I have a bunch geraniums that I grew from seed last spring and then overwintered in a sunny window that are now *very* leggy (2' tall in 6" pots); so much so that I'm worried they're going to suffer some serious damage at their base.

I pruned them quite hard before the winter and planning on doing that again tonight (finally have the time!) but wondering if I can also pop them out of their containers, take a little material from the bottom and nestle them an inch or so deeper and then pack the removed material around the top so their thicker stalk sections will provide some mechanical support?

Really hoping so as even if I prune them fairly hard, the part (canopy?) above the soil will just get bigger over time and I'm pretty sure what's below grade is pretty flimsy (haven't checked one yet) and not going to support things in the long run.

The only worry I have is whether they'll die as the general rule always seem to be transplant at the same depth, but others such as tomatoes are fine with being placed deeper and will just grow roots in the newly subgrade section rather than the skin getting ruined and no longer transplanting nutrients up (from what I remember of high school plant biology!).

Hoping that geraniums are like tomatoes that way

We'll they're tipping over and fracturing so I gave them a hard prune and lowered the handful of them that couldn't deal without.

Will try to keep a log of what happens and work is appreciate any thoughts on what phyla/classes/orders/families can be lowered without too much concern

Can you post some photos?

I have a hard time understanding what plants you are talking about... Geraniums or Pelargoniums? It seems that many people here are still referring to Pelargoniums as Geraniums. I keep looking at threads about Geraniums, but they constantly wind up being Pelargoniums. I think the Hardy Geraniums/Cranesbills need their own threads/forums unless folks start using correct names.

John
Yes, it can get confusing and that's one reason we ask for photos, plus the context usually gives the needed ID, as in this 2 1/2-year-old post. Common garden pelargoniums are widely referred to as zonal geraniums and that helps also.

This nomenclature is so entrenched I think it's a losing battle to correct it. Like Pothos/Epipremnum, there's no harm in reminding people, but don't expect dramatic change.