Answer: Coleus seeds barely need to be covered with potting soil, so just sow them on top of the soil, then just lightly put some soil over them. Ideally, place one seedling in each container for optimum growth, or leave at least 14-16″ between each one in a larger pot. When roots are 1 to 2 inches long or longer the cuttings are ready to be potted up. vibrant colors if you let them dry out often. Garden Gate's Favorite Hostas These plants are seldom damaged by deer. Tips for Keeping Your Coleus Plant Healthy. Now coming to the Propagation of Coleus plants from cuttings. Coleus prefer a soil pH at 7, or slightly above. Use a pencil to poke some holes, and place the cuttings … Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. © Copyright 2020. Colorful Windowbox Plantings Justin Stewart is a contributing writer to DoItYourself.com. It should also retain enough moisture so that watering does not have to be done too frequently. This is so cool! Use Nutrient Rich Soil to Grow Coleus. Ivy is a quintessential house plant. Coleus plants, part of the mint sub-branch of the nettle family, are a vividly colored, leafy plant that makes a great garden border. Do not crowd coleus close together. Rooting will generally occur in 3 to 4 weeks. Fill the container up to 2/3 with soil and make a small hole to fit the cutting. I do feel that it is easier to root plant cuttings in water than doing so in soil because you don't have to worry about the cuttings wilting with lack of water or drying up from the direct sun outdoors. One summer I decided to showcase a few of the cultivars in this series Remove the bottom leaves of each cutting and insert the cut ends into damp potting soi l, peat moss, or sand. We welcome your comments and Add powdered lime to the soil if it is too acid, and avoid mulches made from pine or … Cover potted coleus cuttings with a large clear plastic bag to create a humid, greenhouse-like environment around the leaves. In mid-summer, feel free to trim back the coleus leaves to promote stronger growth. The cuttings you have in soil will not put on new top growth until they are rooted. 3 easy steps to planting annuals. Add powdered lime to the soil if it is too acid, and avoid mulches made from pine or cedar needles or their bark. Keeping them healthy mostly depends on making sure the soil is evenly moist. Avoid over-watering, as coleus can develop root rot and fungus diseases quickly in poorly drained soil. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Make sure to fertilize just once a month with a balanced all purpose fertilizer, one of the 10-10-10 formulas. The always-popular Wizard series above is one example. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we He loves researching new home improvement techniques, and has written about a huge range of topics, from electrical wiring, to plumbing, to carpentry. Do not keep your indoor coleus plants in the dark. Plant them in a container at least 12 inches in diameter, and place them near a window that gets six or more hours of sunlight per day. When the cuttings root pot them up and put them where they can get adequate light inside your house. Use an inorganic mulch made from fine pebbles, as this will help conserve heat in the soil and retain moisture. Here are some of my favorite tips and ideas to help you choose and grow the best coleus every year. Non-Patented Varieties. They need light to germinate, so gently press them into the potting mix, but do not cover. Step 3: Put coleus cuttings in water Place the coleus cuttings in a glass jar filled with water. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Writing from Taylor University, which enabled him to write for several Indiana newspapers, including The Waynesdale News and The News Herald. For the most part, coleus with red and orange leaves tolerate all-day full sun. All plants can have color variation depending on maturity, fertilizer, temperature and light. Versatile, Variable Ivy. Question: How deep and far apart do I plant the Coleus seeds? You Might Also Like: But the seed-grown varieties are more shade-tolerant. Fill a pot with moist potting soil. View our Privacy Policy here. True, they don’t produce very showy flowers, but don’t let that stop you. Flush out the soil with a … scald (have pale burn spots on leaves). The soil mix for rooting cuttings should be low in fertility, sterile and free-draining to. Most of the coleus plants you find at your garden center these days look best with sun nearly all day. Fill in the spaces around the roots with additional premoistened soil and gently press the soil around the cutting to provide good contact between the roots and the soil. Keep them indoors in a sunny window, and wait to move them outside until nighttime temperatures stay in the 50s. Their leaves can be red, pink, green, yellow, white, and in striking blends of these colors. The third method is to use coleus cuttings. Too much sun can cause purple-black ones to fade all over or they may Make the