For tender bedding geraniums, usually Pelargonium, choose between keeping a potted plant indoors, saving cuttings or trying suitable dormant storage before frost arrives. Hardy garden Geranium species are different plants and should not automatically receive the same treatment.
Choose the plants and space first
Inspect the plants while they are still healthy enough to assess. Look under leaves and around stems for pests, damage and decay. Label colors or cultivars you want to keep, and set aside room for inspection after bringing them inside. Do not assume yellowing means fertilizer is needed.
Consider the space you actually have: a bright window suits living plants, while dormant storage needs reliably cool, frost-free conditions. A garage that freezes is not suitable simply because it is dark. Keeping a few healthy plants or cuttings can be more manageable than moving every summer container indoors.
Option 1: keep a potted plant growing
Bring tender plants inside before frost. Pot garden-grown plants into an appropriate container with drainage, or retain a suitable existing pot. Repotting every plant into a much larger container is unnecessary. Remove dead material and provide bright light, supplementing it if the location is inadequate.
Water according to the potting mix and growth, allowing excess water to drain. Low winter light often means less growth and lower water demand. Do not promise winter flowers or feed heavily to force them. The RHS pelargonium guide explains protected winter care and the differences between plant types.
Option 2: save healthy cuttings
Take cuttings before cold damage, using clean equipment and healthy shoots. Remove lower leaves and place the cuttings in a suitable free-draining rooting medium. Give them bright light without exposing unrooted cuttings to harsh sun. Monitor moisture and decay rather than assuming every cutting will root.
Once roots develop, pot the young plants individually and maintain them in suitable light. This method preserves a chosen plant while reducing the size of the overwintering collection. Keep labels with each batch, especially when flower colors are no longer visible.
Option 3: try bare-root storage where suitable
Iowa State Extension describes bare-root storage in a cool, dry place around 45–55°F (7–13°C). Lift before frost, shake off soil and use a paper sack or the recommended hanging arrangement. This is a specific storage method, not a promise that every pelargonium will survive dry storage.
Check stored plants periodically and remove decaying material. Do not confuse dying leaves with proof that all stems are dead. When restarting, retain firm living tissue, pot up and return the plant to light. Avoid sealing damp roots in plastic.
Return plants outdoors gradually
Allow time for spring regrowth before the outdoor display season. Acclimate plants to outdoor light and wind, and wait until frost danger has passed for tender pelargoniums. Inspect again before combining them with new purchases.
If you decide to discard plants, compost healthy material or follow local garden-waste guidance. Do not donate infested plants or use unidentified ornamental geranium leaves as medicinal tea. End-of-season care is about keeping suitable plants healthy, not finding a use for every leaf.
