How to grow geraniums from seed for an abundance of pretty flowers
December is the perfect time to sow your geranium seeds


Christmas might be just around the corner, but now is it's the perfect time to learn how to grow geraniums from seed ready for them to burst into colour in summer.
Yes, while it's certainly simpler to grow geraniums from potted plants, there's something magical about sowing seeds successfully. Especially as it gives us an excuse to flex our growing powers in December.
'Zonal or ivy leaf geraniums are ideal for sowing in December,' says Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries. 'Use pots or seed cells to get them started, or recycle yoghurt pots or milk cartons. Just make sure they have drainage so the seeds don’t rot in wet compost.'
Tender geraniums (also known as pelargoniums) are actually a Mediterranean garden staple, bringing colour and cheer to gardens all summer long. While they're able to handle themselves in a drought, though, it's important to remember you will need to overwinter geraniums and protect them from frost, otherwise all of your growing efforts will go to waste when the temperature drops.
With that caveat out of the way, then, here's how to grow geraniums from seed...
What you will need
If you're looking to grow geraniums from seed, you will need
- A bag of Levington PEAT FREE Seed Compost (with added John Innes) from Amazon
- A selection of pots or seed trays from Amazon.
- Geranium seeds - try something like Geranium 'Quantum Red' Seeds from Thompson & Morgan or Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal) from Sarah Raven for extra impact.
Step-by-step guide
Now that you have everything you need to hand, you're ready to go! And, thankfully, it's not all that tricky to learn how to grow geraniums from seed, as our step-by-step guide proves...
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
1. Prep the pots
If you want to grow geraniums from seed successfully, you'll need to make like the Scouts and remember that you should be prepared.
'Fill the pots with either a seed compost or mix two parts of seed compost with some perlite for good drainage for the seeds to germinate,' says Morris (you can pick up a bag of Gro-Sure Perlite from Amazon).
2. Sow and spray
'Sow the geranium seeds on top of the compost and gently press them so they are in contact with the compost,' says Morris, who notes that they shouldn’t be buried – or at least not too deep.

Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. He established the thriving business in 1992, shortly after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex.
'Spray with water using a fine mist so the seeds don’t drown or wash to one side of the pot,' he adds.
3. Cover and check
Next on the How To Grow Geraniums From Seed 101 checklist is to cover your potted seeds carefully.
'You can either use a clear plastic lid or a clear sandwich bag to ensure the moisture if retained around the seeds,' says Morris. 'Each day, be sure to lift the lid or bag for a few hours for ventilation.'
He adds that 'geranium seeds do need to be kept warm and humid to germinate, so using a lightly warmed heated propagator or mat can be useful'.
The Stewart Heated Propagator from B&Q is a good option to invest in, but you can also simply place your pots on a warm, sunny windowsill.
4. Thin out the seedlings
If you're wondering how to grow geraniums from seed, it's worth noting that you'll have to get to work thinning them out once they've sprouted.
'When the seeds have germinated the cover can be removed and when the seedlings have grown their first true set of leaves, they can be thinned out by simply snipping the stems off of the weaker seedlings,' says Morris.
'Eventually as they grow, each strong plant can be potted up.'
5. Show them some TLC
Finally, it's time to shower your baby geraniums with love and affection so they can grow up big and strong.
'The seedlings will need bright light (but not direct) sunlight and for the soil to remain moist but not overwatered,' says Morris. 'Watering in a tray at the bottom is ideal because it minimises the chance of dampening off which will be the end of your seedlings!'
By next spring, he says that you will be able to harden your geraniums off after all risks of frost have passed so that you can plant them out.
FAQs
How long does it take to grow geraniums from seed?
They might be easy to grow, but geraniums will take a relatively long time if you start them from seed. Your flowers should take 13-15 weeks after you've sown your seeds, all being well.
If you follow the steps on our guide carefully, you should easily master how to grow geraniums from seed. And, if you get to work before Christmas, your flowers will be ready and raring to go when the sun is warming up in 2025.

Kayleigh Dray became Ideal Home’s Acting Content Editor in the spring of 2023, and is very excited to get to work. She joins the team after a decade-long career working as a journalist and editor across a number of leading lifestyle brands, both in-house and as a freelancer.
-
Watch out for these 5 weeds that seed early – experts say this is how to deal with them fast before they take over your garden
These weeds need your attention – and fast – if you want to keep them from spreading like wildfire...
-
Pest experts reveal the reason why you should never store bird seed in your shed
Rats love bird seed just as much as birds do...
-
Mary Berry reveals her new tableware collection, packed with Mediterranean charm – here are 6 things to add to your wishlist
It's a striped and patterned dream
-
Is Debenhams the new Lidl? I just spotted 3 egg chairs in the sale that are the same price (and cheaper) than Lidl's new hanging chair
I couldn't believe the prices of these stylish chairs...
-
Louise Thompson's statement outdoor chair is the star of her charming urban garden – you'd never guess it's an affordable high-street buy
The reality TV star shared a snap of her charming garden on Instagram – and this chic chair stood out
-
Debenhams just made me do a double-take with this bargain designer-look outdoor sofa
This is the last place I thought I'd find my dream outdoor sofa
-
Aldi is selling a robot lawn mower for under £200 – it's one of the cheapest on the market
I never thought I'd see 'Aldi' and 'robot mower' in the same sentence...
-
I tried Gozney's new Tread pizza oven – it's ultra-thin pizza stone means it heats up seriously fast
The much-awaited portable oven from the brand has arrived. But is it any good? I tested it to find out
-
George Home’s sold-out striped parasol is finally back in stock - but this elegant design is expected to sell out again fast
I can't get enough of its whimsical design, too
-
Aldi’s cult Kamado BBQ is returning to stores and it's £100 cheaper than before
This budget BBQ is only a fraction of the price of this celebrity favourite
-
Shoppers can’t get enough of The Range’s lemon tree, but I’ve found an even cheaper bestseller at B&Q - it’s perfect for a Mediterranean look
Welcome the summer with this glorious fruit tree