How to Overwinter Geraniums: 3 Easy Ways to Save Them for Spring

If your geraniums looked great all summer, it feels like a waste to let the first hard freeze finish them off. The good news is that you don't have to. Learning how to overwinter geraniums is easier than most people expect, and a plant you save this fall is often bigger and fuller next spring than anything you'd buy in a six-pack at the garden center.

This guide walks you through three simple ways to keep geraniums alive over winter: growing them as houseplants, storing them dormant, or taking cuttings. You'll also learn when to bring them in, how to care for them indoors, and how to wake them up in spring.

First, Make Sure You Have the Right Kind of Geranium

The plants most people call geraniums, the ones in window boxes and patio pots with big clusters of red, pink, or white flowers, are actually Pelargonium. They come from South Africa, and they can't survive freezing temperatures. These are the ones this guide is about.

True geraniums, often called hardy geraniums or cranesbills, are a different group of perennials. They die back in fall and return on their own in spring, so you can leave them in the garden. If your plant came back by itself last year, it's probably a hardy geranium and doesn't need to come inside.

When to Bring Geraniums Indoors

Timing matters more than any other step. Both Iowa State University Extension and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension recommend moving geraniums or taking cuttings before frost arrives. Once nights start dipping into the 40s, it's a good time to act.

If you've already had a light frost, don't give up. Trim off any blackened leaves and stems, and work with the healthy, firm growth that's left. If a hard freeze has turned the whole plant soft and dark, it's unlikely to recover, but any firm green stems can still be tried as cuttings.

Before you start, choose your best plants. Pick geraniums that are healthy, vigorous, and free of insects or disease. A struggling plant rarely improves indoors, and pests can spread to your other houseplants.

What You'll Need

You don't need special equipment. Most of these supplies are already in a garage or garden shed.

• Clean, sharp pruners or a knife
• Pots with drainage holes and fresh potting mix
• Paper bags or twine, if you plan to store plants dormant
• Vermiculite or a perlite and peat mix for cuttings
• Rooting hormone (optional, but helpful for cuttings)
• A clear plastic bag or humidity dome
• A grow light, if your windows don't get much sun
• Plant labels or masking tape, so you remember which color is which

Which Overwintering Method Should You Choose?

Each method works. The right one depends on how much space and light you have.

• Keep them as houseplants if you have a sunny window or grow light and want some green, and maybe a few flowers, through winter.
• Store them dormant if you have a cool, dry spot like a basement or unheated room and don't have much window space.
• Take cuttings if you want lots of new plants from a favorite color or have very large plants that won't fit indoors.

Many gardeners combine methods. For example, you might keep one favorite potted plant growing in the window and take cuttings from the rest as a backup. If you're new to overwintering, starting with one or two plants is a low-pressure way to see which method suits your home.

Method 1: Keep Geraniums Growing as Houseplants

This is the simplest option and the one that usually gives the best plants in spring. You're basically moving your geranium indoors and keeping it alive until the weather warms up.

1. Check for pests. Look under the leaves and along the stems for insects before the plant comes inside. Rinse the foliage with water if needed.
2. Pot up garden plants. Dig up geraniums growing in beds and move them into a container that fits the root ball, using fresh potting mix. Plants already in pots can come in as they are.
3. Cut them back. Trim the plant by about one-third to one-half. A smaller plant is easier to manage indoors and recovers faster.
4. Give them plenty of light. Set the pot in your sunniest window, ideally south- or west-facing. If you don't have enough natural light, a grow light works well.
5. Keep them cool. Geraniums prefer cool indoor temperatures, roughly 60 to 70°F during the day with slightly cooler nights. Keep them away from heat vents and fireplaces.
6. Water sparingly. Water thoroughly after pruning, then wait until the soil feels dry before watering again.

Indoor geraniums often get tall and stretched by late winter. That's normal. Pinch stems just above a leaf node to keep them bushier, and plan on a bigger trim in early spring.

Method 2: Store Geraniums Dormant (Bare-Root)

This old-fashioned method lets geraniums rest through winter with almost no space or light. It takes less daily care, but it's less predictable than the other two methods, so it's smart to take a few cuttings as insurance.

1. Dig up the plants before a hard freeze. Lift them from the garden or slide them out of their pots, then gently shake most of the soil off the roots.
2. Bag them or hang them. Place one or two plants in a large paper bag, or hang them upside down. Hanging is messier, and the leaves and shoot tips will eventually die, which is expected.
3. Store them somewhere cool and dry. Aim for about 45 to 55°F. An unheated bedroom, enclosed porch, cool basement, or attached garage that stays above freezing can all work.
4. Check them during winter. Leaves will dry and drop. That's fine. Wisconsin Extension suggests soaking the roots in water for a few hours several times over winter so they don't dry out completely. Remove anything moldy or soft when you check.

