As autumn rolls around, it’s time for our scented geraniums to stop showing off their amazing fragrances outdoors. These beauties—properly known as scented pelargoniums—actually hail from South Africa, which means they aren’t fans of a cold American winter. However, just bringing them into a cozy, heated house isn’t always the best move for them either.
When to bring your scented geraniums inside
It’s not just about the date on the calendar; you’ve got to keep an eye on the local weather to know when it’s moving day. Generally, you want to keep all your scented geranium varieties outside as long as possible because they’ll keep popping out new blooms as long as it’s warm. Here are the signs it’s time to head indoors:
- The last flowers have faded and leaves are starting to turn brown.
- Consistent temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).
- Frost is in the forecast (this is the big one—move them even if they’re still blooming!).
While mature, “hardened off” plants can handle a very brief dip toward freezing, there’s no reason to risk it. Frostbite is a real threat to these guys!
The ideal winter home: Bright and cool
Ideally, your scented geraniums want to spend the winter somewhere bright with temperatures between 40°F and 50°F (5–10°C). This means your living room usually isn’t the best spot. Look for a cool basement, a bright stairwell, or even a garage with a window. A good rule of thumb for overwintering: the warmer the room, the more light the plant needs.
Getting your plants ready
If you have plenty of space where the plants won’t be touching each other, they can stay right in their window boxes or pots. You definitely don’t want to skip a good pruning, otherwise your scented geranium might not bloom next year. If you have the space, you can actually wait until spring to do the heavy pruning.
However, you should definitely clear away spent flowers and any damaged or yellow leaves before moving them in. These can rot and invite diseases or pests. Also, pinch off any new flower buds that pop up during the winter—they just drain the plant’s energy.
Space-saving or dark storage options
If you’re tight on space or only have a dark room available, you’ll need to dig your geraniums up and give them a major haircut. They can actually spend the winter without any soil at all. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Cut the plants back to about 8 inches (20 cm).
- Save those cuttings! They are perfect for propagation.
- Remove all flowers, leaves, and buds.
- Don’t let the healthy bits go to waste—remember, scented geraniums are edible!
- Dig up the plant and trim the roots.
- Shorten the main roots and thin out the fine “hair” roots significantly.
- Place the root ball of each plant in its own plastic bag.
- Tie the bag shut and hang the plant upside down.
- No maintenance required!
Pro Tip:
Instead of hanging them, you can wrap 2 or 3 plants together in newspaper, closing off the bottom. Store these “bundles” in a wooden crate that breathes. Just keep an eye on them—the stems can dry out, so you might need to mist them with water occasionally.
Waking them up in the spring
By mid-May (or after the last frost in your area), the winter nap is over! Your geraniums can go back outside to smell great and help keep mosquitoes and wasps away. Start the process in February by potting up your bare-root plants or repotting the others. Move them to a brighter spot and gradually get them used to warmer temperatures again.
