Coleus

Hi
I have two coleus plants.......one in ground and one in container. Both are in mostly shade and doing great. My question is when winter comes (mild, mostly rain), I know I can bring in the potted one, but when do I do with the one in the ground? Do I just leave it be? Will it die naturally and then come back? Any special care I need to do during winter time? I am in zone 9B, bay area (San Jose) California.

Suppose we do get some early morning frost. Would I cover it somehow so it doesn't get frost damage IF we do get frost this winter?

Thank you. Violas and Coleus are becoming fast my favorite plants.

Cissy

Cissy,
So glad you asked this. I have become a Coleus fanatic (probably because they are easy plants). I have been wondering the same thing. Look forward to the answers.

I looked up several of them in Plant Files, and most of them say zone 10a for hardiness. So for you pupil, you'll definitely have to bring them in. For Cissy--if we have a mild winter they may be OK outside, if you're willing to take a little chance and run out there to cover them if you're expecting frost then you can probably get them through the winter unless we have some really severe cold like we did this past year. If they're a rare cultivar though and you don't want to take any chances, it would be best to dig them up, put them in a pot, and bring them in for the winter with your other one (if you do this, shake off as much of the garden soil as you can from the roots, then put it in some nice potting mix)

Thank you, ecrane! Your information is invaluable :) :)

Cissy

Thanks Ecrane. Always see you around with such wonderful advice. Glad you take the time for us newbies. I am going to try to post some plants and shrub pics later. If you have the time, take a gander. I really want to know what some of these are.

Sincerely,
Ant bitten

Glad I could help!

And for the things that you want identified--you might want to post them in the Plant Identification forum rather than here, there are a lot of experts who hang out on that forum and they may not always make it over here.

That was my next stop. The only problem is I took over 200 photos. How to choose, how to choose?

Cissy,
Welcome to Dave's Garden.
You will find a wealth of information about Coleus here; http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/coleus/all/
I live on borderline 8b/9a and on the few nights we are supposed to get a frost I put bedsheets over my coleus. I have about a dozen old or yard sale sheets that are just for this.
I have roughly 70 different varieties and over 200 coleus plants in my yard. Several do just fine all winter. Many take fresh cuttings and root them in potting soil in the house. Here is a great tutorial on this http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/596774/
Good luck
Sidney

Wow, thank you Sugarweed! Now, old bedsheets I have plenty of! Thanks for advice :) I just LOVE Coleus. Mine are still doing great...growing :D

Cissy