Your Complete Guide to Coleus Care: From Seed to Harvest

This complete guide to Coleus care will take you through planting seeds to harvesting your own Coleus seeds.
KZbin SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2GdU0QS
Free Seed Packet Download: suburbansill.c...
For more on coleus care, check out this post from SuburbanSill.com: suburbansill.c...
For more on coleus cutting propagation check out this video:
• Quick Vid: Coleus Cutt...
The Coleus is one of the easiest and most forgiving plants I have every grown. As long as you keep it warm and sort of moist, your Coleus will be a happy plant. Whether you are growing Coleus indoors or outdoors, the beautiful foliage makes this plant a stunner all year long.
Coleus propagation is also a breeze. You can take cuttings and put them directly in soil or my preferred method, water. At the end of the growing season, Coleus seeds are easy to harvest allowing you to grow Coleus every spring.
Start your seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or wait until it warms and sow directly on soil. Some Coleus like full sun and others prefer shade. Do a little research and see which is best for your variety, but you can't go wrong with morning sun and afternoon shade. If given to much sun the leaves will bleach.
Check out SuburbanSill online at suburbansill.com and read up on plant rescues, plant propagation and plant care tips. Follow along for daily updates at / suburbansill

[@rai55]

Of the many (and I mean MANY) coleus videos on KZbin, yours is the most thorough in a single video, edited across varying stages of the plant - THANK YOU!

[@SuburbanSill]

You’re welcome!! Thank you so much for watching!

[@virginiakinison6541]

I'm 65 & new to gardening. I've dug flower beds (total area about 20'×2'x 2'deep. We now have coleus...love your video, split leaf philadendron, manzano banana plants, elephant ears, lantana, ferns, boganvilla, all added in the last 8 weeks. IM having a glorious time!!!

[@SuburbanSill]

I am SO jealous! That sounds wonderful!!

[@Knower2]

Hi Virginia, It's a year later and I don't know if you'll even see this comment, but

[@lorridzak]

A couple years ago I accidentally broke a plant and I was so scared I shoved it into the pot. It got a little wilted but then perked up and in a few weeks was just like the original plants. 😂

[@erikadusty5300]

This was an awesome video I just started growing coleus myself and I realized I planted wayyy too many and now I feel bad I won't want to kill any but they are starting to show signs of problems on top of we just had a huge storm with hail and it tore up a bunch of foliage and wrecked my soil. Your video helped save my babies! Thank you again 🙏

[@fahadhanif166]

I’m in love with Coleus honestly I just found your video most interesting specially about collecting seeds 🙂 thumbs up 👍🏻 ❤️

[@SuburbanSill]

They are so pretty! I love growing coleus. They are really easy too! Thanks for watching!

[@cass77788]

i overwintered mine which worked well, my coleus get like a small shrub and i cut the leaves off and just put them in a pot in the soil water them and they do great, you don't have to put them in water for roots!! just put the plant you cut off in a pot in the soil water them and they do great!!

[@ericrichard5271]

I discovered coleus for the first time last summer. I was fortunate to run into a sale at Walmart and loved watching it grow and it was so healthy. Anyways I bought some seeds and am giving them a try, maybe I'll have coleus to put out on my patio....

[@gwensmith6]

My mother loved growing this plant she potted them beautifully.

[@marionnixon817]

I just recently discovered how much I like coleus! Bought some seeds and some plants. I overwintered a couple of them and they are doing well. Enjoyed your video and thank you for the seed labels! How kind of you to share those.

[@alwayswondering4051]

Yes, Coleus are lovely foliage plants. From seed, they can be a little trying. The seeds are extremely small, and the young plants are very vulnerable. Watering can be troubling. Start them in peat moss. Planting soil is a little brutal and they can become somewhat lost, especially when watering. If container gardening, place a funnel in the soil so-as not to disturb the emerging little guy's. It works well. "Pinching", or pruning will fill-out the plants so they do not become too lanky. Bright - indirect light, and enough of it will make both you and your Coleus happy.

