Reverend Benson was a well-respected Lutheran Minister and tireless humanitarian in the town of Flagstaff Arizona where I started my plant business. One day he called and asked if I would stop by and take a look at a small greenhouse he had just built. The purpose of the greenhouse was to provide jobs for developmentally disabled adults. Reverend Benson would start the plants & the young men & women would tend them: eventually selling the plants in the community and earning some much needed money. When I arrived at the greenhouse, I immediately started rattling off, what was wrong. The greenhouse was too hot; the thermometer was placed incorrectly; there was inadequate ventilation. I went on & on. I looked at a large table where Reverend Benson had planted about 100 little peat pots with one coleus leaf in each. I picked up a pot; and, as gently as I could, because he had obviously spent a great deal of time and effort planting the leaves, explained that a coleus was NEVER rooted in this way. I tugged at one of the leaves to show him that there were no roots growing. But guess what, that leaf did have roots, as did all of the other leaves he had planted in that overheated under ventilated greenhouse.
Plant experts don’t know everything. It’ s fun to try new techniques. Let me know what works for you - judy@foliageunlimited.net

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