Geraniums

I do love geraniums, their bright colours, the ease of care.

Last fall I pulled all of my geraniums and the geraniums at First Mennonite out of the soil, shook the dirt off the roots put the whole plant into paper yard waste bags. I then put them into cool, dark storage for the winter.

I think they would have been happier if I had taken them out sooner, but once again I left the task to the end of March. I always have a few plants that don’t survive, and this year I learn an important lesson — don’t try to put too many into one bag! I did that with the church’s geraniums, and most of them died and got moldy.

I sort through the dried leaves and stems to find the ones with some green or evidence of life. I take off much of the dead stuff (though sometimes what looks dead isn’t actually, so I wait and see with some of it). Then I line the pot with brown paper towel to prevent the soil from coming out of the drainage holes and fill the pot with soil.

My spare bedroom is a nice bright locations so it becomes my greenhouse.

I have seven of my own geraniums this year, including a trailing plant — first time I’ve had one survive the winter, and twelve from the church.