Geranium cuttings Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

It is time to take cuttings of annuals such as geraniums and begonias that you want to keep over the winter. Cool nights in September will harden off the plants, which will make them more difficult to root.

Take a 2- to 3-inch-long tip cutting and stick it in a well-drained potting medium for container gardening. Keep the cuttings in humidity and bright light. Cover them with a plastic bag and ventilate daily by opening and resealing the bag.

Once they are well rooted, typically in two to four weeks, transplant them into a 2- to-4-inch pot filled with a growing medium. The size of the new pot will depend on the vigor of the rooted cuttings; use a larger pot for a more vigorously growing plant. It’s OK to grow the plants outside until

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