Wiltshire, United Kingdom

A few years ago (I forget how many years) I dug up some pelargoniums from the garden in the autumn and brought them into the conservatory for the following winter, with some background heat to stave off frost. I also took some cuttings which grew well. They all survived well and flowered throughout. I replanted them for the next summer and brought them back in for the following winter, as before. Somehow there was no opportunity of putting them back in the ground and they have all flowered continuously over several years in the conservatory, just watered occasionally and fed once every blue moon (I'm a tad lazy at that!). The attached photo shows them as they were in February this year (together with a couple of other things). Now, however, they are taking up too much space indoors and they really have to go outside. I have heard the suggestion that I should cut off the flowers before planting them, to give them a better start (!). Is that really a good idea? What does anyone think about that?

• 5 Jun, 2025