Hi I'm in 10 florida so grow most everything outdoors. With almost all plants the dividing line is freeze or 32 degrees. This will make them annual for sure lol. Coleus originated in Africa and has been hybridized into at least 800 cultivars.Some are anuuals and some are definite perrenials. All can be propagated from tip cuttings so will live on .This makes it unimportant which is which lol. The annuals will flower then die so keep flower heads trimmed. This is really the dividing line on most "annuals" without regard to temps. The term is actually applied incorrectly as a "garden " term rather than growth habit.They usually mean it can't tolerate freezing. Of the annuals " you're interested in overwintering check on the origin..If tropical or subtropical "annual can mean as much as ten years. Maid That truly is a magnificent plant.but makes me want to grab my pruning shears lol They are an incredibly noxious weed in warm climates. I remove at least a bushel a week from my hedgerows lol. there is that old saying "one mans treasure is anothers weed lol. i remember looking at pix of a garden in Malaysia and she apologised for the "weedy' sealing wax palms.lol. Wish i had that weed problem !!! i can't one past 3 years gary

Okay...JUST got done putting the new ones in bought on clearance a month or so ago. THOSE were the ones I was really concerned with because they aren't established. Here's all the info. I don't think I ever told the whole story. It's a raised bed about 6" high. Built it Nov/Dec before all this cold. We had too much rain and too muddy to plant in regular garden so figured, hmmmm -- "raised bed" -- stick new plants in, throw in DRY soil around them and good to go. BUT -- sh-t happens, THAT never happened, & I ended up with my current problem. That being said, I guess there's some variables that might come into play with what you guys have to say. These ARE new plants from big box stores which gardengal's info seems to relate to -- young roots on outer part of rootball are vulnerable. And I noticed them (fresh roots) when I planted them. BTW, great wealth of info, gardengal. TKS !!! And BTW, all the rootballs were very wet. One had that that funky, too much water stench. Msk3 -- I get what you're saying, too. Somewhere else on this site (before I got myself into this trouble & was looking for solutions) there was a post all about overwintering pots outside, on their sides for drainage, etc. and people seem to do it all the time. But it was mainly Northern areas and I got confused because I don't really know what 'overwintering' is with regards to doing it ouside??? Does that mean you dig up established plants?? And, not coming from your sort of weather (I see youre in MI with lots of snow, Im sure) -- why do you do it versus just leaving them in the ground? I'm not being a smart-ass, just uninformed. Because I CAN see where that may make a difference (established plant vs- new in pot). Around here, snow is such a big deal that the city shuts down. Literally. I'm serious. So plants around here are 'sissy' plants...ha ha ha. Does snow have anything to do with it? So mxk3, you could help me understand more by explaining about overwintering and why its necessary for you? TKS !! You can even email me if you wanna. NOW, for my current dilemma -- I was able to put plants in bed with an inch of existing tilled soil mixed with store bought (bagged) compost/manure. BUT -- didn't have enough soil to fill whole bed and cover plants properly. So I teased out bottom roots (and with some, pulled off a chunk of soggy roots) dug down 1" or so, set into place then dumped what little soil/manure compost I had into the bed and mounded enough around each one so crowns & entire root ball is covered. The mound is about 3 - 4" wider in circumference than the root ball. Had hoped that was enough protection. Soooo.considering all that these plants have been thru, should I still go back out there and fill the bed with leaves? They arent mulched leaves. Just raked up leaves. I ask because presently, it's only 32 (30 on Weather Channel) but we are expecting snow (ha ha...maybe, since we never get it this close to the beach. But it DID snow a little before Xmas). Tomorrow it will be warmer, but will drop into high 20's in evening for next few evenings. However, tomorrow I plan to get more dirt, mix with my many bags of compost/manure (that I 'thought' I could use in place of soil) and fill in the whole garden, weather permitting. Pretty much, these plants are planted properly but just with spaces in between each one. Didnt want to use my mulch yet since I still need to put more dirt in the entire bed. Right now, it looks like what I imagine groundhog mounds look like (I dont have that problem, so I dont know.???) All this being said (& I apologize for it being so long) what do you guys think NOW?? Especially about putting the leaves down? Gardengal...I'm really thinking about what your info said about how I won't see the effects until AFTER things start growing (or not growing). As it stands, the foliage is still alive and healthy. But I see what you mean about the root damage. It's like hitting your fingernail with a hammer. It looks fine until it starts to grow out and then it can be funky for 6 mos. to a year...ha ha ha.

I plant dahlias in containers all the time. As a matter of fact, I like them better in containers because I hate digging them up in the fall. This way I can just dump over the container. I think, though, that you will have trouble storing them. You need, I think, a pretty cool basement/storage area. Not sure about the fridge. Of course, I'm certainly not the one to advise on overwintering dahlias! Out of almost five years, last winter was the first time I successfully overwintered them. This year I bought more bulbs because I don't trust my storage ability, lol. That being said, you can pick up good quality tubers for about $3 to $5, more if you are willing to spend it, and so even if you treat them like annuals, it's not a big investment. Also, you can start them from seed, and have them bloom the same year. I love dahlias and I would hate NOT to have them, so personally, I would take the plunge, spend the $15 to $20 to fill a couple of pots, and take a chance that I couldn't overwinter them. They are beautiful and well worth it. Do shop carefully, though - some are late bloomers, which is great for late summer/fall color, but just be aware that certain ones may just sit in the pot all summer doing nothing, till it's showtime in September or October. Try searching the dahlia forum for lots of info on overwintering. Can't help with the gladioli - I'm growing them this coming year for the first time. By the way, I do have several peonies in pots. I hadn't really meant for them to stay in pots for so long (2 - 3 years) but that's the way it is with plants in my garden! I hope to plant them out this year (she says yet again!) and I don't know how long they would live in the pots if I left them there indefinitely. Also, again, you would have the overwintering issue, although these you might be able to keep on the balcony with some major protection. Perhaps you should try the peony forum for this. Best of luck! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! :) Dee

brilliant question ... you are on the right track ... but you didnt go far enough ... frost is NOT your issue ... in your zone ... the issue is FREEZE ... these south folks dont see/hear any difference in the words .. and there is a big difference a fully dormant.. zone appropriate plant.. could go out ... as the soil temps would be issue.. not the air temps.. if the plant is underground.. and God help us.. the soil should not refreeze ... but this year.. who knows.. lol...technically a dormant plant.. that should live thru the winter .. wont really care about soil temps ... but the real problem with bagged plants.... is that they were bagged dormant.. but having sat in a warm store.. they have probably 'bolted' on some level.. and are no longer dormant.. and as such.. they are 'tender' ... and subject to frost and FREEZE ... and subject to icy soil temps ... ergo ipso presto ... potted and IN THE GARAGE ... they dont need that much light ... and even if it goes down to 20 at night ... the garage will probably not go below 35 ... so no frost nor freeze ... i would NEVER bring them in the house .. they will bolt even faster.. its all about soil temps.. and the house will warm the media ... and bolt them even more... its about keeping them in slow motion.. it will be a real giant stress if they fully leaf out.. and you plant them.. after you get past frost free date.. which in my z5 is normally the third week of may ... crikey thats a long way away ... and your zone should not be much different than mine ... i got distracted.. i will reread and add more.. later ... ken ps: i would open the bags.. to let in some air circulation ... and i would check the stock.. and if anything is well on its way to rotting .. remove it ... and then i would just make sure the moss is A BIT damp [a few drops of water] ... and you could probably hold them as such for a while.. in the cool garage ... or even the veg drawer in the fridge ... but not in the house ... it will just complicate you life ... trust me ...