Geraniums Over Winter

[Veebird]

We've put our geraniums in the greenhouse which is unheated. We've had some cold nights but not a real frost but today when I checked some of the leaves had gone black and mouldy. The plants are ok and even still growing. When I picked the dead leaves off they were a bit slimy and a fine dust came off. The other plants such as some hardy fuchsias and hydrangea cuttings are fine. Is the greenhouse too cold now for geraniums? And will the mould affect any other plants. We have a grape vine and grow tomatoes in the summer.

[Buenchico]

From the Royal Horticultural Society's website:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=338#section-3

[Tilly2]

Mine are still flowering in the garden.

[Gromit]

My geraniums stay outside (no greenhouse) all winter, and I am in the North. Any dead stuff, just pull off. In the spring, cut down to below the dead stuff and new shoots will appear. The stuff decaying is natural dying and not mould or disease, so the rest of your plants should be fine.

[Veebird]

Thanks Buenchico I think it's the damp conditions we've had this week then, all mist and fog and the greenhouse has been closed so no fresh air. They are still flowering.

[Veebird]

Are yours hardy geraniums Gromit?

[Togo]

Gromit has it about right. We only bring in dahlia and begonia corms and tubers. If it looks like a deep prolonged frost we bring in the geraniums ( the shed or porch).Methinks I would keep the greenhouse free for the vine and pre-emt any possibility of fungal or pest borne problems.

[Maydup]

They are funny old things; they don't like being looked after too much but nor do they like icy low temperatures either. I'd take them out of the greenhouse and find a sheltered spot. maybe behind the greenhouse off the ground if you can. I have brought mine indoors and tried the greenhouse before now, but I find the best results are sheltered outside. Although I confess to buying new too

[Chipchopper]

This prompts me to ask the question, do have adequate ventilation in your green house ?
If not, that could be the problem and can mould and mildew. Allow air to circulate when ever possible.
Try striking a few cuttings, perhaps on the kitchen Windowsil, that way you'l have some reserve stock if needed.

[Veebird]

My husband has replaced some of the glass with plywood at the bottom and the windows don't open anymore so I think it's the damp foggy weather and lack of ventilation causing the fungus so I'll open up while it's mild. I brought them in last year in a spare bedroom but there's a lot and they make a mess. I've tried uprooting them and leaving in a bucket and they do survive but not very well. I'll try some cuttings.

[megfitz]

My O.H. bubble-wrapped my greenhouse for me, I have Fuchsias and Geraniums in there.
I open the door whenever possible but also have a de-humidifier thing (Robert Dyas) which lasts about 6 weeks before you have to change the crystals, that seems to work very well as they all look healthy, I clear any dead leaves every so often, I do this every year so far with great results.
Fingers Crossed now I've said that !!

[dunnitall]

Have left our common or garden geraniums out for several winters in the garden and they keep on flowering. Can see them with buds on now and hopefully they will still be ok for next year. Still growing and keeping in garden begonias which are usually annuals they keep flowering. Maybe we are just lucky and we aren't in Cornwall where it's usually milder for such things.