you must remove any dead leaves regularly including the little bits on the stem, to avoid fungus, you can cut them back and de-pot them, in order to pack more into a smaller space, i've even packed dozens, like this into a 2 ft x 6 in window box, but you can keep them entire if you want, water them occasionally but keep them on the dry side, in a well ventilated room frost free room (this may be where you're going wrong), they come from south africa and hate the cold and damp. in spring pot up/on into fresh compost and as these plants look a little untidy take cuttings from sturdy shoots when they start growing.
I agree with everyone's advice about removing brown leaves. The fungus on yours would probably be botrytis not powdery mildew so spraying with milk wouldn't have helped but make it worse as the leaves should be kept dry. Hope you get them through the winter.
I've still got a few outside so must get them in before I get caught out. It's been so mild that I forget we are in the middle of winter.
Hi All, just an update to say that I brought all geranium plants indoors inside our heated conservatory and all but one have failed to really do much. However, the one that has done something had really thrived. In fact, it started re growing pretty much weeks after I initially posted and had gone mad since.
Since posting I have noticed a lot of geraniums in people's porch windows, still with full foliage. So next autumn, I shall either take cuttings to over winter or just bring all plants inside the conservatory having just had a haircut!
I tried to take some cuttings from the plant that is thriving but they have all pretty much wilted - could anyone tell me what I did wrong? I will try and post some photos of said thriving plant and also my failed cuttings.
I took this photo today of some of my over wintered geraniums, I have several cuttings from them as well. If they look any worse than these they get composted. I still have the cuttings if needed
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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Don't worry if you don't see signs of life until the spring - you may do, but don't worry if you don't
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oh thankyou Dovefromabove, I never thought of that.
They seem to be looking a little better. Stems are seeming abit sturdier. Will keep you updated. Think I'll definitely try taking cuttings next year!
Best,
Cate
you must remove any dead leaves regularly including the little bits on the stem, to avoid fungus, you can cut them back and de-pot them, in order to pack more into a smaller space, i've even packed dozens, like this into a 2 ft x 6 in window box, but you can keep them entire if you want, water them occasionally but keep them on the dry side, in a well ventilated room frost free room (this may be where you're going wrong), they come from south africa and hate the cold and damp. in spring pot up/on into fresh compost and as these plants look a little untidy take cuttings from sturdy shoots when they start growing.
Hi Cate,
I agree with everyone's advice about removing brown leaves. The fungus on yours would probably be botrytis not powdery mildew so spraying with milk wouldn't have helped but make it worse as the leaves should be kept dry. Hope you get them through the winter.
I've still got a few outside so must get them in before I get caught out. It's been so mild that I forget we are in the middle of winter.
Since posting I have noticed a lot of geraniums in people's porch windows, still with full foliage. So next autumn, I shall either take cuttings to over winter or just bring all plants inside the conservatory having just had a haircut!
I tried to take some cuttings from the plant that is thriving but they have all pretty much wilted - could anyone tell me what I did wrong? I will try and post some photos of said thriving plant and also my failed cuttings.
Thanks for all your help,
Cate
I took this photo today of some of my over wintered geraniums, I have several cuttings from them as well. If they look any worse than these they get composted. I still have the cuttings if needed
It wouldnt dare!!!.