Wednesday, July 18, 2012

How To Root Coleus. It's Easy. (and a Feature!)



Summer is here and many of us are using Coleus in our gardens and planted containers around our patios and porches.  I love Coleus because they are so hardy and thrive in the heat of the summer and the beating down of the sun's rays.  They are also filled with all sorts of varieties and colors too.  I think they add a little personality to any setting.  Better yet, they are pretty cheap.  Even better yet, they are the easiest plant to root.  I buy a few plants and multiply them through the season by taking cuttings as they grow or get a little 'leggy.'  Plus...as if I needed another great reason...they are a delight to have on my kitchen window sill as they root in cut little glass containers.

So here are the steps:

1.  Take a clipping from the top of your coleus.

2. Clear away the bottom of the stem of leafs.  I do this to cut down on rot in the water.  You only need the stem to get roots.  Extra leaves just get in the way.

3.  Find a cut clear container, vase or whatever.  I like clear so I can monitor the root growth as it comes through.  Fun to watch the miracle unfold.  Fill the container with fresh water that covers the bottom of the stem.


4.  Wait a few days to a week and the roots will start to show. 

5.  Wait until the plant has a healthy amount of roots and plant it in a pot with wet soil.  



6.  Make sure you give it a little water everyday for about a week to help it establish itself in the pot.  Done. New plant!  

This particular new coleus found a home on the table on my back screened in patio next to a few succulents. I also rooted that succulent there in the front middle.  How did I do that?  Well, it was a little baby or offshoot of a large succulent.  I just plucked it off and set it in this pot. Watered it daily and now look at it!


So simple.  I learned how to do this by trial and error.  I clip almost anything in my garden and try and root it this way.  Have you ever done this? You should!  Get clipping!

********Before I leave today,  I wanted to say THANK YOU to Kim over Savvy Southern Style for the nice feature of my White Living Room.  I have been posting links to my blog on her Wow Us Wednesday for over and year and this is my first feature!  Click HERE to see the feature.  Thanks Kim!


Click HERE to see the Original Blog Post about this Living Room

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I will definitely try this too I like this plant in my patio garden area. very nice colors and easy to grow. I once put small branches from my curly willow in water and they grew lots of roots

willow do l love water but I actually never did try to plant the rooted branches

-KAT-

Cassie Bustamante said...

it is no surprise that room was featured! :)

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

I saw your feature this morning and was just about to email you, but no need to do that now that you've posted. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Your living room really is quite stunning with the wall of glass overlooking your pool. And let me tell you, that pool looks mighty inviting right about now! Lesley....Lesley, can you hear me? Oh, you're floating in your pool. Lucky dog. :@

Olive said...

My comment to Kim was that your room is the bomb diggity and it is. But I have told you that and I was thrilled she featured it. I root all manner of stuff in my garden. Especially variegated ivy. I have none of these you rooted this year but have done them in the past. I move succulents around just by placing them in the soil. xoxo, Olive

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Okay, my friend. I don't know if you saw my response to your feature, but I was literally bouncing up and down in my seat when I saw it. You deserved it.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Lesley, What a great and informative post! I love coleus and have it in my outdoor planters. I'll have to root some of my own!
Your post would be perfect to share at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS, my new weekly linky party going on now! Come on over and join in!

thistlewoodfarm said...

This is your living room? Seriously? I thought it was a magazine inspiration until I clicked on the post to read about it. You are SERIOUSLY talented. And don't even get me started on that view!

Have a wonderful day!

blessings,
karianne

thistlewoodfarm said...

PS I love the Coleus tips, too!

Deneen@dreaming-n-color said...

Lesley So glad you got featured. I feel you are most talented in many areas. So glad you got recognized for a job well done!

WrightStuff said...

I remember growing these from seed when I was a little girl. My grandma also grew hydrangeas from cuttings - massive ones!

Sorry I haven't been by for a while. Life got a bit hectic!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Love your white living room...you totally deserved the feature. :o) I root ivy like this. It is so simple and a great way to get a bunch of plants. Great pics!

paula said...

Woah I really love the design of that living room. Loved the pics and had a good time looking for it. The perfect place to spend some time with a cup of tea, a beautiful view too! :)

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