Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Observe how many hours of direct sun the plant receives.
- Rotate the pot every week to ensure even light exposure.
- Check if the stems are firm or if they are wilting.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves. The plant leans heavily toward the nearest window.
What to do: Move your geranium to a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If you are growing indoors, place it in a south facing window.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is tall and sparse even though it gets plenty of light. It has not been trimmed in a long time.
What to do: Prune back the long stems by one third to encourage branching. Do this in early spring to help the plant grow into a bushier shape.
Find out what's wrong with your geranium
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for geraniums to stretch slightly during the dark winter months. Worry if the stems become so weak they cannot support their own weight.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your geranium in the brightest spot you have and prune it annually to maintain a compact shape.
Geranium: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your geranium and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Can I propagate the stems I prune off?
- Absolutely. You can take stem cuttings and root them in water or moist soil to grow new plants.
- Will my plant fill back out if I move it to better light?
- The existing long stems will not shrink, but new growth will be much tighter and bushier. You can prune the old stems once the new growth appears.
More problems with Geranium
- Why are my fancy-leaf geranium's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my fancy-leaf geranium not flowering?
- Why is my geranium drooping?
- What are these spots on my geranium leaves?
- Why are there bugs on my geranium?
- Why is my geranium wilting and the stems turning mushy?
- Why are the tips of my geranium leaves turning brown?
- Why is my geranium losing its leaves?
- Why are my geranium leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.