Complete Guide to Growing Coleus Indoors
Coleus is a vibrant plant celebrated for its strikingly colorful foliage, which adds a bold pop of personality to any space. While it’s often grown as an outdoor annual due to its sensitivity to frost, Coleus is equally suited to life as an indoor houseplant. Unlike its outdoor counterparts, which typically last a single season, indoor Coleus can be treated as a perennial, living for several years with the right care.
By: Reggie Meehan (8/2/25)
Why Grow Coleus Indoors?
Coleus cannot survive freezing temperatures, a frost will kill it. In USDA zones 10-11, Coleus can (sometimes) survive outdoors year-round, but in colder zones, you’ll need to bring it indoors to keep it alive. Coleus will not grow back outdoors after winter unless it’s in a frost-free zone.
Bringing Coleus indoors allows you to enjoy its colorful foliage beyond the growing season. Indoors, Coleus is protected from cold weather, harsh winds, and pests that often threaten it outdoors. In addition to being beautiful, Coleus is relatively low maintenance, making it ideal for beginners or busy plant lovers. Its fast growth, showy foliage, and ease of propagation make it a rewarding plant for indoor gardeners.
The question really isn’t “Why Grow Coleus Indoors,” but rather “Why Not?”
How to Transition Coleus Indoors for Winter
As temperatures begin to drop, it's important to protect your Coleus from frost by bringing it indoors. With the right steps, you can successfully transition Coleus into a thriving houseplant through the winter months.
Bring Coleus Indoors Before Temperatures Drop
Make sure to bring your Coleus plants inside before nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F, as prolonged exposure to cool air can stress or even kill this frost-sensitive tropical plant. Don’t wait for the first frost—plan ahead and transition your plant indoors while it’s still healthy and actively growing. A stressed or frost-bitten plant will struggle to adapt to the indoor environment. Early action gives your Coleus the best chance to thrive through the winter months.
Prune Back Growth
Before transitioning indoors, prune your plant heavily. Remove leggy stems and pinch off flowers or buds. This helps reduce stress on the plant and encourages it to redirect energy into healthy foliage and root growth instead of blooming. Removing flowers also helps prevent the plant from going to seed, which can lead to a decline in leaf quality. A well-pruned plant is easier to manage indoors and adapts more quickly to reduced light conditions.
Of the challenges faced when growing Coleus indoors, keeping the Coleus growth under control is probably the most important. One good rule of thumb is pruning back to the 4th or 5th limb. This will help your Coleus remain manageable. And, due to the rapid growth of Coleus, if it does grow larger than the allotted space, heavily prune back to half the size and let it begin again.
Inspect for Pests
Before bringing Coleus inside, carefully inspect both sides of the leaves and stems for mealy bug, which is the primary pest for Coleus. Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies generally leave Coleus alone despite information on the web suggesting otherwise. Instead, look for mealy.
This pest hides on the undersides of leaves and in the nooks and crannies along stems. If you spot any pests, use either Imidachloprid or Acephate to eradicate. We recommend Bonide Products:
- Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insect Control
- Bonide’s Insect Control Systemic Granuels
- Bonide’s Systemic Insect Control Concentrate (Acephate)
Taking the time to ensure your plant is pest free before coming inside your home will save you major headaches later. Remember, with mealy bug, the adults can be seen and you can see and “treat” these adult bugs and kill them with various chemicals. It’s what you don’t see that’s the problem. The baby “crawlers” can’t be seen with the naked eye. But, they are likely there if there are adult mealy bugs present. Consequently, for mealy, spot treating does not work. Eradicate the mealy with a systemic treatment before you bring them inside … or suffer the consequences later for your lack of vision.
How to Care for Coleus Indoors
Growing Coleus indoors is relatively simple, but it requires the right balance of light, moisture, and humidity to truly thrive. With the proper attention, Coleus can flourish as a long-lasting indoor plant, offering eye-catching color and texture to your home’s interior year-round.
Sunlight
There are two types of Coleus - shade Coleus and sun-tolerant Coleus. Needless to say that sun-tolerant Coleus needs as much light as possible to maintain its vibrancy and rich color, whereas shade Coleus can tolerate less sun. Note that in the winter time, all Coleus can be placed near windows, but not so in the summer.
In the summer, shade coleus is best placed in a spot near an east- or north-facing window, where the plant can get several hours of morning, filtered light each day. Direct sunlight, especially from a west-facing window, is best for the placement of the sun-tolerant Coleus varieties.
If your space lacks adequate natural light, consider supplementing with a full-spectrum LED grow light. Position the grow light about 6–12 inches above the plant and run it during the day. Lack of light will cause Coleus to become leggy, listless, and dull in color, while too much sun may crisp the foliage—so keep an eye on how your plant reacts.
Watering
Coleus prefers evenly moist soil. Always check the soil before watering the plant because the drooping appearance is consistent with both underwatering and overwatering. Check the top inch of soil for a 6” deep pot, or the top 2” for a deeper pot. If it feels dry to the touch, water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot. Of course, always use a container with drainage holes to prevent root rot.
