Learn how to grow Coleus indoors with easy steps and smart tips. Perfect for adding bold colors and patterns to your home all year round.
Coleus is one of the great mysteries of life. Most prefer shade outdoors, especially the lime-green cultivars. However, over the winter, the larger-leaf versions tend to become leggy if they don’t receive sufficient light. And nothing is sadder than a stretching coleus. Not only are the smaller cultivars, such as ‘Inky Fingers’ and ‘India Frills’, easier to accommodate indoors size-wise, but they also don’t readily show the earmarks of any light deprivation.
Propagating Coleus
To grow a new Coleus plant from a cutting, cut a healthy stem that is about 5-6 inches long, just above a leaf joint. Remove the lower leaves but keep the top ones. Plant the cutting in potting soil, water it well, and place it in bright, indirect light. In about 2 to 4 weeks, it will grow roots.
You can also grow Coleus cuttings in water. Place the cutting in a glass or vase filled with non-chlorinated water and keep it in bright, indirect light. Change the water every 4 to 6 days. Roots should appear in 3 to 5 weeks.
While you can also grow Coleus from seeds, beginners may find it easier to start with healthy plants from a garden center. Once you have a plant, you can easily grow more from cuttings!
Pot Size for Growing Coleus as a Houseplant
The pot size mostly depends on how big the plant is. If you bought a new Coleus from a nursery, move it to a pot that is just one size bigger than the original one. For small or young plants, a 5 to 8-inch pot works well.
You can also grow Coleus in hanging baskets or fun, creative pots placed in macramé holders!
How to Grow Coleus Indoors
Location
Coleus doesn’t grow well in low light, so keep it on a bright windowsill, near a glass door, or in a spot with indirect light. It also does great on porches and shady balconies.
If you live in a cool place with gentle sunlight, give the plant 2 to 4 hours of direct sun each day to help its leaves stay bright and colorful.
Coleus can handle some direct sunlight, but strong afternoon sun can burn and fade its bright leaves. So, it’s better to keep it slightly away from a south-facing window.
Soil
Coleus isn’t picky about soil and can even grow in regular garden soil. But for best results, use a good-quality potting mix that drains well. You can also mix in some vermiculite or perlite to help with drainage.
Water
Coleus prefers soil that stays slightly moist and will droop if it dries out excessively. Water the plant thoroughly, but only when the top of the soil feels slightly dry (especially indoors). It’s essential to find the right balance—water when needed, but not too often. Don’t water it every day, as that can cause root rot and lead to fungal problems.
Temperature and Humidity
Coleus grows well in temperatures between 50°F and 95°F (10 °C and 35°C). When growing it indoors, keep it away from air conditioners, heaters, and sudden temperature changes. It also performs well in normal indoor humidity, unlike some other houseplants that require high humidity. During dry months, you can take simple steps to raise humidity around the plant.
Fertilizer
You don’t need to use a lot of fertilizer, but you can help your Coleus grow better by giving it a weak dose (1/4 strength) of balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Note: If you live in a cold area, don’t fertilize during the winter months.
Pests & Diseases
Like other houseplants, Coleus can get pests like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. Whiteflies and mites are the most common troublemakers. You can spray the plant with insecticidal soap to get rid of them.
To keep your plant healthy and avoid diseases, don’t overwater it and make sure it has good airflow around it.