[@tristan8744]

You make it sound a lot worse than it really is lol

[@altanic5855]

I really fell in love with the Coleus when I realized that all kinds of different pollinators love their flowers! They are wonderful plants :)

[@kaylanoorlun]

Nice CUTCO shears, I know that it is natural for the smaller plants to be coming up underneath the larger ones so that was a good idea of the seeds getting planted in your crowded pot. For protection of your babies.

[@kaylanoorlun]

Same as trees in the forest

[@wm5113]

Just found your channel, very interesting. Started growing coleus this summer with 4 plants. Definitely will be growing more but our Scottish weather will ruin them so will overwinter in the greenhouse. How have I missed this plant, I love them. Cheers 👍

[@reginadsouza4432]

I believe when different varieties are grown together cross pollination can take place resulting in new coloured Plants.

[@SuburbanSill]

I believe you are right!!

[@Fatima-qx6uw]

Yes.good idea.

[@maureensamson4863]

Exciting thought!!

[@serenababy6358]

This is my first year growing coleus from seed. I didn't know you could propagate so that was helpful to see. I also liked seeing the progress updates too. Thank you for sharing!

[@paytonlivingston5336]

Soooo forgiving! Mine was dying and I couldn’t figure it out. It was covered in flowers and they were taking all her energy! Shipped them off and she perked right back up :)

[@SuburbanSill]

Yep, those pesky flowers will do that. Pinch those back unless you are wanting some seeds, which won’t happen until later summer anyway.

[@jamesarbis8172]

me. to dying

[@maureenamos5240]

Thank you. I love that you fast forward. This makes your videos complete. I only need your video. Great job!

[@kriistiina111590]

I had no idea you could save the seeds! I can’t wait to try this end of season

[@HolyCow66]

I love your videos sister. I am as passionate as you about Coleus and I am trying to collect different varieties. Keep on gardening. Keep on loving. Cheers from Paris.

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you for watching!! You too!

[@TracyMaday]

I’ve had part of my coleus plant break off and I’ve just plucked it back in the soil and it’s grown for me 😁

[@treemocker]

Just planted some watermelon coleus. The colors are so beautiful- different on each plant! Thank you for your video. Good information and I like how you did the camera and described everything in a calm way. Looking forward to more videos. ☺️

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you for watching!! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@storyteller1749]

Thank you so much for this video. I have always just bought plants at a nursery or department store. But I saw coleus seeds on the WISH app and decided to buy them and try groqing from seed. They took forever to get here of course. But now that I have them in anxious to get them going. Thanks again.

[@SuburbanSill]

Awesome!! Have fun. What coleus varieties did you get?

[@mdtauqeerkhan7078]

Appreciate your time to share knowledge to others 😊😊. Ur video helped me

[@grumpycat7432]

I'm so happy I bought the seed packets for 2 for $1. Now the prices on these cuties are way more and also the plant! I'll make sure to propagate them, Wish me luck! thanks for the video, take care.

[@SuburbanSill]

Awesome!! Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@aingemechanic]

I have over 15 different types..love this plants ..

[@velerialangbehn6787]

I strip the cups off the stem and use a fine sieve that only the tiny seeds will fall thru and then rub the cups and the seeds easily fall thru. I make wax paper seed holders and use stapler on dbl. folded sides, so seeds don't fall thru. Then I store in the fridg. Yours is much prettier. Mine is just cheap.🤣 great job on video.

[@SuburbanSill]

Thanks for the tips!! Tell me about storing them in the fridge? What does that do?

[@Tina-ez3xb]

The red ones is good for eyes I used it for medicine in bali.

[@SuburbanSill]

Oh really?? Wow, that’s interesting. What do you do with it?

[@Tina-ez3xb]

Just wash in clean water when the leafe still wet squeeze with fingger until the liquid become red than drop in the eyes, at first it will be very sore after that the eyes fell so clean, I used also for my 3 months baby to clean his eyes.

[@vivimannequin]

@@Tina-ez3xb that doesn't sound very good. These things can get you high

[@bonniemccormack1361]

02:08 Girl, you are my kind of gardener, great sprinkle! #pink #style 🤩

[@aida087]

Thank you so much for sharing, and all of your plants are GORGEOUS!! I brought my mom's two Coleus plants home to save because rhey got SO leggy that were hanging all over the place like octopus arms lol!! I'm happy you showed how to propagate them!! was able to propagate most of them except for a few branches that were to far gone to save!! I have them in water and they're starting to root YAY!! Hopefully they'll recover!! I'm also gappy you showed how to harvest them from seed!!❤😊🙏🙏

[@nokm2006]

Thank you for taking time to film this!