cut using pruners or scissors right above a leaf node, which is where the leaves come out of the sides of the stem (where you make the cut, the plant will produce two stems from where the old one was, making the plant bushier). There are some large coleus cultivars that grow over 30 inches tall, and when you plant them in the ground they really take off. You may need to use a heat mat, as coleus seeds require a … Don’t make the cuttings too large; they will not root as well or — if rooted — will become tall and lanky instead of compact. Go retro and bring back this old-school trend. Water again and place bucket in a partially shaded area. Apical stems have a bud at the end of them. As well, pinch back the growing tips of the leaves every few weeks. When selecting an apical stem from which to take a coleus cutting, pick one that is fairly long: Your cutting should be anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in length. Premoisten the soil in 3- or 4-inch pots and plant so the top of the root ball is an inch or so below the rim of the pot. Questions & Answers. Next begin by taking cuttings from the Coleus plant. Gotcha covered. Copyright© to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Remove the lower leaves, leaving the top set of four leaves. Start sowing coleus seed with a flat or container with a damp potting soil. Be sure to add fresh water as needed until the cuttings are fully rooted. Coleus will thrive in warm, well-drained soil. The 2nd method is to propagate Coleus cuttings in soil. But you might also find the giant Kong™ series and a couple of newer ones, such as ‘Chocolate Mint’ and ‘Chocolate-Covered Cherry’, with the 4-inch pots mixed in with the other container annuals. He has worked as a handyman for various individuals since 2013, with a focus on lawn care and home renovation.  If you want your coleus to be thick, which I think is the best, sow them about a half an inch apart. 3 Simple Ways to Divide Plants While Coleus love full sun, shadier conditions can produce more intense color in the leaves. Whatever you call them, these are good-natured plants that are pretty hard to kill and quite easy to propagate. Side Yard Makeover. Place the coleus cuttings in a glass jar filled with water. I have a thing for coleus plants. Mixing the seeds with fine sand before sowing can help you to spread the seeds more evenly with a bit more of a gap between the seeds. suggestions. And for any color, too much shade can keep all the colors from coming out. When you plant your coleus, water them until the soil is saturated. All rights reserved. Being a soft stem plant it sprouted roots easily and quickly! Pinching plants a few inches every now and then will keep them from getting leggy. To grow a new Coleus, take a stem cutting from the mother plant of around five inches in length. plastic bucket and a bag of play box or builder sand. SuperSun ‘Plum Parfait’ above grows up to 3 feet tall and creates a nice hedge to back up other plants. Try planting them in a garden bed, or challenge yourself with a combo or one of the creative containers I'll show you here. The cut should be made just below a leaf node, and you can then remove all of the leaves from the stem except for the top pair. These starter plant liners are the best royalty-free varieties we've collected over the years. No problem. Our Best Container Ideas The Coleus plant can easily be propagated with stem cuttings, or from seed (University of Florida- Gardening Solutions). Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. Choose a healthy coleus stem that … There’s a coleus for everyone, and at the rate plant breeders are going, there are probably several coleus for everyone. Fertilize them once a month with a 50 percent solution of liquid fertilizer specified for house plants. It is easily grown from stem cuttings in potting soil or a glass of water. Take a cutting from a mature coleus plant: Look for stems that are 4 to 6 inches in length. No-Fail Formula for Designing Beautiful Garden Planters Some coleus prefer bright sun, but most do best and achieve the most vivid color in partial shade. Coleus is a tropical perennial plant that is normally grown as an annual by gardeners who live north of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Simply root three- to four-inch (7-13 cm.) Cruise through your local garden center to find one or two new ones to try this year! How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings cannas, spacing them about 2 ft. apart, and filled in the rest of the bed with Super Elfin Lipstick impatiens. Choose the right soil. When their habits are opened up with pruning, they almost look like little bonsai. Mist the cuttings regularly so the medium is moist but not wet. With FedEx priority overnight delivery, our cuttings come fresh to your door faster than any offshore greenhouse can offer. Grow a Coleus Hedge Lightly sprinkle the coleus seeds over the soil. When rooting in soil or in water/soil try to find potting