Wednesday 26 November 2014

Time For Bed

My pelargoniums, or geraniums as most people call these type of pelargoniums, have done so well this year but you can see that they're now past their best and looking very tired.


They're actually plants which I grew last year. I'd popped the pots in the greenhouse over winter without clearing them out first and in spring, discovered that the plants were coming in to bloom again. I didn't have the heart to discard them in favour of buying new ones so I gave them a good trim and they were happy to do their thing again this year.

I thought I'd try doing the same thing with them again this year so before popping them in the greenhouse, I gave them a severe haircut. It looks a bit drastic but it got rid of all the decaying leaves. I shall fleece them to give them a little protection as my greenhouse isn't heated, but I suppose it will depend on how severe the winter is whether they come through it or not. Supposing they do, they'll get some new compost in spring to set them up again for another year.


They're fabulous plants putting out vivid red blooms continuously throughout summer. If I can keep them going another year then why not?

46 comments:

  1. Absolutely why not..........anything that you enjoy in a garden and can keep for the following year is great.

    My greenhouse is not heated. I generally find the tender plants never make it. The garden is in a frost pocket so it does get very cold, and that is the problem.

    Hope your plants make it through :)

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    1. They're not expensive plants but it's good to keep them going if I can. It's touch and go usually whether I can keep things over winter, I fleece them but it just depends on how cold it gets.

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  2. I haven't tried pelargoniums, but I did the same thing with tender fuchsias last year, and have done so again now. They've managed quite well so far.

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    1. I've lost tender fuchsias when I've tried to overwinter them, I suppose it depends from one year to the next.

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  3. I do the same with mine, except that since I don't have a greenhouse I keep mine in the garage. They usually do OK.

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    1. I don't have a garage so it's the greenhouse or nothing. I think a garage might give them a little more protection than a greenhouse.

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  4. I was thinking the same Jo, mine are still flowering in the back garden in pots. I've never had that before in November (almost December) its the mild weather we are having

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    1. It's a strange season, I've got some summer flowers still hanging on and spring ones flowering early, it's odd to see them flowering side by side.

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  5. With the pelargoniums trimmed and fleeced up they should be all right in your greenhouse. We're fortunate to have the completely covered area in between the house and garage. Everything has been 'put to bed' in there, which is just as well now that we're getting some frosty nights.

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    1. I'm hoping so. The weather's turned much colder here this week, I think a frost is on the way.

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  6. I've done the same to mine, first time ever mind. I'm glad to read you have had success in this, it gives me some confidence for next year now.

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    1. I think they survived last year because it was such a mild winter, they didn't have any protection other than the greenhouse. I've fleeced them this year so I'm hoping that they're ok.

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  7. Sat here laughing my socks off.........little haircut indeed, remind me not to let you cut my hair!!

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    1. I did say it was a severe haircut, something I actually need myself.

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  8. lol so you did, I don't know what I read.........foggy brain. Well I made myself laugh, crazy as that sounds x

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  9. I do the same with mine and I usually manage to keep the majority ok. Last year I managed to keep fuchsias too - which reminds me the greenhouse door is still open so I'll have to leg it down there in the dark to shut it!

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    1. Glad to hear that it works for you, I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I'm sure this winter won't be as mild as it was last year. Make sure you get that greenhouse door closed, I'm sure it's only a matter of days before we get some frosts now.

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  10. Managed to over winter a particularly nice begonia too. We'll see what the weather brings. I heard a tip about taking geraniums out of the pot and putting them face down in a cardboard box in the garage. Didn't work but it's always worth a try!

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    1. I've heard something similar about taking geraniums out of the pot too but never tried it myself. Glad you managed to overwinter the begonia, it's great if you can keep especially nice or special plants going.

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  11. Great minds...! Although I must admit I haven't given mine a haircut yet! Mum's been keeping the same pelargoniums for years and they look wonderful x Jane

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    1. Mine weren't trimmed at all last year and they survived but there was a lot of old foliage on them this time so I thought it best to get rid of it. Your mum must have a bit of an attachment to her pelargoniums after having them for such a long time.

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  12. Replies
    1. They're tucked up as snug as a bug in a rug.

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  13. My only one pelargonium was rotten and died after showed me a bountiful flowers next year. I want to look for a new one for my balcony. I like your pelargonium,nice foliage.

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    1. That's such a shame, I hope you find a nice one to replace it with. These are called Zonal pelargoniums because of the patterns on their leaves.

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  14. It's a good idea. I've done something similar with a chilli, I cut it back and I'm keeping it on the windowsill. Hopefully it will get off to a good start next year. CJ xx

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    1. Your chilli plant should give you an early harvest as it will have a head start from those started off from seed. I think I'd give it a go myself if I grew chillis.

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  15. Last winter my neighbours geraniums survived and even kept flowering over winter. They are still flowering now but surely we can't have a repeat can we?

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    1. It was such a mild winter that many things continued to flower when they'd usually die. I think this year's started the same way, I keep expecting a frost but it hasn't come yet, only one light one. I thought we'd have a harsh winter after getting off so lightly last year but now I'm not so sure.

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  16. I passed a few pelargoniums still looking in fine fettle on way to get a paper this morning. I find that the smell of the leaves upsets me so I don't grow them but do admire seeing them in other gardens. I'm sure that with some tlc that they will come through the winter and will be looking good next summer.

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    1. I think they're really good doers, and as you say, there's been lots still blooming away in November these past couple of years. I love the smell of the leaves, it's a shame it upsets you.

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  17. Geraniums are okay as house plants too. Perhaps you could bring a couple into the house, and then if the others don't make it you can take cuttings of the house ones to start again outside?

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    1. That's a great idea. I never think of bringing outdoor plants inside but it does make sense.

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  18. We always try to bring our geraniums through the winter. They usually survive very well.

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    1. That's good to know. They're such cheap plants that I've never thought to do it before but why dispose of something if it's easy enough to keep it going?

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  19. I over winter min in our hallway where its cool and darkish. They just get bigger every year and dont rot like the can in the greenhouse. If not i put them under a fir tree in the garden so the frost doesnt get on them.

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    1. I've got them fleeced in the greenhouse, but as you say, there's no guarantee that it will keep the frost at bay. Perhaps I'd be better bringing them in to the unheated porch.

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  20. It's well worth doing, and should give lots of flowers again next year. Flighty xx

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    1. They were brilliant again this year after overwintering them. As you say, it's well worth doing.

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  21. I had a tray of cheap red geraniums planted in the garden during 2013 and left them in situ during the last winter. The colour was a bit loud so I didn't mind if they didn't survive. Typically, they flourished and have grown quite large this past year. I've just tidied them up and will leave them again - let's see what happens! Good luck with yours, Jo, a mild winter may see them through to another year of flowers!

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    1. It just shows what a mild winter we had last year, I'm hoping for the same again but I don't think we can be that lucky two years in a row. I think these plants are great for giving a splash of colour to the garden, they're cheap and cheerful but they do the job.

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  22. It's always worth giving something a try. I have some in the greenhouse which survived last winter too. They root really easily from cuttings too if you take them in early to mid autumn. They're a bit easier to keep on the windowsill then and come spring you can pot them up and they'll romp away.

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    1. I didn't keep any of the prunings for cuttings this time, but I did in spring and got some new plants from them, they take so easily.

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  23. I haven't bought them in years, I do what you do, trim them...after taking a thousand cuttings of course, and on they grow. My greenhouse is full of next years plants.xxx

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    1. It's a great money saving idea, even though the plants are usually quite cheap. Nothing like saving a bit of money and having plants for free.

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