[@SuburbanSill]

You bet!! It was fun. I ❤️ me some coleus!

[@donnaswan4834]

I have some King Coleus and I am going to cut off a couple of stems and root them for the winter..

[@SuburbanSill]

Nice! They transition pretty well!

[@kinsleysrandomcrap9559]

Now I'm glad I impulsively bought some mixed rainbow seeds

[@SuburbanSill]

Fun!! Seeds are always a good impulse by. Low cost and rewarding. 😍

[@kinsleysrandomcrap9559]

@@SuburbanSill yea very true

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Love these plants!!!! Creating hybrids is so much fun!!!

[@misskriss848]

Thank you. I'm hoping to plant from seed in a container on my patio. Your video was great!

[@SuburbanSill]

Awesome!! They are great patio plants.

[@1356Vericap]

I just so loved the Coleus. I wish I could get seeds from other places. Switzerland has not much choices.

[@SuburbanSill]

Have you looked online? I should have some new seeds this fall if you want to pay the shipping. DM me on Instagram @SuburbanSill and let’s connect.

[@1356Vericap]

@@SuburbanSill no problem on the shipping. I would gladly pay for it. So nice of you. I will message you later.

[@morenacampanero8785]

Im always open this blog cause i love coleus very much

[@hodz21fishtanks72]

EXCELLENT video. I just clipped some to bring in for the winter. Thanks for the info on collecting and harvesting the seeds.

[@caitlinnoliviaa]

All of mine keep dying and I can’t figure out how to make them happy! I have 4 different colours/varieties and I’ve been trying to grow them as houseplants but they truly are the most dramatic plants that I own. No matter where I put them or how much I water them (and let them dry out fully!) they keep drying up and their leaves keep curling and dropping. I’ve also checked for bugs, bites, and webs but there’s nothing visible. They’re so pretty - I just want them to survive!

[@SuburbanSill]

You might consider watering more often. In my experience the coleus will let you know it’s thirsty by dropping leaves. That’s when I would water. What kinds do you have? Some like really bright light and others are more shade.

[@rachray160]

i keep mine indoors right up against a west facing window, and if the top inch of soil feels dry, i water. my rule of thumb when watering is to say, a little quicker than normal speech, "1-2-3, that's enough for me." lol, its from elementary school when everyone would take turns drinking from the water fountain...but its a good guide :D

[@violachumney5183]

I LOVE the COLEUS PLANT. How do I get the almost 50 different varieties?

[@SuburbanSill]

Maybe look at getting some seeds online or see if you can get a hold of some cuttings and build a collection from there.

[@azx1311]

Maybe you could start selling seed by collecting the mature pod...i could be your first buyer..

[@larrymay9121]

When you plant multiple varieties in the yard will the seeds produce plants that are true to the mother plant, or have they been cross-pollinated and could produce some new or different varieties?

[@rollingthunder4599]

I'm going to start saving seeds

[@scottlytton5328]

great job on the video. im starting my relationship with the coleus today! lots of water, minimal direct sun, keep her warm... that should get me started. thanks

[@SuburbanSill]

Your coleus will tell you when it’s thirsty. Look for drooping leaves…that will help you avoid overwatering as you get started.

[@zrausts.675]

thank you for the tips, i never knew it can propagate. now i know

[@leehall4595]

Happy planting, beautiful plants, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@celmonby]

Thank you for sharint this complete guide on coleus care.

[@hmanickum2133]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge in a very down to earth way.

[@WorldofMichaelTrent]

Hi. I have a huge coleus plant, almost 6 feet tall. It's full of flowers but some of the stalks are bending in half. Do you think I can cut the flower and place in a bag to dry out? Or do they need to fully mature on the stalk? Thanks!

[@SuburbanSill]

I’d wait for it to fully mature and dry out on the plant. It you cut it too soon the seeds won’t be ready. At least that is how I’ve always done it. You could try it with one and leave another stalk and see how it goes. I’d love to know.

