Yes, Geraniums are perennials; they’re vibrant, flowering plants that bloom all year long. And they’re very easy to grow and care for.
Geraniums are easy to propagate too.
You can take cuttings from them in spring, late summer, or early fall.
Cut them just above the stem node, and then strip them of their top leaves.
Put them in a warm location.
If you’d rather start your own geraniums from seed, sow them about 10 weeks before the last frost.
Once the threat of frost has passed, transplant the seedlings outside.
Feeding and Watering Requirements of Geraniums
To make sure your geraniums are perennials, remember that they require only minimal maintenance. Most species don’t need feeding, but they may need extra watering in the winter.
However, if you have poor soil, you might want to feed them in the spring.
Also, most geraniums are divided every three to five years. It’s best to divide them more often so they don’t spread out too much and produce new plants.
Geraniums Are Landscape Enhancers
Pots of geranium plants in several colors await customers in a Cape Cod greenhouse on a spring morning.
Although many geraniums are grown for their flowers, they can also be attractive in the landscape. Some species are excellent as borders and part shade plants.
Others make a great groundcover. Some geraniums only bloom once, while others bloom continuously throughout the summer.
You can grow them from either seed or cuttings and enjoy their gorgeous, fragrant flowers for years to come. So, what do you have to lose?
While many geraniums are grown primarily for their blooms, you should consider their attractive foliage as well.
Some geranium species have deep, dissected leaves. Moreover, some varieties even put on fall colors. And, don’t forget to fertilize them at the right time. And don’t forget that if you’re considering geranium as a perennial, you’ll need to consider its care.
Geraniums Are Perennials in Zones 10-11
They don’t die back but will grow again from the same structure.
And, in most climates, geraniums are perennials. If you’re not sure which ones to grow in your garden, you should keep an eye out for them. You can also use them in containers.
They’re easy to grow and they have a great scent.
When growing geraniums, they’ll need 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily. The best time is in the morning when the sun’s rays are the strongest, and it’s not too hot.
The best part is that geraniums don’t mind a dry winter, but you’ll need to be sure they get enough water. This is the only way to keep them as beautiful as possible!
Do Geraniums Come Back Year After Year?
Geraniums do not have a dormant season. Instead, people push them to the edge of death each year, pull them back out in the Spring, and then wait until next year to plant them again.
They keep growing from the same structure and have the same blooms and leaves every year. During the summer, they lose vigor, so they must be cut back.
When you first plant geraniums, make sure they have enough soil and water. You can start by soaking the roots and the entire plant in water for two hours. If you are planting new plants, some experts recommend doing this once a month.
Once the roots have sunk into the potting soil, you can gently shake the pot. Check the stems to see if they are still firm. If they look shriveled, moldy, or have dried, remove them.
Store Geraniums For the Next Planting Season
If you plan on keeping geraniums over winter, make sure they’re properly stored in a paper bag or cardboard box. They need to be kept at a cool 50-degree temperature to survive the winter.
Once they are soaked, you should divide them.
They come back in the spring after you transplant them into the ground. They will grow back again next year if they’re stored correctly.
When you plant geraniums, make sure they stay dormant until springtime. If you leave them outdoors in a container, they’ll die.
But if you plant them in a sunny window, they’ll start blooming again the following year. They’ll be even more beautiful next spring! You’ll be saving money while they bloom, and getting more use out of them.
Geraniums don’t die back, and they do not need to be protected from freezing weather.
In fact, they can survive in a range of climates, so you’ll never need to worry about their longevity.
When you plant geraniums, you’ll be surprised by how much they grow! A few days later, they’ll be ready to bloom again!
When to Harvest Geraniums
One of the most important questions to ask yourself about geraniums is when to harvest them.
This can be challenging if you don’t know when they’re ready to be harvested. It’s best to harvest your geraniums in the fall when the soil is still cool and a breeze isn’t likely to knock them over. But, it’s worth it in the end. Here’s what you should do.
In the spring, geraniums bloom in a cluster rather than individually. If you want to make sure that your geraniums are fully blooming and have a long blooming season, harvest them early.
This will help you get a head start on blooming and growth.
In the fall, you should let the flowers rot, as this will lead to seed pods. But wait until the fall to harvest geraniums, because the seed pods are not as large as the flowers themselves.
Once you have gathered the seeds, you should keep them in a dry, warm place until they germinate.
You can store geranium seeds indoors for two weeks. After this time, you should plant them in a pot or on a baking sheet, and they should be safe from mildew. If you have a spare jar of seeds, store them in a labeled envelope and place them in a cool, dry area until you’re ready to plant them.
How to Dry Geranium Seeds at Home
You can dry geranium seeds in your home. Use a brown paper bag and hang them in a well-ventilated area. If you’re worried about mold, put the geranium seeds on a baking sheet.
They will remain viable for at least two weeks, but if you wait until fall, you’ll have plenty of seed for next year. Then, just wait until fall before harvesting the seeds.
If you’re wondering when to harvest geraniums, you should be aware of the flower ovary underneath the blossom.
This is where the seeds will be deposited. Be careful not to cut off the flower stems; they’ll fall off the plant.
Instead, wait for the seed pods to mature before you pick them. It’s best to wait for a couple of weeks before you remove the plants.
Harvest Geraniums When They Ripe
If you’re harvesting geraniums for seeds, you need to wait until they are ripe and ready for storage.
The unripe pods will be green and will fall off into the wind. Then, you’ll need to wait until geranium seeds are ready for planting. You can plant these seeds in the spring after they’re harvested.
They usually last for a year after they’ve been stored in a mesh bag.
You can harvest geraniums anytime in the spring or summer, but they’re best harvested when they’re at their peak.
In the fall, you should wait until they reach the point when they’re ready for harvesting. You can also wait until the fall if you’re growing them from seed. After that, you can cut the blooms.
Typically, geraniums are done flowering in the spring. However, if you’re harvesting geraniums for the first time, you should harvest them.
Conclusion
Unlike many houseplants, Geraniums don’t need to be planted in a pot or a window. They can be grown in a container or in a pot.
For best results, however, a container in a sunny window will do. And despite their perennial status, they don’t like to be kept in a room with too much warmth, which can lead to a shorter-lived plant.
We did establish that Geraniums need 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day, but they need shade in the afternoon.
Morning sun will keep their leaves brighter, but afternoon shade is better for their flowering.
Unlike most plants, geraniums need only a small amount of water each day. The nutrient-rich solution is recommended once a week to prevent fungal infections.