I bought some 6 packs of Giant Exhibition Coleus last week. These had been growing inside in a greenhouse. I put them on my deck, in a sheltered area, and left for 4 days. It rained the whole time I was gone. When I went to plant them today about half had rotten stems, a little above the point where the stem met the soil. The soil was sopping wet, even though the six packs had not been in a tray, but just sitting on the wood of the deck. They are about 8 inches tall.

Should I:

plant the root ball, assuming it will sprout again from the roots?

or cut the stem cleanly and plant that?

or both??