'I kept my geraniums growing in the house all winter. They look OK. What should I do with them now?"
Congratulations to you for realizing that geraniums are perennials and will live, if kept warm, from year to year. Did you know that begonias, coleus, impatiens (especially the Sunpatiens), fuchsia, sweet potato, lantana, verbena and a dozen other garden display plants can also be enjoyed year-round with little trouble?
In less than a week, the day length will be more than 11 hours! Your plants will begin to display signs of renewed life. They have survived the winter and are ready to grow. Frequent snowstorms and bitter cold have blinded us to the fact that this has been a bright, i.e. sunny, winter. Houseplants have come through the winter in better condition than normal.
Now it is time to prepare the plants for a new garden year by removing them from the pots, reducing the soil ball and root mass by two-thirds, and making use of clean pots of similar or increased size and using a commercial potting mix — Pro-Mix, Metro-Mix, Fafard-Mix or similar — to repot the plants in the center of the containers and at the same depth as previously.
Shape the plants by judicious pruning to remove thin, weak growth.
Groom the plant by removing all debris. Water well with warm water. Allow the soil to drain. Place the plant in your brightest window, after 24 hours.
Begin a fertilizing regime after two weeks. Keep an eye open for emerging insects and treat accordingly.
Spring is coming!