dip down to 23°F (-5°C), why risk it? Plus, geraniums hate that damp, chilly late-autumn weather, and it would be a shame for them to catch a disease right before their winter nap.
Prepping Your Geraniums
You’ll want to do the prep work outside because digging up plants is a messy business. Here’s your checklist:
- Give your geraniums a heavy pruning.
- Leave only about 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) of the stems.
- Strip off all flowers, buds, and leaves.
- Dig the plants out of their pots or beds.
- Shake off the excess soil.
- Thin out the fine feeder roots and trim back the main roots.
- Check for any rotting roots and snip those off entirely.
Pro Tip:
If you don’t have a spot to hang a line, you can wrap 3 or 4 geraniums in newspaper and tuck them into a wooden crate. Just remember to give them a light misting with water every now and then so they don’t dry out completely.
Hanging Your Geraniums
You can hang the bare root stocks directly on the line, but they’ll lose moisture fast that way and require constant misting. A better bet? Slip the root system into a clear plastic bag and tie it shut—just be careful not to pinch the plant stems! Freezer bags are perfect for this because they’re nice and sturdy.
- Hang the geraniums by the bag.
- Hang them upside down so the roots are pointing up.
- This allows any remaining moisture in the stems to flow down toward the roots.
- Stored this way, your geraniums can survive the whole winter without any extra watering!
