Yes—if you want to save tender garden geraniums for next year, bring them indoors before frost. You can keep them growing in a bright spot, store them dormant in a cool, dark, frost-free place, or take cuttings if you lack room. Overwintering does not guarantee bigger blooms, but light, careful watering, pruning and deadheading can support healthy flowering.
First, check which “geranium” you have
The overwintering advice here is for common garden geraniums, which are usually Pelargonium. They are tender plants that can be brought indoors or stored for winter. True Geranium plants are a different genus and include hardy perennials; their winter needs differ. The University of Minnesota Extension guide covers tender annual geraniums: Growing geraniums as annual flowers in Minnesota.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When should you bring geraniums inside?
Move outdoor Pelargoniums indoors before frost. There is no single calendar date that works across climates. University of Minnesota Extension’s general houseplant guidance says most houseplants should come inside when temperatures fall below about 50°F; this is a rule of thumb for houseplants, not a precise geranium-specific frost threshold. See Bringing houseplants in for winter and When to bring houseplants inside for the winter.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBefore bringing plants in, inspect leaves, stems and soil for pests or disease. Clean the pot and keep returning plants apart from your houseplants while you monitor them. Pests can spread indoors; if you use a pesticide, follow its label and confirm it is approved for indoor use. A plant may drop some leaves after the change in light and temperature, then regrow.
#1 Best Overall
- Supports Vibrant Blooms & Foliage – Helps encourage colorful flowers and balanced plant development.
- Balanced Nutrition for Flowering Plants – Provides nutrients suited for steady growth and bloom performance.
- Ideal for Pots, Beds & Containers – Suitable for garden beds, patio containers, and indoor pots.
- Made in USA
Choose the winter method that fits your space
The main choice is whether you can provide light and care for a growing plant or have a suitable cool, frost-free place for dormant storage. Bare-root storage is another option, but it depends more on storage conditions and careful monitoring.
| Method | What it needs | Core care | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grow indoors | A bright window, indoor space and optionally supplemental light | Check soil before watering; prune leggy stems; feed only during active growth | Low winter light can stretch growth; expect possible leaf drop during the transition |
| Store dormant in its pot | A cool, dark, genuinely frost-free location | Water about monthly; move to a sunny window in early spring and resume regular watering | The plant is dormant, not flowering, and the storage place must stay frost-free |
| Store bare-root | Suitable cool storage and the ability to monitor roots | Remove excess soil; rehydrate roots periodically according to the method used; replant in spring | Extension guidance describes this as tricky; results vary |
| Take cuttings | A healthy parent plant and room to root and grow cuttings | Use healthy stems and a suitable rooting medium | You will be raising smaller plants rather than keeping the mature plant intact |
Keep the plant growing indoors
Lift the plant and pot it in a clean container with fresh sterile potting mix. Put it in the brightest suitable window; use supplemental light if needed. Check the soil before watering and make sure excess water can drain. Pinch or prune stretched stems just above a leaf node to encourage branching. Feed only while the plant is visibly growing.
Rank #2
- Supports Vibrant Blooms & Foliage – Helps encourage colorful flowers and balanced plant development.
- Balanced Nutrition for Flowering Plants – Provides nutrients suited for steady growth and bloom performance.
- Ideal for Pots, Beds & Containers – Suitable for garden beds, patio containers, and indoor pots.
- Made in USA
Let a potted plant go dormant
Keep the potted plant in a cool, dark, frost-free place. Water about once a month, rather than treating it like an actively growing houseplant. In early spring, move it to a sunny window and resume regular watering. Wait to fertilize until new growth appears.
Try bare-root storage or take cuttings
For bare-root storage, remove excess soil and monitor the roots, rehydrating them according to the method you choose before replanting in spring. Storage conditions matter, and outcomes are not assured. A Pipestone County Master Gardener has described storing geraniums in paper bags from personal experience, with better results for common than scented geraniums; this is an individual account, not a controlled comparison: Master gardener shares tips on caring for geraniums.
Rank #3
- Balanced Nutrition for Vibrant Blooms: Give your geraniums the perfect balance of nutrients with our 15-15-15 formula! This liquid fertilizer supports strong root growth and encourages beautiful, healthy blooms. Ideal for container plants, it ensures your geraniums thrive all season long with vibrant colors and lush foliage.
- Simple to Use, Big Results: No hassle, just results! Mix 1 ounce of our EZ-gro geranium fertilizer with 1 gallon of water, and you're ready to feed your plants. Use weekly or every 14 days for strong, healthy geraniums that bloom more beautifully than ever. Easy to mix, easy to grow!
- Perfect for pH-Sensitive Plants: Our geranium fertilizer is specially made for geraniums and other plants that thrive in a soil pH above 6.2. It provides the balanced nutrition they need to stay healthy and bloom beautifully. Ideal for both garden beds and container plants, keeping your garden looking vibrant and lush.
- Promotes Strong Roots and Buds: Want fuller, more resilient plants? This fertilizer promotes strong root growth and enhances bud set, ensuring your geraniums are sturdy and full of blooms. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, it's an easy way to keep your geraniums thriving and blooming longer!
- Welcome to the world of EZ-gro, where we make growing easy. Founded by Ray DeBruhl, an agronomist and horticulturalist whose patented greenhouse system and agronomic program sold in six countries, EZ-gro now manufactures over fifty cultivar-specific fertilizers, from geranium fertilizer to citrus and bloom formulas. All made to take the guesswork out of feeding your plants.
If you cannot spare the light or space for a whole plant, healthy cuttings offer a way to start plants for next year. University of Minnesota Extension includes cuttings among its options for keeping plants over winter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What helps geraniums flower well next year?
- Provide strong light. For outdoor annual geraniums, the University of Minnesota guide recommends full sun and at least eight hours of sun daily; it notes that less sun means fewer flowers. That is regional cultivation guidance, not a promise of a particular bloom count. Indoors, use the brightest practical window or supplemental light.
- Remove spent flowers and dead leaves. Deadheading supports repeat flowering, while clearing dead foliage reduces plant debris.
- Avoid excess fertilizer. Geraniums do not need much fertilizer; overfertilizing may reduce flowering. For an actively growing indoor plant, feed only during visible growth and follow the product label.
- Water to the plant’s condition and give it drainage. Geraniums tolerate somewhat dry soil better than soil that stays too wet. A dormant plant needs far less water than one growing indoors.
- Prune stretched stems. Cutting or pinching leggy growth above a leaf node encourages branching.
No source here establishes a measurable increase in bloom size from overwintering alone. Flowering depends on the plant and its growing conditions, so treat overwintering as a way to preserve a plant—not a guarantee of larger flowers.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Capacity: 1 litre
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Great Gift Idea.
- Satisfaction Ensured.
- Weight: 3 lbs
Rank #4
- Highly Concentrated
- For Hanging Baskets And Other Container Plants
- Promotes Larger Blooms
- For Deep Green Foliage
- For all blooming and foliage plants
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
