Coleus cuttings
I was given a plant start from what I believe is a coleus plant. It has green leaves with a magenta center, the more sun it gets the deeper magenta the leaves get. I was told this is an inside plant. Aren’t coleus plants usually grown outdoors? It’s an extremely fast growing plant and I would love to know how to best care for it indoors. I would also like to make new plants to plant outdoors.

Coleus plants grow better outdoors in the sun/shade during the summer. They do get more colorful with extra light. If the plant gets too leggy, you can pinch it back and it will develop side shoots making a nice bushy plant to suit your size. They are not cold tolerant and will die back in the winter.
To save your coleus for the winter, cut off a 4-6 inch tip with a node, remove any flower stalks and place it in water. It should root within a few weeks. Once rooted, plant the cuttings in individual pots in a sunny window.
Another way is to take the cutting, remove lower leaves and insert in a moist, very well-drained potting soil. You can also dip the bottom end in rooting hormone but it’s not necessary. Place the container in a plastic bag away from direct sun. Check the soil periodically, so it stays moist. It should root within 10 days. Lightly tug on the plant to check if rooted.
The brilliantly colored coleus also makes a nice houseplant. When indoors, provide bright filtered light, well-drained, evenly moist soil and temperatures between 70-85F. For continued vegetative growth, remove any flower spikes it produces or the plant will go to seed and decline or die. Start fertilizing in the early spring when the plant begins to show signs of new growth. You can take cuttings from the mother plant in early spring to make more plants for outdoor planting. As with any houseplant, keep them away from heating vents/air conditioners. They are easy to care for.
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Hi, I am doing a Science Fair project on the propagation of Coleus nodal cuttings. I am using two hormones, Rootone 10 and Hermex. What is the best way to proagate these cuttings using the hormones listed above? Also would constructing a wooden box with a heating cable help the cutting devlop more?
Comment by Rachel — 11/26/2006 @ 12:06 pm
What causes the white fuzzy mold looking stuff on the soil of a plant ? Also I have a coleus that looking like it is wilting and dying and the soil smells sour, is it better to try to change the soil or just snip and reroot the leaves ??? thanks again for the help.
Leslie (Scooby) Newell Harvey’s Lake, PA.
Comment by Nanct Newell — 11/26/2006 @ 12:12 pm
Once a coleus cutting has taken root in water and planted in a six inch diameter pot of potting soil is 5 oz of fertlized water a week adequate to promote optimum root growth ?
Comment by Ted Johnson — 11/26/2006 @ 12:20 pm
Can I plant snapdragons and other flowers in the same garden as my herbs?
Comment by crystal brewster — 11/29/2006 @ 6:03 am
Why does my coleus soil smell like puke? Then my other plant has mold on the soil.
Comment by leslie — 11/30/2006 @ 8:01 am
my coleus plant has a white mildewish looking stuff on the stems. what could that be from. Also the leaves are looking rather spottish in color and something is eating the leaves. I need help with this asap. hopefully you can reply and help with this soon! thank you
Comment by frankie hafner — 12/20/2006 @ 3:16 pm
i was wondering how much water i should give my coleus each day and how many seeds per pot is needed?
Comment by wil — 6/23/2007 @ 11:02 pm
Help! on advice I repotted my large previously healthy and strong-looking coleus into a larger pot from the window sill to a table, it didnt look too good so,after a couple of days I repotted it back to its original pot and back to the window-sill, it has seriously wilted, I dont want it to die, or the smaller ones in the pot, so urgent help needed, thnaks - julles
Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 7:17 am
thanks
how long do you leave the cuttings in water, do they get a root whilst they are in water, or can you repot the cuttings into soil after a couple of days?
Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 7:40 am
thankyou for previous answers, once you have taken cuttings from the main wilting plant, which I have done, and they look much better, how often do you change the water they are re-rooting in, as I know you have to change the water in bought flowers
every couple of days, does that apply also to the water the cuttings are in.
A tip of mine as you have helped me..a little cider vinegar added to plant water can keep away insects, and perk them up, also a drop or two of foodgrade hydrogen peroxide is good, one or the other is fine
Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 6:15 pm
Hi again
Ihave now taken 3 cuttings from the main coleus plant, and put them standing in water separately.
how often do you change the water theyre in?
julles
Comment by julles — 10/5/2007 @ 3:00 am
hi again, the main plant is showing sign of improvement now, it is in a roughly ten-inch high pot, and before the shock of re-potting was on the window -ledge indoors, and grew up nearly to the top of the window it still stands at about two and a half feet, should I leave it in this pot, and take more cuttings in the spring, as dont want to cause it more shock - thanks alot again, and where is the best position in the room for it
julles
Comment by julles — 10/7/2007 @ 2:25 am
Hi
After placing the cuttings from the main plant, which is now much better, after 2 weeks or so, the base of the stems still hasn’t got roots showing, should I have split the bottom of the stems with a knife, or is it too late?, the cuttings look pretty healthy
.Jules
Comment by jules — 10/16/2007 @ 2:07 am
hi after putting my coleus cutings in water for about 3 weeks, they havent rooted yet, and are going brown at base of stem, is that ok?
julles
Comment by julles — 10/29/2007 @ 8:04 am
my coleus cuttings are showing small fronds of roots, how big do they have to be to put into the plant pots?
Julles
Comment by julles — 11/14/2007 @ 7:15 am
What caused my leaves to have holes in them and distorted new ones? These plants have been in the house during the winter and out in the warm season and never had this problem before. Should I change the soil, spray with soap and water spray….I don’t see any mites and the ground doesn’t show any mold or fungus….HELP!!!!
Comment by Carol — 11/27/2007 @ 12:34 am
when I suggested adding cider vinegar or foodgrade3% hydrogen peroxide to plants, I must emphasize that it must always be diluted, say, half teaspoon hydrogen peroxide3%foodgrade to a cup of water, or one teaspoonful of cider vinegar to a cup of water, one or the other for ailing plants, or continued health
Comment by julles — 2/25/2008 @ 8:14 am