Coleus is native to Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and is a pretty foliage plant that glows up containers or beds—in sun or shade, and also works as a houseplant. It is a perennial in its native range, but it’s often grown as an annual.
These plants are easy to establish and don’t need fussy care or much more attention than watering. They are humidity-loving plants. When they grow indoors, they prefer 50 to 70% humidity, while 40 to 50% humidity is sufficient outdoors. Pinching the growing tips is the only pruning a coleus needs.
Removing a growing tip forces the plant to branch out. Repeated pinching can yield a bushier, more foliage-covered plant. While coleus eventually flowers, the blooms of older varieties often look scraggly and can cause the plant to stop putting on more foliage. Deadhead the flower and snip off the stalk as soon as you notice it.
Coleus will not survive the winter outdoors in most of the United States but can continue to live if brought indoors. Those already in containers can simply be moved indoors, pot and all, but coleus in a garden bed can be lifted and potted before frost arrives. They prefer warm temperatures and won’t grow until the weather is mild.
Coleus can be grown from seed but is a slow grower. Start it about eight to ten weeks before your last frost date. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the growing medium and lightly press them into the soil to ensure good contact. Don’t cover them up. Provide humidity and bright light.
Coleus stem cuttings are easy to root in a glass of water, and you get to watch the roots form, often as quickly as in a week or two.
- Take a 3- to 4-inch long cutting with a growing tip.
- Remove the lower leaves that would be in the water.
- Place the stem in the water, being careful not to let it slip too far and get lost in the jar or glass.
- Change the water every three or four days or if it gets cloudy.
After robust roots have formed, move the new plant to a container of growing medium to continue growing.
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