Don't know about the ferns, but the coleus will have to acclimated. What are your temps like now? Coleus don't like temps below 50°F, especially at night.

PV

I think that anything that has been growing inside needs to be acclimated when moved outside. I haven't moved anything from inside as low temps are still in the 40s and still expect some 30s here. I may move some of them out to the garage for a few days before moving them outside during the daytime when temps are above 50 and move them back into the garage for the lower night temps.

Ferns can take some cooler temps so they could be moved out. I agree with pv that you might want to wait with the coleus. If you want more coleus this would be a good time to take cuttings and start some new plants inside.

Plants that were overwintering in the garage have been moved outside as they were putting out new growth. They were used to cold temps in the garage and I did not move them in and out since the night low temps have been above 40F. I put them in a shaded area to protect the new tender foliage. All are perennials and will take some frost but I will watch the temps and might bring some in if we have frost before the new growth can harden off.

OT: Where is the degree symbol on your computer? I have a Mac and don't see a degree symbol.

Thank you, I will wait a bit longer,just don't know what all I will be able to do after my surgery,so I may be over reacting.
When the time comes, I will put them in the garage first,then out side.
So many times, I just don't know what I would do with out the help I receive from all of you,gosh, I probley would not even be gardening,you help in so many ways.
cAROL

I started coleus from cuttings in fall and overwintered them in the house. I'm hardening them off now by moving the pots onto the porch in filtered sun for a few hours on warm sunny afternoons, back inside and under lights at night.

They need time to acclimate to the sun, wind, and temperatures. Start slowly, increasing length of time of exposure as the season progresses.
{{gwi:363111}}

Karen

mnwsgal, no degree symbol on my computer. It's an html entity - "& deg ;" (without the quotes and spaces).

PV

What are you guys talking about? What degree symble???
Not a computer wiz.
cAROL

You need to move them out a couple hours each day slowly increasing the amount of light until they're in the same conditions as where you will plant them. Takes about 2 weeks to reach partial shade or morning sun, IMO. Start first by putting them in a completely shady spot for 2-3 hours a day. Once they are used to the wind, you can move them out into some dappled sun. I fried mine this year, again.

40° Thanks PV, I got it!

shoot, if I just SSowed coleus now, that means it won't be mature enough to plant out in the spring, right? :)

Any suggestions what to do with it? Put it in baskets on my porch & try & keep it alive & then bring it in for house plants in the winter?

Hope your surgery goes well. I just had sinus surgery on March 26th and I was doing the same as you. I was so worried I may not be able to take care of my plants for the start of spring.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

I bet the coleus will be just fine and the ferns. Don't stress over it too much.

I found my WS babies gave me something to look at when I started feeling a little better. I even watered them and was able to handle them some.

Karen

Kterlep, one year I ss coleus and they were nice sized by late summer/fall in Z:4. I planted them out in the spring as HOS but later separated them to individual plants and think that helped them grow faster. Since you are a zone higher yours should get large sooner.

Bringing in to overwinter is up to you. I brought a couple of plants in last fall and am using them now to make cuttings to increase my stock. Others bring in cuttings, see Karen's post. I don't have room for cuttings in the fall so wait until spring when I have moved other plants back outside.

I have also bought a plant in the spring and taken cuttings from it. IMO the cuttings grow quickly compared to seedlings.

i DON'T THINK i WILL OVER WINTER THEMAGAIN, THEY HAVE GOTTON VERY TALL, AND LEGGY, EVEN THOGH i HAVE SNIPPED THEM QUITE OFTEN,OOPS,sorry about the caps,just noticed,and am to lazy to retype.
My cuttings are growing nice, I guess I just don't like to baby sit over the winter.
cAROL

Karen, Thank you so much for the well wishes,I am a little scared, no, a lot scared.
I am glad your surgery went well for you, how long was recovery?
cAROL