This time of year always fills me with the urge to get outdoors and garden but at the same time my head is filled with all the things I need to get done.  While I'm actively thinking about the vegetable garden, the lawn, and all those other garden chores that need worked on during the fall season I also think about ways I can garden and save a few bucks next year.  Cuttings are one simple way I have a little fun and save money at the same time. Quite a few plants in the garden can be successfully overwintered indoors to plant outside again next year. I could go out and dig these plants up and place them into pots but cutting are much less work than that!  Plants like coleus, Persian shield, basil, and Pineapple sage are great picks to overwinter from cuttings.

The neat thing about these plants in particular is that they are extremely easy to root. Extremely easy...  Do I need to repeat myself?  Really, all you need to do is take your cutting with 2-3 nodes (the growing points where leaves form), stick them in a good potting soil with the top node above the soil, then water as needed.  Until the plant is rooted it is critical to keep the soil medium nice and moist, but not soggy.  Of course you could go the other method - the jar of water!  I've done that more than once (just see the coleus picture below). Going directly into soil is better in most cases since the roots grow in the environment they will be growing in without any need of future transplanting.  I've always found that the less roots have to be moved the better!

What plants do you plan on overwintering this year?