Novice seeking help - Geraniums

Hello!

I have recently moved into a flat which the previous owners have left 3 concrete window boxes containing what I believe to be Geraniums.

All 3 window boxes are south facing on a first floor and next to single glazed windows. 2 containers have stopped flowering but the remaining 1 is still flowering.

My question is 2 fold:

1) What type of Geraniums do I have
and;
2) Should I bring these in for the winter, and if so i have no where to leave them potted, so I guess I would need to overwinter and store in a dry place?

Thanks in advance - any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Gavyn (Brighton, East Sussex, UK)

 

Hello Milto and welcome.

I just love Geraniums and particularly trailing ones. I have dozens of them. Even here in Portugal they are taking a rest from blooming. By the look of yours they have been there for some time. If you like them, then I suggest you keep them.

Someone from the UK will come along shortly and give you some advice but I suggest you put your location so you can be given the best advice,

 

Thanks Victoria! I love them too and assumed they had been for some time due to the woody steams. I wondered if they had been ok throughout pervious seasons due to the fact they are sat near a window and therefore catching the heat. I'll look forward to some local UK advice. Thanks again for responding!

 

Real name Pelargoniums, but often called Geraniums.
I'm going to say leave them where they are and hope they get through the winter there.

They are considered frost tender, but in the recent mild winters they seem to be surviving in protected areas quite well.

Its one of those things that depends on the weather, and we cant say for sure what that will do in the next two months.

If you should lose them they are reasonably easy to replace next spring.

 

Many thanks Pete - I'll take the risk and leave them out. Do they look like they have already been out for a season or two? The steams seem relativly established.

 

Well they do look fairly woody.
Last winter was very mild so its quite possible that they survived from the year before.
They look like a compact variety.

 

No expert... but have had hardy geraniums and like yours Annuals unless protected from the cold...I would cut them back a little and keep them away from any chills a little water only when dry looking and wait and see. I have managed to keep some for a few years but then when they get really woody and the stems are the focus...compost them and start with some newbies.
I do love the hardy ones and they can be cut back after flowering and seem to last forever in situ in the garden easy to take cuttings=free plants...loads of different varieties as well.

 

@Milto - did you see this post from yesterday which shows pictures of @Victoria lovely garden Pelargoniums.

Ideas for area with shallow soil and concrete which may be part of wall footing.

 

Hi Milto. I posted s ome info yesterday under Ricky 101 thread, thgat may be of help to you at some time.

They are certainly a healthy collection you have. Members have mentioned some valid points. Pelargoniums will take a lot of harsh wear and tear, but frost is another thing. The cold is bareable in most cases but the frost will penetrate the stems causing much damage.

As mentioned by a member, perhaps cutting the plants back. I notice plenty of leaf joints available. The material that you might cut off, can be allowed to dry out and covered with newspaper and kept in a cool cupboard etc. Come spring they can be very lightly sprayed with water and will soon pick up and used for cuttings. Otherwise some winter protection can be given, such as during frost, cover the whole planter and plants over, say with some old net curtain or horticultural fleece. Please dont hestitate to ask more questions.

 

Thanks so much Mike! I managed to get getting in before the frost hit this week so we'll see how things work out.

 

Looking at picture number two, if you look through the window on the right side, just on the edge of the trough, there is a label, not 100%, but it looks like a Colgraves Tag type, these labels are sold for seed raised product, so the type of pelargonium is Zonale, and could be Palladium or Horizon, you can keep them outside, as long as you keep the soil dry for frosts. Once the heaviest of frosts has passed, give them a good soak, then a high nitrogen feed, when the woody stems back buds shoot, trim the plants in a uniform shape, back to the open buds, give another high nitrogen feed, a month later, then change the feeding ragime to a normal summer season. Alrernatively, if you bring them into a consevatory, glass house, after you apply the first high nitrogen feed, and the back buds shoot, once the shoots are 5-6mm long, you can pinch them out, and treat as cuttings, which will root quicker in a low nutrient soil, with base heat.

 

P.s. for Pelargoniums, if you cannot tell the difference yet between, upright and trailing (ivy leaf), feel the leaf, if it feels soft and velvet like its an upright, if it feels thick and waxy its a trailer, there are new types known as interspecific, which is a cross between the two, the leaves in texture, but odd in shape.