Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

Coleus cuttings

Filed under: — admin @ 12:01 pm


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.

red coleus

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.
more info

Tell a Friend or Foe about this 'Coleus cuttings article'
Bookmark this thread on Coleus cuttings
previous post: Container Tomatoes
next post: Winterize Mandevilla

17 Comments on Coleus cuttings»

  1. 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?

    The easiest way to propagate coleus is to make 4-6″ cuttings with a node and place it in water. Remove any lower leaves and be sure to have a node from which the roots will develop. When using hormones-use the same procedure and wet the bottom of your cutting, then dip in hormone, shake off excess and insert in a pre-dibbled hole. Push soil to secure the cutting in place. Maintain warmth and humidity. You can try three different experiments using water, Rootone 10 and Hermex. See which one roots faster and produces more roots. The warm box will also aid in root development.

    Comment by Rachel — 11/26/2006 @ 12:06 pm

  2. 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.

    Probably a fungus from too much moisture. Your coleus could have a root rot from too much water. Let the soil dry out. Try rerooting the stems and planting them in sterile soil. I’m not sure how well it will root once the plant is diseased.

    Comment by Nanct Newell — 11/26/2006 @ 12:12 pm

  3. 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 ?

    At this time of the year, fertilizing a houseplant is not recommended. In addition, a newly planted coleus will get nutrients from the fresh soil. The roots need time to reacclimate from water to soil, so I would wait at least 4 wks before giving it 1/2 dose of fertilizer. Shorter days and less sun will cause plant growth to slow down and little fertilizer is needed. It is more important to give your coleus adequate amount of water, this should be determined with how much light exposure, how warm or dry it is. Plants should not be watered on a schedule. Water when the top 1 inch of soil is dry or when the soil color turn lighter. Be sure your plant has good drainage and pour out all excess collected water. If the plant gets leggy, pinch the tips to get a bushier plant.

    Comment by Ted Johnson — 11/26/2006 @ 12:20 pm

  4. Can I plant snapdragons and other flowers in the same garden as my herbs?

    You sure can, herbs make great companion plantings as long as the growing requirements are the same. They can attract beneficial insects as well as deter unwanted pests.

    Comment by crystal brewster — 11/29/2006 @ 6:03 am

  5. Why does my coleus soil smell like puke? Then my other plant has mold on the soil.

    The sour smell is the result of organic material decay such as root rot given by too wet conditions. Mold is also a fungus encouraged by excess moisture

    Comment by leslie — 11/30/2006 @ 8:01 am

  6. 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

    It sounds like you may have powdery mildew which is caused by a fungus. Difficult to say what could be eating your leaves. Are the coleus outdoors? If so, there can be a number of insects chomping on the leaves. One possibility is slugs, who like warm humid, wet conditions. For more info and treatment go to the powdery mildew article .

    Comment by frankie hafner — 12/20/2006 @ 3:16 pm

  7. i was wondering how much water i should give my coleus each day and how many seeds per pot is needed?

    If you are planting a 4 inch pot put in 4-6 seeds allowing for a few not to germinate. Be sure to water the seeds in well and then water when the soil changes a lighter color or the pot feels lighter. There is no set rule as to how much to water-just be sure to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet.

    Comment by wil — 6/23/2007 @ 11:02 pm

  8. 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

    When you repot a plant you should keep it in a shaded (away from direct light) protected space until it get’s over the transplant shock. Some plants are more sensitive and will pout for a while. Water it well and then let the soil dry before watering again. You can also trim the plant some it doesn’t have so many leaves to support. Place your cutting in water and start new plants. Once it perks up it will send out more growth.

    Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 7:17 am

  9. 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?

    Cuttings can take a few weeks to root in water. When they finally root, plant them in soil. See the above article for more info."to save your coleus for the winter"…

    Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 7:40 am

  10. 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

    Thanks for the tip. We’ll have to give it a try.

    Comment by julles — 10/4/2007 @ 6:15 pm

  11. 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

    It’s not necessary to change the water unless it is cloudy or discolored.

    Comment by julles — 10/5/2007 @ 3:00 am

  12. 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

    Yes, leave the plant in the pot. You can always trim the plant back-if it is too tall. It sounds as if it is improving, therefore I would place it in a brighter window. Observe the plant if it is getting burn marks on the leaves move it to a lower light exposure. If it is getting leggy with faded color give it more light. Some varieties require more light

    Comment by julles — 10/7/2007 @ 2:25 am

  13. 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

    Don’t split the stem. Cuttings can take a little longer to root in the fall because of shorter day length and cooler temperatures

    .

    Comment by jules — 10/16/2007 @ 2:07 am

  14. 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

    It should be fine. Sometimes it can take a little longer to root. You can change the water to make sure there is no fungus growing in it.

    Comment by julles — 10/29/2007 @ 8:04 am

  15. my coleus cuttings are showing small fronds of roots, how big do they have to be to put into the plant pots?

    Julles

    You can transplant them when they are 2 + inches long. Give the cuttings enough roots to adjust to the new growing conditions when you transplant them in soil.

    Comment by julles — 11/14/2007 @ 7:15 am

  16. 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!!!!

    Did the holes in the leaves occur when the plant was outside or inside. Distorted new leaves can be caused by insects (aphids, mites) which infest the plant with a virus. Mites are very difficult to detect and control. Cyclamen mites which attack coleus will produce small, thick ,wrinkled leaf. Herbicide drift and cold temperatures can also cause malformation. Try spraying with insecticidal soap and increase the humidity around the plant. If the plant doesn’t improve, cut it back and see if the new growth is also malformed. If so then you may have to toss the plant and start over.

    Comment by Carol — 11/27/2007 @ 12:34 am

  17. 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

Leave a comment

Please search before posting, we might already have what you are looking for on the site.
 
HortChat.com© Web

(required)


(required, but not displayed)

authimage


Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there may be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there’s no need to resubmit your comment.