[@WorldofMichaelTrent]

@@SuburbanSill Thanks! I will try to secure the plant and grab one flower as a test. I shall let you know.

[@dana102083]

@@WorldofMichaelTrent how did it go?

[@WorldofMichaelTrent]

@@dana102083 It worked. That coleus produced so many seeds it isn't funny! I could have started a farm.

[@tonyaperry4763]

Every channel says Coleus does not like the cold. No one ever tells how cold, cold is? I just bought three new different color plants, planted and have them on the porch. Woke up and they look terrible!🥴 The weather was giving a light frost possible that we did get. I did pull them all the way in against the outside wall of the house. So, they did not get frostbite but apparently the cold was to much? Temp was around 34°. Question.....How cold is cold? 30's, 40-50's or even warmer?

[@tonyaperry4763]

@@user-ze6dz9rs7l thank you.

[@vivimannequin]

For tropical plants this is usually under 60 degrees Fahrenheit

[@empressjahmoonahjuaneita5635]

Thank you! Loved your video. Just bought my first coleus Black Dragons. I love them. Can't wait to propagate and seed them!! 💜🙏🏽💜

[@SuburbanSill]

Thanks for watching!! Have fun with your new coleus. I love the black dragons!

[@bonniemccormack1361]

I gave my daughter a black dragon that only grew for her. It was almost two when she left for college and I killed it in record time. She didn't take it because she feared the move would damage it so she took a slip and left me the plant. 😒

[@mamilove5557]

How much water melon seeds? Im from Philippines

[@laurasigala7163]

Just recently bought some of these seeds planted them like two weeks ago and their barely starting to grow ❤️🌱

[@dianaalbers6327]

fold the plate so seeds do not fall out when filling envelope

[@andrewjohn970]

how to get that 'bigger' kind of leaves?

[@GardeningCare]

Very beautiful plants 🤗👍👌🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 Nice sharing dear friend thanks 👍👍🤗🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@saral2442]

Wow! What a great video! I loved the updates and the sticker templates are sooo cute!

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you!! It was super fun to make. Thanks for stopping by!

[@donnaharris2321]

I love those plant in Jamaica we call them joseve coat

[@vrunda3shah]

All these coleuses are so super pretty, just love them. Thank you so much for sharing. I have a question? Where did you get all the seeds from?

[@SuburbanSill]

I had harvested those seeds from the year prior! Thanks for watching!!

[@mariemcgrath8681]

Thanks your download worked & it's now spring '21 in Australia.

[@SuburbanSill]

Wonderful! I’m so glad it worked and jealous of your spring!! Enjoy!

[@morenacampanero8785]

Your coleus very beautiful and that is a good medicine here in the philippines boils that have no opening three leaves you smash then put into boil no surgery

[@lorrainebrooks6934]

As a house plant, how often should they be watered?

[@SuburbanSill]

Probably depends on the season. When I have them indoors I would water when it looked droopy. Or like once a week probably.

[@dsandman92]

Do the seeds produce offspring identical to the parent or different varieties (heterozygote)?

[@SuburbanSill]

Good question. In the seeds I have had success with they have been identical, but I would be surprised if they produce a variation. I’m not totally sure.

[@littlebrownP]

I just found your channel and a new subscriber now. I'm getting ready to go outside and cut those tops off mine and propergate some to bring in the house. Thank you so much for the labels also. Going to find some envelopes to save the seeds. This my first year growing them successfully because I didn't know how easy they were to grow. I have a bright red and a bright yellow kind. Now I want the other colors too. Please keep the videos coming. Happy gardening

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you so much for watching!! Enjoy your coleus, they are such fun plants to grow!

[@littlebrownP]

Do you have a link for the envelopes?

[@zackthebirb]

I just purchased some Black Dragon Coleus Seeds as a growing project for the spooky season (I'm going to grow them indoors)! I'm a sucker for dark (and funnily enough also silver/ white) foliage! I've always been a fan of the leaf texture of stinging nettel so to find something similar like the Coleus was really exciting for me. Actually, here inn Germany the common name for Coleus is roughly translated "Colorful Nettle" so that was what initially spiked my interest. Gorgeous plants!!

