How to Revive Geraniums – Full Guide

When you bring your dormant geraniums back to life, the glow from it is enough happiness.

Geraniums, also known as Pelargonium x hortorum, are commonly treated annually.

This means they are removed and replaced yearly.

Even though they are perennial inside the United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.

If you have maintained a geranium alive for several years and it is showing signs of wear and tear, it may be time to revive the plant.

In this article, we will be going through ways to revive your geraniums.

Proper Watering

Dehydration has the same effect on geraniums as it does on people. Thus, underwatering them can dull their color and luster.

Just try to put yourself in that situation: you’re standing outside on a scorching summer day, and you don’t have any water to drink.

The heat affects your geraniums quite similarly to how it affects you, except that they can’t move to the shade.

In addition, insufficient water can significantly impede the growth of your geraniums.

This is why it is especially important to water them appropriately when they are still young.

If the soil the roots are in is overly damp, the roots will have difficulty absorbing the nutrients and oxygen that the soil contains.

This can cause difficulties. You can think of this situation as compared to one in which you attempted to breathe underwater.

Yikes! Getting your hands dirty and examining the soil’s moisture level a few inches below the surface can help.

It is the most effective way to figure out if the issue is due to poor watering practices.

You can put off watering for a little while longer if the top few inches of the soil still have a tiny bit of moisture.

On the other hand, if the top few inches of soil are dry, your geraniums are parched, and it is time to water them.

Therefore, watering is an important step in reviving your geraniums.

Removing Some Parts of the Flower

When the blooms on annual and perennial geranium plants show signs of wilting and dying, remove them from the plants.

Pinch them off about a quarter of an inch below the flower head, then throw them away.

Because of this, the geranium can direct its energy toward flowering rather than producing seeds.

Remove the blossoms once per week to maintain the appearance of newness in the annual variety.

Both annual and perennial types should have stems that grow longer than the remainder of the plant using a pair of sharp shears.

Cut them back as they grow, so they are the same height as the main plant. This will help the plant remain bushy and lush.

Reduce the Height

If the perennial plant is not blooming as it once did or is otherwise unhealthy looking, prune the entire plant in the middle to late summer.

Reduce the height of the plant to between three and five inches above the ground.

Also, ensure that at least one set of leaves remains attached to each stem.

Fertilize Them

For you to revive geraniums, you need to fertilize them as soon as possible.

After the plant has been pruned, apply a well-balanced fertilizer to stimulate the formation of new growth and buds.

Always make sure to apply the fertilizer by the label’s directions.

An application of fertilizer in the middle of the summer also benefits annual geraniums.

After you have pruned and fertilized the perennial geraniums, give them a good soaking with water.

Provide the soil with just enough water to make it moist but not so much that it becomes muddy.

Maintain a consistent level of moisture in the soil while the plant is in the process of replacing the cut leaves.

Geraniums as Houseplants

Bringing your geraniums inside for the winter is smart if you want to revive geraniums during the cold season.

They will require a spot with enough sunlight and temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Around six weeks before the first frost of the season, they should be dug up and transplanted into pots.

Cut back any roots that have grown abnormally long.

When planting in containers, use the potting mix as the soil.

Remove any diseased or dead sections of the plant and cut back the plant by an inch to three inches on half of it.

Check the plants for any signs of pests and use an insecticide spray formulated specifically for use on indoor plants.

Always ensure that the soil around your plants is wet, and remove any unwanted sprouts.

Apply a small amount of fertilizer in the spring.

Collect Clippings from the Plants

Taking cuttings from a geranium plant is an option that you should consider when you need to revive your geraniums.

They are simple to revive from clippings.

Bringing the mother plant inside will take up more space than the baby plants, but the baby plants will probably have more blossoms the next year.

If you maintain your geraniums for a longer period, their stems will get more woody and produce fewer flowers.

Therefore, starting new plants from cuttings taken from already existing plants is a very good idea to revive your geraniums.

Reviving Through Cutting

Cutting cuttings from geraniums is not technically the best way to revive your geraniums over the winter.

However, it is the best way to ensure that you will have access to low-cost geraniums the following year.

To begin, take cuttings from the green (still soft, not woody) part of the plant that is between three and four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long.

Remove any leaves that are attached to the lower portion of the cutting.

If you want the cutting to root, you can put it in some rooting hormone.

Place the piece of wood into a container that is filled with vermiculite. Ensure that the container has a good drainage system.

To ensure that the air around the cuttings remains humid, place the container inside a plastic bag.

In about six to eight weeks, the cuttings will develop roots.

After the cuttings have developed roots, they should be repotted in potting soil.

They should be kept in a warm, sunny place until it is safe for them to go back outside.

Now that you know three distinct strategies to revive your geraniums, you are free to select the approach you believe will be most successful for you.

If you can keep your geraniums alive through the winter, you will be rewarded with healthy plants that are large and lush far before your neighbors have purchased theirs.

Conclusion

In their geranium gardening careers, every single one of these individuals will face challenges.

The elimination method is the most effective way to determine which factor or factors are contributing to your problem.

First, check to see if you are giving your geraniums the right water.

After that, you should go on to the next most common issue, a disease caused by bacteria and fungi.

You might not be able to escape this geranium issue.

Therefore, take a few slow, deep breaths, pay special attention to your geraniums, and have faith that other gardeners who came before you have dealt with similar predicaments!

Fortunately, this article has explained the best ways to revive your geraniums. Hope it helps!