To fully appreciate the breathtaking hues of coleus leaves, it’s best to select a planting location that gets sufficient sunlight or partial shade. It’s crucial to keep the soil consistently moist, yet well-drained for these plants to thrive. Bear in mind that coleus are classified as tender perennials, which means they won’t endure extreme winter weather conditions. In the United Kingdom, they are often grown as annuals and should be planted outdoors in May, free from the threat of frost. However, if you desire to maintain your coleus plants for more than one year, you can choose to either move them indoors during the autumn season or take cuttings during the summer to cultivate new plants for the following spring.

If you’re planning to grow coleus, you need to pick a place that gets enough sunlight or partial shade and make sure the soil is moist but not too wet. Since coleus plants are on the shorter side, they’ll look lovely in the front of your garden bed or in combination with other bedding plants. You can also cultivate them in pots on your patio. If you want to keep coleus as a houseplant, you should keep it in a well-lit area that gets some direct sunlight as well.

If you’re planning to grow coleus, you may want to consider purchasing young plants called ‘plug plants’ during early spring. For better growth, it’s recommended to grow them indoors until the weather warms up. Once May comes and there’s no frost, you can then transfer them to your garden. However, before planting outside, it’s essential to acclimatize them to outdoor conditions for a week. As for soil preparation, adding multi-purpose compost is advisable. Dig a hole that’s slightly bigger than the pot, place the plant, and cover with soil. Don’t forget to water it generously after planting. In case you are using a pot, ensure that the hole depth and size are the same as the original pot. Plant the coleus at the same level and water thoroughly.

Looking After Your Coleus Plant

To ensure your coleus plant has a full and bushy appearance, it’s recommended that you pinch out the central stem once it’s planted. During the summer months, it’s crucial to keep the plant well-watered, especially if it’s being grown in a container. If you’ve decided to grow your coleus in outdoor pots, remember to move them indoors before the first frost of fall. Alternatively, if you’re using them as bedding plants in the ground, taking cuttings during the summer is a wise move, allowing you to have some healthy plants to enjoy next year.

Propagating coleus plants is a piece of cake when you know the right method to use. When summer arrives, all you need to do is take some cuttings and grow them in a greenhouse or conservatory for the upcoming season. Below are the steps to follow when taking cuttings:

If you choose to cultivate coleus plants indoors or in a conservatory, it’s essential to watch out for troublesome insects like scale insects, mealybugs, and whitefly. Fortunately, growing them outdoors eliminates the need to be concerned about diseases. You can take preventive steps to keep these undesirable pests away