In March, take the plants out and look for firm, green stems. Cut each plant back to that healthy tissue, removing anything shriveled or dead. Pot them up, water thoroughly, and set them in a sunny window or under a grow light. New growth may be slow at first, so give them time.

Method 3: Take Geranium Cuttings

Geraniums root easily from cuttings, and this is a great way to save a favorite color without making room for a large plant. Cuttings also tend to make compact, tidy plants by spring.

1. Cut healthy stem tips. Using a sharp, clean knife or pruners, take 3- to 4-inch cuttings from the ends of the shoots.
2. Prepare each cutting. Pinch off the lower leaves so only a few remain at the top. Dipping the cut end in rooting hormone is optional but helpful.
3. Plant them in a light mix. Use vermiculite, a mix of perlite and peat moss, or a commercial rooting mix in a pot with drainage holes. Insert each cutting just deep enough to stand up on its own.
4. Water and cover. Water the mix, let it drain, then loosely cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or dome to keep the cuttings from wilting.
5. Give bright, indirect light. Keep the cuttings out of direct sun, which can scorch them.
6. Pot them up once rooted. Roots usually form in about 6 to 8 weeks. Move each rooted cutting into its own pot of potting mix and keep it in a sunny window or under a grow light until spring.

Caring for Geraniums Through Winter

Once your geraniums are settled, winter care is mostly about patience. A few common issues are easy to fix if you know what to look for.

• Tall, leggy stems: This usually means the plant needs more light. Move it to a brighter spot or add a grow light, and pinch back long stems.
• Yellow lower leaves: Overwatering is the most common cause indoors. Let the soil dry out more between waterings, and make sure the pot drains well.
• Few or no flowers: That's normal in winter. The goal is to keep the plant healthy, not blooming. Flowers will return when days get longer.
• Pests: Check the undersides of leaves every couple of weeks. Isolate any infested plant and rinse or treat it before the problem spreads.

If you share your home with pets, keep geraniums out of reach. The ASPCA lists geraniums as toxic to cats and dogs, with signs such as vomiting, loss of appetite, and skin irritation. A high shelf or a room your pets don't use is a safer spot. If you're bringing in other plants for the season, our Christmas cactus care guide covers another easy winter bloomer.

Waking Geraniums Up in Spring

Late winter is when your overwintered geraniums start getting ready for the garden again.

• Prune in March. Potted plants often get lanky indoors. Iowa State Extension suggests cutting them back by one-half to two-thirds in March. New growth usually appears within days.
• Wake up dormant plants. Bare-root geraniums should be pruned, potted, and moved into bright light in March, as described above.
• Start feeding lightly. Once you see steady new growth, a diluted, balanced houseplant fertilizer can help the plants fill out.
• Harden them off. Before planting outside, set your geraniums outdoors in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours a day, then slowly increase their time and sun over a week or two.
• Plant out after frost danger passes. Wait until your last frost date has passed and nights stay mild. In many northern areas, that means mid to late May.

When spring arrives, it's also a good time to plan the rest of your outdoor work. Our garden maintenance checklist can help you get beds and containers ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can geraniums stay outside in winter?

Common geraniums (Pelargonium) can't survive frost, so they need to come inside in most of the U.S. In frost-free areas, they can stay outdoors year-round. Hardy geraniums are different and can stay in the ground.

Do you water geraniums in winter?

Yes, but much less than in summer. Potted geraniums growing indoors only need water when the soil feels dry. Dormant bare-root plants don't need regular watering, though an occasional root soak helps keep them from drying out completely.

Should I cut back geraniums before bringing them inside?

For plants you'll grow as houseplants, trimming by about one-third to one-half makes them easier to manage and encourages fresh growth. For dormant storage, you'll do most of the pruning in March instead.

Why are my overwintered geraniums dropping leaves?

Some leaf drop is normal after a move indoors. Geraniums are adjusting to lower light, drier air, and a new temperature, so a few yellow or fallen leaves in the first couple of weeks aren't a concern. If leaf drop continues, check for overwatering, cold drafts, or not enough light. Dormant bare-root plants are different: they're expected to lose all their leaves.

Can you overwinter geraniums in a garage?

You can store dormant geraniums in a garage only if it stays cool but above freezing all winter, ideally around 45 to 55°F. An unheated garage in a cold climate often gets too cold, so a basement or unheated room is usually safer.

Will overwintered geraniums bloom again?

Yes. Once they're back outside with longer days and warmer weather, healthy overwintered geraniums usually start flowering again in late spring or early summer. Plants kept growing indoors tend to bloom first, while dormant plants and young cuttings may take a little longer to catch up.

The Bottom Line

Saving your geraniums over winter takes a little effort in fall and pays off with bigger, earlier plants next spring. Bring them in before a hard freeze, choose the method that fits your space, and keep them cool, bright, and on the dry side. If you're also tidying up outdoors before winter, our yard cleanup tips can help you finish the season strong.