Create Your Own Coleus Flowers for Next Summer

 

The largest - more than two feet in height - and most magnificent coleus plants I have ever seen were propagated by a friend.  Last year I pinched a bunch of coleus twigs in fall from her garden before colder temperatures set in.  I explained in detail how to create her own coleus plants for next spring:

"Take away the large leaves, place the twigs in a glass of water and set it on a window sill, renew the water twice a week. Then after eight weeks when roots are built, plant them in pots and set them on a sunny window. As soon as the last frost has gone (usually in late May) plant the coleus in garden beds or planters." 

She propagated with enormous success. I am totally impressed by her attractive coleus plants!

How to Propagate With Cuttings

Are you tired of buying expensive plants in spring, or do you not even find the same types that you have already in your garden?  Why not propagate with cuttings?  Contrary to propagating with seeds, you can be sure that your new plants look exactly like their parent plants.

Soft-cuttings, such as coleus should build their roots in water.  Any cuttings of roses, hydrangeas, or other bushes and shrubs can be dipped in rooting hormones (on their cut ends) and placed in potting mix. Remove most leaves, so that only the small ones on top of the twig are left. Time your softwood propagation for late spring or early summer, when new stems first start to harden.  This mostly happens between May and mid-July. 

Water-Rooting

• If you are water-rooting your cuttings, change the water twice a week to keep it fresh. 
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• Heating and air conditioning can create dry conditions indoors, avoid setting your plant close to outlets. You also need to make sure your plant will get lots of natural light after they take root - but not the sun!  The best location for them is to place in the shade or dabbled shade. 
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• Don't leave your cuttings too long after they have rooted. Once the roots grow to the bottom of your water jar, it's time to transplant your cutting to a pot, filled with planting soil.

Later, when the coleus' is established, the best leaf color is achieved with morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade.  Some gardeners leave the tiny flowers, but it's best to pinch them off to direct more energy into stem and foliage growth.  Coleus left to flower may lose vigor as the plant puts energy into seed production.

Soil-Rooting

• Use a soilless medium for plant cuttings, such as coir, sphagnum moss, Oasis rooting cubes, or Rockwool, as the microbes in organic soils can cause your plant cuttings to rot before they grow roots.  
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• Place a clear plastic hood with small wholes over the planting pot, so that the new plants have always enough moisture. I always remove the bottom of a large soda bottle, place it over the planting pot, and have the perfect moist environment for your plant(s).
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• Cut the stem into 4- to 6-inch lengths with a knife or pruners, each piece right above the node where leaves attach to the stem.

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How to Propagate Hydrangeas from Cuttings

Select a Hydrangea twig for cutting that should be at least 12 centimeters/6 inches long, has no flower and is new growth.  Take a sharp pair of shears and cut the stem off just below a leaf node.  A leaf node is where a set of leaves is growing. 

Strip all but the topmost set of leaves from the cutting. The cutting should have only two leaves left.  Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone.  While rooting hormone which you can purchase at nurseries and garden centers, will increase the chances of successfully propagating hydrangeas, you can still propagate hydrangea shrubs without rooting hormones. 

Find a wide, clear plastic bottle or empty peanuts container that is higher than the twig.  Fill it with planting soil or peat moss, and add water to moisten the soil.  Stick the cutting into the damp potting soil.  It should not touch the plastic device, at least not the leaves.
Close the lid and poke a half dozen holes in it, or if you don't have the lid for the device, place plastic over the top opening and also poke holes in the plastic cover.

Place the pot in a sheltered location out of direct sunlight.  Check the hydrangea cutting every few days to make sure the soil is still damp. In about two to four weeks, the cutting will be rooted.

This method for propagating works for pretty much of all shrubs, only the times to take the cuttings varies between the types and the locations/hardiness zones.  Just google it in typing the plant and the word propagation from cuttings and your planting area.

Have fun with creating new shrubs - almost for free!

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