|
Geraniums
Q. I have some geraniums that have been
growing in my basement under grow lights
all winter. I live in Chicago...I think
it's zone 4 or 5...do I need to cut them
back...(they are blooming and have been
blooming all winter)...or can I just plant
them outside...and how much sun can they
take when they come from grow lights to
the sun? Last year I brought them up and
covered them with sheets (made a tent-like
area) and each day gave them more sun but
it was work!
A. Geraniums which have been grown indoors under lights or in a window over the winter need to be acclimated to the outdoors. This can be done by placing them in a shaded area during the day and bringing back inside the house at night. Repeat this for about one week. They will not go into shock this way. Your plastic idea is sound and is work
but so is bringing them inside where the night temps are not below 50§F. If you can place them in the shade and up against the house so it is warmer then you could leave them outside all the time for conditioning if the nights do not go below 50§F. Please trim off any tall and leggy stems and it is best to remove the weak flower stems too
as this will bring them into strong flowering sooner. Then as they harden
you can slowly move them out where they get 1/2 day sun and then full-day eventually. The more sun and plenty of water and fertilizer the more they will bloom
if you keep the old flowers cut off.
Q. I have several nice geraniums that
I would like to save to replant outdoors
next spring. I was going to try to repot
them all into a large tub and find somewhere
in the house to keep them till spring. My
grandma said that I should just pull them
all up shake the soil from the roots put
in an onion bag and store in the basement
until spring. She said that they will dry
up but perk right back up when they are
replanted in the spring. Is this true or
was Granny confusing geraniums with something
else? These are not seed geraniums. I don't
know what zone this is (except the twilight
zone some days) but I live in Omaha NE.
A. I do not know what you mean by seed geraniums. It sounds to me that you have the garden varieties which bloom from spring to early fall when they slow and begin to wither and then die from frost. Her advice is sound although there is another overwintering method which you may consider. This is to trim branches back to 6-8"
keep the plants in one or more pots full of soil and place in the coolest room you have inside. Water only every 3-4 weeks just to keep alive no food
and let them vegetate until spring arrives once more. At that time replant into the garden beds
trim out any weak growth and start a regular watering and feeding program. You may also take 4-6" cuttings in the spring and root in a vermiculite and perlite mixture.
Q. I hate to toss my beautiful plants
away after frost. Can I preserve my geraniums
inside until next year? How?
A. Geranium plants can be overwintered in several ways. Before frost whole plants can be taken from the garden
tied in bundles and hung upside down in a cool moist area such as a basement for the winter. The humidity should be at least 80% [will not work if you have a dehumidifier] and the temperature should be 35 and 45ø F [so it cannot be heated]. Cut back to about 1/3 of their height then plant outside in May
or pot indoors in late winter for early bud break. Give a dilute fertilizer as you see green. You can also dig the plants and overwinter them indoors in a sunny window. Remove as much of the root system as possible with the tops. Place the plant in a pot large enough to accommodate the root system and cut the plant back to 6" in height. They will need as strong as light as you can provide. Artificial lamps aid very well. Do not forget to feed them monthly keep yellow and brown leaves cut off
and do not overwater or they may rot.
Geraniums also can be overwintered from
cuttings taken in late summer or early fall.
Do the same process as above.
|
