The desire for a larger number of plants is not always the trigger for cutting cuttings. This is a common method of “rejuvenation” for coleus, as old plants often become unsightly.
How do you take coleus cuttings correctly?
Coleus cuttings can be cut all year round, ideally about 10 cm long and with three pairs of leaves. Remove the lower pair of leaves and root the cutting in a glass of water or in potting soil. Cut off the top of the shoot as soon as new pairs of leaves grow to make the plant bushier.
Although they grow taller, they only produce fewer leaves. The stem often remains bare in the lower area. Now is the time to think about a new plant. The alternatives are buying or pulling yourself. Coleus can only be grown from seeds with a lot of patience, but propagation is very easy with cuttings.
When do you cut the cuttings?
You can cut cuttings from your coleus in the garden from spring to autumn, and for houseplants all year round. Take shoots that are not too tender and have about three pairs of leaves and remove the bottom pair. This stimulates the offshoot to form roots. If your coleus has just started blooming, you can use these flower shoots as cuttings. However, you have to cut off the flower base.
How do you care for the cuttings?
The cuttings of your coleus root easily in a glass of water or in a pot with potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon). This way, if you wish, you can monitor rooting before planting the cuttings in pots. The potting soil should be kept moist during rooting, but not too wet. Otherwise the tender roots could start to rot.
Only when the cuttings have formed roots do they begin to grow visibly. Cut off the shoot tip every now and then so that the coleus grows bushier. However, you should only start doing this when several new pairs of leaves have already formed. The plants can go into the garden as soon as they have grown strong and it is warm enough outside.
The most important things in brief:
- Cut cuttings about 10 cm long
- with about three pairs of leaves
- remove lower pair of leaves
- Rooting in a glass of water or in potting soil
Tip
If your coleus is starting to get old and is losing its growth, then it's time to cut cuttings. You can soon look forward to strong young plants.