[@SuburbanSill]

Nice!! I too love dark foliage. It’s so interesting. Have you ever heard of Black Mamba Petunia? You’d love it!

[@zackthebirb]

@@SuburbanSill Oh my gosh I looked them up and they are GORGEOUS!! Thank you so much for telling me about them! Do you know if it is possible to grow them indoors? I don't really have the possibilty to grow outdoors. I do have growlights and a south facing window, so if sunlight would be an issue I think I would be able to tackle that.

[@SuburbanSill]

@@zackthebirb I don’t see why not. I think it would be worth a try!!

[@zackthebirb]

@@SuburbanSill Then I know what I will be trying to do some time!

[@ratnashreeyoga4290]

Thank you it’s everything I needed . It’s very detailed information.

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you for watching! I’m so glad you found it helpful!

[@inkstainedgirl]

Do you put rooting hormone in the water when putting cuttings in a cup of water?

[@SuburbanSill]

I have used rotting hormone when I go direct to soil. I have found that when rooting in water, it isn’t need it. I think you’d be fine either way.

[@inkstainedgirl]

@@SuburbanSill Thank you!

[@bonniemccormack1361]

What a showy combo! I can't wait to get growing 😍

[@altagraciamorel4211]

You just got a new subscriber ❤️❤️love these plants. I will love to get this free goodies🙏❤️🙏thanks so much for your kindness🙏💕🙏

[@selenabellamy8711]

Do you ever have a blue variety of coleus? Your video is very informative, thanks.

[@SuburbanSill]

I have not seen a blue variety. I would love to find one though!!!

[@NourhenBrahem]

Thank you soo much for this go throw everything video, l have a question, does the mother plant die after taking the seeds?

[@SuburbanSill]

No, they don’t. They will just keep producing. Thanks for asking!

[@candipoox]

Really thorough and well done video! Thank you. I'm new to coleus and learned alot.

[@SuburbanSill]

Thank you!! Coleus is such a fun plant to grow. I think I’m most drawn to them for their colors, you?

[@Cristinaplanters]

I'm a coleus lover and collectors of varities.

[@Cristinaplanters]

@@user-ze6dz9rs7l oh sorry I'm in Philippines.

[@nicoledenel]

Mine keeps loosing leaves and non growning back. They had a white bacteria and for several days I cleaned it to get rid of it and sprayed something to treat it and is still missing leaves, I try no to water it too much because I think I previously killed one because of to much water. Don't know what to do 😔 and i love them so much because of the color's

[@Abdulaziz_Barznji]

Thank you 💚

[@sarkissimonians9214]

Please help me When you planet seed where you kipp them and what kind of soils and what kind fertilizer they need

[@h.r.9563]

Very informative, thank you. I just picked up some of these and I'm so excited to watch them grow!

[@edwinholcombe2741]

I put my coleus cuttings in water also and within 3 days the stem part that was in the water rotted.

[@SuburbanSill]

Hmmm that’s odd. Can you tell me what it looked like? How big was the cutting?Sometimes when I propagate in water the stem looks like it’s rotting buts it’s not really.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Its much better to put them directly into soil/compost etc,,,, Also,if the ones you already have in water are still viable,pop them into compost. Hope this helps!

[@judithjohnson2111]

Just SubS. I only recently learned that I can save seeds. Love Coleus. Should have known. Now I do. THANKS.💞

[@teresahatfield4521]

Thank you for your wonderful videos!! Love coleus!! Such a beautiful plant!!!😁😁

[@danelle5628]

I just came across this video, oh my that is so gorgeous!

[@pattymiller6696]

Great idea for saving your seeds!

[@noahsandoval1390]

Great video. Very enlightening. It was a lady bug helping your plants!

[@agnesyeo1418]

Such pretty coleus! Can you sell me some seeds to Singapore? The ones here are very common.

[@artathearta]

Where in the US do you live? I'm in Delaware and I want to grow some Coleus plants around now, mid-March. I would say the weather here is super temperate.

[@SuburbanSill]

I’m in the Midwest. The coleus really don’t do well here until after Mother’s Day. One cold snap and they are toast!

