Pelargoniums or Geraniums?

Acuwell

Hi, this might seem a silly question but are these Pelargoniums or Geraniums (I've never understood which was which or what the difference is!).  I've been seeing a lot of advice about taking in Pelargoniums over winter - can I do this with these and if so how and would they be OK in a solar potting shed (one wall mostly glass).

Dovefromabove

Those are pelargoniums.  They need to be in a frost-free place over winter ... whereabouts roughly are you ... if you're in Cornwall they might be ok in your potting shed.  If you're anywhere north of there I'd have them indoors ... mine are going in a frost-free garage.  

I saw a good explanation of the difference ... I'll try to find it for you. 

B3

They're pelargoniums. True geraniums are the perennial  hardy cranesbills

Acuwell

Thank you both!  We are in the Cotswolds so might have to bring them indoors.  Do I need to cut them right back when bringing them in/potting them up?  We've had a few frosty mornings already here!!

Dovefromabove

Here it is https://www.plantindex.com/geraniums-vs-pelargoniums/

I cut them back in the early spring, when I repot them ... then I use the bits cut off for cuttings.  They take easily and you'll soon have loads of new plants as well as the originals.  

If there's a particularly nice looking one when I take them in I repot it in fresh compost and put it on the sunny kitchen windowsill for winter ... it'll usually keep flowering all winter.

The rest are kept in the frostfree garage as I said, in their pots and not really watered ... they just 'hibernate' until I bring them into the light and repot them ... probably in late March ... this is the tricky time for me as I don't have a proper greenhouse, so they go into my little glass leanto but have to be fleeced or brought indoors if the nights are chilly.  

Dovefromabove

Here's a How To on Pelargonium (aka bedding geranium) cuttings

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-cuttings-from-bedding-geraniums/

Hope that helps 

Obelixx

The RHS says "Common names can cause mix ups. ‘Geranium’ is the name most people use when talking about Pelargonium. But Geranium is actually a different plant genus so to help avoid confusion some refer to Geranium as ‘hardy geraniums’, and Pelargonium as ‘tender geraniums’.".

The confusion arises because when pelargoniums first arrived from their native South Africa they had similar flowers to many native European geraniums and the same "crane's bill" seed capsule so they were called geraniums. 

Pelargoniums make good houseplants over winter or can be kept quietly ticking over in a frost free place till spring and then brought back in to the light and warmth and watered and fed.  They should not go out again till after the frosts.

Acuwell

Thank you all so much again - I now know the difference and will get on and bring my Pelargoniums indoors asap!

Dovefromabove

😊 👍