Geraniums are popular bedding plants, blooming from May through frost. However, the first hard frost doesn't have to be the end of your geraniums. They can be overwintered indoors by potting up individual plants, taking cuttings or storing bare-root plants in a cool, dry place. Regardless of the method, the plants should be removed from the garden prior to the first frost.

You can put the plants in pots to keep for planting out again next spring. Carefully dig up each plant and place in a six- to eight-inch pot. Prune the geraniums back to one-half to one-third of their original height. Water each plant thoroughly, then place the geraniums in a bright, sunny window or under artificial lighting.

Geraniums prefer cool indoor temperatures. Daytime temperatures near 65 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. Geraniums become tall and spindly when grown in warm, poorly-lit areas. During their stay indoors, water the plants thoroughly when the soil becomes dry. Occasionally pinch the geraniums to produce stocky, well-branched plants.

Another way to overwinter your geraniums is by taking cuttings. Using a sharp knife, take three- to four-inch stem cuttings from the terminal ends of the shoots. Pinch off the lower leaves, then dip the base of each cutting in a rooting hormone. Stick the cuttings in a rooting medium of coarse sand or a mixture of coarse sand and sphagnum peat moss. Clay or plastic pots with drainage holes in the bottom are suitable rooting containers.

Insert the cuttings into the medium just far enough to be self-supporting. After all the cuttings are inserted, water the cuttings and medium thoroughly. After the medium is allowed to drain, place a clear plastic bag over the cuttings and container to prevent wilting of the cuttings. Then place the cuttings in bright light, but not direct sunlight.

The cuttings should root in six to eight weeks. When the cuttings have good root systems, remove them from the rooting medium and plant each rooted cutting in its own pot.

You can even save your geraniums by having them as bare-rooted plants. Dig the geraniums and carefully shake all the soil from their roots. Then hang the plants upside down in a cool (45-50 degrees Fahrenheit), dry place.

An alternate method is to place one or two plants in a large paper sack. Once a month during the winter, soak the roots of each plant in water for one to two hours. Most of the leaves will eventually fall off. The paper sack method is much cleaner than the hanging method.

In March, prune or cut back each plant. Remove all shriveled, dead material. Healthy, live stems will be firm and solid. After pruning, pot up the plants and water thoroughly. Place the potted geraniums in a sunny window or under artificial lighting. Geraniums that are pruned and potted in March should produce green, attractive plants that can be planted outdoors in May.

Most annuals, such as marigolds and petunias, are relatively inexpensive compared to geraniums. Gardeners who plants large numbers of geraniums can reduce their gardening expenses by overwintering their geraniums indoors.

"Growing Green" is contributed by Lehigh County Extension Office Staff and Master Gardeners. Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-746-1970.