What Is an Annual?
A little research will tell you the lowest temperatures your plants can tolerate.
These include popular garden plants such as geraniums, coleus, wax begonias,heliotrope, and impatiens.
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And there is the issue of providing the right growing conditions.
Some common signs include discolored spots on the foliage, wilted foliage, and tiny moving insects.
This will reduce the plant’s energy consumption and reduce the stress it suffers when it moves indoors.
Thus, it’s usually best to give it the brightest location you could find.
Where you might’t provide enough natural light, supplementing with artificial grow lights is an option.
Remember that most plants will require longer exposure if they are getting most of their light from artificial sources.
Some plants may also struggle in the normally dry conditions of indoor winter environments.
Where necessary, provide added humidity through the use of a humidifier or other method.
They need to be handled as you would any other houseplant.
Inspect the plant regularly for common indoor pests, such as spider mites and scale insects.
And pick off yellow or dried leaves as they appear.
Take a Cutting
Take 3- to 5-inch cuttings from vigorously growing plants in mid- to late summer.
(some plants can be snipped as late as mid-fall).
If possible, take the cuttings from non-flowering shoots.
This will allow the cutting to direct its energy into producing roots.
Coleus, impatiens, and begonia are among plants that readily root this way.
But roots developed with this method sometimes don’t adapt well when they are transferred into potting soil.
Many people find that rooting plants in potting soil from the beginning is the better method.
Set the pot in location with plenty of bright indirect light, but preferably not in direct sunlight.
Wait for Roots
Monitor the covered pot.
Keep the potting soil barely damp but not saturated.
If condensation appears on the plastic, open it temporarily to air out excess moisture.
In about three to four weeks, the cuttings should be rooted.
If you tug on the cutting and find that it holds firm, the root system is well developed.
you could also transplant the rooted cutting into a larger pot to continue growing it.
Treat your overwintering plants as you would any houseplant.
They typically won’t need feeding during the winter.
Do this for at least a week.
Other tender perennials grow so slowly that it may not be practical to start them from collected seeds.
But some common true annuals, such as zinnias and snapdragons, are quite easy to propagate this way.
Geraniums (Pelargonium), dahlias, and tuberous begonia are three such plants often handled this way.
Check the pot monthly and water lightly if the soil becomes bone dry.
Dahlia roots and tuberous begonia roots should be planted at the normal depth.
Feeding can begin as soon as there is a good amount of new green growth.
