Coleus are perennials but need to be treated with some care. I've never dug them up in the fall, plopped them into a pot for over-wintering....and I wonder if that might not be part of the problem. Was your plant protected from the direct sun after digging?

Is your sun room heated? Coleus is a tropical plant, without any cold hardy genes at all.

Your neighbor cannot be blamed for catagorizing coleus as an annual. That's how most people use coleus.....and with reason. The juvenile plants are more attractive, less prone to flowering, and not yet woody.

When brought inside for the winter, they should be cut back severely, and monitored carefully for moisture, light, and humidity levels. I suggest growing a favorite coleus in a container, in a good porous potting medium, especially any that you plan to grow inside for the winter.

Use the cuttings to start new plants......you'll probably like the babies better than the motherplant.

@ docmom_gw - Yes it is a coleus and i did exactly what you stated in your response. Hopefully, It will sprout and come back this year.

@ rhizo_1 - My sun room is not heated. However, I wrapped the flower pot with saran wrap and water the plant when i noticed moisture evaporated. As you can see in the picture, i never cut the plant stems. I got rid of the cuttings already, but for general knowledge what part of the cuttings do I use to start new plants? I notice on the top of the plant a thin stem that looked like seeds. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I really enjoyed having this plant in my yard. I received many compliments and it's majestic beauty in my garden.

Coleus will not survive in an unheated sunroom in Rochester, NY. I assume that it got pretty darned cold in there. Coleus are true tropical plants.

I've attached one of zillions of videos and fact sheets about how to take cuttings. I've looked at this one, and it is a good example of a successful method. The one thing I take exception to is that he overcrowded the cuttings in the pot.

I suggest that you take advantage of huge assortment of info available on the internet before you start chopping away. It's easy to propagate from stem cuttings, and coleus are especially easy. But it's a lot more fun when you know a little bit about how, what, when, and where to take cuttings.

Oh, you only want to take cuttings from the vegetative portions of your coleus, not the reproductive flower stems. Coleus flowers should be kept pinched off at all times.

Infynite,

I've started a bunch of coleus from seed over the winter, and have more than I know what to do with. When the weather warms up, maybe I could send you some for postage. What colors was your plant?

Martha

Martha, I will be grateful for such a gesture. The coleus color was similar to this picture:

Please let me know the best way for me to send the postage to you. Thanks in advance!

I have more orangey or purpley colored plants. My reddest plants have a yellow border. When I'm home, I'll try to remember to take some pictures and see if there is one you like. We're getting warm days this week, but nights are still in the 20s and the cold will be coming back this weekend, just in time so I won't be able to get out in the yard--again. I've got the gardening itch soooooo badly!

Martha

Infinite,

I was wrong! My coleus are exactly the color of yours, and I have a ton of them! I'll post a picture below and hope it's right side up. As far as postage, Once the weather is going to be reliably above freezing between you and me, I'll package up a few plants and send them. When I know how much the postage was, I'll let you know and you can mail me an equivalent amount of stamps, or something. Then again, I'd be fine chalking it up to an investment in world-wide friendship. You can pay it forward some day when you have an opportunity to make a wish come true.

I'm now wondering, where did you say you got that plant? Is it possible you might find another one this spring? Or do you have a decent nursery near you? I'd hate for you to miss out on finding a huge ready-made plant today, by waiting for my measly little thing that might roast in a truck on it's way to you a few weeks from now. Anyway, here goes my photo attempt.

OK, so the photo ended up on top. You may or may not be able to tell, but some of the red plants have a thin edge of green or yellow, and some have the obvious wider yellow border. Let me know which you prefer, or if you'd like a mix. If you decide you'd like to try a different color, that could also be an option. I may send a photo to my mom and see if she wants one for her porch this summer, but I'm sure I can provide you with something to make you happy.

Martha

I got my plants from a Farmers Market in Rochester, NY. I plan on going next Saturday and see if I can find the plants. Most of the sellers have greenhouses and may have the plant available for purchase. Anything you can send to me will be fine. I prefer a mix if possible. The propagation video will help me to share the wealth with my local Recycle.Org group. Many gardeners share their annual/perennial flowers and plants when they need to reduce their gardens from overgrowth. I've been a recipient of Black-eye Susan, hostas, Lilly of the valley, and mini-orchids which are my favorite plants.

Infinite, go ahead and email me your address and I'll keep an eye on the predicted temperature in the North East. When it looks like it won't freeze for several days, I'll send you some plants.

Martha