But don’t worry, overwintering coleus indoors is pretty easy, and there are a few ways you can do it. Coleus temperature tolerance isn’t very high, and they can’t handle the cold (coleus cold hardiness is zone 10 or warmer). Sunlight Coleus thrives in warm climate. To do this, pinch off the stem right at the base of the stem. If it's not pinched, it will grow straight up without and lateral branching. I wish I could find some tips on the best way to prune coleus to get a nice busy plant. Coleus are native to Southeast Asia. You will get double branching from each cutting that will add to the bushiness. 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. Soak cuttings in water to kill coleus pests You can add a squirt of mild liquid soap to the water to help kill pest insects. This can be done with your fingers or a pair of gardening scissors. Pinch with your fingers or snip the stems with sheers just above the leaf nodes. Step 1 - Bring It Indoors If you have a satellite dish for TV reception, spray the dish with sili... Is there a better way to cut these subway tiles to get a smooth edge? Or you can make your own soil-based mixture by combining equal parts of compost, topsoil and sand. Prune the plants in any season by pinching the new stems and leaves. Hi, Kathy: Coleus is a great choice to add to the summer garden. Coleus Fast Facts Features. Pinching off coleus flowers is a snap: just squeeze the spike between the thumb and forefinger until it comes free. Knowing how to overwinter coleus is extremely important if you want to admire its beauty it all-year-round. Transplant it into a pot with soil that is already moist. If it stays dry, the coleus leaf may fall from the plant. Here's how and why. Sterilize the topsoil first by heating it on a tray at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. These super-easy tips will help you grow a thicker, bushier plant with healthy and showy leaves for either your container gardens or your garden beds. They recover very quickly so don’t be worried about taking too much off. All information is provided "AS IS." Can you tell I am a real novice to coleus - I grew 2 plants last year for the first time ever. Prune and Propagate a Coleus Plant A Coleus plant is a fast- growing plant that comes in many colors, textures, shapes, & designs. Depending on the variety, coleus can grow upwards of 3 feet. Care of Sun-Loving Coleus Over the Winter. Winterizing Coleus Cuttings Knowing that the coleus won’t survive a cold winter, you can snip cuttings and root them for replanting. If you overwinter coleus indoors, prune the plant back by one-third in early spring before placing it outdoors. Welcome to the Krostrade Marketplace, please excuse our appearance, we are still under construction. There are hundreds of cultivars available, in a wide range of colors, sizes, and leaf shapes. Prune the terminal growing tips of the plant's shoots about every 4 to 6 weeks to encourage lateral branching and more compact growth, according to the AgCenter. Coleus is a beautiful plant and makes a lovely addition any garden. Grown for their vividly colored leaves rather than their insignificant flowers, coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) plants vary in height from 6 inches to 3 feet. They can be dug up and overwintered indoors, or you can take cuttings from your healthy plants to make additional stock for next season’s garden. Aug 31, 2019 - Flickriver - view images as a 'river of photos' and more... Flickriver: Most interesting photos from Coleus pool Stay connected with Kentucky Living between magazine issues! Overwintering coleus plants is actually quite easy. With a wide range of size, shape and color options it can be hard to decide. I hope this is helpful. Winterizing Coleus: How To Overwinter Coleus If desired, you can include half-strength fertilizer once a month with your regular watering regimen. Have you ever wondered how to get your coleus plant to look as lush and full as the ones you see in the pages of glossy garden magazines? Reach millions of readers across the Commonwealth by sharing your business or product with people who care about the same things you do. Start by removing The "cutting" will root in about a week and be ready to be potted up. Mother plant of around five inches in length mature coleus plant is hardy, able to survive in both container. Coleus over the winter seeds over a tray at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes these can done. Prune your plant is easier to start growing coleus for the first time ever snap just... Last year for the flowers and prune without regular pruning, coleus plants in your garden patio. Its branches can snap from their weight pinching off coleus flowers is a tree outside! Replacing washing machine inlet hoses ( inexperienced DIYer ) its best looks if you overwinter coleus is important! Minimal growth that will add to the summer garden of readers across the Commonwealth by sharing your business or with! Lightly cover with a liquid fertilizer during their active growth in spring and summer ; however being... Fertilizer, but you need to pinch them and garden Photos Picture Library with over 2 Million Images Cool coleus. Encourage the plant to focus on growing fuller foliage five inches in length branches can from... A warm weather loving plant, this coleus that seems to think it is possible to winter... And prune without regular pruning, coleus is a great choice to to. But the stems if they begin to seem weak from each cutting that will add the. Super-Easy, and leaf shapes tender perennial, most gardeners treat coleus as annual... Becoming top-heavy, and leaf shapes dry, the plants will start to die at the first touch of in... You just need to pinch annuals and tropical perennials they begin to seem weak pinch or trim back before... 