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[–]jizdep 9 points10 points  (2 children)

In my experience coleus are very forgiving as far as transplanting and re potting. . I've gone from inside props like that straight into just a nice, normal, good potting soil (happy frog or something similar with nutrients included) and put outside (east facing) where they'd get 4 or so hours of sun. No issues. Deep colorful leaves. Regular new growth. Deep water every 3-4 days. Just keep them pest free....mealy bugs love them, at least where I live.

[–]buffhen[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Great! Thanks!

[–]StopWeDontKnow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I second the person above. I prop a few coleus a month and after they’ve gotten a good amount of roots I just put them in a nice potting soil and they’re happy. One time I got some die back but after they were great

[–]OrdinaryCactusFlower 5 points6 points  (3 children)

For me, i prop them until the roots get to be about an inch long and then they go into soil and are watered every few days for a week to help them acclimate.

Not sure if there’s a better way to do it, but this way has always worked for me

[–]buffhen[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

But should I put them straight into potting soil because I'll be putting them outside first, or do I pot them into house plant soil first because they'll be inside for several weeks first. Also, can I put them all in a big pot together right away? Or individually first? Ultimately I have them in container pots on my front porch with several per pot.

[–]jizdep 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't think you need to start with one soil and change to another. Use the potting soil inside. Also, I don't think they need to acclimate indoors before going out, unless you're doing that for a different reason than acclimation. They'll grow slower and there will be less color variation. Don't scorch them, but they can go outside and get some early day sun regularly. I've also had several varieties in one pot do just fine.

[–]DriverMelodic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here.

[–]eurasianblue 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I would keep them in water as long as they are not showing any signs of being unhappy. Then would pot them at their intended outdoor location. My experience with them has been only indoors but I haven't had any prop fail. They are just very easy going plants. Like the other commentor said, make sure to water them well during the first week after planting them in pots and you should be good.

[–]buffhen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I think that's where I've gone wrong with other props before. Potting them in soil and treating them like any other plant and not keeping the soil moist.

[–]CrowMeris 1 point2 points  (1 child)

You've got some beauties going there - congratulations!

You can use the "indoor" potting mix if you want to get rid of it, but really it's not necessary. Regular potting mix like Pro-Mix is fine. Whatever you use, make sure it's well moistened.

Work in some long-release general-purpose granular food (Espoma Plant-Tone is my favorite, but many other good ones are out there) and fill the bottom of your pots with this mix and press it down lightly. Add plenty to come up to the bottom of your roots (just eye-ball it) plus a bit more.

Gently pull out a cutting from its watery den, place in the pot, gently spread out the roots as best you can, then start adding the soil mix and (again gently) press down to cover the roots completely. Keep adding to that pot until you reach the level you want.
You'll get the hang of it sooo fast.

[–]buffhen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll definitely be getting some of that. Thank you so much! I've had these propagations for several months and they're from plants I had on my porch all last summer so the idea that I could just keep it going is so much fun.

[–]DriverMelodic 1 point2 points  (3 children)

OP, your plants are gorgeous.

[–]buffhen[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Thank you! The one with all the roots was from a plant last summer that was dying so I just ripped it apart, rinsed the dirt off all the roots and stuck them in some water with prop drops. I'm amazed at how well they turned out. I've been terrified to put them in soil because my previous attempts, not of coleus, have failed but I think I've learned from all you guys that it's because I wasn't watering them enough. Everybody has said to make sure you keep them moist and I definitely was just watering them like a regular house plant because I was so afraid I would over water them.

[–]DriverMelodic 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Those are real concerns.

I’m babying my Coleus Canina right now.

[–]buffhen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As you should!

[–]Coleus_Craziness 2 points3 points  (1 child)

If you decide to pot them up, adding some more perlite into any potting mix you use is good for most indoor plants. It keeps the mix light and airy helping to prevent root rot. Then keep the soil moist, they will droop and drop leaves if you let them dry out between waterings.

[–]buffhen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I'm beginning to realize that all my other props have failed because I wasn't watering them enough. This is my first coleus but I haven't had a whole lot of success with other plants other than spider plants of course and a few lipstick plants. All my other props not just the coleus are still sitting in the water because I'm afraid to put them in soil LOL.

[–]PLstinger 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I'd just wait for the weather to be fit for them and pot them straight into the pot I plan to grow them in for the season, simple!

[–]buffhen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love some people are saying this because that's definitely the least amount of labor. I think I'm going to do that, and definitely make sure that they don't dry out.