Coleus cuttings

42 Comments

1. Rachel - November 26, 2006 at 12:06 pm

   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.

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2. Nanct Newell - November 26, 2006 at 12:12 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.

   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.

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3. Ted Johnson - November 26, 2006 at 12:20 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 ?

   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.

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4. crystal brewster - November 29, 2006 at 6:03 am

   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.

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5. leslie - November 30, 2006 at 8:01 am

   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

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6. frankie hafner - December 20, 2006 at 3:16 pm

   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 .

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7. wil - June 23, 2007 at 11:02 pm

   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.

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8. julles - October 4, 2007 at 7:17 am

   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.

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9. julles - October 4, 2007 at 7:40 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?

   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”…

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10. julles - October 4, 2007 at 6:15 pm

    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.

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11. julles - October 5, 2007 at 3:00 am

    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.

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12. julles - October 7, 2007 at 2:25 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

    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

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13. jules - October 16, 2007 at 2:07 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

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

    .

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14. julles - October 29, 2007 at 8:04 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

    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.

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15. julles - November 14, 2007 at 7:15 am

    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.

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16. Carol - November 27, 2007 at 12:34 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!!!!

    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.

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17. julles - February 25, 2008 at 8:14 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

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18. PARIS WRIGHT - July 11, 2008 at 10:33 am

    I HAVE COLEUS IN THE GARDEN DO I HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHOLE PLANT FROM THE GROUND FOR THE WINTER, AND POT INDOORS OR DO I CLIP TO A CERTAIN POINT AND LEAVE THE ROOTS OUTSIDE IN THE GROUND FOR THE WINTER ?

    You can do either but the easiest way is to take a cutting and root it in water or soil to make a new plant. Cut off a 4-6 inch tip with at least two nodes.

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19. Salem Gracian - February 19, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    Can root pruning affect how the Coleus blumei grows? Will it help or hinder? I am doing an experiment and would like to get some back-up data. Does root pruning affect anything besides the amount of growth?

    Root pruning is a method used when the plant’s roots are pot bound and are growing from the bottom of the container. It can be a drastic measure and shock the plant but with lots of TLC the plant should recover and because it has more room, produce new roots. It can slow down plant growth but will be helpful in producing new growth which is essential to keep the plant alive. It is primarily used for plants that you want to keep in the same container and control the size of the plant. A good example are the art of Bonzai where plants are purposely root pruned to control the size of the plant. Coleus is a fast grower and may grow faster from cuttings than recovering from root pruning.

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    1. Salem Gracian - March 3, 2009 at 2:20 pm

       How does root pruning help in the growth of new foliage? Please explain.

       Hi Salem,
       When you root prune a plant it gives the roots more room to expand and grow, thereby allowing the plant to produce more foliage. If a plant has root damage, it will not produce any new growth because the roots cannot send any nutrients up to the plant to produce or support new growth.

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20. Abby - March 14, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    I have a 2′ x 12′ bed that is next to a garage and a walkway. I’d like to plant coleus there for the summer (upstate NY) Is it possible for me to just seed the plot rather than starting the plants indoors? I have very limited indoor sunlight and few windows, so am hesitant to start them inside. Just wondering if I was to wait for the temperature to increase and plant outdoors, when would I get to a full plant? And is that space between a structure and a paved walkway not going to provide adequate drainage? It has partial sun in the area.
    I appreciate any advice you could offer, since I’m slightly off topic. Thanks!

    HI Abby
    One of the advantages to starting plants from seed is to get a head start on tender plants. I have not started coleus from seed outdoors but they suggest 10 week before planting outside. Coleus seeds will not start to germinate until the soil warms up, so you will fall behind during the season. You may not get even coverage if and when they germinate. I would recommend that you buy a few 4 or 6 packs of starter plants or seedlings and plant those for faster results. They should fill in nicely by June (depending on growing conditions). The area you plan to grow them in is fine as long as it has good draining soil and the plants get enough water during the growing season.

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21. benedict - April 11, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    can you tell me if there is an insecticide available that I can add to the soil to combat those green caterpillars that thrive on my coleus? i have been using ortho orthenex insect & disease control but seem to be constantly spraying them and it’s costing a fortune.

    Hi Benedict
    I’m not sure what type of green caterpillar is eating your coleus but you might have better luck using BT (bacillus thuringiensis). Bt is a safer less toxic insecticide to use.

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22. Donaldo - May 14, 2009 at 11:20 am

    I took some Coleus cuttings last year when the season was over. I brought them into the house and put them in water and rooted them. I then planted them in little containers of soil until they were about 2 inches high. I now have them in a tray and am putting them outside in the morning to get them acclimated to the weather. The leaves are turning white where they should be reddish. Does anyone know why?

    Is it possible that they are getting too much sun? Are the whte area turning brown?

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    1. Donaldo - May 14, 2009 at 4:07 pm

       The ends are dying off and the leaves where the reddish area should be are turning grayish, almost white looking. Any suggestions? Thanks.

