How to grow and care for colorful geraniums

from direct sun in high summer.
When growing geraniums in containers choose a peatfree multipurpose compost with added slowrelease fertiliser. Geraniums look spectacular when planted with other summer bedding plants. If planted in a good compost and kept wellwatered theyll withstand being planted tightly with other tender plants.
Here Monty Don demonstrates how to plant pelargoniums and lavender in pots for a beautiful display
Geraniums are often grown as annuals and are composted at the end of summer. If you have room in a frostfree place its worth trying to keep them over winter.
To overwinter geraniums lift plants that are in garden soil or large pots and pot them into a smaller pot. This should be done before the first frost. Remove any damaged leaves and faded flowers. Cut plants back by about a third and position in a frostfree but bright place. The plants wont go into complete dormancy so water lightly through the winter. In spring apply a general liquid feed and increase watering. Plant out only once all danger of frost has passed usually from late May.
If growing geraniums as house plants you can let the plant carry on flowering into autumn even winter. Keep indoor geraniums away from radiators or open fires.
Here Monty Don explains how to reinvigorate overwintering geraniums by cutting them back hard before they start into growth
To remove cutting material cut above the third joint below the growing tip. Pinch out any flowering buds that are forming. With a clean knife remove all but the top two leaves. Recut the base of the cutting just below lowest joint.