Geraniums

[Love Lies Bleeding]

The geraniums that I bought as plug plants for the garden have been stunning this year. Is there a way to keep them over winter so that next year I can start with a good size plant rather than plugs? Also can I take cuttings?

[cajary]

Hi, LLB. I cut the top growth off and keep them in a frost- free place. I don,t water them at all. When I've got loads (it has been a good year for them), I just leave them in a polystyrene container with the roots barely covered. I think they do need some light so a basement probably wouldn't be much good.
As regards cuttings, try taking some now. It might be alittle but you should get away with it. Good luck

[TPeers]

As Cajary said - lift the plants before the frosts, pot them up and put them somewhere light, frost free, and cool - Cornwall for instance - (an unheated bedroom window sill?) And only water when the compost is dry.

For cuttings - now is a fairly good time, take finger lengths of stem, preferably a non-flowering shoot, cut just above a leaf joint when collecting the cuttings. To prepare the cuttings cut just below a leaf joint, trim off all bar 3-4 of the small top leaves and push into a pot of compost/vermiculite mix. There is no need for hormone rooting powder and you shouldn't need to cover the cuttings. Water carefully so that the compost mix is just damp - never soggy - and wait.

You should be able to put around 5 cuttings in a 3" pot.

[cajary]

Well, I didn't say exactly that. But you explained it far better than I could

[TPeers]

Always happy to interfere!

[cajary]

Oh! A bit like me then?

[Love Lies Bleeding]

cajary you cut the top growth off. How much? Sorry for the daft question.

tpeers can I put the cuttings in a glass of water. I could see the roots that way. Would it be ok? Sorry for another daft question.

[TPeers]

You could put the cuttings in a glass of water - but I'm not sure how well they would do. A glass of water is by definition not well drained!

If being able to see what is going on is important - and I do agree - try going to the garden centre and getting a couple of clear plastic orchid pots. when you push the cuttings down the side of the pot you will still be able to see to some extent. Then you can watch the cutting and hopefully see the root development while still giving the free draining situation required to get them to strike.

[TPeers]

Originally Posted by Love Lies Bleeding

you cut the top growth off. How much?

Depends on how well grown the plant is but no further than just above the lowest set of leaves.

Overwintered geraniums always end up looking leggy - don't worry about it.

Generally people overwinter their plants and then take loads of cuttings in the spring to create lots of young non-leggy plants to bed out. You can keep the original plant going for years this way but it will get progressivly taller with long bare stems and green growth only at the top.

I've never manage to keep a plant overwinter and keep it as small and neat as when lifted - but given the cost of new plants and the cheapness of cuttings and growing your own - I have no problem with the compromise!

[cajary]

Agree completely with T. When you see them growing, naturally in the "Med" area, they're about 6' tall with no bottom growth.

[Love Lies Bleeding]

Not sure if this is a problem but I only have a couple of non flowering stems. There are lots of flowers and more new flower buds ready to open. Where should I take the cuttings from?

[cajary]

Well, definitely the non-flowering stems. You could try taking some of the flowering stems, cut off the flowers (and buds) and carry on as Tpeers said. They're actually quite tough little plants. I'm not sure about sticking them in water. They're a drought resistant plant and too much water might annoy them!!

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by cajary

They're a drought resistant plant and too much water might annoy them!!

It hasn't stopped raining this summer, absolutely threw it down, but my geraniums look great even though they have been soaked.

[cajary]

Hi, just got back on the computer(busy few days). Got to agree with the lovely Lesley. The geraniums have been fantastic this year. But the wetness can drain from around them. I was thinking that having the bottoms permanently in water might rot them. The Fuschias have had a great year as well. Both the ones in the pots and the ones in the ground.

[Solitary.Bee]

The fuchsias have only just got going, but are now looking fab, if a tad small.

I have started bringing plants indoors to save (no greenhouse) over the winter. My flat pretty much IS a frost free shed

[runnerbean]

My geraniums have never been better, the heads on some are huge and still blooming well. runnerbean

[runnerbean]

Hi Cajary, at the beginning of the year my fuschias were doing so well, then the heavens opened and mine now, just look a sorry mess, Oh well, roll on next year, maybe better weather.

[runnerbean]

Do you cut the stems down, once the flowers have gone, I do this and keep them fairly dry over the winter, and in the Spring, refresh the top layer of compost and feed them really well, and it does pay rewards.

[cajary]

Hi, runnerbean. The fuschias have been great all season and are still going well (more than can be said for the Surfinias).
I've got hardy and non-hardy types both in the ground and in pots. All the non-hardy types, in the ground, I cut the tops off and place over the crown(held down with a brick!!) this keeps the frost off the roots. The hardy types I let carry on all Winter and prune them in the Spring.
All types in pots I cut down in late Autumn and put Bubble-wrap over them for the Winter.
Following advice from another site, for the first time this year, I took all the plants out of the containers, shook out all the old compost and replaced it with new compost. I've fed them twice during the season( a handfull of Growmore round the base) and they've been fantastic. I would
put the pictures up but I don't know how to!!
I will do the same next season and see what happens.

[Nick the Grief]

If they are the bedding type Geraniums I wouldn't bother saving them as they are never as good year two. If they are named varieties ( e.g. Mrs Cox, Vancoover Centenniel etc) then it's the only way to keep your stock. The f1 bedders are sooo cheap it's just not worth the hassle in keeping them IMHO.

As too Fuchsia's I've just dug one of mine out as it was becoming to rampant but I used to just leave the tops on and let the frost kill the stems off then com the spring you prune them to just above a good strong new growth. If you cut them back now the frosts will kill some of the stem off & if it's getting close to the heart of the plant you risk loosing the lot.

Hope this helps