       You may be exposing them to too much light. There is a significant difference between indoor light and outdoors. Keep your coleus in a shaded area until they get used to the light change. Keep the plants moist but not wet-carefull not to overwater. Let the first 1″ dry before watering again. Protect them from strong winds and finally, make sure its warm enough before you set them outdoors, they are warm weather plants.

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23. SUSI - June 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    Hi- This year I bought quite a few coleus and have them pottd up into containers with good potting soil. We have been having terrible weather– much rain, for almost 3 weeks, and my coleus have holes in them and many leaves are torn. One Kong is absolutely shredded. The plants are on the deck, not on the ground. I have put slug bait into the pots, but I have seen no slugs on the coleus themselves. The inner, bottom leaves are not eaten, either, which is usually what I see with slugs. Any ideas? I’m bringing in as many as I can at night, but that’s not practical. And, I’m not totally sure the damage is always caused at night– just when I am not looking!

    Hi Susi
    Do you have earwigs in your area? They may also be eating your coleus. Wind and rain can shred the leaves on coleus, especially the Kong variety.

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24. Ashley - July 9, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Hi, i just bought a kong coleus a couple of weeks ago. It has disgusting mold in it and the leaves are dying and are limp. For the mold, i sprayed fungicide on it, thinking it could get better. I dont know if it would help. I stripped all of the brown dying leaves off that had white stems and kept the little living ones on that are starting to grow. Is the mold killing it??? What should i do??? Was it okay to strip parts of the plant???

    HI Ashley
    The mold is most likely a sign that the soil was kept too wet and the plant may have root rot. Make sure you let the soil dry out. Hopefully, you Kong coleus will recover. Removing the diseased leaves was ok, it will keep the mold from spreading.

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25. jennifer - July 17, 2009 at 7:18 am

    i have a coleus kong salmon in a pot on my shaded back patio that has gotten HUGE. is it possible to divide it (and make the other a houseplant)? is there a correct way to do it? i’m a newbie to this whole thing and don’t want to destroy it 🙂 thanks!

    Hi Jennifer
    You can take cuttings from the younger more vigorous shoots on the plant and root it just like a regular coleus. Because the leaves are so large you may have to cut off 1/2 of the leaf to reduce the size.

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26. jennifer - July 17, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    thanks.
    i put some cuttings in water today. wondering…..what kind of light do i set them in? i’m going to be out of town for the next two weeks and want to put them where they will thrive and start to root.

    Hi Jennifer,
    Keep the cutting in a shaded-to filtered light-no direct sun.

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27. weski - August 26, 2009 at 11:59 am

    My coleus plants are huge and now stalky in their big outdoor containers. Is it too late to cut them back? They are about 30 inches tall. Also, do you just keep cuttings in water all winter?

    Hi Weski
    Depending on where you live, it may not be too late to cut your coleus back. They usually show new growth within 2 weeks. If you do- root the cuttings in water and once the roots are formed plant them in soil. They will not grow well in water all winter. Another way is to plant the cuttings directly in soil. Keep the soil moist and maintain humid conditions until they show new growth.

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28. Stacia - August 28, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Hi!
    As a part of my Biology II project, we were given coleus cuttings in test tubes. We recieved them about two weeks ago. All of the plants were infested with mealy worms when we recieved them, but the infestation has been controlled. However, all of the plants are wilting. Few of them have any signs of roots, and they are kept in a plant chamber in the classroom, receiveing 12 hours of artifical sunlight. Is there any particular reason that they are wilting? If so, how do we fix it?

    HI Stacia
    Sometimes a cutting will wilt because it has too many leaves and the stem cannot supply enough moisture to them, that’s why you eliminate some of the leaves. New cuttings need high humidity in order to maintain moisture in the leaves. Too much light will also cause them to wilt.

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29. kimberly pitts - September 20, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    Coleus oedema or leaf spot
    I have several gorgeous coleus plants, grown from cuttings of a healthy mother plant. Now my coleus (all of them) have brown bumpy looking dots all over the stems! I am freaking out since I planned to use these as indoor plants over winter. I live in Zone 5, and they would die back. I have them in pots on my deck. Please advise, I would hate to toss them but I won’t risk infecting the rest of my healthy houseplants. I will try anything.

    Hi Kimberly
    It sounds as if your coleus has Oedema-corky blister on the surface of the leaves. This is occurs when the roots get more water than the leaves can use. Reduce watering, provide more air circulation and perhaps a bit more sun.
    Coleus also get leaf-spot disease which is caused by a fungus.

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30. Judy T - September 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    How tall can a coleus get? I have some that are 3’7″ including the sprout of little flowers. And why am I reading I should cut those off? They are pretty. Also, can I cut some of these and put in water to root and try to get some going inside for the winter so I dont have to buy new ones in the spring? Once they root can I put all the different kinds in one pot? Not a lot of room by a window. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

    Hi Judy
    Yes, you can take cuttings and root them. Choose cuttings that are not blooming. Make sure the pot is large enough to accomodate all your cuttings. Once they reach a certain size, they will have to be separated or they will compete with each other. I would recommend 4-5 cuttings per 6″ pot.

