It's an easy thing to make cuttings with Coleus-
cut right below a healty set of leaves(you want the stem length about 3 inches)and strip off the bottom sets of leaves.Then just keep them in a vase of water until roots form.A drop of VF11 will make them root quicker,and make sure you change the water at least once a week.

I rooted my cuttings in the fall by just sticking them in potting soil in pots - sorry, I honestly can't remember if I used rooting powder or not.

Then I ended up cutting these dozen cuttings twice during the winter, because they were getting so big. These I definitely did not use rooting powder for, since it was out packed away in the cold garage, lol!

So I ended up with 3 dozen plants! And to think I started more from seed too, just in case...!

:)
Dee

i have always wondered if it would be o.k. to just bring the whole plant in??? ... if it is not HUGE, that is ... thanks, phyl

I noticed a couple weeks ago that when I stuck a stem of it into an arrangement of other cut flowers, it was actually growing in the vase after everything else died off. I think I'll go visiting my sister's garden before the first frost and take cuttings from her varieties too! I'd love to NOT pay for new ones come spring. Thanks for all the advise.

I stuck an extra stem in the pot of another plant a week ago, in full sun.

Never wilted, now appears to be rooting.

It's hard to miss with most Coleus.

With coleus the question is 'will it root in one week or two'? I root mine directly in potting soil,saves repotting. I do use Rootone for its fungicide content with helps prevent rotting of the stem before rooting. Al

The problem with taking in the whole plant, is that it will have trouble adjusting to so much less light. Maybe if you cut it back a lot and transition the change of lighting conditions, it might work.

Also re cuttings, in the past I have taken many that start off doing great. I keep them in the basement under flourescent lights with other overwintering plants. But little by little they eventually don't make it. I've concluded it must be the consistent cooler temps down there (50's). This year I am going to go the windowsill route, but I just don't have that much room there unfortunately.

There are many ways to do this. You can take a bunch of cuttings and put them in a large glass or small vase (make sure you keep enough water in there to cover the roots) and let them do their thing . No matter what you do they won't grow as well indoors as they will outdoors, but as long as it's not too cold, they will grow, rather leggily. About a month before it's time to put them out, you can take cuttings from the cuttings and put those in potting mix under lights to grow nicer, more compact plants to put outside.

They're super simple to root, as has been stated. It's keeping them going through the entire winter that can be tricky. I think most of us keep our homes so cool in the winter that alot of these warm season plants don't like it. But, if you take a few more cuttings than you really want, you're bound to have one or two make it, and once you can get them outside, taking more cuttings is a cinch.Is it worth it? You bet! You don't run the risk of being unable to find your favorites at the garden center next year, and that gives you more money to try new things!
I try to wait to take cuttings of the simple stuff until right before first frost so that they don't have to stay inside any longer than necessary.

Coleus is a super easy and wonderful plant. I bought one just one plant 2 years ago at Walmart. I now 2 beautiful full huge bushy 12" containers along with several others throughout planted in my flower beds. Have given of clippings away to friends and thrown alot out just due to no where to plant. They just flourish, I bring them in for the winter, put them on my window seat and treat them like rest of my plants. They get a little leggy but just trim them up or start a new one. Can't go wrong with these for a couple dollar investment.

Is it too late to plant some Coleus outside here in Orlando? I love how they look but don't want them to die in a month. It doesn't really get too cold here although we may get a few nights down around 25-30 degrees in January.

Nope, not too late. Unless four and a half months is not sufficient time for you to enjoy them.

These plant are really tender: they can start to drop leaves and look bad even when the temperatures get into the low 40's. It doesn't take a frost to do them in. So if you hear that overnight temps will be that low, take some cuttings before it happens.