There are several ways to overwinter geraniums (Pelargoniums) from your garden. With some newspaper, a cardboard box, paper bag, or a sunny windowsill, you can keep these tender perennials for the winter and have fresh blooms next spring and summer. I’ll walk you through the options and provide winter care tips.
If you have trees in pots, this shows how to overwinter a potted tree to keep it safe for the winter.
Overwintering Geraniums
Geranium | Genus: Pelargonium
The Geraniaceae family of plants includes Geranium (430 species), Pelargonium (280 species) and Erodium (80 species).
Pelargonium common names include: zonal, scented, ivy-leafed, and Martha Washington geraniums.
Misnomer: We commonly refer to Pelargoniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) as ‘geraniums’ but that’s not their botanical name. At this point it’s more like a misplaced nickname that won’t go away.
Geranium (Pelargonium) Growing Tips
Long-living flowering annual (tender perennial)
• Hardiness zones: 10 to 11
• Full sun
• Soil: well-draining
• Propagation: grow from cuttings or division
• Cold climates: overwintering tips
• Grow indoors or outdoors
Gardeners have all sorts of ways to keep geraniums over the winter and regrow them in spring. I like to save particularly beautiful specimens, knowing I may not be able to find similar ones at plant nurseries next spring.
Some gardeners save them as family keepsakes, both overwintering the plants and taking rooting cuttings to ensure they survive for years.
There is some name confusion with these plants. The Geraniaceae family of plants includes Geranium (430 species), Pelargonium (280 species) and Erodium (80 species).
We commonly refer to Pelargoniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) as ‘geraniums’ but that’s actually another genus in the family. I’m using the two words interchangeably here.
Many Pelargoniums grow as bush-type plants with thick, succulent stems, which is why they are good candidates for winter storage.
The flowers are traditionally red, salmon, violet, white, or pink.
While they are sold as annuals, they are actually tender perennials, and tolerate temperatures down to about 45°F (7°C) while actively growing. Their sweet spot is between 55°-65°F (12°-18°C), which is ideal for indoor growing as well.
Contents
4 Easy Ways to Overwinter Geraniums
1Bring Inside as Houseplants
If you have room for the pots in a sunny location, you can bring your potted geraniums (Pelargoniums) into your house for the winter.
While they need sun, they do best with moderate temperatures 55°-65°F (12°-18°C). I have great success with a west-facing window that is slightly drafty, keeping the air around them a little cooler than the rest of the house.
Dig Up and Repot if Desired
There is some preparation necessary to ensure they are happy, healthy, and insect-free.
- If your geraniums are in the ground, dig them up and pot them about six weeks before first frost.
- If they are already in pots, you can repot them if desired but hard prune and do your bug inspections first (see below).
- While potting, trim back any super long roots or any gnarly root balls.
- Use potting mix suited for flowering plants in containers.
Tag by Colour
- Sort your geraniums by color and tag them if you want to keep track.
Hard Prune
- It is commonly advised to cut back the entire plant by one-third to one-half.
- You should also remove any dead, damaged, moldy, unhealthy, or diseased parts.
- While this hard pruning is best in the long run, you can try keeping any buds or flowers if the plant is otherwise nice and healthy.
Bug Inspection
- Check for aphids, spider mites, fungal gnats, and other sneaky beasts.
- Apply an insecticidal soap spray made specifically for transitioning plants indoors.
Bring Inside
- Water moderately, and get your plants settled in a sunny but not hot location.
- See How to Grow Geraniums Indoors as Houseplants for more tips.
Winter & Spring Care
- Keep moist, not dry or damp.
- Room humidity at 50% is optimum (without risking mold)
- Pinch back shoots.
- Fertilize lightly in spring.
- Begin to harden off (prepare plants for life outdoors) a few weeks before last frost.
2Take Cuttings
Instead of bringing the entire plant indoors for the winter, you can also take cuttings. This is a good solution if space indoors is limited, or you want more plants.
For step-by-step instructions, see How to Take Cuttings from Geraniums.
I’ve included videos (from other gardeners) for those who learn better this way. Keep in mind that each gardener has their own methods and they may vary (but still work) from what I’ve advised here.
