Pelargoniums are often called geraniums by mistake, and unlike true hardy geraniums, they won't survive a single UK winter outdoors.
Pelargoniums (often called bedding geraniums) are tender perennials that won’t survive a UK winter outdoors, so they’re either brought inside or propagated from cuttings before the first frost. Regular deadheading matters more than it looks — a single spent flower head left on can stop the whole plant producing more.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protect | Protect in October | |||||||||||
| Job | Job in May | Job in June | Job in July | Job in August | Job in September |
Care details
- Job May – September
Deadhead regularly; a spent flower head left on stops the plant producing more.
- Protect In October
Bring tender plants in, or take cuttings, before the first frost — they won’t survive a UK winter outside.
Growing tips & common problems
- Bring plants inside or take cuttings before the first frost — they have no frost tolerance at all.
- Deadhead regularly and thoroughly; a single spent flower head left on can stop the whole plant producing more.
- Avoid overwatering — pelargoniums cope with dry spells far better than they cope with waterlogged compost.
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