Easy Tropical Toxic to pets

Coleus

Plectranthus scutellarioides

A plant with spectacular multicolored foliage, extremely easy to grow and propagate, ideal for adding color indoors.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 3 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

50–70 %
Temperature

15–28 °C

How to care for your Coleus

Everything you need to keep your Coleus healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Coleus is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia, grown exclusively for its extraordinarily colored foliage. Its serrated leaves offer endless combinations of green, red, pink, orange, yellow, and purple that make it a true living painting. Although perennial in the tropics, it is often grown as an annual in temperate climates or kept indoors. Its legendary ease of water propagation allows for effortless multiplication and renewal of plants.

Watering your Coleus

Every 3 days

Keep the substrate regularly moist without waterlogging. Coleus wilts quickly in drought but recovers just as fast after watering. Avoid standing water.

How to know it needs water

Leaves and stems visibly drooping
Substrate dry at the surface
Leaf margins beginning to brown

How much light a Coleus needs

Bright indirect light

Bright indirect light to semi-shade. Dark-foliaged varieties tolerate more shade. Direct sun can bleach the leaves, but a little morning sun intensifies the colours.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 2 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

50–70 %

50–70% Mist occasionally in heated indoor spaces. Coleus appreciates moderate humidity but is not as demanding as other tropicals.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 14 days

Fertilize every 2 weeks from March to October. Coleus grows quickly and needs regular nutrients to maintain vivid colours and a compact habit.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer for foliage plants. · 2-1-2

Repotting your Coleus

Every 12 months

Use rich, well-draining compost. Coleus roots very easily in water, which is often preferred over repotting to renew plants.

When: Spring (April–May)
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Roots emerging from the pot
Plant drying very quickly between waterings
Growth slowing

Pruning your Coleus

Regularly to maintain a bushy habit. Systematically pinch out flower buds as soon as they appear. Pinch stem tips above a node to encourage branching. Remove flower spikes as they weaken the plant and the foliage becomes less attractive after flowering.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 4 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 2 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and central nervous system depression in animals.

Good to know

Coleus is so easy to propagate that a simple stem placed in a glass of water will develop roots in less than a week.
There are hundreds of coleus varieties with nearly infinite color combinations: from lime green to deep purple, including orange and pink.

Frequently asked questions about the Coleus

How do you care for a Coleus?

Water it every 3 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 50–70 %. Ideal temperature: 15–28 °C. Keep the substrate regularly moist without waterlogging. Coleus wilts quickly in drought but recovers just as fast after watering. Avoid standing water.

How often should you water a Coleus?

Every 3 days Keep the substrate regularly moist without waterlogging. Coleus wilts quickly in drought but recovers just as fast after watering. Avoid standing water. How to know it needs water : Leaves and stems visibly drooping ; Substrate dry at the surface ; Leaf margins beginning to brown.

How much light does a Coleus need?

Bright indirect light Bright indirect light to semi-shade. Dark-foliaged varieties tolerate more shade. Direct sun can bleach the leaves, but a little morning sun intensifies the colours. 0 to 2 h a day

Is the Coleus toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and central nervous system depression in animals. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Coleus leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Coleus?

Repot every 12 months, ideally in spring (april–may). Use rich, well-draining compost. Coleus roots very easily in water, which is often preferred over repotting to renew plants.