3Cool Storage
I find this method is unreliable—some years the geraniums do fine, other years they don’t—but it’s not a bad choice if you just want an easy option and don’t mind if the plants die.
Keep the plant in its container, prepare it, and place in cold storage. The idea is to let the plant go dormant for the winter without letting the plant freeze or potting mix dry out. The stems and foliage can be cut back and/or protected with straw mulch if there is a chance of freezing.
You’ll need a cold space like a garage, shed, cold cellar, or unheated greenhouse or basement that does not dip below freezing. A good range is 34 to 40°F (2 to 4°C).
Prepare For Storage
To get started, clean up your potted geraniums by removing dead, damaged, moldy, diseased parts, and cutting the entire plant back by one-third to one-half.
Check and treat for insects.
Water deeply and place in storage.
I like to place some support rods in the soil and hang a blanket over the whole thing or cover in straw mulch as mentioned.
Winter & Spring Care
- Check monthly or more often and remove any moldy or dead parts.
- If you’re concerned conditions are too cold, use a simple kitchen thermometer with a probe to measure the temperature at root level.
- Water lightly every now and then.
- In spring, gradually reintroduce to outdoor light and normal watering routine.
Related: More Tips For Overwintering Plants
4Dormant Bare Root Storage
This is a popular method that has been done for generations. You’ll need a garage, shed, cold cellar, or unheated basement that does not dip below freezing or go beyond 45°F.
We call it ‘bare root’ storage because the plant is removed from the soil, pruned, and placed in cool storage. Pelargoniums can handle this because of their thick, succulent roots, which survive so long as they do not dry out or become diseased.
Here’s what you do.
Label Your Plants by Color
- First, plan to label your plants if you want to keep track of the flower colors.
- You could store them in groups by color or place tags (loosely) around their roots.
- I write the details on little strips of cardstock and staple it like a wristband around the stems.
Dig Up or Unpot
- Gently shake off all loose soil.
- You can air dry the plant for a few days and then shake off more soil.
Storage
Whatever you do, you don’t want the plants to get damp or sit on moisture because they are prone to mold.
You do, however need to keep them watered, and not allow them to dry out (they’ll die).
There are several options:
- Suspend the plants from ceiling hooks.
- Place in paper bags and hang from hooks or set on shelf.
- Wrap in newspaper and sit on shelf.
- Place in cardboard box.
As far as I can tell, the advice to always hang the plants upside-down for better results seems to be a wives’ tale.
Winter & Spring Care
- Check on your plants every week or two. I put a reminder in my computer calendar.
- The plants should remain firm, not withered or unhealthy looking.
- Remove any mold, black parts, or dead matter.
- Soak in warm water for one to two hours each month.
- Allow to dry before returning to bags, newspaper, or box.
Six Weeks Before Last Frost
Reviving Dormant Geraniums
- Prune as needed and remove any excessively long roots.
- Pot in moist potting mix, burying the plant two leaf nodes deep (these will form roots).
- Gradually re-introduce to light.
- New growth should appear in 1-2 weeks.
- Gradually introduce to life (harden) outdoors in anticipation of last frost.
Watch Geranium Tips
Resources
- Overwintering Geraniums | Iowa State University (PDF)
- How to Take Geranium Cuttings | Thompson & Morgan
- How to Buy and Care for Pelargoniums | Oregon State University Extension Service
Frequently-Asked Questions
Yes, you can overwinter geraniums (Pelargoniums) anywhere. It’s the storage conditions that matter. As long as the plants do not freeze or dry out, they can survive the winter.
You can keep geraniums (Pelargoniums) as houseplants, propagate cuttings, or store the entire plant or just the bare roots, in a dry, cool location.
No, geraniums (Pelargoniums) are tender perennials, hardy down to about 45°F (7°C). True geraniums (genus geranium) like cranesbill are hardy perennials.
Yes, you can take cuttings from geraniums (Pelargoniums) any time in the growing season and root them for new plants.
Fungus Gnats
If you notice tiny mosquito-like insects flying around your houseplant, it may be fungus gnats.
