Growing Geraniums

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Geraniums

Rate this Article:

Geraniums are a longtime favorite of Almanac gardeners. They are easy to grow, colorful, and emit a lovely scent. Here’s how to grow geraniums in your home and garden!

Although they are also an outdoor plant, geraniums are typically kept indoors to overwinter. Alternatively, they can bloom indoors all year long with enough light.

Planting

When buying geraniums, pay close attention to color and size. Healthy leaves will have no discoloration on or below them and stems will be sturdy, not straggly. Be sure to avoid any plants with obvious signs of pests as well.
Place plants in pots with drainage holes to avoid root rot. Do not use a saucer beneath your pot unless filled with pebbles.
Use soil-less potting mixture (not dirt) when planting in containers.
For maximum bloom, place the plants in an area where they will get 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.

Care

Allow to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly.
During the winter, water much less, but do not let the roots dry out.
To encourage blooming, deadhead spent flowers.
To promote bushiness and avoid legginess, pinch the stems.
During active growing months, fertilize every 2 weeks. Use a water-soluble fertilizer at half strength. Don’t fertilize in winter.
Geraniums can be re-potted as needed during the spring to be refreshed.

Geranium

Overwintering Geraniums

Geraniums that have spent the summer outdoors can be kept as houseplants, provided they get lots of sun. In northern climes, the sun may not be strong enough in late winter to stimulate buds on some varieties.
Before the first fall frost (find your local frost dates), lift the plants and, using a sharp, clean knife, cut the stems back in a shapely fashion to about 6 to 8 inches. They should not have to support great masses of leaves in the low sunlight environment they are about to enter. Save a few stems as cuttings to root, an easy way to multiply your plants. Also cut back the roots.
Transplant the “mother plant” to the smallest pot possible—enough to just fit the roots—using regular potting soil to fill.
Keep the plants in shade for a week, then place them in a sunny spot (they need all the sun they can get) and keep them cool.
Geraniums grow best with night temperatures of 50° to 60°F but will survive if they drop to 32° and/or rise above 80°F, as long as they are kept relatively dry.
When new growth appears, cut off all the old leaves.

The only thing more difficult than getting the new growth to appear is keeping it. And here’s some help with that:

Water only when the leaves show signs of drooping and allow only small amounts. Do not fertilize or feed the plants. It is critical that these plants get rest.
If you want your overwintered geraniums to bloom for Memorial Day, pinch them back in February. Once warm weather returns and all danger of frost has passed, take the plants outdoors and transplant them to beds or pots, as you wish.

Pests/Diseases

Common problems can be low light or too much or too little water. The leaves will turn yellow as an indication you are watering too little or too much. In this case, try to even the watering out and move the geraniums to a brighter place.

Harvest/Storage

How to Root Stem Cuttings

Most geraniums root easily from stem cuttings in soil, coarse sand, water, perlite, or other rooting material—but nothing with fertilizer.

Using a sharp, clean knife, make a slanted cut 4 inches below a stem tip, above a node where leaves emerge. Trim cutting to just below a node. Remove any buds, all but two or three leaves, and the leaflike stipules at the base of leaf stalks.
Roll the stem cutting in newspaper or put it in the shade for 24 hours, so that the end will seal and not rot.
Push the stem into a pot of moistened rooting medium and store it in a warm, shady place for 2 days. After that, give the cutting indirect sun. Moisten the medium only as needed.

Recommended Varieties

The Common or Zonal Geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) thrives in containers (as well as outdoors).
Ivy-Leaf Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are very popular for hanging baskets, window-boxes, and containers.

Wit & Wisdom

For minor cuts, apply crushed geranium leaves to stop the bleeding.
In the language of flowers, scarlet geranium means silliness. Find out more flower meanings here.
Geraniums are known to be toxic to Japanese beetles, so you won’t have to worry about those pesky pests.
The plants that we commonly call geraniums were introduced in Europe by Dutch traders who brought them from South Africa in the early 18th century. Because these new plants resembled the hardy wild geraniums already growing in Europe, botanists mistakenly grouped them together. In 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus classified them under the genus Geranium. When it was later discovered that these new “geraniums” differed from European geraniums in the shape of their petals, the number of stamens, and other factors, they were renamed Pelargonium, meaning “stork’s bill”—a reference to the long, sharply pointed shape of their seedpod. But to this day, we still say “geranium” when we actually mean “pelargonium.”

