For overwintering coleus crops, now could be the time to chop

I added some coleus crops to my backyard this yr and want to use them once more subsequent yr. Can I deliver them inside over winter for subsequent yr?

— Rachel Block, Morton Grove

It’s straightforward to overwinter coleus crops inside at residence, and that is the time to take reducing of your coleus crops if you wish to overwinter them.

There are numerous several types of coleus, offering a variety of foliage coloration. I primarily use them in containers, however coleuses will even work nicely as bedding crops or to float right into a perennial border.

Mid to late September is usually a superb time to take the cuttings, relying on the climate, so it will likely be greatest to make the cuttings quickly. If we’ve a heat fall, you might be able to wait a bit later. Coleuses are very delicate to frost so even a lightweight frost can do lots of injury and stop you from taking any cuttings.

Begin by making a few four-inch reducing from the tip of a stem. Attempt to use stems that don’t have flowers, but when no stems can be found with out flowers, then prune them off. Place the cuttings in water after stripping the decrease couple of leaves that will likely be beneath water. Inside a few weeks, you need to see roots forming.

As soon as the roots have developed to round two inches in size, pot up the cuttings utilizing a high-quality rising medium for containers. I’ve had good success utilizing four-to-five-inch clay pots for the cuttings. You may develop on the newly rooted cuttings exterior till temperatures drop beneath 50 levels. Then transfer the crops to a vibrant window inside for the winter.

Rotate the pots each two to 3 weeks for extra even publicity to daylight. The expansion of the crops could develop into skinny and stretched due indoor rising situations. Pinch the crops again as wanted, although your crops could get by way of the indoor winter season simply high quality. Most high quality rising media may have a fertilizer so you shouldn’t must fertilize the rooted cuttings over winter. Maintain them on the dry aspect for watering to scale back possibilities of the crops rotting. Pots of coleus positioned on a basement windowsill that’s south dealing with carry out nicely for me over winter.

For extra plant recommendation, contact the Plant Data Service on the Chicago Botanic Backyard at plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture on the Chicago Botanic Backyard.