How to Grow Coleus from Cuttings

Coleus can be Grown from Stem Cuttings Using Soil or Water

Apr 14, 2009

One of the many advantages to growing Coleus is that you can propagate them very easily making it simpler to increase your own Coleus collection.

Coleus is a beautiful foliage plant that can be grown indoors or outdoors in flower beds, containers, boxes or hanging baskets. With hundreds of different varieties of Coleus, it can be hard to choose narrow down the choices. One of the many advantages to growing Coleus is that you can propagate them very easily making it easier to increase your own Coleus collection.

As with any cuttings, you will want to prepare your pots and growing medium ahead of time. Fill each container with a basic potting mix and water thoroughly. Let the water drain for 5-10 minutes and then water again.

Using fresh Coleus cuttings cut each end at an angle. Cut off the majority of the leaves, leaving only 2-3 at the top of each Coleus cutting.

Gently push each cutting into the soil. You will want to be sure that you have at least 1-2 inches of stem in the soil. Leave at least 1 inch in between each cutting to insure growing room and good air flow.

Since you don’t need but a 2-4 inch cutting, you can use posts as small as 3 inches. Bigger pots are fine but depending n your space, smaller pots may be a better choice.

Water in Coleus cuttings very well to insure that they are firmly in place. Place in a greenhouse or near a sunny window for 1-2 weeks. With in a week your cuttings should be forming new roots and with in 2-3 weeks you should be able to safely transplant your new plants in to the ground or individual cuttings.

To grow Coleus from cuttings using the water method you will need the following items:

Using fresh Coleus cuttings cut each end at an angle. Cut off the majority of the leaves, leaving only 2-3 at the top of each Coleus cutting.

Fill your container with Perlite (optional) and then fill with fresh water. Place cuttings in the water insuring that all leaves are above the water level.

Allow the cuttings to remain in the water until roots form with in 1-2 weeks. Add clean water as needed to insure a clean growing area for the Coleus cuttings. With in 2-3 weeks when the cuttings have produced strong roots plant them individually in small containers or put multiple cuttings in to larger containers for a colorful display.

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