"stuart noble" wrote
Now that I've got a nice dry shed, I'm going to try the wrapping in
newspaper method this winter, but can it really be true that pelargoniums
require neither light nor water for a whole 6 months? Why don't they just
shrivel up and die?

They come from South Africa and get periods of hot/dry weather.
Personally I would leave them in their pots (provided there are no vine
weevil) and simply place the pots on their side covered in newspaper so it's
easier to check to see if any are rotting. Even if the plant dies back the
roots will often still produce new growth.
Better still to put them on a frost free windowsill and water lightly only
when they ask for it (slight wilting).

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK