Take cuttings from summer annuals to grow as houseplants now

Impatiens

It doesn't seem possible that it's time to be talking about taking cuttings from your summer annuals already, but here in Maine the nights are getting cool and fall is approaching quickly. That means taking cuttings from those summer annuals, like impatiens and begonias and rooting them. You can, of course, bring the whole plant inside for the winter, but they often struggle to thrive when moved inside. Taking cuttings and starting new plants for houseplants lets you keep them growing without fussy with scraggly plants for months.

• Take 3 to 4 inch cuttings from the growing tips of plants.
• Remove the foliage from the bottom 2 inches.
• Dip the cut end into rooting powder.
• Place the cutting in moist soil or perlite.
• Keep the soil moist until the cuttings root

You can also root plants in a glass or vase of water, but the roots tend to be more brittle.

                                                           Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!