Mario Bautista
How to overwinter your favorite annuals
The season is coming to an end, but you don’t have to say goodbye to annuals that performed well this year. Now is the time to start preparing cuttings to be harvested and carried over indoors.
Scott Evans of the Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties has a how-to to save your favorite plants:
1. To prepare annuals, remove 3 to 5 inches of the stem of the plant. Cuttings should be free of insects and diseases.
2. Remove all the leaves from the bottom half of the stem.
3. Decide if you want to root plants in water or in potting mix or both.
4. If rooting in a potting mix, use fresh additive-free mixes. We do not want water-absorbing polymers or fertilizers in the mix.
5. Have supplies ready: seed-starting tray, tall dome, clean 4-inch pots, fresh potting mix.
6. Prefill pots with potting mix and water to dampen the soil.
7. Take cuttings and dip in rooting powder and stick in the soil. Use a Magic Marker to make pre-formed holes for cuttings.
8. After you have finished taking cuttings, place in seed-staring tray and place dome on top.
9. Place tray in a bright window or under grow lights.
10. Check soil periodically and water as needed. Remove dome once cuttings have rooted.
Annuals that do well for cuttings
Coleus: It comes in a range of leaf colors and texture. Take 3- to 5-inch cuttings from tips of plants. Leaf color will fade indoors and under grow lights. These plants easily root in water or potting mix. Watch out for spider mites and mealy bugs.
Wax begonia: Take cuttings much as you would with coleus but shorten the stems to 3 inches. Wax begonias may struggle indoors during the darkest portions of the winter but will recover as spring approaches.
Sweet potato vine: Take cuttings from the active growing portions of the plant. These plants can easily root in water or soil.
Geraniums: These semi-woody plants could actually be dug up, roots and all, and stored in a brown paper sack in a frost-free location. Cuttings can be challenging to root in water and do better in soil with help from a rooting powder. Green tips root better than stems that have been woody.
Fuchsia: This cascading annual roots well in water. Take several cuttings from the plant and root in water. Once cuttings have rooted they can be separated and transplanted into individual containers.
Herbs: Basil, mint, sage and more can be rooted in water or soil. Take several cuttings and try both methods to see which is successful. Herbs enjoy strong bright light once rooted and supplemental grow lights will be needed to keep plants healthy.