[@leefarr8136]

My coleus leaves are bright in color when they first grow out, then the leaves lose their color and are very dull. Why would that happen? What can I do to correct this? I'm in California and it's now our so called winter (very cool) and my plant is inside by a window which gets the most sun.

[@SuburbanSill]

So the leaves are dull now that it is inside? Is that what is happening? When you say dull, so they look bleached like almost whitish in some areas or are they just not as bright? Do you know what cultivar it is?

[@leefarr8136]

The leaves were bright pink in the middle, then bright purple mixed with the edge of the leaves, which were bright green. Yes, now the leaves are bleached pink mixed with white in the middle. The beautiful purple is completely gone and the border of the leaves are either white or bleached green. I looked up the word cultivar, I don't know if that was the case, but I clipped the beginning of my plant from a big beautiful plant that was a decoration in a mall. The leaves from that clipping are still bright and that was almost three months ago. The leaves growing now are having this problem.

[@SuburbanSill]

This could be a sign of too much sun. Some really colorful cultivars can get scorched very easy. Try a window with bright light, but nothing to direct.

[@leefarr8136]

Ok, I'll try that... thank you.

[@scmarih]

I was searching for new plants for my garden and I think these coleuses fit perfectly. Do you sell your seeds? Thank you for sharing.

[@balanceiskey9646]

I've been looking and haven't found anything on this, but I took some coleus leaves and put them in water, everyone of them rooted, my question is, will these generate a new plant, or am I just keeping a leaf alive.

[@SuburbanSill]

So it’s a leaf with some stem? I have never done just a leaf, but I would imagine that it will put out se new growth. How long has it been in water?

[@SuburbanSill]

I’d love to see a photo. Could you send me one on Instagram @suburbansill

[@VikbarzMiga]

I love that snake plant.

[@jennifernajera19]

How do I keep bugs from eating my coleus? I have it outside in my garden and my leaves have many holes? 😩

[@SuburbanSill]

Try an organic insect soap and spray the leaves really good. I use one by Espoma but there are a bunch on the market. You might need to spray once a week or so.

[@nicoleboldak1859]

Can you harvest seeds from a mainstreet coleus? I have mainstreet sunset boulevard and mainstreet river walk. Also I live in zone 7. So the only way for them to survive is to take In side or use seeds right?

[@SuburbanSill]

Yes you can...later in summer let it flower and then when the flower dries off you can harvest the seeds. Over wintering will work too!!

[@nicoleboldak1859]

@@SuburbanSill Wonderful!! Which do you think is the better way to go? If winterizing will it keep its fullness and color? Watching you just drop those seeds looked so simple. When would I begin to plant the seedlings next summer? Late spring? Thank you so much😊

[@ramikhawlhring3335]

Very nice very beautiful

[@geofflukins8913]

I’ve just got some Coleus plants through the post. One of them was snapped off just above the root ball which left a small piece of stem. I planted it anyway. Do you think it will grow back eventually. Thanks.

[@SuburbanSill]

Yes I do...you might have better luck starting it in water, but really you should be fine. Rotting hormone works well also.

[@lizabethmccool2990]

Should’ve put it in water, waited for roots and then planted.

[@danaplants]

Very beautiful plants

[@emilyleonardo949]

I really love coleus they are colorful i like them since i was teen now im collecting but they are too expensive😂

[@jungalvez5929]

Hello ma'am..i am a new subscriber in your channel..i really love coleus.and i have small coleus garden to..and i dont have your varieties..please ma'am..hoping got some of your varieties...im from philippines....,.

[@habibrezgui7958]

Nice disagne

[@tinam5330]

That was so informational. Thank you.

[@SuburbanSill]

You are so welcome! Glad you found it helpful.

[@jessiejvr1783]

Very informative, thank you! When you've got several different kinds of Coleus' close to each other will the seeds grow true to the mother plant or will they be hybrids?

[@bonniemccormack1361]

Great question. I wonder if the wind is a pollinator 🤔

[@nashwaran473]

The colors will they change year on year with polunantion

[@AndreCRivera]

How do I know when it's time to cut the seed stems ? I have multiple some with flowers on them others look brownish.

[@SuburbanSill]

They will be dry and crunchy.

[@aarflowers9066]

Wonderful plants coleous..