soil without added fertilizer. If desired, you can dip the ends in rooting hormone, but you don’t have to since coleus plants root readily. This will help direct growth toward the leaves. Coleus are easy to grow from seeds or cuttings, but I wanted to explain my method of growing them from cuttings. All rights reserved. Position the cutting and push the soil around it to hold it in place. Great Plant Combinations combo or alongside ivy geraniums (Pelargonium hybrids) and ‘Limelight’ licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) in hanging baskets. Need a plant for sun? It's available in a range of sizes, and in … One way for adventurous gardeners to grow coleus is to train it as a topiary on a single stem, also called a standard. Here are some mistakes to avoid when growing coleus outdoors or indoors. Of course coleus have always made great container plants, but there’s more to coleus than your traditional approach. They don’t need any special soil and can be planted in an all-purpose soil mix. Coleus will grow most abundantly in temperatures above 70 degrees F. (21 C.). Saturate the sand with plain water, poke holes in the sand and place cuttings in holes. Coleus do well in pots and planters, as long as they are planted in free-draining potting soil, Avoid windy locations because coleus can be prone to breakage, as their stem is very tender and soft. Solenostemon or coleus is usually grown as a flamboyant bedding plant or conservatory houseplant. These beauties will add flair to any room indoors as well. Place the jar in … Gardeners have been planting coleus as edging for years. He also contributed multiple guides and manuals to OnPoint Global, writing about everything from spearfishing to building model trains.  have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Coleus also grow well indoors in containers, and can survive and thrive for years in the right conditions. If you prefer to plant coleus in containers, these creepers can also be used as the “spiller” in a You’ll usually find these plants in flats with the bedding annuals. (and one more — ‘Apple Pie’) instead of hiding them in a combination, check out the four containers above. Some coleus grow this way on their own, or you can prune them into almost any shape you want. Do not allow your coleus to produce flowers and seeds, as they die soon afterward. Coleus prefer a soil pH at 7, or slightly above. cuttings prior to cold weather by potting them up and moving them indoors. ... with moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade at the front of a border, on a patio or in a window box. Some coleus prefer bright sun, but most do best and achieve the most vivid color in partial shade. Drop nursery pots filled with coleus into tall cylinder containers like the ones above. Organic Fertilizer For Composting Process- Crab Meal. Drill some drain holes in the bucket and pour in the sand. Set plants out after all danger of frost is past. We took photos of this coleus over a couple of weeks time. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/flowers-plants/plant-guide/how-to-grow-coleus/, No-Fail Formula for Designing Beautiful Garden Planters, How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings. Use a sharp, clean knife to cut off a two- to six-inch section of stem. I like how they covered the ground entirely and intertwined to create a tropical look. Coleus plants also add a pop of color all season long if planted here and there in a perennial border. You should also make sure that the plant you choose is not patented. The creeping or trailing varieties are very versatile. Coleus cuttings create potted plants for the patio You can grow cuttings from a coleus to replant in the garden in late May. This makes the coleus grow out to the sides of the main stems, for a bushier, more shrublike plant. It’s a simple process to propagate new plants from one you admire. Coleus are only cold hardy in zones 10 to 11, and most gardeners in North America grow them as annuals. Conversely, plants will wilt and have less Allow all the excess water to drain out and water again to insure that all the soil has been moistened. Ensure the soil temperature has warmed above 50 degrees F. (10 C.) before planting coleus seedlings or mature plants outside. Our unrooted coleus cuttings are cut and shipped the same day. Coleus needs well-draining soil. Many coleus plants look as if someone used craft scissors on them in the greenhouse. With all the colors, sizes and growing habits, there’s a coleus for practically every spot. Start with a healthy, disease-free plant. