Geraniums actually originated in South Africa, brought over to Europe by Dutch traders in the 18th century. But despite originating there, these days have more connotations of a Mediterranean holiday, blooming throughout the summer.

They were named geraniums after the hardy wildflowers already called geraniums that grew in Europe, as they were thought to be the same but are actually different. Although from the same family.

You can recognise geraniums by their distinctive (but not unappealing!) smelling leaves, just don’t get too close as geraniums contain some natural oils that can cause irritation to more sensitive skin.

Due to this, geraniums can be used to keep away pests such as mosquitoes so perfect for planting in pots around your dining sets

When to plant geranium ‘bulbs’?

If you buy bare root geraniums or bulbs* then pot as soon as they arrive and then plant them into your garden or larger pot a few weeks later when they have put on a bit of growth. Both annual and perennial geraniums shouldn’t be planted until spring once the last frost has passed, as geraniums thrive in the warmth.

General purpose compost is fine for geraniums but don’t use a bark based compost as bark composts retain too much water. Never let the roots dry out entirely. You can also apply an all purpose liquid feed to help the flowers to bloom. 

*Please note geraniums don’t really exist as bulbs per se, they exist as bare roots in their perennial form. Some gardeners will use the term bulbs liberally to describe a bare root. However, most gardeners tend to propagate their geraniums from cuttings. 

When to plant geranium plugs?

When you order geranium plants you should always give the plant a little soak as it can be dried out by the transport process. These can then be planted straight away into a planter in your greenhouse.

Plugs are the same as bulbs in their aftercare and as they grow older, every spring a fresh layer of compost or mulch should be added around the plant to assist in retaining moisture in the drier summer months.  

When can you plant geranium plugs outside?

Before planting out into the garden make sure they’re looking robust and have a good amount of healthy foliage. You can do some prep before planting them outdoors by taking them outdoors during the day and bringing them in again at night.

Once they have begun to grow, you can pinch out growing tips to ensure a bushier plant with a whole display of flowers.

When to plant hardy geraniums?

You should plant hardy geraniums (also known as true geraniums) at the same time as annual geraniums. Although they are better at surviving frosts, it’s still not a good idea to plant them in the winter time as they need time to establish themselves first. 

Growing geraniums as plugs or bare root are a great way to save money, with them being smaller and cheaper. Yet you can still enjoy a garden of beautiful colour come summertime. 

Types of Geranium

Famous gardens, Famous Folk: A Series on Inspirational Gardens

Pelargonium or Geranium – What’s the difference? 

Pelargoniums and geraniums are often confused with one another, probably due to the confusion previously mentioned of naming both plants geraniums when they were actually different. True geraniums are hardy perennials, coming back year after year.

While pelargoniums are treated as annual plants as they usually die in the winter and tend to be replanted each year. 

There is also a slight difference in appearance, while both pelargoniums and geraniums both have five lobed petals in a geranium, all petals are identical. Whereas in pelargoniums the top two petals are different to the bottom three petals. 

Three main types of geraniums 

  • Angel

Angel pelargoniums are a great option for indoor or outdoor containers. They appear more similar to pansies and are more compact yet bushier.

  • Regal

Regal pelargoniums are ruffled, with showy blooms in tones of mauve, pink and white. Allowing them to brighten up outdoor spaces in pots around your patio. They flower slightly earlier than other types.

  • Zonal

Zonal pelargoniums have the most interesting foliage with purple or maroon running through the leaves. 

Where to plant geraniums?

Geraniums enjoy moist well drained soil. They’re relatively unfussy but in a place that gets morning sun will be ideal for them to flourish. 

Planting Geraniums outside?

Geraniums are not too fussy on soil type, plant in full sun. They work well in containers, hanging baskets and flower beds. They’ll do well in a greenhouse over summer if they’re from the less hardy varieties but in summer be careful of midday high sun in a greenhouse.

Shade-loving geraniums are also great for underplanting larger blooms such as roses

Pruning Geraniums

Geraniums are relatively easy to prune, the only regular pruning to do is to deadhead any spent flowers. The only other pruning required is to help geraniums survive the winter or to stop them from growing too big or old and not as attractive. 

On average geraniums will last around 2 years and although they can last a lot longer than that, they tend to get woodier with age and the blooms are not as pretty. Handily, propagation is easier with geraniums, take a cutting of around 4 inches which has at least two healthy leaves.

Hardy geraniums grow bigger as they age, clumping and spreading. If they grow too big for you or your garden, they can be divided with a sharp spade into halves or quarters. It’s best to do this in autumn or spring. This should be done around every 3-5 years to keep them flowering and growing strongly. 

It’s best to cut geraniums back before the winter, as the low sunlight means they don’t have enough energy to support lots of leaves during the colder months. 

Overwintering

There are three methods of overwintering (keeping them alive during winter) that will ensure you have geraniums in your garden next summer. 

1. Overwintering as bare root plants

Before the first frosts, dig up your geraniums and shake off excess compost and soil from roots. Either hang the plants upside down in a shed or garage or lay them flat to dry off foliage before wrapping in newspaper. Check them again in early spring and those that look healthy can be potted. 

2. Overwintering in planters or pots in a greenhouse or under glass

In order to ensure geraniums survive the worst of the frosts and keep warm during winter, pop them in a planter and put them in a greenhouse over winter. 

3. Overwintering by taking cuttings 

Cut geraniums back in late summer and take cuttings to propagate and to ensure against any losses if the winter is particularly harsh. Once the cuttings have roots sprouted these will then need to be allowed to grow in a warm windowsill or greenhouse over the rest of winter and watered sparingly.