Propagating Coleus

Q: I planted some pots of coleus last spring which have grown into beautiful plants. I’d like to keep them through for next year. They are too big to bring the whole plant inside. Are they easy from cuttings?

A: I’m a big fan of coleus and they are remarkably easy to propagate from cuttings. Take cuttings from the most vigorous tip growth, about 6” long, removing all but the two uppermost leaves. I use clean, 4” pots and fill them with fresh, high-quality potting soil. Insert 4 cuttings per pot. One in each corner. Give the pot a good soak and loosely cover the whole thing with a clear plastic bag to retain extra humidity. Place the pots in a warm, brightly lit location out of direct sunlight. Once you start to see new top growth (2-3 weeks), they are ready to tip out of the 4” pot, separate and repot individually in a good quality potting soil in 4” pots. As the winter progresses and your new plants grow, you can take more cuttings to build up your stock for spring.

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Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show