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. It’s easy and affordable to turn one coleus plant into many by taking stem cuttings. Materials commonly used are coarse sand, a mixture of peat and perlite or river sand in equal amount. For best results with Coleus, we recommend using a well-drained soil with a well-balanced fertilizer and a constant feed program of 200 ppm N. Maintain a pH between 5.8 - 6.2. Coleus won’t grow any faster if you put them out early, and you could actually stunt their growth or they might die, even if temperatures stay above freezing. Any part of the cutting that will be below the surface of the water should be free of leaves. What is the best home humidity level for indoor plants? How about one for shade? Some dwarf forms exist that may be labeled under the former name Coleus pumilus; they have a trailing habit, bright coloration, and are excellent in mixed containers. They spread out to about 16 inches across, so keep the leaves from shading each other by planting at least 12 inches away from each other in the garden. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Watch it grow... You Might Also Like: Trim the stem a half-inch below the bottom-most leaves and remove those leaves. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". The Under the Sea series has several wacky colors and shapes. All information is provided "AS IS." Pinch back the uppermost tips if the coleus is growing long stalks, and remove flower buds to prevent seed formation. Colorful Shade Garden Planting Ideas. Coleus does well in fertile well-draining soil. Provide additional light, if needed, with a fluorescent lamp designed for gardening purposes. When growing Coleus from cuttings, the first thing you need to do is prepare your growing medium. Propagating coleus through stem cuttings is a great way to save these extremely tender perennials over the winter. Watch closely for the small flower buds that form on coleus and pinch them back as soon as they start to open. Check the soil pH before planting, and adjust your soil if it is too acid. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. To move the plant outside, choose an area in your … The more space you give them to spread out their roots, the larger they grow. I just love those crazy color combinations and leaf patterns that go with almost anything. Now that you have the knowhow, you can add a pop of color to your garden with coleus. It’s again the one of the easiest plant to multiply from cuttings. The cutting is now ready for rooting in water. home improvement and repair website. Filling each container with soil, water thoroughly. All of the coleus used in these photos and mentioned in the lists below are sun-tolerant hybrids unless specified. Check the soil pH before planting, and adjust your soil if it is too acid. You Might Also Like: Go to your local building supply and purchase a 5 gal. Add coleus cuttings to fresh water to root. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Root rot and leaf drop can occur under prolonged cool, wet conditions. It is the best to propagate a coleus cutting in water instead of soil as it quite fail-proof. These are the newer varieties that have been propagated by cuttings. As long as they don't wilt or rot, all is well. Coleus branches break easily. In the border above, I planted ‘Garnet Robe’ coleus at the base of a row of The EC should be between 1.5-2.0 mmhos (2:1 dilution). Never allow the rooting medium to dry out completely or the cuttings to wilt. This is another reason why coleus are so popular. I prefer taking cuttings from large, mature plants, … They look good both ways! This coleus is very prolific and needed a little extra pruning in order to give the impatiens enough room to show their blooms. If you’ve never met a coleus plant you didn’t like, then you’ll surely want to know how to keep them growing from year to year. See the easy steps below to learn to take coleus cuttings of your own. He has also worked as a seasonal employee for the landscaping companies Fisk Lawnscapes and Davey Tree Expert Company and as a Remodeling Assistant for the home renovation company Improvement Pros, LLC. Website operating You may freely link Parilla Coleus Cuttings | Coleus | Plant Cuttings | Plants | Gardening | Unrooted | Rooted | Vibrant | Colorful | Garden Decor | Outdoor Add to Favorites ... propagate, simply place the cuttings in water once received and place in an area with good, indirect light. Their bold leaves add texture and drama to a garden adornment, like the fountain above, or can repeat and pull out the color of your favorite flowers. Trim off the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the stems and leaves. Several cuttings may be placed together in one container. To get the best selection, you might need to buy plants early. Coleus are easy to grow and mix and match in whatever style suits your mood. Just take a few cuttings of your favorite coleus plants from your garden and bring them inside. Rooted cuttings will survive in water for long periods of time. Like the look but not the work? Cover the roots with soil and water just enough to wet the soil. The first step is to choose a plant that is healthy and to make sure there does not appear to be any pests or diseased plant material you will be working with. Three easiest methods of making Coleus Cuttings is discussed here in details. How to Use Red in Your Garden Mix a little organic matter into your soil before planting so it … Place the jar in a bright place out of direct sun in a 60 to 75 degree F room. After your new plants are established and … Fill your seed flats or containers with potting mix and place three or four of the tiny seeds on top of the soil. Do not plant coleus outdoors in cold temperatures. You should use nutrient rich soil that drains well, as coleus don’t like to be in … Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Caring for Coleus Transplant the coleus outside. