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Re: coleus



patricia johnston wrote:

> Hello All,
> Supposedly coleus is an easy plant to propagate, I've been told. Well not
> for me. I take the cutting, place it in a little water till shoots happen,
> then place it in seed starter soil. Soon they all wilt and drop dead. I
> have tried using root hormone, and not putting them in water, but still
> they drop dead.
> Thanks for help
> Pat  zone 7 BC Canada

Pat,
I use 4 inch pots filled with soil-less cutting/seeding medium dampened.  Tip
cuttings with three sets of leaves.  Strip off the bottom leaves, dip in
liquid rooting solution for soft cuttings, stick directly in the 4" pots-
usually 4-5 cuttings per pot and water in.  The pots are set in a plastic
nursery flat and cover with the clear plastic dome lid that can be bought to
cover the flat.  This holds in the humidity, though I usually add small holes
(hot nail or drill) on the sides for circulation .   I find that no extra
water is needed until new growth starts and it's time to remove the lid.
Keeping the lid on after rooting promotes rot.  I have few losses this way-
mostly if the cutting is too soft, then it just rots instead of roots.
Since it's been so warm, I've just kept the covered flats on the north side of
the house in the shade, but in the winter I use a propagation tray with bottom
heat.
Diane
PNW Zone 7 -Snohomish, WA
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