How to Transplant Dark Lord Geraniums

Dark Lord geraniums, hardy sun-loving plants that bloom all summer, can be transplanted from one spot in the garden to another or into a pot to be moved inside for the winter. If your winters generally have temperatures below 70 degrees, you'll want to bring your geraniums into the house for the cold months. If you've planted Dark Lord geraniums in an area that's too dark or moist for them to grow well, moving them to a sunny patch can result in more flowers and foliage during the growing season.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spade
• Soil
• 6-inch pots
• Pruning shears

1. Prune the geraniums back to one-half to one-third of their original size. Cut away fading stalks first from the bottom of the plant, then trim back the rest from the top.

2. Dig up each plant using a spade and your hands. Be careful not to damage any roots or stems as you dig.

3. Fill a 6-inch ceramic pot with potting soil. Place the geranium into the pot, no deeper in the soil that it was in the soil of your garden. If you are relocating the plant within your garden, dig a hole the same depth as the roots of the plant and put the plant in it. Press the soil down firmly but gently around the roots, taking care not to damage the stems.

4. Water the newly potted or transferred geraniums with about 2 ounces of water per plant. According to Weekend Gardener, you should place the plants in an area that gets lots of light and in a room where the temperature is usually between 65 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night. Geraniums will not grow well in an overheated room or with too little light. If your home does not get much natural sunlight, you can put the plants under a grow light during the day.

5. Prune the plants weekly to remove fading or dead stems and to encourage new growth.

References

• Weekend Gardener: Geraniums
• Hobbs Farm Greenery