Want to take better care of your houseplants?
Join thousands of plant parents who get our latest plant care tips directly to their inbox.
No thanks...
Coleus Plant Care
Coleus blumei
Basic Coleus Plant Care
These are one of the most colourful houseplants out there and really bring something special to every room. Below you will find our complete Coleus Plant care guide with everything you need to know to help your plant thrive!
Bright Indirect Light
I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water Moderately
I don't like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I'm after.
High Humidity
I thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often.
Draining Soil
I like a mix that includes peat moss and perlite as these prevent my roots from becoming water-logged.
Detailed Coleus Plant Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your Coleus Plant is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
Coleus Plants need shade to survive
Coleus Plants don’t really like too much sunlight and do best in medium to low light areas. If you notice the variegation fading on the leaves then it will need a bit more sunlight. It’s all about getting the right balance.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy
Another thing to properly balance when caring for Coleus Plants is water. They like to have some moisture in the soil but will suffer from root rot if the potting mix gets waterlogged so keep an eye on how much you are watering.
Warm temperatures is a must
It might be difficult to grow Coleus Plants in cold parts of the world because they need warm temperatures to properly grow.
Up the humidity by misting
Coleus Plants will love you forever if you mist their leaves once a week. This should help keep the humidity up and stop the leaves from drying out.
Fertilisation is optional
Most of the time, Coleus Plants will get all the nutrients they need from their soil so there isn’t a need for fertilisation. You might also notice that the leaves lose some of their intense colour if you feed your plant often.
Propagate through stem cutting
It really couldn’t be easier to propagate your Coleus Plant. Simply take a few cuttings and place them in water. Regularly change out the water and you should see roots start to develop. We recommend propagating in spring to give the best chance of success.
Keep them away from pets
Unfortunately, Coleus Plants are toxic to pets so keep them out of reach of any animals that might try to nibble on the leaves.
Coleus Plant FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Coleus Plant.
Yes absolutely! Coleus Plants indoors. In fact, they do really well growing in pots and if given the right care and if growing in the right environment, they’ll be thriving!
Yes, Coleus Plants are toxic and dangerous to ingest.
No, in fact Coleus Plants actually prefer more medium light levels and can get quite damaged if exposed to too much light. However, if you start to notice the leaves on your Coleus Plant fading, this can mean it needs more sunlight.
Coleus Plants like to have some moisture in the soil but will suffer from root rot if the potting mix gets waterlogged so keep an eye on how much you are watering and adjust depending on the seasons.
It’s actually not a requirement to fertilise your Coleus Plant. You can see plenty of new healthy growth without it.
Coleus Plant Care Starter Kit
We've put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you'll need to take proper care of your Coleus Plant.
Common Problems with your Coleus Plant
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
The most common reason why Coleus Plant may have developed brown leaves is underwatering. They are somewhat forgiving if you occasionally forget to water but overtime the leaves will go dry if you aren’t watering enough.
Simple Coleus Plant Care Requirements
It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here's the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Coleus blumei.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | Coleus Plant |
| Latin Name | Coleus blumei |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Water | Water Moderately |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Soil Type | Draining Soil |
Recent journal entries
Here are some of our recent journal entries that we think you might like.
Why are my houseplant’s leaves turning brown? Causes and Solutions
It's heartbreaking getting home to one of your beloved houseplants leaves...
Why are my houseplant’s leaves turning yellow? Causes and Solutions
It can be quite concerning when the leaves on your houseplant start to...
5 mistakes people make when caring for their houseplants
Looking after houseplants isn’t always as easy as giving them sunlight...
Related Plants
Here are some other plants that will work in similar conditions, or have some matching qualities.
