Using a pencil, poke a hole in the potting medium and insert the cutting so the two lowest nodes on the stem are buried and water well. Dipping the ends of the cuttings in a rooting hormone before planting will hasten the formation of roots. You can place more than one cutting in a pot, so long as they are not crowded and the leaves do not touch. Leave the cap on unless the sides of the bottle begin to steam up. Place the container in a bright location out of direct sunlight where the temperature is more than 72 degrees.
Cuttings root faster if the bottoms of the pots are kept warm.
I have had good success with cuttings placed on the top of my refrigerator. Coleus, members of the mint family, and impatiens both root easily in water. Room temperature bottled water is preferred over softened or chlorinated water and it's best to change the water daily. When the roots appear, pot the cutting using a soilless potting mix. Nancy Szerlag is a master gardener and Metro Detroit free-lance writer.