Daisey, thinking that you are about the same as a US Z8, if they were in the ground without protection over winter they are most likely dead. Sometime in the next 4-5 weeks, if alive, they would begin to show little bits of green at the old leaf axils - new growth beginning. Mine in my similar climate will usually endure about 5 years average on my semi protected (partly glassed) porch before the temperature drops just low enough to wipe them out, even though I cover them with old tablecloths in the worst weather....I would surely lose them to a few nights below 28F (-2.2C?) in the ground. We had a rough winter, my own in 24" pots, semi protected, are showing no signs of life here either, I'm almost certain I've lost them this year. Giving the stems a pinch between fingers reveals firm tissue closer to the soil line (soft further up) but I'm not holding out much hope and expect to be shopping for replacements.

I'd like to know the answer to this too Janet. I imagine like any other leggy plant they can be pinched, but wanted to know for sure. Did you ever pinch them? I bought some Zonal Geranium 'Red Pinto' from our local FFA highschool students down at the school two days ago. All their plants looked healthy and all, but in such a small greenhouse everything had to be grown pot to pot. So because of this the geraniums (everything else too) were tall and lacking side shoots. I don't think they were pinched not even once because there was not a one side shoot growing. These plants were in 4" pots (the deeper than wide kind) and were top heavy...at least 12 to 14" tall. I pinched the top set of leaves as soon as I got home and any flower buds and this morning potted them up in to larger containers. I've kept them outdoors on the north of the house and brought them to my west facing porch this morning. The lows have been mid 40's. Vera

Gardengal, Thank you so much for your response. It is much appreciated. I had to look up what a pelargonium is - I don't believe mine is one. I have the Cranesbill Rozanne which I understand to be quite hardy. I hope your cheerful message extends to these plants too although the above-ground part of my decapitated geranium is looking quite woeful this morning. I'm not worried about uniformity of appearance this season - they are all uniformly scraggly in their beds at this point; I wanted to know if my less-than-gentle garden behaviour will cost a poor plant its life simply because I couldn't bring myself to be more careful. I hope it will survive long term and so far what I assume from your message is that it might do. Is that fair for a cranesbill too?

yes I grow them inground AND pots.I find the lovely ivy geraniums do quite well as hanging plants.One in a coir and wire hanger and several in conrete urns and look alikes. I also have HUGE orange ones in blue glazed pots I must say that I think the variety has alot to do with how they look and also you must remember that EPCOT changes their plants as soon as they begin to look poorly.If you notice the impatience had holes where the plants wee to be replaced.The little movie inside gave a talk on it. I know some people do not do well with geraniums in the summer but I have had the same ones for years. I bought them at Rock City Nursery who starts their own in greenhouses and I must say the varieties are great. I do not feel they need all that much water and in fact some get totally forgotten and still hang in there.