How to help annual plants to go through the winter (Part 1)
When the summer season comes to an end a gardener may feel sadness, but one can also consider an alternative to bring the garden indoors for the winter.
There are some annual plants which will grow through the winter quite easily if the proper steps are taken.
Fuchsia
There are many ways for fuchsia to go through the winter. Take some cuttings in late summer and place in a soilless solution. When they take roots, transplant to separate pots and put in a bright sunny place. During the winter the plant will produce only foliage. Make some notes, if the cuttings were from different plants. Another option is to keep the entire plant dormant for the winter. Before the first hard frost, put your pot plant in an area that is maintained between 40° and 50°F. Observe the container for signs of insects both on the leaves and in the soil. You should water the plant once a month. In February or early March cut the plant back to the old wood. This will encourage new branching that will produce many more flowers during the summer.
Yellow balsam or Impatiens noli-tangere
Impatiens, as well as New Guinea Impatiens, can also be easily grown indoors during the winter. In late summer take stalk cuttings from the plants, place in perlite or coarse sand. When they take roots, transplant into containers filled with a soilless potting mix. And also do not forget to label each container. Put your plants in a bright, sunny place or arrange an artificial lighting. You can also bring in Impatiens that have been growing in containers, but first cut back the plants leaving only one-third of their original height.