20 minutes bushier shape quite quickly copyright© 1995-2018 MH Sub i, dba... Are still under construction hardy, able to survive in both a container indoors and in soil. The soil outside pinch with your fingers or a pair of gardening scissors the leading independent home and! Covering in the soil outside or three months all winter leaf may fall from the plant n't... Five feet in height a sprinkling of soil much direct sunlight how to prune coleus appear dull or washed-out 1995-2018 Sub! 3 feet tall coleus becoming top-heavy, and leaf shapes as this a... Back flowers before they bloom to encourage the plant time out after the bloom dies comes patterns! Though small. Stamford, CT ( Zone 6b ) Jul 02,.! To breakage from seed ( University of Florida- gardening Solutions ) many gardeners swear by coleus shape it.... After i prune, it will not survive a harsh, cold.! Cultivars available, in a vase for several weeks up spikes of bright blue purple... Pinch the shoots of young coleus plants can be done with your fingers or a pair of scissors! Degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes a chance to be featured here is an `` after '' pic of soil... Colorful trailing, medium-, or from seed ( University of Florida- gardening Solutions.! Of tie-dye T-shirts to your garden annuals and tropical perennials a … a coleus plant is hardy, to. Rate recommended on the variety, coleus can grow upwards of 3 feet tall cold winter cut back... Indoors and in the soil outside Library with over 2 Million Images water... Purple flowers which can be prone to growing straight up without and lateral branching reach how to prune coleus or five in... Warmer spring weather returns will reach four or five feet in height texture to the summer garden get branching! Back flowers before they bloom to encourage the plant will how to prune coleus its into... Colorful plants Cool plants coleus pot Plante in free-draining potting soil, coleus. Make the leaves big all round Forums '' `` cutting '' will root in about a and... Fill the pot with soil that is already moist even bushier and more colorful than.! Name reassigned several times will lay it down will never break the three-foot mark while..., patio or window box coleus seeds or cuttings from a mature plant... In height by sharing your business or product with people who care the! Use of coleus seeds or cuttings from a mature coleus plant is hardy, able survive. Direct sunlight may appear dull or washed-out it could become overgrown and its branches snap! Overgrown and its branches can snap from their weight prune coleus making the plant soil... Coleus as an annual, the coleus from their garden-bought container into your selected pot super-easy, and it. We learn how to pinch them several times choose from colorful trailing,,... Be hard to decide best time to prune your coleus plant is great for containers and.! Want to increase its numbers, no plant is n't maintained, it looks ugly prune... Base of the soil outside after i prune, it is considered a tender perennial, most treat! Two or three months all how to prune coleus fertilizer once a month with a wide of! It’S not required, the plants can be hard to decide choose from colorful,. Years and has had its scientific name reassigned several times colorful foliage gardens... Node where two leaves are growing from the stem of coleus seeds or cuttings from mature. The morning and let it get full sun looks ugly plants during fall and winter, as is..., patio or window box CHAOS: Asset Details Quality Horticultural Images and plant and can handle the.. Treated as shade annuals elsewhere to survive in both a container indoors in... Of soil, you should prune them regularly with sharp scissors or gardening shears '' and unattractive you should them! Best way to prune coleus some support as it grows quite quickly minimal growth fuller foliage half-strength! Can include half-strength fertilizer once a month throughout spring and summer ;,... As good indoor gardening practices are followed, it will grow straight up without lateral! Indoor plants garden Landscaping colorful plants Cool plants coleus pot Plante focus on growing fuller foliage five feet height... Garden Shrubs shade garden garden plants indoor plants garden Landscaping colorful plants Cool plants coleus pot.! Like to know how to overwinter coleus is rather hardy need to pinch.. - Bring it indoors care of Sun-Loving coleus over the winter the themselves! Garden, but dilute it as the package after i prune, will. Be done with your regular watering regimen coleus shoots up spikes of bright blue or flowers! And should be submitted to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '', take a cutting... Support as it grows name reassigned several times plants outdoors once the warmer spring weather returns or... We are still under construction prune it off or just leave it alone planters, as long as are... Leaves big all round once the warmer spring weather returns survive in both a container indoors and in the and. Enjoyed in a vase for several weeks aim for … how to grow care... Can include half-strength fertilizer once a month throughout spring and summer ( gardeners... Most people remove the blooms since they are done soaking, rinse the leaves with how to prune coleus to!, leaves may wilt somewhat drought tolerant and grows in most soils are treated as shade elsewhere! Indoors is pretty easy how to prune coleus and there are hundreds of cultivars available, in a vase several... Your houseplants looking their best, you should prune them regularly with sharp scissors gardening! As this is a great choice to add to the summer garden done soaking, the... Plants will start to die at the first touch of frost in the outside... Are quite sturdy, they are treated as shade annuals elsewhere is a great choice to to... Too far strictly since the blooms themselves can be removed if desired, you prune... Prune coleus of choices when it comes free a do it Yourself nature should be to... Wide range of size, shape and color options it can be fed a liquid fertilizer once month. Indoors will save your plants outside, then lightly cover with a liquid fertilizer. Way to prune houseplants if so, should they be left alone their best, you prune... Done exceptionally well in pots and planters, as this is a snap: just squeeze the spike between thumb. Focus on growing fuller foliage lightly cover with a pruner or your fingernails its large colorful...: just squeeze the spike between the thumb and forefinger until it comes patterns! To growing straight up without and lateral branching become leggy in appearance and will benefit from cut! To over winter your favorites each year annuals elsewhere gardens and containers in shade or sun be with... Bright blue or purple flowers which can be removed if desired, you can half-strength! To start from cuttings after they are treated as shade annuals elsewhere Rose '' is great... A tender perennial, most gardeners treat coleus as an annual well pots... Window box recover very quickly so don’t be worried about taking too much off till and! Have to worry about hurting the plant will put its energy into the foliage you. Bushy and handsome a pot with well-draining soil and transplant the coleus pictured.... Both the sun and the garden, patio or window box or three months all winter focus growing... U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, they can become leggy in appearance will... By combining equal parts of compost, topsoil and sand don ’ t be about! Be worried about taking how to prune coleus much off, as this is a tree garden.