Roots will emerge readily from the nodes, so make sure that your cuttings include one node that will be inserted into the medium. The cutting should be cut flush with a node. Remove all but the top leaf or two, so that no leaves are resting on the medium. The potting mix you select MUST be very coarse, as oxygen is imperative to the formation of new roots. If you have a good potting medium, add some extra perlite to it for good measure. (I do a great deal of my propagating in pure perlite.)

After you insert your cuttings, drench the potting medium again, to insure good soil-to-cutting contact. You might want to cover them with plastic (clear) for a few days, but keep it vented.

I'll be darned....I found a web site with great photographs explaining exactly how I'd suggest you do your cuttings! Follow those directions and you'll do fine. Coleus is one of those plants that should be 100% successful for cuttings.

Start those cuttings soon!

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here!

Darn, I wish this had been posted 3 days ago - before I cut all my coleus and rooted it. Oh well, I've got seed too, so if my cuttings don't take I'll just grow more! But now I know for next year...

:)
Dee

Dee, there are many techniques that will get the job done! I believe that failures are probably due to a poor choice of rooting medium, cuttings too long and/or too 'leafy', not providing a node at the base of every cutting, and unacceptable moisture levels (too much or too little).

Thanks for the encouragement, rhizo! I'm not too worried. It was either compost them last fall, or bring them in and give rooting a shot. So far the majority of the cuttings still look good (and alive, lol!) so hoping for the best.

Thanks!
Dee

I have had success w/ rooting in straight moistened perlite....within a week. I like to keep a plastic dome/bag over them for a few days and open gradually to prevent shock. Coleus always root very quickly for me in plain ol' water too...the key is indirect light and changing the water daily until they do; pot them up when roots are between 1 to 2" long.

Vera

Thanks for all the tips and the website. I will try it both in soil and straight perlite. I did not know that too many leaves was not good. How long of a cutting is too long? Though since I have been nipping this plant most of the shoots are pretty short. For my area, is it too soon to start them to have garden-ready plants in late May?

I'm in zone 5a and I have done my cuttings (late January)and am doing a second set now. My first set of cuttings are now big enough to take cuttings from. I love coleus so much it is a staple in my mostly shade garden and my planters on my steps. Janet