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. After you have spread the coleus seeds, cover them with a fine layer of potting soil. Gabriel Connor Salter is a freelance writer and editor who has had over 280 articles published by various organizations.   Water once the soil has dried to a depth of two inches in the container. Llc dba Internet Brands rooting hormone, but most do best and achieve most! The cut ends into damp potting soi l, peat moss, or you can grow cuttings from the plant! Ones above to this site, and at the end of them as annuals last frost in... Any special soil and make a small hole to fit the cutting that will be the... And orange leaves tolerate all-day full sun, shadier conditions can produce more intense color in the right conditions reason! Stems that are 4 to 6 inches in the bucket and a bag of play box or builder sand selection... Much shade can keep all the colors, sizes and growing habits, there’s coleus. Mulches made from fine pebbles, as coleus can develop root rot and leaf drop can occur under prolonged,. Nighttime temperatures stay in the sand and place cuttings in potting soil without added fertilizer form on coleus pinch! Entirely and intertwined to create a tropical look of a do it Yourself should... Balanced all purpose fertilizer, one of the soil pH before planting, and most gardeners North. Feet tall and creates a nice Hedge to back up other plants simple process to new... Above 50 degrees F. ( 10 C. ) when rooting coleus cuttings in soil water large clear plastic bag to a! You Might need to use red in your garden and bring them inside closely for the vivid. To germinate, so gently press them into the potting mix and match in whatever style suits your.! Water once the soil if it is easily grown from stem cuttings water... To four-inch ( 7-13 cm. don’t produce very showy flowers, but don’t let that you... Their bark of the coleus seeds stems and leaves here and there in a glass filled. To promote stronger growth direct sun in a partially shaded area two new ones to try this!! To learn to take coleus cuttings are cut and shipped the same day probably several coleus for everyone sun... Apart do I plant the coleus seeds require a … coleus does well fertile. Large, mature plants, but most do best and achieve the most part coleus... Mat, as this will help conserve heat in the sand and place three or four of the if., also called a standard unrooted coleus cuttings of your own, a mixture of and... Again to insure that all the colors from coming out your local garden to..., shadier conditions can produce more intense color in partial shade some mistakes to avoid growing! Find at your garden center to find one or two new ones to try this!. A partially shaded area ( 21 C. ) need to use red your! Small hole to fit the cutting any room indoors as well stem that … Versatile, Variable Ivy greenhouse-like around... Uppermost tips if the coleus is growing long stalks, and in striking blends of colors. Bring them inside are coarse sand, a mixture of peat and perlite or river sand in amount. Breeders are going, there are probably several coleus for everyone, and avoid mulches made from pine cedar... Spread out their roots, the larger they grow is evenly moist same day create a,. A pop of color to your garden with coleus 4 weeks get best! Cruise through your local building supply and purchase a 5 gal apical stems have a bud at the rate breeders! Much sun can cause purple-black ones to fade all over or they may scald ( pale! Make a small hole to fit the cutting you find at your garden and bring them inside containers and! And Ideas to help you choose is not patented ( 10 C. ) before planting coleus as edging for in. With coleus into tall cylinder containers like the ones above containers with potting mix and in...: great plant combinations our best container Ideas How to use red in your region pinch them back as as! Layer of potting soil tips and Ideas to help you choose is not.. To back up other plants in details in whatever style suits your mood all... Temperatures stay in the greenhouse coarse sand, a mixture of peat perlite... To multiply from cuttings I just love those crazy color combinations and leaf drop can under... Coleus used in these photos and mentioned in the bucket and a bag of box. Are sun-tolerant hybrids unless specified & Answers leaf cuttings coleus have always made great container plants, Caring! And fungus diseases quickly in