yeah it's getting there.. 48 outside now

I took some coleus cuttings to experiment rooting in water..my first time to do it. I was not sure if my cutting was too short. I have three in water and one in soil, so far I got one in water has quickly made roots..that is fast, just in a week's time. I did put a strip of hygrolon below, just in case the jar dries out before I notice it, then there is still some moisture there. Hoping the rest of my cuttings will do the same.

Photo 12 Sept: Coleus Freckles cutting:


had to remove one of the bigger leaves, so it will be easier to add water

Photo today 19 Sept:

looks great.. perfect container!.. not a fan of rooting in water but it will work

Thank you all for the great advice on how to take cuttings, I've never done it before but I'm going to try my luck now, here is my favorite that has done so well

They are very easy to root but keeping them happy through the winter inside can be a full time job. I am trying the fish tank route and see if growing them in that humid environment with lights works for me this year.

I left the old gravel in and topped it with soil and put some decorative rocks in the tank for beauty. I will post a pic. o my progress.

I'm looking forward to seeing your set-up Cinta, maybe I could do something like that

I also read a suggestion recently about using a piece of styro to float cuttings in a working aquarium with water. Put holes in a sheet-shaped piece of styro to stick cuttings through. The way I'm picturing it in my mind, the plants would be coming up out of the top significantly, so would need to be near a window, or under a separate light instead of the light that goes on the aquarium. The circulation and added oxygen from the action of the pump would be great, and those bubbler things - an added bonus. A thicker piece would keep the cuttings more upright. It could be turned occasionally if plants are going 1-sided from leaning toward a window.

Some kind of rigged 'big plastic straws' sticking down from the holes could prevent roots from mixing up too much until they get really long. Like cutting a square from a milk or soda bottle, then rolling it into a tube. Sticking it through the hole should stop it from unrolling.

To remove plants in the spring, styro is easy to cut, or break predictably after scoring the surface. A little messy when poking the holes and breaking the cuttings out later, but an interesting, ironic twist on the usual 'dirty mess' that goes along with plants.

I don't know anything about combining this with actual fish... That wouldn't be part of the equation for me, so just to be not misunderstood I hope, none of this is known or even thought to be safe for any kinds of fish since don't have any and am not getting any if I decide to set this up for cuttings this winter.

The ones in the fish tank will not be used for fish. I no longer have the fish so I thought put the tank to good use. I am just trying to keep them happy through the winter. I am growing them in soil. If they get too tall I will take more cuttings and root those in water.

Cinta,Your coleus should do OK in a south window or under an ordinary 2 bulb shop light.I don't know why you would need to keep in an aquarium after they are started.I've had trouble rooting this fall because it has been so hot . Ha! So much for an early frost.I've had trouble keeping cuttings from cooking.I finally took the shade off my greenhouse but it requires a lot of attention to keep it ventilated.I would usually have all my plants tucked inside but not this year!
sewNsow

higher humidity in the fish tank.. if the house is dry.. yeah strange year for sure.. hard decorating for Halloween without the garden dying back .. but trust me I am not complaining

Oooh, I didn't think you were, Cinta! In case somebody thought I was talking about an aquarium with fish in it, I wasn't, just throwin' more ideas out there in case somebody read that far and hadn't yet found what sounds like a workable method for their situation.

Using an aquarium as a terrarium is another great way to reach that goal of saving cuttings!

I'm also toying with the idea of keeping more stumps this year. Cuttings or 'whole plant' aren't the only way to go. On some I will cut all of the branches way back, keep most as cuttings, and excavate the stump to keep in small pots. Then instead of 6-pack size or $4-6 size individuals, I'd have a few $25 plants already in spring. The one stump I saved on impulse after realizing it was still alive after the first frost last winter was great. That would take up less room than trying to pot up big, whole plants, still yield basically the same results as well as the cuttings to multiply the overall number of plants, and stumps are OK with less sun than whole plants would be, leaving the prime spots they would need to other 'regular' house plants as usual. (I'd show a pic but a couple weeks after summer started last spring, 80's/50's, there was a frost that was one insult too many for the stump, after all. Oops!) Luckily there were still some cuttings inside...

It has cooled off enough to take cuttings, I need to get on that part!

