Care of Sun-Loving Coleus Over the Winter

Sun-loving coleus is generally grown as an annual.

Sun-loving coleus is generally grown as an annual.

Coleus plants bring the psychedelic colors of tie-dye T-shirts to your garden, patio or window box. Although regular coleus varieties (Solenostemon scutellarioides, also known as Flame Nettle and Painted Nettle, generally only winter-hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 11 with a few varieties hardy to zone 10) display brighter colors with sun exposure, relatively recent hybrids are actually sun-loving and able to tolerate heat. Once sunny days give way to winter, you need to learn how to care for these sun-adapted coleus through the cold season.


Botanists at Texas A&M; University developed and trademarked "SuperSun" hybrids "Plum Parfait" and "Burgundy Sun." Other sun-loving coleus (Solanostemon) varieties followed these trailblazing plants into the market and sunny gardens. Sun-loving coleus will die at the first hard frost. Like other coleus, they are generally grown as annuals. An efficient way to care for these plants for the winter is to take cuttings before night temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Use sharp garden shears or a knife and make the cut at an angle below leaf nodes, the bumps on the stems where new leaves come out. Don't use scissors or dull implements as these can crush the stem.


Although it's possible to root the cuttings in water or to grow them hydroponically -- in water with nutrients and without soil -- coleus roots are delicate and may be damaged when you transplant them to the garden or a pot to return them to a sunny outdoor spot for the warm season. Plant the sun-loving coleus cuttings in pots with a sterile potting mix that has good drainage. A soil-less peat mixture is appropriate for overwintering coleus cuttings indoors, according to the U.S. National Arboretum. Don't use garden soil as it may have pests that can damage the plant.


Position sun-loving coleus plants in the sunniest windows where the temperatures will stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit all winter. Alternatively, grow lights or a combination of fluorescent and incandescent light can help provide enough light if your home doesn't have sunny windows during the winter. If the stems become unusually long between the leaf nodes, it's a sign the plants need more light. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Excessive watering causes roots to become waterlogged and results in the leaf colors becoming brown.

Overwinter Full Plants

Bring potted entire sun-loving coleus plants indoors, instead of rooting cuttings, if you have enough sunny spots or artificial light sources for them. Likewise, transplant sun-loving coleus from the garden, large planters or window boxes into pots to grow them indoors. To overwinter the coleus, cut the plant back by half with sharp pruning shears and dig up as much of the root mass as you can. Pruning the coleus during the winter can help preserve an attractive shape and reduce spindly growth. Feed coleus plants and rooted cuttings with half-strength time-release fertilizer during the winter. Keep the plants indoors until night temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

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