Let the Gardening Begin
Garden season never truly ends for me; I’m always gardening, indoors and out. But there’s a special feeling in the spring when the days get longer and the air has that fresh smell. I want to get outside and plant stuff in the ground.
Pink Geraniums
At the end of every growing season I bring a selection of favorite annuals inside to spend the winter. If the plants can survive the dry air and the lack of indirect sunlight, I can usually coax them back to life in the spring. These brilliant pink geraniums are a favorite and I save a few plants every season.
View into my patio door
I have two south-facing windows and a sunny west window in the laundry room where I overwinter about 50 plants plus my year-round houseplants. The geraniums got a little anxious and have already begun to bloom. Above was the view into my patio door last weekend. Yeah, I know, I should probably invest in a greenhouse.
Take cuttings to make more plants
This week I began taking cuttings from the geraniums and rooting them in small pots. I’ve always had a green thumb—plants seem to like me. Whatever it is, they usually respond well and don’t die too often. That doesn’t mean I haven’t killed my share of plants—just ask my orchids!
Use rooting hormone
The trick to successfully rooting most cuttings is to use a rooting hormone and a good potting soil; then put them in a sunny window and lightly water or mist the cuttings every day.
This works on many plants that won’t readily grow roots in water, but geraniums are one of the easiest plants to grow—they will usually root without the hormone, but I use it to give them a boost.
The benefits of taking cuttings are getting a plant exactly like the original, plus you will save lots of money at the garden center.
——————————–
© 2015 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Advertisements appearing on this site are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed or approved by me.
Under My Apple Tree 
Wow, you have very green fingers! Great that you help so many plants survive the winter. I used to have a (very, very) small greenhouse and raise my own plants (or that was the intention). It’s actually really nice – you inspire me to get going again. But maybe you could first help me get my garden in order? It’s a mess!
LikeLike
Fabulous plants! I would love to see all of those on my patio…but, of course, they wouldn’t be there, as I have a BROWN thumb…LOL. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
I wish I were better at gardening. I just don’t have a green thumb.
LikeLike
It looks to me as though you’re doing very well without a greenhouse. We failed so often trying to keep annuals alive during the winter that we now routinely commit an act of mass murder in the fall. And feel more than a little guilty about it after.
LikeLike
Wish I had your green thumb!
LikeLike
About time!!
LikeLike
I’m so impressed, I just don’t have it!
LikeLike
The pink geranium shot is extraordinary! I’m glad you are enjoying gardening after a long winter. I thought I was going to do some planting today, but we had too much going on today, unfortunately. Happy Easter, Leslie!
LikeLike