Coleus adds gorgeous color to Virginia gardens, but frost can be a real threat. I’ve lost a few plants before learning these smart survival strategies.
Protecting them is easier than you think with the right approach. Here are 9 ways to save coleus before frost arrives.
1. Bring Potted Coleus Indoors
Moving your potted coleus inside is the easiest way to save them from Virginia’s first freeze. Before bringing them in, inspect each plant carefully for bugs like aphids or spider mites that could spread to other houseplants.
Place them near a bright window where they’ll get plenty of indirect sunlight. Your coleus will continue growing indoors all winter, adding cheerful color to your home.
2. Take Stem Cuttings for Propagation
Snip four to six-inch pieces from healthy coleus stems using clean scissors or pruning shears. Remove the bottom leaves and place cuttings in a glass of water on your kitchen counter.
Roots will sprout within a week or two in Virginia homes. Once roots reach about two inches long, plant them in small pots with quality potting soil for beautiful new coleus plants.
3. Dig Up Garden Coleus and Repot
Carefully dig around your in-ground coleus before Virginia’s first frost warning, keeping as much root system intact as possible. Choose pots with drainage holes that are large enough to accommodate the root ball comfortably.
Fill with fresh potting mix and water thoroughly after planting. Keep your transplanted coleus in a shaded spot for a few days before moving indoors.
4. Create a Temporary Cold Frame
Building a simple cold frame extends your growing season by several weeks in Virginia. Use old windows or clear plastic sheeting over a wooden frame to trap warmth around your coleus during chilly nights.
Open the frame during sunny days to prevent overheating. Cold frames work best for mild frosts but won’t protect plants during hard freezes below twenty-five degrees.
5. Cover Plants with Frost Cloth
Draping frost cloth or old bedsheets over your coleus provides emergency protection when Virginia temperatures dip unexpectedly. Make sure the fabric reaches all the way to the ground to trap heat rising from the soil.
Remove covers the next morning once temperatures rise above freezing. Frost cloth can protect plants down to about twenty-eight degrees, buying you extra time to decide their fate.
6. Start Fresh from Saved Seeds
Did you know coleus plants produce tiny seeds after flowering? Allow some blooms to mature and dry on the plant before Virginia’s frost arrives, then collect the seed pods in paper envelopes.
Store seeds in a cool, dry place through winter. Plant them indoors under grow lights in early spring, and you’ll have free coleus plants ready for next season’s garden.
7. Treat Coleus as Annuals and Compost
Sometimes the simplest solution is accepting that coleus won’t survive Virginia winters outdoors. Instead of struggling to save every plant, choose your absolute favorites and let the rest go.
Add frost-damaged coleus to your compost pile where they’ll break down into rich nutrients. Next spring, buy or propagate fresh plants for another season of gorgeous foliage without the winter hassle.
8. Overwinter as Dormant Roots
Some Virginia gardeners successfully store coleus roots in a dormant state, similar to how you’d keep dahlia tubers. Dig up plants, shake off excess soil, and trim back all foliage to just a few inches.
Pack roots in barely-moist peat moss or sawdust inside cardboard boxes. Store in a cool basement or garage where temperatures stay between forty and fifty degrees throughout winter.
9. Use Grow Lights for Indoor Success
Virginia’s short winter days don’t provide enough natural light for coleus to thrive indoors. Supplement with affordable LED grow lights positioned about twelve inches above your plants for twelve to fourteen hours daily.
Your coleus will maintain their brilliant colors and bushy growth all winter long. Come spring, you’ll have healthy mother plants ready to provide cuttings for your outdoor garden.