Coleus come in all sizes and colors. Years ago they were mostly low growing and shade plants. Today we see the huge leaved, tall ones with many that grow in full sun. The green one could be a mutant or just a seed that got in the wrong packet.

Flower sprouts are normal. I have always snipped off the flower sprout as feel the plants decliine after flowering. Today I see many people leaving the flower sprout on. Up to you which you prefer.

Bobbie

Hey Rich-
You likely have a 'mix' in your seed lot. There are indeed hundreds of varieties available, from low growers, trailers, small, med, lg, and very large varieties, with an immense array of color combinations!

Do pinch that flower stalk off, as well as maybe the top couple leaf sections to promote bushing out.

Cuttings are SUPER easy to take, and you can overwinter them indoors and never have to buy another one ...of that variety, anyway...if you catch the Coleus Bug, you'll be NEEDING to purchase others...LOL! Here's a pic of some recent purchases I made this season after catching said bug:

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Yes to everything marymary said. My husband caught the coleus bug a few years ago. I am not sad. Easy. Colorful. Beautiful. Reseeders. Amen.

Nice collection, marymary.

I love love love coleus and they are so easy to start from seed and then cuttings from the ones you like. I did notice that the 'mixed' pack I got this year seemed much larger than in the past. Several seed companies have a series called 'Kong' - they are BIG. I agree with all the others - keep the flowers deadheaded unless you want seed from a particular one although they probably cross breed and don't come true to seed. Great foliage plant....

Lynne

I don't even bother with saving seeds from my coleus - it's too easy to take cuttings and grow the plants indoors during the winter. That way I know just what they will look like. And you can take cuttings from those in spring (they grow roots much quicker then) and have LOTS!

The ones I have grown from seed have been very surprising, if you know what I mean. You have no idea what you'll end up with.

I know an older couple who always has arguments over whether to nip off the flowers or not - she wants to nip, he loves the flowers. LOL! I just tell them to grow enough so they can do both!

:)
Dee

Years ago they were mostly low growing and shade plants.... yup that's me I'm from years ago and that's what I thought they were like, why bother read the seed packet info huh. They are all now pruned and ready to bush out.

Mary geat assortment, think I'll try a few. Do I just do a single leaf cut and stick in some potting mix or should I get multiple leaves on a stem?

This sounds like a good option to indoor flowers for the winter. I currently have a beautiful cactus (once thought it was a xmas cactus)that blooms from Haloween until late November and a smaller bloom in February so now hopefully I'll have some coleus around. THANKS ALL

When I take cuttings I use "new looking" bits with 3-5 small leaves. I just pop them into plain water on a window sill someplace and usually in a day or two you will see little roots starting to form. When the roots are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long you can pot them up. They almost always just take right off.

They are almost as addicting as hosta- and can be enjoyed indoors too!
I pinch till mid summer and then I like to leave the flowers go to seed to swap and start anew- I just like to see what may come up.....
I start cuttings in the summer by pinching off a newer formed "branch" that grows from the leaf axis(?), I then pinch any flower heads and all but 3-4 of the smallest leaves at the tip of the plant and pop it in water- roots form VERY quickly! Oh- if the top leaves are large- just snip them in half. You are saving the plant a lot of hard work to keep those leaves moist when it should be putting the work into growing new roots.
Here in MN- in the winter when I try to propagate my favorites- I have found it is just too cold to get good results that way- so I have to trim the cuttings as above and place in a pot of moist dirt and then put all in a ziplock sealed shut and placed under lights to get good results- Just shows how cold it gets here in the winters, and how tropical coleus truly are.
You will enjoy color all through your beds- and in your hanging baskets as well once you start down this path.....

I take a cutting about 3-4" long with about 3 sets of leaves on it. I usually cut diagonally (I dunno...some strange habit I have), then take off the lower set of leaves, plunk in a water cup, and away it goes. Roots form out the bottom, and out that missing-leaf section.

I have had trouble rooting only Lime Frill so far. Not sure what's up with that one.

I have noticed that the time of year seems to make a big difference in how quickly they will put out new roots. Last fall I waited for months for roots on a cutting from my solid red coleus. In spring I took more cuttings and they sprouted on the kitchen window sill within a week!

Will coleus live in water all winter or do I have to pot them up?I have alot of different varieties and not sure where I could keep alot of potted plants all winter.Any suggestions?I have had coleus several yrs.just have never tried to keep it alive for the next yr. and would really like to do so.I love all the different colors.
moonphase

Moonphase, it will be better if you pot them up when they get roots about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. If you let them go too much longer they sort of adapt to getting what they need from water rather than soil. You can keep your cuttings in water and then take new cuttings from those in spring - same ol'...let them get those little roots and then into the dirt. Maybe that would help your space problem. They CAN live in the water for a long time but they will have a harder time when you do pot them up if you wait too long. It's better with fresh cuttings.

I don't know why they need to make that transition at that point but they do. I used to add potting soil to the water (a big spoonful at a time) so that they would gradually go from water to dirt when I let them go too long. Same for impatiens that I rooted. Messy, but it worked.

It really is easy to keep coleus over for the next year. I hope you find room and have great success. My red one is almost a "pet" now. I guess it's about time to name it!!

One last question, can the cuttings be placed in an inside room or do they need window light. If they need the light can I put them outdoors in a shaded location??

If it is warm out side- even in the evenings- then the answer to both of those questions is yes-

Okay I now have a few potted up plants growing indoors and was just thinking. If these guys were over two feet tall and close to the same width while outdoors how will they respond indoors, they are in pots the same size as Mary's pics above. I suspect trimming is in order as they get larger along with re-potting to bigger containers, right?