Tools and Materials
Materials
- Grow Light
- Potting Mix
- Compost
- Fertilizer
Plastic Bag
- Pots
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Brighten Your Yard With Coleus Plants
Coleus plants are herbaceous perennial shrubs from the mint, or Lamiaceae, family. They have a distinct smell that’s reminiscent of camphor and feature vibrant leaves with colors ranging from green and yellow to red, pink and maroon. Coleus plants have a variety of leaf shapes, including pointed, scalloped and oval shaped. They’re fast growers and great filler plants.
Coleus plants are hardy and resist most diseases, but they’re susceptible to aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs.
While coleus plants do flower, their blue flowers are small, and growers often trim the buds for better leaf growth and improved appearance. When left to flower, coleus plants invest their energy into their flowers, which results in less energy for their colorful leaves and foliage growth.
Coleus plants thrive in the summer months and often die after the first frost. When planting coleus, it’s best to wait until temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use caution if you have pets, as coleus is poisonous to animals.
Where to Plant Coleus
Coleus plants are adaptable and fare well in most planting situations. They do well in garden beds, containers and hanging baskets as long as they have proper drainage and access to high-quality soil. They can also grow in indoor settings with bright, indirect light and temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
When to Plant Coleus
Coleus plants thrive outdoors in hot, humid climates. If you live in a temperate climate, plant them in the early spring once the last frost has passed.
How to Plant Flowering Coleus
Ideally, find a spot where your coleus will receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade.
How Do You Take Care of a Coleus Plant?
Coleus plant care is easy, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.
Choose the Right Soil
Coleus plants thrive in soil that’s rich, loose and moist. It’s also important that you don’t overwater the plants and that you make sure the soil is well drained. They thrive in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6 to 7.
Add a light amount of compost or fertilizer to
supply additional nutrition.
Provide Sufficient Light: Does Coleus Like Sun or Shade?
In general, coleus grows well in full or partial shade and will lose color with prolonged exposure to full sunlight. This means they’ll do well if you place them indoors or in shaded areas next to a home or under trees. There are some sun-tolerant coleus varieties, such as the ‘Wizard’ series, that grow well in direct sunlight.
If your coleus is indoors, make sure it has access to plenty of indirect sunlight or artificial light from a grow light.
Don’t Overwater
Keep the soil moist but don’t overwater. Coleus plants need good drainage. With insufficient drainage or excessive watering, coleus plants won’t grow as well and their leaves will turn a muddy-brown color.
Use mulch to keep the soil around the coleus moist. Avoid cedar mulch, which is toxic to coleus plants.
Prune Flower Buds
To keep your coleus full and leafy, pinch the flower buds off before they bloom. This focuses the coleus plant’s energy on its leaf growth. Without pruning, the coleus loses its shape and its foliage thins.
How to Propagate Coleus
If you want to create a new coleus plant from your existing one, you can propagate it with stem cuttings.
Because coleus grows quickly, you might find yourself repotting it often. Start your plant in a large pot or coleus planter. When you need to repot it, use a pot a little larger than you think the plant needs.