Planting Times

Reader Comments

You must have Javascript enabled to use this form.

Dead heading

Where do you pinch them off at? Every time I start to pinch at the bottom where, it seems stem is coming out, doesn't seem to flower as much. Do you just pinch off below the bloom? I love these flowers but can't seem to keep a lot of blooms on them. Thanks!

how to pinch geraniums

Hi, Michelle. You only need to pinch ¼ to ½ inch off the end of the stem.

geraniums

I am planting geranium seeds now and will keep in a green house until May and then want to use them in a wedding in late August. What is the best way to keep small and full of blooms? Zone 5b
Thanks

how to grow small geraniums

Did you seed a dwarf variety? These can be maintained under 8 inches, flower freely, and can be maintained in 4-inch pots. They seem to be more popular in the United Kingdom; you can see mention of them here: http://thepelargoniumregister.com/horticulture-symbols-and-terms/ They might be able to provide some info.

If you are growing standard size, you might need to keep it pruned.

geraniums -- out doors

This info has been very helpful. They bloom several times a year but get quite leggy. I may have watered too often, but what do I do when it rains on them? Something also eats some of the buds. I live in Southern Calif.

leggy geraniums

They usually get leggy while being overwintered. Outdoors, it could be a sign that they are not getting enough light (they like full sun), and they naturally grow leggy during the bloom period. You can rejuvenate them by cutting them back hard. They should be fine if it rains as long as the soil is well draining; they should not be sitting in pools or soggy soil. As for what’s eating the buds…Japanese beetles can cause some damage. Rabbits eat the flowers…it could be that they nibble on the leaves. Deer will eat almost anything.

outdoor geramiums..

They have grown well...but now the leaves are curling does that mean they are getting too much water;...I live in Florida....need help....

Geraniums

Hi Genny,

Yes, the cause could be from too much watering, though it could also be from general inconsistent watering (e.g., too much then too little, too little then too much, off and on watering, etc…). The best way to deal with this problem is to begin a consistent watering regiment. Allow the soil around the plant to dry to 1 or 2 inches deep, and then water well. Wait until the soil returns to the same dryness, and then repeat. Hopefully, the plant will begin to recover over time. If not, the problem may be more serious and be caused by a fungal disease. We hope this helps!

dividing a plant

Hi, I have been asked by a family member overseas to gather some info. She has a Canadian variety of a geranium for a number of years. Her plant is very full and she would like to divide it. Can she do that by just separating the plant itself and re-potting both halves? Thanks for any help :)

Re: dividing geraniums

Yes, you can divide them. They are quite hardy but will recover. I would first trim the plant back by no more than a third and wait a week for it to recover, and then dig it out and observe.
Cut with sharp blade, perhaps many new plants, pot up in good soil or in ground, keep shaded initially and water well. Keep an eye on them!! They will tell you what they need.
Luck

Ads Blocking

I would like to read a complete sentence without a tractor or some other dumb ad in the way.

geraniums

I like the way you present information, but please make sure the ads do not block out the text.
Thanks

Rabbits chewing on my geraniums

The rabbits have started chewing on my geraniums they have chewed them almost to a point what do I do to stop them they were so beautiful now they look awful help please!

Geranium Help

Hi Cheryl,

To stop rabbits from eating your geraniums, surround the plants with 4-foot-high wire mesh or chicken wire fencing (1 foot buried underground, 3 feet above). Further disuade them from coming near by regularly applying powdered fox urine or blood meal at the fence’s edge. We hope this helps!

