I got started on coleus with cuttings from a U plant showing - they had an open house for one of their gardens at the St Paul campus. We went, and I asked them about the coleus. When I asked if I could have a couple of cuttings, after looking at me oddly, we talked about how to get them to get rooted (dab cut stem in talcum baby powder, keep it dipped in a cup of water until roots securely begin, then plant in potting soil).

So I walked home with a bunch of cuttings, and most years I buy new, and their newly-developed varieties, from the Ag/Hort students' spring plant sale.

Fun, lovely (well, often too pink, but I avoid those), easy to grow - and they take the weather something wonderful!

The cuttings make it really easy to start a new variety or add more plants to what you have, too.

And the cutting technique should work for begonias, too. ;D