Mine in water all died. Once a plant come indoors at my house...lookout! All bets are off!

No frost here yet though, so I may try again.

yeah water doesn't go well with me usually... too much rot .. usually a last ditch effort to get some more inside.. before they croak.. and I will put them in soil as soon as I can

Correct the aquarium is to keep the humidity up and ease of care. Plus it takes up less space and my city does not get much sun in the winter. So this is a win win for me. I am not using the aquarium so with colorful plants and a little décor it looks good.

I have to take a pic.

Purple that is a good idea with the stump. I have seen people in the past making Coleus trees.

I'm new to this forum, and this thread, and I know that I'm much further south than most of you…But we still feel the frost and some of the below 30 temps. Farmers Almanac says we will see very cold conditions this Winter...
I've taken cuttings of a new (to me ) Coleus…I'm going to try to grow this guy through the Winter…This is something I've never tried before. I'll post some pics tomorrow of the plant as of today…And then update as Winter comes along...

hello and welcome Tara!!

we might have our first frost out there now.. always smart to have back up.. always welcome pictures.. esp when we are frozen up here!!

I did a bunch of cuttings yesterday too, and better do more. Once I get a few of each unusual type, I can relax slightly. Wanted more all summer, now glad I didn't find them - LOL!



I really hope Rex Begonia vine (which I think would be more aptly called Coleus vine) cuttings take root. I don't think there's a snowballs' chance of the roots surviving here in the ground. I don't mind spending $15 on another beautiful vine, but never had seen one before this year except in pics, so don't feel like I can count on being able to buy one again next year.



Tara, how soon is it coming? Do you know yet? Tomorrow night, they keep changing the number, but now it says 36 for here, with 12 mph wind from the north, just above the FL line. Then the lows (forecasted) go back up in the 50's. This is cruel, I don't have enough sheets to cover ground plants, the porch plants use about a dozen. After the mild winter last year, the farmers' almanac is probably right. I'm sure there's a reason some of the stuff in my yard is "not supposedly" hardy here, and may not be back in the spring. I should take more pics too.

Is it easier for folks to cut for saving, or to cut after Jack Frost shows up, to remove ugly dead plants/branches? For me it's the latter because it's not a decision anymore, and I have a compost pile to put them in, so feel like they make a final contribution to next years' beauty. I like soil/compost almost as much as the actual plants, probably like a chef who loves their knives and pots and pans.

Here's a little spot I took a pic of recently. There were a lot more plants here, but have been finding homes for 'house plants' I put there that multiplied like crazy. There were a few Begonias there that turned into cuttings too, but stuck right in pots with other plants already growing. (Coleus isn't the only tender decor plant out there, if you have a ton of house plants that propagate easily. I've been letting some other plants have the same fun, in the ground, as Coleus, this summer. Not all went well, but most did.)


Not interested in frost yet at ALL! (But, I know, who IS?)


Look forward to that pic, Cinta. Good luck everyone!

For the next week 'they' are saying lows in the 50's and highs in the lower 70's. Loving that! I hope our really cold temps are still a long way off.

I've already taken quite a few cuttings from this guy, so he's not looking real happy at this point! I think it's called 'Gold Anemone'. It's an 'Under the Sea' series. A very new one for me, and I think it really would like more light/sun than it's been getting. I really like the leaf shape!

Tiffany/purpleinopp,
I have a Rex Begonia Vine (Cissus discolor) too and easily water-rooted a couple of cuttings. However, it's really easy to overwinter the plant too. When the plant starts looking sad and discolored due to the cool temps, then bring it inside to a cool, dark spot and keep it on the drier side. It will go dormant and drop its leaves. I put mine in the cool (not cold) basement and only give it a small amount of water if the rubbery-looking stems start looking dry (very rarely.) In spring, you can put it in a warmer spot and start watering and it will come out of dormancy and start growing again. Very easy!

I had to do last minute Coleus rescue yesterday due to the freezing temps predicted. I brought a couple of potted ones inside and have a plastic salad mix container full of cuttings to deal with now. It looks like we barely escaped damage as the Coleus outside still looked okay today.

Wow! Our local weather said tonight that the freezing temps could be as far south as Nahunta! Brrr! That's too close for comfort!
Good luck to you all! Hope the freeze isn't too hard!