You can trap the adults using these sticky yellow cards which will in turn prevent females from laying eggs.
This has more ideas for garden jobs to take care of on a sunny fall afternoon.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Overwinter Geraniums
Equipment
Supplies & Materials
- 1 Geranium plant (Pelargonium) Healthy
- 1 Paper bag or cardboard box
Instructions
- Remove plant from container and gently shake off soil.Air dry for a few hours if needed for more soil to fall off.
- Remove any dead or dying leaves or flowers.
- Place plant in paper bag or cardboard box in cool, dry location.
- Check every two weeks to ensure plant remains healthy looking not moldy.
- Six weeks before last frost, return to clean container with fresh potting mix. Water.
- Gradually reintroduce to light and warmth indoors.New growth should appear in 1-2 weeks.
- Gradually reintroduce to outdoors after last frost.
Joyce says
My 2 geranium plants victims of an early frost can they be saved we are done 6 in TN.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Joyce,
Usually only time will tell. Go ahead and do the overwintering method of your choice. You’ll know in spring. Fingers crossed!
Linda Miller says
Thank you for the advise. I have lemon smelling plants that I want to save over the winter.
colleen e getty says
I have a sunporch that receives morning sunlight. Question, can I leave my geraniums in my sunporch over the winter or would it be best to bring inside.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Colleen,
I find it’s best to pick a lane: either continue growing indoors and provide houseplant conditions or let it go dormant for the winter. Your sunporch may be a hybrid of the two.
If your sunporch stays just above freezing, use the cold storage tips and block any light from reaching the plant.
Gardeners surely also do some variations of the tips here—it’s just impossible to know what works for them because their conditions are not measured.
Roxi Schultz says
Hello from Minnesota, zone 4. Thank you for sharing your expertise. This is my first time of attempting to overwinter 3 plants, and you have given me the confidence to try it. This over-80-year-old gardener, who is reluctant to try new things, is tired of buying new plants every spring. Thank you again.
JJ says
Hello Your majesty from Zone 4 Ontario. I have two Vancouver Centennial geraniums about 5 yrs old. They are beautiful outside all summer with not too much sun. Not so pretty indoors in winter because they always look wilty, and as fast as a new leaf grows several older ones beneath dry up, resulting in long bare stems. Pinching back has no effect. Should I take cuttings and start new plants?
Melissa J. Will says
It’s really hard to tell from afar–could be any combination of:
-overwatering
-low indoor humidity
-transition from outdoor to indoor is too quick
or something else.
Taking cuttings is always an option. Also, they are long-living annuals so at some point it will be time to say farewell. Good luck!
Robin says
Hi there, I live in Western WA State and have a very large geranium that’s 3’ x 3’. About 3-4 years old! Kind of got out of control! I’ve wintered it quite successfully for the last 3-4 years in my outdoor sunroom. Can I cut it way back to help make it a little more compact and thick for next year? It’s really getting too big now for the space I have. It’s so beautiful now and I would hate to damage it. Thx for any info.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Robin,
I’ve had the same thing happen with my geraniums. Basically, the plant is living its best life and you can’t really shrink it back in size. It’s like an old tree—we could remove a bunch of branches but that will just look odd with the large trunk. At this point I’d suggest perhaps rooting some cuttings to start some new generations and otherwise let it live out its days.
Eileen Brannigan says
Hi, I have two big potted geraniums just starting to bloom. Can I let them bloom indoors and then cut them back and let them go dormant for the winter? They have been outdoors all summer but they are blooming the best now and too beautiful to cut back. I plan on putting them in my cellar in a box but I want to know if I can wait until finished blooming. Thanks
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, that can work. Also, you may find they bloom right through until spring if you leave them to it.
Edie Serrato says
What is your opinion on letting the cuttings winter over in water, please?
I don’t have enough good sunny windows for all of mine. I’m in Michigan
And don’t have option to store them in the garage.
Thank you for your time
Edie
Melissa J. Will says
Whether a cutting is in water or potting mix it still needs light.
Theresa says
Ran into a clearance sale on geraniums this spring (end of season) and ended up wih 50 at 24 cents each. They are small plants and I would like to grow them on. Lots to store. Can the same colour variety share a larger paper bag using the bare root method? That would be about 8-10 plants per grocery store bag. We have a cold room that does not freeze but is only 4 x 4 feet.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Theresa,
What a bargain!
Yes, no problem mixing colors together in storage. Some gardeners just keep them separate to keep track of the colors for replanting.
I hope it goes nicely: it can take a few winters of experimenting to find the storage method that works best with your unique conditions.
Liljana says
Can they go in an unheated cellar without sunlight/ window? How would i take care of them then?
Or is it better to place them along stairs in a building that have some daylight as well as artificial light?
Melissa J. Will says
You can either keep them growing or let them go dormant for the winter. If you’re storing them in an unheated cellar, that would be the dormant option where you want cool temperatures and no light. Check occassionally to check if the soil needs watering.
Kris P says
My grandmother always brought her geranium to the basement and let them go dormant in their pots. In early spring, she would just bring them upstairs, prune them back, and start watering them. I’ve had very good luck with this method. Thankfully, my dad also propagates many in his basement with grow lights, so if mine don’t make it, I can choose replacements from his personal green house.
Melissa J. Will says
It’s great when easy methods work. It means you happen to have the right conditions without thinking about it. 🙂
D.Powell says
I had many beautiful geraniums a dozen large and healthy. I had brought them indoors each winter with much success when they returned outside in the spring. I had read about trimming them down, bagging and storing in the basement.After ten years I tried this old wife’s tale.Now everyone is dead ! I got taken into this nonsense. Please if you care about geraniums do not do this it’s a waste of time,money and your geranium.
Melissa J. Will says
Sorry you had a problem with it. I have seen lots of gardeners including my mom use this method successfully for many years. It all comes down to the details like temperatures, humidity, and not letting the plants dry out by soaking them in water each month (if needed) during the storage period. No matter how they are stored, they need monitoring. Each gardener will find their own favorite method based on their unique conditions.
Diana Roberts says
I have done this successfully for a few years. The only time it failed and I lost most of my stock was when I put them in boxes and taped them shut, they molded, and when I placed them in paper bags without stapling the top of bags shut, they dried up and died. Otherwise it’s always worked very successfully. I did not do anything at all to them during this dormant time. I never pruned them back until I replanted them in the spring. When I got them from the unheated basement and opened the bags they had pale green shoots coming off their stems. I planted them in pots after cleaning dead leaves and pruning them back to about 3-4″ takl. I planted them in Miracle Grow soil. I watered them very well and let them take off.
Melissa J. Will says
Thanks, Diana.
What works depends on so many details we often cannot or do not measure (e.g. health of plants, if there are pests or diseases present, temperature, humidity levels, light… and so on). Clearly your conditions added up to the right combination when you got green shoots.
Waiting to prune back carries the risk of bringing fungal diseases along for the winter–that’s why it’s not routinely recommended. When writing these tips, we have to pick a lane and suggest methods that carry the least risk and have the best success. Meanwhile, my mom just tosses everything in a bag and in spring they are ready to grow–it seems effortless, and it is, but her conditions also happen to be right.
Glad you’ve had good results!
Catherine says
If you’re hanging the dry root Geraniums, do they need water at all? Mine will hang for 5 months
Melissa J. Will says
It’s all about the humidity: if it’s moderate (50%), they do fine. If you have exceptionally dry conditions, you can mist them every few weeks.
John Robinson says
Hi Melissa,
Can I overwinter 2 large geranium hanging baskets there is still a few flowers in both baskets. After looking at your geranium advice I propose to cut them back by about a third.
I have a frost free large garage with a east facing window where I am going to hang the 2 baskets.
Could you please give me any more advice.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi John,
There are several approaches to this. I would cut back as you described, water deeply and allow excess to run off, then put in large bag with air holes and hang it up. You want darkness and air circulation, but never allow the soil to totally dry out. I set an alert on my phone to check monthly during the winter and water as needed. They don’t always survive with any of the storage methods but this gives it a good shot.
