Root a coleus cutting in water

Before you start

Set out a clean glass and choose a soft, healthy shoot without a flower spike. A node is the point where leaves join the stem. Pick a shoot with a lower node you can submerge while keeping the remaining leaves dry and above the rim.

Tools and materials

• Healthy coleus plant
• Clean scissors
• Small glass
• Small pot with drainage holes
• Potting mix

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Take a cutting

   Choose a healthy non-flowering stem and cut just below a leaf joint. Leave two or three pairs of leaves on the cutting.

2. 2

   Prepare the stem

   Remove the lowest leaves and place the bare joint under water in a clean glass. Keep the remaining leaves above the waterline.

3. 3

   Watch for roots

   Set the glass in bright, indirect light. Top it up to keep the joint submerged and replace the water if it becomes cloudy.

4. 4

   Move it to a pot

   Once several roots are a few centimetres long, plant the cutting in damp potting mix. Water it in and keep the mix lightly moist as it settles.

Check the result

After potting, keep the mix lightly moist while the cutting adjusts. Check that the stem stays firm and look for a new pair of leaves. If the plant wilts, check both the soil moisture and whether direct sun is heating the pot before adding more water.

References

• Royal Horticultural Society guide to preparing softwood cuttings