PELARGONIUMS IN JANUARY

It may only be early January but my treasured red pelargoniums, which I like to grow in a sunny trough under my living room window, and which I potted up for overwintering indoors, are producing a few flowers on a more or less east facing window bottom.  That's not the brightest aspect for pelargoniums and they do love the sun, but all the same they are doing well.  Now and then, when it is sunny outside, like yesterday, I move them onto the living room window bottom.  I make space for them by moving some of glass ornaments and give my plants a good dose of the sun's energy.  Why don't I put them outside in the sun?  Because it is still far too cold and the change in temperature would shock them.  Why don't I keep them there, on the south/west window bottom?  Because there is a huge double radiator running under the entire length of the window and the plants wouldn't be able to tolerate the intense heat when it's on and heating the room. 

Red pelargonium overwintering indoors

Soon, as days become longer here in the north of England, the plants will grow more lush with bigger leaves, stronger shoots, and plenty of opportunity to take cuttings to propagate the pelargoniums which I prefer to do in late winter/early spring. 

Red pelargoniums grown in a trough on a south/west facing wall

Through the window

Red pelargoniums grown in a trough on a south/west facing wall

I must mention that a couple of years ago I planted red trailing pelargoniums in two small corner baskets high up in the corners of my front, south/west facing, porch.  The porch is open to the elements.  We had quite harsh temperatures last winter and what a surprise I had when I found that both plants had survived.  They were so tiny though, just showing the small amount of life.  I had neglected them as I thought they had both died.  When I found they were still alive in spring of 2015 I couldn't bear to discard them after the little toughies had managed to survive, so I nurtured them and they grew, and flowered, and still, in January 2016, have a number of leaves on them.  I am hoping they will survive this 2015/2016 winter too.  Should I bring them indoors?  Probably, but I simply do not have the room and I have a feeling they will do just fine where they are. I'll put some bubble wrap around them when close to freezing temperatures are expected.