We got the first rain a few days ago… and it’s starting to get a little bit cooler… so that means I have to start thinking about getting cuttings from my Coleus to overwinter. To tell you the truth, I don’t like overwintering my Coleus because it’s a lot of work and it take up room in my bedroom (and I don’t have that much room to spare). I use to have a lots of window space at work (see photo below), but since I quit, I am force to keep all my cuttings at home.
The first few years I used 3″ pots, which worked well… but I had to water them alot. Below is a photo from 2006-2007.
I then discovered clear plastic domes which helped retain moisture and keeping the flying bugs out… but it was a chore to water or take care of them because I had to slide the tray off the selves then remove the dome every time I need to do something. Below is a photo from 2008-2009.
Last winter I decided not to use the 3″ pots. Instead I used coir pellets (similar to peat pellets) and I placed them to cell-packs to hold them upright. It worked okay, but they dried out easily because they pellet were small.
This year, I want to try something a little bit different.
I liked using the pellets, but I need something bigger, so searched online and found Super Sized Jiffy Peat Pellets (from a seller on eBay) which are about 2 inches in diameter and expand to almost 4 inches tall. That’ll be plenty big enough for the cuttings.
I want to place each pellet and cutting in its own pot instead of cell packs which made each plant hard to move around separately. I want pots that are narrow (about 2 inches in diameter) and about 4 inches tall. I’ve used 9 oz. plastic cups in the past that are about the right size, but I don’t have enough. Additionally, I don’t want drainage hole and my old ones all have holes… so I searched online and found some NatureWorks PLA 9 oz. drinking cups that are biodegradable and compostable!!!… They also have lids for these, so I’m going to try that to help retain moisture without using the plastic tray domes.
So I think I’ll be set once I get these in the mail. I hope my plan works and I have healthy Coleus for next year.
