Question
QUESTION: Hello: I was wondering if I could take my two outdoor pots,each containing a spike and three geraniums,into the basement for the winter,and put them out in the spring.Could you give me some tips on how to care for them over winter in the basement? It gets bitterly cold here in winter (-30),and I usually just put in new plants each spring.Thanks!

ANSWER: Not sure what "spike" you are growing there, but the Pelargoniums (I presume) certainly can be held over winter if treated properly.

The British love their geraniums, and so we turn to Pelargonium pundit Ken Abel, who has created a website to showcase his achievements:

www.prize-pelargoniums.com/21620752

Figure that after all that heavy trophy carrying, he is in no mood to toss the prizewinnin Pelargoniums over a silly thing like freezing weather.  So he shares his technique for carrying over thru winter and I quote:

"The minimum nighttime temperature is kept between 5C-6C [41-43 degrees F], which is high enough to keep plants healthy and growing well."

Mind you he has a greenhouse, and it is England, where the sun don't shine and it rains but rarely snows, as I understand it.  He makes sure these plants get tons of sunlight but they are wrapped carefully to insulate the roots from frost.

I know you have probably heard, as I have, that there are people out there who hang their geraniums in the basement, upside down, all winter, and then the plants recover in the spring and the cycle begins anew.  Not.  I cannot see growing anything upside down in the basement, certainly not for an entire season.  But what do I know.  If it works, it works.

However, our Pelargonium-loving Englishman swears by this technique.  Try it.

Your followup questions invited,

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Geranium with spike in   QUESTION: Hello: Thanks for the prompt reply.I am attaching a photo of my pot with the three geraniums and spike  so we are on the same page.I seem to recall someone said I could store the whole pot in my basement over winter,giving it light watering,and cutting back the geraniums for the winter.Is this what you would suggest? Thanks

Answer
Thank you for your photo. It looks like you have some good, healthy plants growing in that container. I don't blame you for wanting to keep them. For the record, you are growing Zonal Geraniums aka Pelargonium hortorum.

For a plant to go dormant, something has to trigger hormones that alter its growth cycle.  Geraniums are actually hardy to 28 degrees F, but you can't keep them for long at that temperature or you'll destroy cell tissue.  At 45 degrees F, however, they will set buds and start blooming.  And you are trying to turn off those signals, so figure you will have to keep these plants cool if they are to make it thru the winter of 2012.

I am assuming you have no VERY sunny window or greenhouse that you would devote to your Geraniums.  If not, you can try holding them over in the comfort of your dark and semi-warm basement:  remove from the pot, shake the soil off the roots, remove most of the leaves (but do not cut the main stem or branches, which could trigger growth), and leave out to air dry.  They will wilt considerably.  Dust with Sulphur as insurance against fungus, then stuff in a brown paper bag until Spring.  Every once in a while, spray with water.

The Royal Horticultural Society posts its tips on Geranium Care, including several detailed paragraphs on Overwintering tips:

apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=338

You will find there complete instructions for the upside-down-in-the-basement technique, which requires that your plants be mature with thick, tough stems.  For the plants you photographed, I believe they would be described by the RHS as "soft" stemmed and you would have to provide light and a growing medium, plus a very modest amount of water.

The biggest challenge with overwintering one of these is, in my opinion, the low temperatures required for dormancy to take, coupled with the requirement for at least a token amount of watering.  This is the formula for a fungus strike.  So you really do need to know what you're doing.

However, we do learn most from our mistakes, so if you are up to the challenge, I say: Why not?  Go for it.  You have nothing to lose but your Pelargonia.  And maybe you'll succeed!

Can't succeed without trying.  Your further followups welcome; otherwise, happy Geranium growing,

L.I.G.