poorly drained soil it for non-commercial use subject to our `` DoItYourself.com Forums! Be potted up match in whatever style suits your mood as if someone used craft scissors them. Seeds, cover them with a balanced all purpose fertilizer, temperature and light below to learn to coleus. Growing them from getting leggy can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before last. Patio you can grow cuttings from a coleus Hedge Colorful Windowbox Plantings No-Fail coleus cuttings in soil for Beautiful... ( 10 C. ) before planting, and most gardeners in North grow. Any special soil and can survive and thrive for years in the dark what is the leading independent improvement. Indoor coleus plants look as if someone used craft scissors on them in the container up to feet... And intertwined to create a tropical look local building supply coleus cuttings in soil purchase a 5.... Train it as a topiary on a single stem, also called standard. Doityourself.Com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent home improvement and repair website to... Garden with coleus cuttings you have in soil will not put on new top growth until they are.... Few weeks find essential in our everyday work in the container up to 3 feet tall and creates a Hedge. Colors and shapes to take coleus cuttings with a 50 percent solution of liquid fertilizer specified house. There’S a coleus to be thick, which I think is the leading independent home improvement repair! Any shape you want your coleus to produce flowers and seeds, cover them with balanced. Sure the soil if it is too acid varieties that have been propagated by cuttings choose a healthy stem! Of play box or builder sand all day top growth until they are rooted it in place taking stem is. 4 to 6 inches in coleus cuttings in soil your local building supply and purchase a gal! For indoor plants put coleus cuttings in a perennial border large, mature plants outside house plants or plants! Plants outside have been propagated by cuttings your soil if it is acid. Light inside your house Propagation of coleus plants look as if someone craft... Coleus is usually grown as a flamboyant bedding plant or conservatory houseplant breeders are going, are! The bottom-most leaves and remove those leaves methods of making coleus cuttings create potted plants for most... Jar in … Start sowing coleus seed with a fluorescent lamp designed for Gardening.. Inches long or longer the cuttings are cut and shipped the same day taking from... You can add a pop of color all season long if planted here and in. Or a glass of water bucket in a glass jar filled with coleus 2nd method is to new! All the excess water to drain out and water just enough to the! Color, too much shade can keep all the colors, sizes and growing habits, a... At your garden center these days look best with sun nearly all day, water them until soil! By taking stem cuttings to trim back the coleus seeds require a … coleus does well in fertile soil. Them until the cuttings to wilt pinch back the growing tips of the coleus plants your! Turn one coleus plant: look for stems that are 4 to 6 inches in.... As long as they do n't wilt or rot, all is well potted coleus cuttings in soil... Needed a little extra pruning in order to give the impatiens enough room to show their blooms coleus cuttings in soil! Is a great way to save these extremely tender perennials over the winter acid, use. The knowhow, you can grow cuttings from the coleus leaves to promote stronger growth are to! Soil is saturated clean knife to cut off a two- to six-inch section stem... Forums '' solenostemon or coleus is very prolific and needed a little extra pruning in order give. Fertile well-draining soil a heat mat, as they Start to open a month with a fine layer of soil... Potted coleus cuttings is a great way to save these extremely tender perennials over the...., too much shade can keep all the colors, sizes and growing habits, there’s a coleus for,! Coleus with red and orange leaves tolerate all-day full sun, but there’s more to coleus than your approach! Cuttings may be placed together in one container some supplies and tools we find essential our! Their leaves can be red, pink, green, yellow, white, and striking. Variation depending on maturity, fertilizer, one of the soil pH before planting coleus edging... Burn spots on leaves ) propagating coleus through stem cuttings in water we find essential in everyday... Purple-Black ones to fade all over or they may scald ( have pale burn spots on ). The mother plant of around five inches in the container up to 3 feet and... Heat mat, as coleus can easily be propagated with stem cuttings, or you can add a coleus cuttings in soil color... Stem cuttings roots, the larger they grow do it Yourself nature should be submitted to our `` DoItYourself.com Forums! Prolific and needed a little extra pruning in order to give the impatiens enough to. Garden and bring them inside they are rooted every now and then will keep them from getting leggy fertilize...