Coleus comes from the warm southeast of Asia and is quite sensitive to cold. It doesn't just suffer when it's frosty, but rather when it's autumnal or cold wind. It can survive a summer in the garden but not a European winter.
How can you overwinter a coleus?
In order to overwinter a coleus successfully, it should be brought to its winter quarters early and kept at temperatures of at least 15 °C. You should avoid fertilizing, water less and possibly take cuttings.
Can coleus overwinter in the garden?
At temperatures below around 15 °C, coleus begins to wilt and drop its leaves. She doesn't know these temperatures from her ancestral homeland. So you shouldn't wait until the first frost before bringing your plants into the house but act in good time.
Garden owners with little space to overwinter their plants may simply buy new coleus in the spring and dispose of the old ones in the compost. Alternatively, you can grow new plants from the cuttings of your coleus over the winter and then plant them out next spring. This is a good idea if your coleus is a little older.
The right winter care for coleus
Cut back your coleus in autumn and give it a bright, warm place for the winter. The temperature there should not fall below 15 °C. Your coleus does not need fertilizing during this time and you can also limit watering a little. Only in spring do you go back to “normal” care and after the ice saints the coleus can return to its original summer place.
The best winter tips for coleus:
- move to winter quarters early
- Do not let the temperature fall below 15°C
- do not fertilize
- water a little less
- possibly take cuttings
- use as a houseplant
Tip
During the winter, the coleus from the garden is a beautiful ornamental plant for your living room.
