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Are my geraniums perennial

mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
in Problem solving
I planted some geraniums in my window planter last year. It looks like they have survived the winter as still have green leaves. Will these come back this summer or shall I get rid of these and plant something new this season?

Posts

  • mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
    I live in London, UK
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd tidy them up and see what happens. They don't look like perennials to me but it's been a mild winter so far so you might be lucky.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited March 2022
    They're pelargoniums and they are perennial BUT a frost may well kill them
    As B3 says, give then a tidy up and a trim and keep the compost just slightly moist.
    They'll soon start producing new shoots and flowers

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    They don't look like hardy geraniums (aka Cranesbill) to me either.

    They are almost certainly pelargoniums which (confusingly) are often referred to as geraniums or bedding geraniums.

    They are not hardy but in a sheltered location pelargoniums can survive a degree or two of frost. If you'd like to keep them for this year I'd continue to keep them on the dry side until the end of March. At that stage you can tidy them up (for now, some of that untidy top growth will be providing a degree of protection) and start a slow regime of light watering and feeding.  

    Maybe worth investing in a short length of horticultural fleece to throw over them if we get a cold snap over the next couple of months. 

    Late spring I'd also replace some of the compost with fresh and give them a good feed. They will have exhausted all the nutrients in the old compost
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    They've probably survived now. Yes,as others have said they are pelargoniums,they are perennial,not hardy. Normally would overwinter in a green house/cold frame/garage/shed. I would wait another month,then chop off the dead leaves, replace the top inch of compost, give them a feed,then they should romp away.you don't want to feed them too early, because you don't want tender new growth and frost 
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