both root EXTREMELY EASILY ....

any part non-wilted pieces will root .... at a leaf node ...

i would get a small pan [9 by 9 inch disposable alum. pans from the dollar store work just fine] .... sterilize some potting media ... link below .... i use the microwave for small amounts ...

then take a razor blade.. diagonal cut.. some rootone if you have it... mostly for its fungicide.. since these dont really need it for rooting ...

dampen soil ... insert cuttings .... tent or bag to maintain humidity ... bright light.. but not direct sun ...

in a week or two.. gently tug on one piece.. and see if there are roots .... if so.. you are all set.. and can get rid of the big plants ...

pot up a few cuttings... 9 OZ dixie cups with drain holes razored off the bottom crease ... with sterilized media ... nothing is worse.. than having a closed up house.. and having a fungus gnat plague in jan/feb ... ergo sterilize the media

repeat the process all winter long.. throwing away the extras.. it will be hard.. but you will see the beauty of it.. when you have 2000 spare plants in february .. and are contemplating having to move.. lol ....

around april .. you can start growing some extras to put out in late may when you are frost free ...

so ... instead of worrying about your single plant... generate multiples... so you have fail safes ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Thanks, Ken. All the leaves at the tips were wilted, so I cut those off, back to a point that was not shriveled. So all I have left are bare stems. They look solidâ¦so far. You donâÂÂt mean I can root a bare stem, do you? Or can I?

Except for two plants (the two least interesting ones, OF course), that had small shoots at the bottom that were protected. Those two I expect will spring up normally and recover.

In prior years I have not had luck with rooting in the fall. But nor did I have a method like you describe. Thanks for the link. I have nothing to loseâ¦at the very least I can do it with the two survivors.

After the frost I got mad and decided to yank up the few I had planted in the ground in the front yard. The front did not get much frost. Plus some sweet potato vines. I have never tried potting up ground-planted annuals like those and bringing them inside for the winter. They donâÂÂt look happy, but itâÂÂs only been two days. Part of the reason for having most of the coleus, etc., in pots, was to be able to bring them inside as stock for next year.

try it ....

cut a stem.. w/o leaves ... and stick it in a glass of water ...

and i would bet a buck ... it will root inside of one week ... and releaf ...

it should be that easy ...

this presumes you have a spare branch ...

ken

Thanks! Loads of branches; though all about 3 inches: it's worth a try.

figuring that you hang on every word i type .. you most likely immediately ran out and tried to root some asap

its been 3 days.. any roots yet???

lol

ken

I always find this link about frost damage interesting.
Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: Frost damage

any roots yet????

ken

Oops! I, uh, got side tracked (off to find a razor blade)....

On the plus side, I realized I had plucked side branch for a flower arrangement a few days before the frost, and that one is still going strong. The sweet potato vine in that had roots a few inches long. The coleus, I just checked, has the beginning of roots.

The next question is...I have rooted coleus before in water (and SPV): but it never lived after potting up. It was like the water roots were not the same thing as dirt roots, if that makes sense. I even tried gradually adding dirt to the water, in the hopes of making a more gradual transition: but that did not work, either.

What is the secret of moving from water to potting mix?

water roots are not media roots ...

i usually pot them.. when the roots are no longer than 1/2 inch .... pot them ... and then i bag them for increased humidity ...

but they root so fast .. and easily ... just skip the glass of water.. and make some real wet media .. insert plant.. and bag for humidity ...

the bottom of a gal milk jug.. cut right below the handle ... fill with damp/wet media.. never forget there are no holes ... tamp down.. insert cuttings... and a one gal plastic storage bag will fit over the top ... instant greenhouse ... bright light but not sun ... perhaps a small hole in top corner for some fresh air ...

i will see if i can find a pic later ... gotta get jr. from school.. no time to proofread ...

ken

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Great pictures: thanks! I've got a big bag of perlite I can use.

two further thoughts ....

i sterilize my perlite ... in the microwave.. per the link ... also 10% on the milk jug ... just like the operating room.. cleanliness is next to godliness .. avoids mold.. mildews ... vermin ... etc.. in a month or two ..

dampen the perlite.. cut jug.. insert perlite .... cover with bag.. nuke until it hits 160 ... BUT DONT MELT IT ALL ... lol ...

also ... it will stay damp for a long time... but eventually.. clip off a top corner.. so you can put some more water in ....

finally .... a little bottom heat will speed it all up ...

and... once you get babes going.. get rid of the mom .... start cycling them .. if you succeed ... you just wont need them all ...

and in late march or so.. go into high production.. and generate a couple hundred of each ... but do NOT start too early ... lol .. been there done that.. had a couple hundred plants in the high heat of feb in MI ... that is when i learned how to throw away plants.. lol ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

also 10% on the milk jug ===>>>10% bleach will work even better

any roots yet???

ken

No...they all croaked. They are still there, but most have rotted.

get the rotted ones out ASAP ...

most likely .. they were more heavily frosted than you thought. ...

all you need is one to start growing ...

ken