The hope of spring…
There’s something wonderfully hopeful about springtime in the greenhouse — especially when you’re staring at a collection of geraniums that look as though they’ve had a very rough winter. If your plants weren’t protected over the colder months, don’t panic. Geraniums (more accurately, pelargoniums ) are tougher than they often get credit for, and with a bit of patience you may be surprised by how many can be coaxed back into growth.
Lack of protection during winter
This year, my geraniums didn’t get any winter protection at all. The majority stayed outside in their planters, right at the south-facing front of the house. While that position offers plenty of light, it doesn’t do much to shield plants from frost, cold winds, and weeks of damp compost. These are all things that can quickly turn a healthy plant into a sorry-looking bundle of stems and mushy roots.
Sorting the plants
The first job was to take stock. I spent a good while in the greenhouse sorting through the geranium roots. I checked each plant carefully to see which ones might regrow this summer. It’s a surprisingly satisfying process, even if it feels a little ruthless at times. Any stems that were completely shrivelled or rotten were cut back, while plants with firm bases and healthy-looking roots were kept for further attention.
First steps
One of the most important steps when reviving overwintered geraniums is checking the compost. Old, wet compost can harbour pests and disease, and it’s also where you may come across vine weevil larvae — a common culprit when plants fail to recover. I’d already posted a photo of some vine weevil larvae that I found in the used compost on my Facebook page La Rabine Jardin.
Here’s some useful information about vine weevils from the RHS, UK if you’d like to know more about them.
Thankfully, so far there haven’t been any more, which is a relief. Even so, it’s wise to stay alert, because those little grubs can do a lot of damage by eating the roots before you notice anything is wrong.
Cleaning and replanting
Once the plants were cleaned up, I focused on giving the survivors the best possible chance. That means fresh compost, a good check for pests, and careful watering. At this stage, less is more — geraniums that are just waking up don’t want to sit in soaking soil. A light watering, bright light, and a bit of warmth will usually do far more than heavy feeding or over-enthusiastic care.
Potential for growth
The best part of the whole session was discovering that there’s actually quite a lot of potential for growth. Even better, some plants already have tiny new shoots appearing. That’s always the sign you’re hoping for: proof that life is still there, even if the plant looked finished a few weeks ago.
So if your geraniums have come through winter looking worse for wear, don’t write them off too quickly. With a little sorting, a little tidying, and the right conditions, you may find they’re ready to put on a show again — and there’s something deeply rewarding about bringing a plant back from the brink.
