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Pelargoniums?

Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
in Plants
Hello

My mum recently bought these two plants which were unlabeled from a plant stall. I think they're pelargoniums so I'm assuming they won't survive the winter. 

Am I correct? Or is there anything she can do with them to keep them alive til next year? 

Thank you in advance


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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think those a Regal pelargoniums.

    They're happy spending the winter on an indoor windowsill ... they may even continue to bloom ... so, in the kitchen or a spare bedroom or conservatory ... as long as they have light, a little water, and are kept frost free. 

    Then in the spring they can be cut back a bit and repotted in fresh gritty compost (I'd use John Innes loam-based No 2) .

    You can use the bits you take off for cuttings, they'll strike easily in a jar of water, then you can pot them up and you mum will have even more for her terrace or to give to friends. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - they'll need protection, but you can just put them on a windowsill or in a porch or similar. They just need to be frost free. They'll get a bit leggy, but if you cut them back, that keeps them neat, and the bits you cut off can be potted to make new plants. 
    The one on the right might be a hardy geranium though, rather than a pelargonium, so you might need to keep that in a cooler spot. It looks less fleshy.
    Maybe wait and see how it grows over the next few weeks.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Snap! @Fairygirl :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
     :D 
    What do you think about the one on the right? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Thank you both so much. I'll let her know! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fairygirl said:
     :D 
    What do you think about the one on the right? 
    Not sure ... I'd like to see a flower ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    The one on the right looks like a scented leaf one: an apple one maybe. Some of them have small, soft, velvety leaves.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It just looked a bit different to me, and it looked as if there was a bit of spent flower that was slightly more 'hardy geranium'. 
    Not my area of expertise though - not that I really have any to start with  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I agree @pitter-patter it must be a scented one. Easy enough to confirm by rubbing a leaf 😉
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    I agree with the advice and that the right hand one looks like a scented variety. 
    I would be inclined to remove the spent flower heads, re-pot and feed/water as they may have a second wind over the next weeks. 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
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