I Own Dozens of Houseplants, but This Flowering Plant Brings Me the Most Joy (and Practically Takes Care of Itself)

One of my greatest spring joys every year is bringing some of my indoor potted plants outside to our deck to soak in the warm weather and direct sunlight. My geraniums usually grow somewhat healthily through the cold months, since they live near a sliding door that gives them a good amount of light, but in the spring and summer, when they live outdoors, they really blossom (literally!). I find geraniums so charming, and they come in many varieties (I love the ones with variegated leaves). Plus, they’re quite low-maintenance and hardy.

“While many people consider geraniums to be strictly an outdoor flowering annual, if you open almost any houseplant guide, you’ll find geraniums listed—it truly is one of the OG flowering houseplants,” says Amy Enfield, Ph.D., senior horticulturist at Scotts Miracle-Gro. Interested in trying your hand at these flowering indoor/outdoor potted plants? We spoke to Enfield to get all the tips so your geraniums will thrive indoors.

The Three Most Common Types of Geraniums

Enfield says there are three types of geraniums that are most commonly grown as houseplants.

Zonal Geraniums

Named for their distinct dark zone on their leaves, Enfield says that these are perhaps the most commonly grown geraniums found at most garden centers in spring. “Mostly grown for their clusters of flowers in reds, pinks, oranges, whites, and purples, there are a few varieties grown predominantly for their variegated leaf colors, like Mrs. Pollock and Wilhelm Langguth,” she explains.

Martha Washington Geraniums

“Unlike the zonal geraniums, the Martha Washingtons—also called regal geraniums—are not heat tolerant and are most commonly grown as flowering potted plants,” Enfield says. “You will frequently find them for sale in the flower area of stores or at florists during the winter and early spring. They are well-suited for growing indoors, thriving in bright, indirect light.” I was lucky enough to get one of these beauties from my boyfriend’s mother (she’s a prolific gardener, just like my mom!).

Scented Geraniums

“The citronella plant is probably the most well-known scented geranium, but plants can also be found that smell like roses, pine, chocolate, apple, and strawberry,” she says. “This type of geranium is grown more for its decorative leaves and scent rather than its flowers, though they do flower. Many people consider scented geraniums natural pest deterrents, especially the citronella plant, which may help deter mosquitoes.” That’s another reason to love geraniums—keep those pests away!

How to Grow Geraniums in Containers

Interested in growing potted geraniums? Here are some tips to get them to really thrive.

Soil

Enfield suggests using a quality potting mix that is well-draining and nutrient-rich. Also, make sure that you grow your geraniums in a container with good drainage to prevent root rot, among other problems.

Light

“Geraniums need lots of light in order to produce their bright blooms and to keep them from stretching and becoming leggy,” Enfield says. She says that when planted outdoors, zonal and scented geraniums do best in full sun with at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. “Be sure to slowly acclimate your plants to the higher light levels when bringing them outside in the spring. Regal geraniums do best in a spot with four to six hours of morning sun or dappled and filtered sunlight all day. Direct sunlight can scorch their leaves.”

When grown indoors, regal geraniums do best in a spot that gets bright, indirect sunlight, while zonal and scented geraniums need as much light as possible—preferably from a south-facing window or a grow light.

Water

“Zonal and scented geraniums tolerate moderate dry downs between waterings. Regal geraniums prefer the soil to be kept consistently moist,” Enfield advises. “For the best growth, check your geraniums regularly, and water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil is dry. If you’re using a water collection tray under your container, be sure to empty any standing water 20 minutes after watering.”

Fertilizer

One of the most important parts of growing healthy geraniums? Feeding them regularly! “Geraniums are considered heavy feeders and need consistent nutrition to support growth and produce flowers,” Enfield says. “They should be fed regularly during the spring and summer, and like most houseplants, they require fewer nutrients in the fall and winter when their growth naturally slows. They can be fed regularly, every one to two weeks, using a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer.” She says that selecting a fertilizer for flowering plants provides the boost in phosphorus that is needed to promote flower development.

Deadheading

As with most flowering plants, regularly removing spent flowers helps encourage new blooms to form. “Here’s a tip for deadheading zonal and scented geraniums: don’t remove the individual flowers in a cluster,” Enfield advises. “Once the majority of the individual flowers have faded, carefully remove the entire flower head. If you run your finger down the petiole (flower stem) and gently snap it away from the main plant stem, it should break away cleanly.”

Pruning

“Leggy plants can be pruned back to help encourage bushier growth,” she says. “Plants that have been growing inside without supplemental light may benefit from a spring pruning when they are moved outside for the summer.” I definitely have issues pruning as much as I should—it always feels cruel to cut back my plants, even though I know it will benefit them!

“Be sure to bring your geraniums back inside before the first fall frost,” Enfield says. “Once the temperatures at night start dipping into the 50s, it’s time to start reacclimating your geraniums to their indoor growing environment.”