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31. bainvillewendy - November 5, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    I have coleus plants that have developed shriveled deformed leaves when they come out, and bands of thick dark bumpy discoloring, about half an inch long on the stems. What is it? It infects even plants I have in water rooting.

    Hi
    One possibility is distorted new leaves can be caused by insects (aphids, mites) which infest the plant with a virus. The insect is gone but the virus is in the plant and any cuttings that you have taken from the original plant. I would recommend starting with new healthy plants for next year.

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32. Jamie - April 23, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    I recently rooted a few coleus stems in water and have just transplanted them to soil. I noticed that a few leafs have small holes in them. The new plants are still indoors while the mother plant is outdoors. Do I have a case of mites? I’ve looked but I can’t see any mites on the plant. There’s no fungus or other insects either.

    I keep different species of coleus together and some don’t seem to be affected yet. Should I get rid of the plants with small holes in them now, so that my other plants are not affected?
    Here’s a picture of a hole starting: http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l523/j_nonny/hole.jpg

    Hi Jamie
    I’m not sure what is causing the white spots on your leaves. It could be mites? I would isolate the plant from the others in case there is a insect infestation. Another possibility is water drops on the surface of leaves.

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33. Savanna - August 15, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Blooming coleus
    hi, i have an indoor coleus and the leaves are wilting a bit at the ends and the colors that where previously really bright are now starting to turn white. I was wondering if this had anything to do with me letting the flowers grow? and if so, is there anything i can do so that it will live with the flowers? If not, what can i do to help the color return? (i’m also adding that its in full sun area)

    Hi Savanna
    It sounds as if the plant is getting too much direct sun. Some coleus can tolerate more sun than others. Make sure the soil is slightly moist-not wet. Once it blooms it will get taller/spindlier and start to produce seeds but not the lush foliage that they are known for. I would cut the plant back by 1/3 so that it will send out new leaf growth.

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34. Christina - September 3, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Tea-increase color
    I got a tip from my florist – the color of your coleus will become more intense, if your water it with cold tea…has anyone else heard of this? I can’t find anything about it on the internet, and I’m not sure I’m ready to risk the health of my beautiful plant if it’s not true…

    Hi Christina
    Interesting. I have not heard of this but it may be worth a try. The tea can lower the soil ph slightly and perhaps that can have an affect on the color intensity.

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35. Carol - January 6, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    Cut back too much?
    I cut my coleus back to where there is just an inch or 2 inches above the soil. Will they grow or did I cut too much off?

    Hi Carol
    It’s better to leave a bit more of the stem but as long as there is a node (section where leaves come from) your coleus should send out new growth. It may even sprout at the soil level.

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36. Amie - March 28, 2012 at 6:41 am

    Coleus cuttings
    Hi I grew some coleus in an aerogarden and it went nuts. Very big and strong. I took some clippings from the stems and replanted them in pots in soil. The bigger leaves on them are wilting. What can I do. Will this work? Thank you

    Hi Amie
    You need to increase the humidity. Place the potted clippings in a plastic bag away from sun. It should root in about 10 days. Dipping the cut ends in rootone will help speed up the rooting.

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37. Debbie Seats - April 5, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    Potbound coleus
    I have a coleus that is about 8 years old and has always been inside. The plant is Medium size but requires a very large pot because of all of the roots. Should I re-pot it and is it possible to trim the large mass of roots. There are more roots than plant.

    Hi Debbie
    It sounds like your coleus plant is pot bound and definately needs to be trimmed and repotted. When you repot in fresh soil, trim the root ball by 1/3 to 1/2 and remove any dead roots. Keep the plant in a shaded place for a week so that it can recup from transplanting.

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38. Peggy - June 6, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    Hi my name is Peggy and I have 2 Coleus plants and both the plants leaves are being eating by something….
    What is it and what can I do from it happening again????

    Hi Peggy
    Chewed leaves can be caused by animals, caterpillars, earwigs and slugs. It’s best to know what the culprit is before you spray. Earwigs and slugs feed at night. Get your flashlight and check the plant after dark. Earwigs hide in moist, dark areas in organic debris or mulch. Slugs are also pests of coleus. Try insecticidal soap for earwigs. Check the label for directions.

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39. Mo - July 24, 2017 at 11:22 pm

    I reported a coleus and all of its roots ripped out. It’s been about a week and is not looking good. This is for a grade in my class so I have to keep it alive. How can I save it!?

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40. Cindy Bar ber - October 23, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    I have an Rainbow Coleus and I had pinch it back , and propagate it . And replanted the coleus . And now the leaves are drooping. will the leaves perks backup and start to branch out. How long will it take to branch out?

    Reply