How to Pinch Coleus

Coleus doesn't need showy flowers or fruits to earn its place in the garden. The brightly colored foliage rivals even the most colorful of summer flowers. Unlike flowers, that quickly fade, the foliage retains its color from planting until fall frost. Coleus does produce flowers, but they are small and inconsequential. The flowers rob energy from the plant, causing a decline in the desirable leaves. Pinching extends the life of your coleus, while keeping the plant pleasantly shaped. Strategic pinching also controls the mature size of the coleus plant.

Instructions

- 1
  Grasp the stem of the coleus between your thumb and forefinger, directly above the topmost or second from the top set of leaves. Press your fingernail against your thumb, pinching the stem off the plant at this spot.
- 2
  Pinch the coleus when the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Repeat pinching every three to four weeks throughout the growing season.
- 3
  Inspect the coleus for flower buds during the flowering period for the specific coleus variety. Coleus typically flower from midsummer into fall, depending on the variety.
- 4
  Pinch off the flower buds as they form to prevent the plant from blooming. Once a coleus blooms, the plant declines and dies back. Pinching prevents flower formation and extends the life of the plants.

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