Leaf size on potted geraniums

Hello, I have two geraniums that I put in pots outside in May. When I purchased them the leaves were about 4 inches across. They are beautiful, look healthy, and are still blooming, but all of the new leaves are small-2" max. Is there a reason for this? The pots are larger than what they came in from the flower market. I live in Central KY which I believe is zone 6. They receive sun all morning until about 3 in the afternoon. Thanks

Small Leaves on Geraniums

It sounds like the geraniums may just need a bit more time to mature, but you may also consider applying a fertilizer to give them some extra help. Look for a 15-15-15 Geranium fertilizer and follow the instructions included.

geraniums

hello! Can you put a branch that broke off in jar of water to root it?

Geraniums in water

Yes, Jacque, you should be able to root a branch in a clear container of water. Remove all foliage below the water level (leaves would rot in water). Put the container in bright but not direct sunlight. Allow four weeks to a month.

"Patriot" Cherry Rose Zonal Geranium

I got this beautiful plant for Mother's Day, full green leafed and big beautiful blooms. Within just a couple of weeks the leaves were turning yellow/brown spots. Not sure if too much water or not enough watering, maybe too much sun???? Any suggestions are appreciated

geraniums with yellow leaves

You are right that yellowing leaves can mean either too much or too litter water. You allow the plant to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly. You could also try using a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. Good luck!

Overwintering in Colorado Rockies - Supplemental light

I've been overwintering at east window with average of one hour daily under fluorescent kitchen light. This winter I am installing a fluorescent light (possibly grow light) above them by the east window rather than moving them daily. I see in comments about a foot above plants is good, wondering what wattage I should get if I have a choice, it gets dim up here, but I don't want to burn them. Thank you!

Geraniums Zone 9: Winter

Hi! I live in Houston, TX. Can I leave my geraniums outside during the winter in my flowerbeds? It freezes maybe 3 times. If I cover them with tarp, will it help? Thank you!

Overwintering Geraniums

Because geraniums do not have “resting structures” like bulbs or tubers, they should be brought in for the winter. Three frosts is enough to kill them. Leaving the stalks on, dig them, pot them or clump them together and wrap them in a tarp, and put them in a cool (not freezing), dry area. Come spring, cut them back, move them back into the garden, and begin watering. Note: If they freeze during the winter, they will not come back.

My Geraniums are growing TOO big

Hi,
I brought my geraniums in for the winter and placed them in a South facing window that gets sunlight all day. In the last few months they've doubled in size and usually have 7-8 blossoms or soon to be blossoms on the go! They're getting far too large for my window sill and are extremely bushy because the stems won't grow upright due to their weight. Is there anyway to trim them down without damaging the plant? Or at they just getting too much sunlight?

Cheers,
Ethan

bushy geraniums

Interesting problem to have, Ethan. The heavy light may be contributing to the growth; so, too, water. It’s actually normal for geraniums to get bushy. Try this: Prune out all old or unhealthy stems (if you have any!). Pinch back (pinch out) new growth, once it reaches a few inches. Pinch it to ½ to 1 inch from the tip. You can also prune about a third of the plant and not suffer loss. And check the pot size; sometimes rootbound plants “force” their growth to the top. BTW, you can do this and still trans-fer/-plant the geranium outdoors for the summer. Lucky you!

Geranium care

Hi, I live in NH and I brought my geranium inside, it blossomed beautifully up until a few weeks ago, now it is no longer blooming. How do I get it to start blooming again? And how often should I fertilize during winter months while indoor? Thanks!

You can use a water-soluble

You can use a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. Mix 1 teaspoon into 1 gallon of water. It’s also important to pinch off the faded flowers and longer stems to keep the plant bushy and healthy. You can easily propagate your plants buy putting the stem cuttings into moist vermiculite or any well-drained sterile soil mix. Put a plastic bag over the top and in a week or so the cutting will have roots and you can plant it in a bigger pot.

They are pretty rugged plants

They are pretty rugged plants. I just make sure to get them in before the first frost. When night temps. dip into the low 40s you could bring them in just to be on the safe side.

Hi, when the average outside

Hi, when the average outside temperature drops to what level should I take my potted pelagonia indors?

Hi, I need a huge market for

Hi, I need a huge market for the Geranium plants around Gauteng province, because we are producing this plants in high volume.