John Robinson says
Thanks for your reply.
Will a plastic bag be ok with holes in or does it have to be a paper bag
Melissa J. Will says
They can get moldy in plastic. You could wrap loosely in paper towel or newspaper and then place in plastic with air holes.
John Robinson says
I have 2 very large hanging baskets with beautiful geraniums in they are very healthy.
Can I overwinter them in the baskets as they are, I have a very large garage with a big window which is facing east in the UK and I will hang them there.
At the moment they are very healthy with still a few flowers on.
I will cut them down as you suggested by a third have you got any more tips for me?.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi John, You need decide whether you want to keep them growing indoors (provide warmth, light, water) or keep them dormant (cool temperatures, darkness, minimal water).
For growth, the right temperatures are 55°- 65°F (12°-18°C). More indoor growing tips here: https://empressofdirt.net/grow-geraniums-indoors/
If you will keep them dormant in your garage, water minimally and cover them (no light) but allow air circulation. Sometimes they go moldy, other times they do fine.
Cheers,
Patti LAW-POGGI says
Can I take cuttings and put them in a tote under a sunny porch. It may get down to freezing but I can close the tote at that time and at night.
Melissa J. Will says
However you do it is fine: just don’t let them freeze or develop frost.
Mary Ives says
I prepared the geraniums and placed in a paper bag as you suggested. Do I need to provide any light? My garage has no windows.
Thanks
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Mary, No light is needed: you’re keeping them dormant in darkness.
Dianne Marlowe says
This article introduced a variety of ways to winterize my geraniums and the videos showed how to it…I was especially interested in taking cuttings after reading and watching…I’ve not done this before so it’s great to have Clear instructions and the visual! Looking forward to trying using the paper bags and also taking cuttings. Thanks!
Beverly’ R. Kramer says
excellent & simple
Trevor Siddall says
I have taken a lot of geranium cutting, they seem to have taken but some have small flowers appearing, do I have to take them off ? Many thanks
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, if you are propagating the cuttings to grow new plants, remove the flowers and their stems.
Beth Countryman says
Hi! I’ve brought in my potted Geranium and it seems to be sprouting new blossoms and perking up. I do have a sunny area for it. I’ve picked off all the dead leaves and blossoms, so it looks pretty bare other than the new leaves and blossoms at the end of the thick stems. Should I cut the whole plant down? Or will all the bare stems sprout new leaves?
Thanks!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Beth,
Assuming you want a houseplant through the winter (and do not wish to make the plant go dormant in storage), you can leave it as it is or trim it back to encourage a fuller plant.
If you leave it, you’ll have flowers soon based on what you described. Trimming back will delay the bloom time. Either way is fine for the plant. A pelargonium can last for many years.
Ron Haberman says
For years I pull mine, bare root them, place in open bag under my house, tell them to do the best they can and take then out in 6 months. No water, nothing, I have some that are over 10 years old. I live in Idaho.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Ron,
When things work that easily in gardening it means you have the right conditions for storage.
Another person doing the same thing in another location (different humidity or temperatures) will not fare so well.
It’s great when it works effortlessly!
LTW says
Should you prune before bareroot storage? I’ve pulled mine but they’re a bit “long.”
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, it’s fine to tidy them up with a trim before storage. Always use clean clippers.
Mabel Goddard says
Thank you for for sharing how to store geraniums. I have one plant that I have brought indoor with new soil and it does well. Lucky me! Using a brown paper bag, it will be a new experiment. Wish me luck. 👩🌾
Patti LAW-POGGI says
I would like to bring my geraniums inside BUT i don’t have a sunny windowsill.
do I have to bring the cuttings in also. We get down to below freezing.
Melissa J. Will says
I’ve kept them indoors over the winter by a north-west window and they did fine. I just left them in their flower pots.
Kathleen Kerzner says
I just read your tips for bringing my geraniums inside over winter. I’ve been meaning to try this for a while. What temperature do you recommend I bring them inside. I’m in NY, so by Halloween evenings can get pretty cool. Thank you.
Melissa J. Will says
Around 40F is optimum and never let the soil get below freezing.