Why You Need To Save Your Coleus In October - Before One Cold Night Ends It All!
Want to save your beautiful coleus plants before cold weather takes them out? Those colorful leaves that have filled your pots, hanging baskets and flowerbeds all summer can disappear in a hurry once temperatures drop. And when it comes to coleus, waiting for the first frost to act can mean waiting too long!
Coleus thrives in warm weather, but it has very little tolerance for cold. Chilly nights can stress plants and damage their foliage even before freezing temperatures arrive. A single frost can quickly turn a healthy, colorful plant into a wilted mess - which is why bringing it indoors early is so important.
The good news is that coleus does not have to be a one-season plant. Although most gardeners grow it as an annual, it is actually a tender perennial that can live for years with protection from the cold. With a bright spot indoors and a little basic care, you can keep your favorite plants growing right through winter.
Even better, you do not have to find room for every large plant you want to save. Coleus is easy to grow from cuttings, allowing you to preserve your favorite colors in just a few small pots. Whether you bring in an entire plant or start a handful of cuttings, a little effort now can give you plenty of beautiful coleus for next spring!
How To Save Your Coleus In October
Saving Potted Coleus Plants in The Fall
There are two quick and easy ways to save your coleus through the winter months. The first is to bring entire potted plants indoors to live as house plants. The second is to take cuttings from the plant and create smaller plants.
If you have plenty of space and want to save entire plants, you can simply bring your potted coleus plants indoors in the fall. The biggest key to having success is to bring plants inside early. It's extremely important to get them in before the first light frost. Unfortunately, all too often it’s likely too late once frost hits coleus plants.
To bring indoors, start by washing off the plant to remove any pests or bugs that may living on the leaves. Be sure to inspect the soil as well since insects tend to hide deep within a plant’s foliage and soil.
For best results, place coleus in a room that has a south facing window. This will give it the best chance of catching sunlight in the winter. To stay vibrant, coleus needs at least 4 to 6 hours of daily sunlight.
Giving Coleus The Light It Needs
If you don't have enough window sunlight, you can supplement with inexpensive grow lights to help simulate daylight. Even bright LED or fluorescent lights provide enough light to keep coleus healthy and strong. Product Link: GooingTop LED Grow Light
Caring for a coleus plant indoors couldn't be easier. Depending on your indoor temperature and humidity level, they usually only require watering a few times each week. The key is to keep an eye on the soil and water lightly as it begins to dry out.
As for fertilizing, giving your coleus a light dose of all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer every other month is all the power it needs. Apply it at about one-quarter of the recommended rate while indoors.
If blooms happen to form on your plants while they are indoors, simply cut them off. The blooms of coleus are not showy, but they do take nutrients away from the plant - so it's best to pinch or cut any blooms off as soon as you see them.
How To Save Coleus From Cuttings In The Fall
Another alternative to bringing the entire coleus plant indoors in the fall is to take cuttings. This is a great option if you are short on extra space to devote to a full coleus plant. Or - if you want to create several small plants to have on hand for planting outdoors next spring.
The process of taking cuttings is as simple as it sounds. All you need to do is cut off a stem that contains a few leaves and place it in either soil or water. Before long, it will start to sprout new roots, eventually turning into a full plant that is identical to your original one.
Cuttings are a great option if you want to add more plants to your collection without spending a dime. The more cuttings you take, the more brand new plants you create. It’s really that simple. You can then use these new plants to fill baskets, containers, and beds next spring - and all for free!
How To Root Cuttings
Coleus is thankfully one of the easiest plants save by simply rooting the cuttings. All you really need is a container, soil or water, and a healthy cutting.
When selecting your cutting, choose a piece of stem that is healthy and has a good set of leaves. Look for stems that have a couple of small buds above the last set of leaves. These buds are proof that the stem is capable of producing roots.
Use a pair of sharp pruners and cut the stem back to the base of the plant. Remove the first set of leaves that are closest to the cut side since this is the part that will get buried in soil or submerged under water. The leaves at the top can stay on the cutting.
Place the cutting in a container so that several inches of the stem is buried in either damp soil or under the water.
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Soil Versus Water Rooting
Rooting coleus in water or soil are both great options. However, plants tend to root a bit faster when in water. Even better, there is no worry about watering or maintaining proper moisture levels. As long as you keep the water levels high in the glass, you’re good to go!
When using the water method, it's important to use untreated water as opposed to tap water. Most municipal water or water that goes through softener systems is treated with chemicals and salts. These can all inhibit the growth of new roots.
Roots should start to appear on the stem after just a couple of weeks. At this time, you can remove the cutting from the water and plant it directly into soil. Use a container with drainage holes and good potting soil. And just like that, you have a brand new coleus plant!
If planting the cuttings directly into the soil, it usually takes a bit longer for new roots to form. In the meantime, keep the soil moist. Allowing the soil to dry out will also dry out the stem or any new roots that have formed.
Taking Care Of Coleus Indoors
Whether rooting in water or soil, when you save coleus, treat it like you would a traditional houseplant. Allow it to get plenty of sunlight and warmth and make sure to keep it watered.
Before you know it, you will be moving your coleus plants back outside once the weather warms up in the spring to enjoy a brand new season of growth. And if your plants are large enough, you can take even more cuttings to have all the coleus you need.
For more on saving plants this fall, check out our article: 2 Easy Ways To Save Geraniums Over The Winter.
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