Things You'll Need:
- Pruning shears or utility scissors
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Step 1
Remove any faded stalks among the stems of each plant by clipping the stalks close to the ground with pruning shears. You can compost the stalks and any other trimmed parts of the plant, but don't leave them near the plant, as they can begin to grow a fungus called botrytis, which can kill healthy plants.
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Step 2
Prune back foliage when it becomes taller than the flowering stems by cutting the stalks near the base of the plant. You can prune large sections of the plant up to three-inch square areas to use flowers and foliage indoors. For flowers and foliage you will display, again cut near the base of the plant and then shorten as necessary for your needs.
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Step 3
Cut back the entire plant by half at the end of the summer and re-pot for growing indoors through the winter. If you live in a warm and sunny climate where winter temperatures stay at around 70 degrees F or above, prune the geranium back by a third to encourage slow but healthy growth through the winter.
