# How to Trim Coleus Plants
Coleus plants produce brightly colored foliage and thrive in shady or partially shady areas, making them ideal for adding color to shady nooks. Colors range from soft greens and yellows to brilliant shades of red, purple and burgundy. Indistinct flowers appear on a slender spire in midsummer. Some varieties prefer full sun, while others perform well with bright morning sun and afternoon shade. Check the requirements of your specific cultivar when choosing coleus for your garden.
Things You'll Need
- Garden clippers
Instructions
-
-
1
Pinch out the center-growing tips on coleus when it is about 4 inches high to force the plant to send out new growth along the stem. This creates dense foliage and prevents coleus from becoming tall and leggy.
-
2
Repeat the procedure in two to three weeks to keep the coleus plant in shape and force more new growth.
-
3
Remove the blooms as soon as they appear. This channels energy into producing lush foliage. If allowed to bloom, coleus tends to become leggy, and growth suffers.
-
4
Cut overgrown coleus back to within 1 or 2 inches of the soil level in midsummer to force new growth and increased vigor. Root cuttings in water to produce new plants.
-
1
Previous:
Next:
