Winter Dormancy for Geraniums and Fuchsias

Fuchsias and geraniums are classics in balcony boxes. Overwintering is especially worthwhile for fuchsias, as the plants grow larger and more luxuriant despite pruning. Geraniums can also be overwintered well, making an expensive new purchase in spring unnecessary.

Geraniums can handle cool autumn nights well and won't lose any of their vibrant color even at temperatures down to -5 °C. It's therefore perfectly sufficient to bring them indoors at the beginning of November. Similar to citrus trees or fuchsias, geraniums should ideally overwinter in a bright, cool, and frost-free place. Since they only need to be fertilized in winter and also require little water, they are also extremely easy to care for. Only at the end of the overwintering period should you prune them back to 10 cm to promote flowering in the following year.

Fuchsias aren't as frost-sensitive as many believe. They can still feel quite comfortable outdoors at moderate freezing temperatures. But eventually, this period ends, and you should bring them inside. Ideal conditions for overwintering are 5-10 degrees Celsius and a bright, dry spot. To prepare them, shorten the stems by about one-third and water them rarely and sparingly. When you bring them back out in spring, prune them by another third. However, the new shoots in spring are very sensitive, so they shouldn't go outside until after the Ice Saints (mid-May). By the way, overwintering fuchsias and geraniums outdoors is not possible in our regions; they will freeze even with protective foil or straw.