In winter, when indoor light levels drop and growth slows, reduce the watering frequency. Although Coleus are not that fussy, using room-temperature, filtered water helps avoid shock. For chlorinated tap water, it is a best practice to wait at least 24 hours for chlorine to dissipate before using.
Soil and Potting
Use a lightweight potting mix that retains moisture without staying soggy. A good indoor potting soil works well. You can also add a small amount of horticultural sand or vermiculite to improve drainage. Re-pot coleus annually (or bi-annually) when plants grow too large for their pot or they dry out too quickly. Increase the size by 2 inches (e.g., 8” potted plant moves to a 10” pot).
Pruning
Pruning is key to keeping indoor Coleus bushy, full, and vibrant. Regularly pinch back the growing tips of each stem to encourage lateral branching. This keeps the plant compact and prevents it from becoming tall and spindly. Always prune just above a leaf node, where new shoots will emerge. Four to five branches high is a good point to pinch/prune.
Be sure to remove flowers as soon as they appear. While blooming is natural, it signals the plant to stop growing foliage and can cause leaves to fade in color or drop off. Rotating the pot weekly ensures even light exposure and prevents one-sided growth.
Temperature and Humidity
Coleus thrives in warm indoor temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F. Avoid exposing it to cold drafts or sudden temperature changes, especially near windows, doors, or heating vents. If you must place your Coleus near a heating vent, cover it with a towel to dissipate the dry, hot air, else your plant will suffer. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to temperatures below 50°F can cause the plant to drop leaves or even die.
Because Coleus is a tropical plant, it loves humidity above 50%. Dry indoor air—especially in winter—can lead to browning edges, crispy leaves, and stunted growth. Use a humidifier, mist the plant regularly, or group it with other houseplants to create a humidity microclimate. You can also place a pebble tray filled with water beneath the plant (without the pot sitting in the water) to increase ambient moisture.
Common Problems When Growing Coleus Indoors
Growing Coleus indoors is not without a few challenges. From leggy growth to leaf drop, understanding these common issues will help keep your plant healthy and vibrant.
Pale or Faded Leaves
If your Coleus leaves are looking pale, washed-out, or dull, the most likely cause is insufficient light. Coleus relies on light to maintain its vibrant leaf coloration, and without enough of it, the plant will lose its bold patterns and vivid hues. In the winter, both sun-tolerant and shade Coleus should be moved adjacent to a window or a glass doorway or consider using a full-spectrum grow light if natural light is limited. In the summer, shade Coleus should be moved to a less exposed location, such as an east facing window that receives only morning sun. When moving Coleus, monitor leaf color over the next couple of weeks—more vivid colors denote that the plant is responding to the change in light.
Pale or faded foliage can also signal a nutrient deficiency. As you transition your plants indoors for fall and winter, consider incorporating a slow-release fertilizer to support sustained growth and enhance vitality until the spring.
Brown, Crispy Leaf Edges
Brown, dry, or crispy edges on Coleus leaves are a classic sign of low humidity—a common problem in heated indoor environments, especially during winter. Since Coleus is a tropical plant, it thrives in humidity levels above 50%. Boost humidity by using a humidifier, a plant mister, or placing a pebble tray filled with water near the plant. Grouping Coleus with other houseplants can also help create a more humid microclimate.
Drooping or Wilting
If your Coleus is drooping or wilting, it’s most likely due to a watering imbalance, either overwatering or underwatering, and it is often difficult to tell the difference. Underwatering can be easily remedied … just add water; Overwatering … not so much. Always check the soil moisture before watering by pressing your finger into the top inch—if it’s dry, it’s time to water; if it’s soggy, consider removing the root ball to allow it to dry out.
It is a novice mistake to water when seeing drooping/wilting foliage. Don’t be a novice! Healthy Coleus prefers consistently moist—but never wet—soil. And, quite frankly, Coleus recovers easily and without permanent damage if under-watered for a short duration. But, overwatering kills.
Pest Infestations
When grown indoors, Coleus can occasionally fall victim to pests such as mealy, particularly if mealy was not identified and eradicated before coming indoors. Remember, don’t treat the mealy bug… eradicate the mealy bug before you bring the Coleus plants inside to save yourself later headaches.
Coleus Makes a Stunning Houseplant
Coleus is a rewarding and eye-catching houseplant that, with the right care, can thrive indoors year-round. From maintaining proper light and moisture levels to managing temperature, humidity, and pruning, each step plays a crucial role in keeping your plant healthy and vibrant. Understanding common issues like pale leaves, wilting, or pests allows you to respond quickly and confidently, ensuring your Coleus continues to flourish. Whether you're bringing it indoors for winter or growing it as a permanent houseplant, a little attention goes a long way in making Coleus a bold and beautiful part of your indoor garden.