How to Save a Dying Coleus Plant

Pinch off, or remove, the coleus plant's blossom spears to prevent it from dropping seeds. Afterward, the coleus will fight to live because the plant's purpose in life is to drop seeds and die. Pinch off all leaves and stems that are damaged or discolored. Doing so causes the plant to direct all its energy toward new, healthy growth.

Take an outdoor coleus plant indoors if outdoor temperatures are dropping. Native to the tropical regions of Asia and Africa, coleus plants don't tolerate cold weather. Transplant your coleus to a flowerpot that has a 6- to 8-inch diameter and bottom drainage holes that allow good drainage. Use potting soil containing a timed-release fertilizer. Set the newly potted coleus by a sunny window in a warm room. The plant may survive winter.

Move the coleus to partial shade if you live where the sunlight is strong. In the wild, coleus plants grow in shady or dappled shade areas. Bright sunlight can cause coleus leaves to fade. Sunscald can create brown spots and edges on leaves, and a coleus plant may wilt in excessive heat.

Check the top and bottom of your coleus plant's leaves for aphids, whiteflies and mites. Small holes and yellow stippling can be an indication of those pests' presence even if you don't see the pests. Spray the plant with a strong blast of water if you see pests or evidence of pests. Spray the water on the underside and upper side of leaves. Spray the plant every day for three days. If the coleus' condition does not improve, apply an insecticidal soap to the plant by following the directions on the product's label.

Examine the top and underside of the coleus' leaves for a grayish-whitish coating that looks powdery or fuzzy. Coleus, particularly when grown in a humid climate, is susceptible to a downy mildew called sporangia. If the plant has downy mildew, remove its infected areas, and treat the plant with a plant fungicide formulated for downy mildew and that contains phosphorous acid, copper and mancozeb. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the fungicide's label to use the fungicide.