Busy Lizzies and Geraniums

I grew these from seed this year and they're out in my garden in pots. Do I need to bring them in for the winter? If not what will happen and will they come back next year? I know geraniums seem to 'die' then come back, it it the same with busy lizzies? (are they perenials?).

When should I bring them in and what care do they need during the winter, will they continue to flower?

Excuse my basic and stupid questions, I did say earlier I was a complete novice! But hey we've all gotta start somewhere!

Many thanks in anticipation.

Fi

 

Marley's spot on - to her advise I would add. Geraniums overwintered indoors biggest enemy is overwatering - so cut them back by 2/3s, put them on a sunny window sill where you don't go very often :D

You can of course take cuttings from both to grow on indoors for next year.

 

try taking some cuttings off your geraniums to increase your plants on the cheap.nows the time i do mine easy and rewarding when you see all the newplants

 

Cheers all, so should I just let the busy lizzies die off then? (That would be sad, I grew them from seed and am so proud of them!)

What 'winter flowerers' would I plant in my planters instead and would these need to be indoors or could they be outdoors?

Many thanks once again.

Fi

 

I know the feeling of when you grow a plant from seed - there is nothing to stop you taking cuttings from your busy lizzies for next year. The root easily in just water and can then be potted up, and you can overwinter them indoors for planting after the frosts next yar.

 

I live in West Canford Heath, My neighbour has in her garden some outstanding Geraniums, when I remarked on the size of them, she told me that they had been (outside) from last year she had just trimmed them back and left them, we do have small sheltered gardens over this side altho gets a bit breezy.

 

Geraniums will indeed overwinter outside - but they need to be protected- close a house wall will do preferrably south facing - more particularly from the wet - or they will rot :( .

 

My bulbs rot even in pots. Would putting in extra grit help. Also what's best to put in the base of the pots for drainage.The front of the house gets the winter sun.would it be better to stand my pots of bulbs there and plant on top some winter pansies? After last years disaster(not one bulb flowered) i was giving up.But this gardening bug won't let you.

 

Sorry everyone, forgot the topic was bizzie lizzies etc-
Getting rather bogged down with my bulb problem.