How to Repot Geraniums That Have Been Dormant

It's so easy to save geraniums over the winter to preserve them for the following growing season. Gardeners either bring them indoors to grow on in their pots, or dig them up and store them until spring. Geraniums don't need soil if they're dormant. Stored bare-root in an area that remains cool, with a periodic root soak in water, geraniums can be potted up in the spring and continue to add color and charm to decks, patios and window boxes all summer long. Repot dormant geraniums in late March through early May.

Planting pot
Scissors or garden snips
Container
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a pot that has holes in the bottom for drainage. The appropriate pot size allows for 1 inch between the root ball and the inside wall of the pot.
- 2
  Inspect the geranium's stems when you remove them from storage. If they appear shriveled or otherwise unhealthy, discard the plant. It's normal for the tip of the stem to die back.
- 3
  Use sharp scissors or snips to cut the stem tips until all the discolored portions are removed. Then cut the entire geranium back to one-third its size.
- 4
  Place the geranium's roots in a container of water while you prepare the pots.
- 5
  Fill the new pot, three-fourths full, with fresh potting soil. Place the geranium's roots on the soil in the pot and finish filling the pot with soil, to within 1 inch of the rim, pressing lightly on the surface when you finish.
- 6
  Water the soil slowly until water seeps from the bottom of the geranium's pot and place the pot in a sunny area. It may take several weeks until you see new growth.

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