My geranium plant is looking so healthy.There are some blooms and buds also. Here at Seattle,we are having minimum temps in the low 40s-high 30s these days. So my question is, should I take a cutting from it now? I put some mulch around it - should I wait for the blooms to be over before I take cuttings? I'd hate for my beautiful plant to just die.
Meaning? Sorry, I am a little dumb when it comes to these technicalies. Do you mean, if I can bring the plant indoors? I can - but it is in the garden and not in a pot. Should I put it in a pot and bring it indoors? I don't have a green house. TIA!!
I have to ask: What kind of geranium are we talking about? If it's the ones that are not frost hardy, you will have to dig it up, place it in a pot and take it indoors for the winter. If it's one of the hardy perennial geraniums you can leave it where it is. A photo would be helpful. A cutting is a piece of a stem that you cut off and put in a pot with special plantbaby-soil. That way you can get many more geraniums.
Dig it up and bring it inside with you!!! It will winter well and next spring you can move it back outside I've been doing this for years with many of mine. They are my favorite plant put it in a sunny window and let it dry out between waterings. You will be amazed at how well it adapts to indoor living!! Deanna :-D
Tina, it is a beautiful plant and color. I sure wouldn't want to lose it. Deanna, gave you good instructions. You will get to enjoy it all winter.
I left my Geraniums out in pots last winter and they look similar to the one that you have, the only thing is they are quite woody. I bought more this year and again I am leaving them in the pots over winter to see how they fare they bloomed this year very succesfully, probably wiser to take them indoor but I just do not have anywhere to put them and I am devil for forgetting to water houseplants !
just make sure you strip all flowers and blooming buds from the cutting so it can concentrate its efforts on pushing new roots.
Wonderful Deanna. Thanks for the great advice. I dug it up (blooms and all) and brought it inside in a pot. I hope it does survive. I love this plant and the color of its blooms. Thanks so much.
Geranium cuttings are best taken in August/September for the next spring's blooming, but that can still be done in January/February with good summer results. There are numerous internet sites that offer instructions on how to go about propagation of your LOVELY plant (tag should tell you what type it is, a zonal, Regal, etc.). I "start" my geranium cuttings in a very good draining soil in styrofoam cups: these allow aeration of the soil, or the capacity for young forming roots to breathe more freely. You'll know your cutting(s) have taken when they feel "sturdy" to a gentle bump of the hand, usually within 5 weeks. Transplant into 6 inch pots in early spring, or directly outside about mid-May in the Seattle area. Now that you've potted up and brought your geranium inside, DO NOT BE AFRAID to keep pinching new growth back: this will force bushiness instead of leggy growth due to lack of proper sunlight. Geraniums like their temps a bit on the cool side as THIS is what causes blooimg to take place. Also, a little water -in regards to them- is better than a lot which can cause root rot and sure death..only water when pot feels "light" when you lift it, give a bit from the top, fill saucer below to allow root-uptake of such. Fertilize periodically, or just sprinkle a 3-6 month pelleted time-released fertilizer on soil surface around (but not touching) stem and water it in when surface soil is dry. Your geranium may suffer a bit of setback from being dug up and potted, may "pout" for a while, but they're quite hardy on the overall, can withstand a lot! They bloom whenever they feel like it (are NOT on a regular schedule like most other plants): you're inside temps will dictate this, so PLEASE don't worry: she'll bloom inside, or out later on when conditions are more to her liking. BEWARE of taking cuttings! This can be VERY addictive and, before you know it? You're OVERWHELMED with geraniums! Ask one who KNOWS!
Thank you for the wonderful insights on taking cuttings. I love this plant and won't mind being addicted
