I've grown them in the past, and I think the foliage is lovely dangling out of pots/planters. They are not heavy bloomers, though (flowers do appear, just not an abundance). Never had a problem with the browning buds, so can't help you there.

Someone told me they don't like a lot of sun - also I am growing ivy geranium from seed but they won't flower until next year so I am overwintering the plants in my garage.

Are they getting too much sun?? possibly?

Carrie

No, they bloom fine in heat. Ivy geraniums don't like as much sun as the zonal pelargoniums and do best in something other than a full blazing sun situation. The brown buds can be caused by several things, the most usual is going too dry and they also can abort their buds if it's very humid or they don't get good air circulation from getting botrytis on the bud. It just shrivels up and dies before it opens.