Coleus are prized for their foliage of striking colors. They work great in containers and in mass plantings, so why spend money purchasing loads of these annuals every spring when they are ridiculously easy to propogate!
STEP 1: In the fall, take stem cuttings about 5 inches in length. Be sure and cut at a slant with sharp scissors directly below a leaf node. Bonsai scissors work great, but any sharp scissors or snips will do.
STEP 2: Snip off all the leaves except for the top set or two. Roots will form from the nodes that are submerged in water or growing medium. Plus trimming off the leaves helps the plant use its energy to form roots instead of supporting foliage growth.
Coleus can be propagated by stem cuttings rooted out in water or a sterile growing medium.
STEP 3: I personally get a kick out of watching plants root out, so I took my stem cuttings and stuck them in jars of distilled water. If your not starting your Coleus cuttings in water, skip to STEP 4.
Top off with water as needed to maintain a constant water level and change completely every 5 days.
Roots should begin emerging within one week.
This picture shows about 3 weeks worth of roots. More than enough to move to Step 4.
STEP 4: Fill 4" containers with vermiculite. Moisten the vermiculite with water and then use a pencil or some other similar object to create holes in the soil for the Coleus stems.
Vermiculite is really easy to work with and maintains a good moisture level for cuttings as well as sufficient air movement. Also, it is pretty firm making it easy to keep plants stable and upright.
You can place your cuttings in pretty much anything that has adequate drainage and can even put quite a few cuttings together in a larger container.
STEP 5: Place Coleus cuttings in the pre-made holes and gently firm the vermiculite around each cutting. (No rooting compound needed.)
STEP 6:
A: If the cuttings were rooted in water, simply mist daily and keep in bright indirect sunlight or under a "grow" light. Continue until plants are established.
B: If the cuttings are placed directly into the vermiculite without rooting in water first, cover with a clear plastic dome, bag, etc. Place in bright, indirect sunlight or under a "grow light". If you have a heat mat, keep it at 70 degrees. Remove cover daily and let air for a few minutes to help prevent "damping off". Keep a steady supply of water from the bottom to the cuttings. It is critical that the new cuttings do not dry out. Continue for 2 to 3 weeks and then remove cover and mist daily until established.
In 4 to 6 weeks you'll have plants that have already filled out with multiple sets of leaves and are ready to be transfered to larger pots with regular potting mix.
Overwinter and plant in the spring. Enjoy!
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