I do it that way, too, Vera, although some people cut them back and hang them in paper bags, then pot them up again in late winter - there's more than one way to do it, I guess. I have a "Martha Washington" type and a regular one wintering over now. They're getting a bit leggy, so I was considering doing some cuttings.

I watched a video (here?) on boxing them up in the basement and you all are reminding me I'd better go down and check if there is any sign of life!

I am somehow doubtful but, hey, I would have lost em anyway (only had windowsill room for a couple)

I'll let you know if this boxing up thing works!

me too! Ive got two nice big ones is really good shape and a smaller one that looks a little.... tired?

I tried cuttings during the winter and NOTHING happened. It only really works in the spring?

dorisl,

Late summer to early fall and again in spring is when herbaceous plants root fastest.
Winter isn't a good time because most plants take a rest and the hormone auxin that tells the plant to put out new growth is not that active.

Thanks, Vera, Ill try again!

Report from the "overwinter in a box" front: - - - NG.

I have about 5 that aren't totally dried up and gone (out of about 15 in the box), so I am putting them in some soil but I am NOT hopeful. oh well...win some lose some. I'tll be a miracle if these bounce back.

I have been overwintering a geranium like you did for over 8 years now...a snipping I took from my grandmother's house when she passed away. I have 5 flowers starting to bloom. It always reminds me of her especially when it starts to bloom. After the blooms die off, I make several cuttings that I root for the following years garden.

I made a cutting a couple months ago on an area that just got too leggy...it took over a month to root but it will soon be ready to pot up. Enjoy! Kim

Nice Kim!!

So far only just the one flowering stem...starting to show some color in the last few day. I've given a light feeding the last two times I watered.
I think if I have time today I will take a few cuttings anyways...I don't think I want to wait any longer if I want blooms on time in the garden. New leaves are being produced almost daily so rooting should be fairly quick now :D

Vera

None of my boxed geraminums "bounced back". Oh well. I have one that I overwintered in a coolish room and THAT one I'll take and root cuttings! Good thing I have 165 jugs of other stuff out there! so no point to whining!

Here is a picture of my granddaughter holding one of the blooms off my plant. I wanted to get more cuttings going for spring planting and had to take from the blooming stems. Jordan loves to "sniff sniff" flowers. Kim

{{gwi:29859}}

I pulled 6 out of my compost pile last year, tossed them in a plastic bucket and forgot about them. I remembered them after I saw this posting and drudged them up from the basement. I planted and watered the dead sticks a couple of weeks ago and the darned things have started to leaf :)! I can't wait to see when they start to bloom. I'm always lacking annuals early in the season. This just might be my solution!

Tried again and I GOT ROOTS! Yippee!

:)