I did not do good last year but Hope is eternal I will continue to try.

Awww, I'm sad that you have to get into this so soon, but I know that's preferable to waiting until plants get cold-stressed. That front one is really pretty to me, I'd be saving every branch.

Still mid-90's during the day, mid-70's at night here. But I do need to start getting the house plant-ready! That takes some finagling! I don't have much to take cuttings OF this year but getting the jars ready would be good too.

Much hope and good luck, Cinta, everyone!

I try every year Tiffany but it seems like the only ones that survive for me are the dark color leaves. That front one was in one of those six pack garden things for 99. It is a small leaf and it is so bright and I agree with you I love it. It is so bright I have a hard time getting a good clear picture.

Your cuttings look good. I'm taking some now too. Have found they do best potted up this time of the year and left outside until it starts to get cold. By that time they have good root systems.

Whatever works!! Do it again, and do it more. LOL!

I seem to do best having them cut and rooted by Sept. 15th and then they come inside until around May 15th.

I too am thinking seriously of taking cuttings from my coleus and overwintering them for next year. My concern is mealy bugs. Is there a way to deter the mealies?

I use yellow sticky tape to catch whatever bugs fly Not sure what mealy bugs are.

Susan

Mealy bugs are nasties that look like white cottony spots, but they are really insects. I am already having problems with mealies on some of my hoyas and I don't want to add to the problem.

I do not know what would help Carolyn. I have never had a bug problem ever and I keep over 100 houseplants inside over the winter.

I have steam heat which is something I have heard that keeps bugs down. Because my home is not dry heat.

looking good so far.. I like to bring them in when the windows are open.. no heat no air on.. even temps seem to help the transition

Perhaps the transition is part of it?

I did have a problem previously with coleus cuttings from a trade and it seems to me that I have read this is a common problem coleus cuttings. I have not had this problem with cuttings from impatiens and begonias though.

I guess we will see what happens.

Thanks

What I do not understand is I grew up with my mother growing coleus as houseplants. She never put them in the garden. They live in the house 12 months a year and she never had bugs or a problem. I still remember to this day admiring them when I would look out the window in the winter time and seeing those pretty leaves in the windows.

I bring them inside and they look like crap and most die before winter is over. But I keep trying. They just seem to dry up in my house and die.

I did a little better with the ones I kept in a 40 gal fish tank that is no longer in use. So I am going to use it again this year.

My coleus cuttings that I rooted were recieved as as SASE. I am assuming they were grown outside.

I remember having coleus years ago as houseplant. I never thought about putting it outside, however, that was a long time ago when information was not as readily available as it is now.

When I kept the coleuses damp I had major mealybug problems. The next year I allowed them to go dry and I did not get any mealybugs at all.

I will try that Arlene. Thank you!

As a whole the conversation screams, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

:+) !!

oh always.. that is how we learn

Among the things I've learned about coleus is not to bother keeping the cuttings with wimpy stems. If they feel too much like limp spaghetti they will only give me grief.

Arlene, have you ever grown Persian Shield from cuttings. A friend brought me some and I'm trying some in water and some in soil. So far, no sign of roots.