How to Winterize Geraniums in a Brown Bag

Perennial geranium varieties can't survive hard winter freezes, but it's possible to store the plants indoors by forcing them into a semidormant state. The roots and main stems of the plants survive a winter with no light and minimal moisture if stored properly and in the correct location. You must dig up the plants after the first light frosts begin killing back the foliage but before a hard frost destroys the entire geranium.

Things You'll Need

Trowel
Paper bags

Bucket

Instructions

- 1
  Dig around the base of the geranium plant with a trowel. Slip the trowel beneath the roots and lift the entire plant out of the garden bed.
- 2
  Shake the soil from the roots. Use your fingers to dislodge as much soil as possible, but don't bend or break the roots.
- 3
  Trim off the top half of the plant with clean shears.
- 4
  Place the geraniums in brown paper bags, using one bag per plant. Fold the top of the bag over to close it.
- 5
  Store the bags in a dark, 45-degree-Fahrenheit location. An area that provides some humidity is preferred over a completely dry location.
- 6
  Inspect the geraniums once a month. Place the roots in a bucket of warm water overnight if the stems begin to dry or shrivel. The stems of the geraniums must remain firm and succulent during storage. Bag and return the plants to storage after rehydrating them.
- 7
  Pot the geraniums in fresh soil in spring, approximately one month before the last expected frost. Keep the pots in a sunny window, and water the soil as necessary. Growth resumes in one to three weeks.

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