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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Everlasting geraniums?




Did you know that if you take in your hanging basket geraniums in the Fall and cut them back you can put them in a garage or a basement for the winter?  And did you also know that in the Spring when you take them out again they will start to regain their floral glory in a matter of days?

I used to buy geraniums for my floral baskets every year.  The large ones ran into quite a bit of money.  Then I discovered that I could keep them from year to year. 

Now my geraniums—I have four large ones—are all at least 5 years old! 



This past winter I even tried it with a couple of other plants with great success. 

I know your never supposed to ask a woman her age but no one says you can’t ask a plant…so how old is your geranium?


12 comments:

  1. Yes I did know that. I used to save mine and had a huge collection after awhile because I added a new one each year. Your's are beautiful. Enjoy your day. Hugs

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  2. I didn't know that. What a great tip. I thought it only applied to bulb plants. Ah, the incredible wonder of nature.

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  3. I can't keep geraniums anymore as I always get an allergic reaction to them - such a pity! Valerie

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  4. When we lived in California, we had geraniums planted around the house and barn in a border. They would get 3 - 4 feet high and would bloom constantly. I would cut them back twice a year or they would get HUGE. We watered them throughly twice a week.

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  5. wow I never knew that! Truthfully I just have perennials now, even easier!

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  6. Didn't know that. But they would freeze solid in the garages up here. ;) They look great!

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  7. Thank you so much for this information Crystal! I never knew this! It can be so expensive buying plants every year!!

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  8. Wow, such cheerful plants! Lovely. And thanks for the tip.

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  9. Wow, Crystal, I never knew this! I had stopped buying them because they were getting more expensive every year. I'm going to try this! Do you continue to water them? How much do you cut them back-just all the blooms or the foliage, too?

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  10. A friend gave me a beautiful salmon pink geranium when my son was born - he's now 33!) I kept it and also took cuttings from it until I had a whole collection of my favourite colour. They moved house with me twice and for the first couple of years I lived here they were stuck in my shady front porch all year round and totally neglected! But they survived . . . until I got around to sorting out my garden and moved them to a sunnier spot, whereupon the frost promtly killed them! That was about five years ago now so I think I had my money's worth from them!

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  11. I LOVE geraniums! I have a collection of scented geraniums that I keep as houseplants during the winter and keep outside on the deck during the summer. I've had my oldest one probably about 10 years. I read a book about the history of houseplants and geraniums were actually one of the first types of plants to be kept inside.

    I've been scared to try the basement/garage thing, though, with the blooming kind. You've inspired me to attempt it this fall with whatever geraniums I end up buying this summer.

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  12. When I lived in Wyoming I had a collection of Geraniums in a south facing bay window. They bloomed year round. It was a wonderful bit of color for a winter wonderland. Terah

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As always thanks for you comments!