Coleus are wonderful plants for both full sun and shade locations. Coleus grow approximately knee-high. These plants are excellent for combination baskets, containers, or borders. Your customers will like how quickly Coleus grow and fill the landscape with color. They mix well with Verbena, Calibrachoa, and Bacopa since all of these varieties have similar cultural needs. Once they flower in the summer, you can either remove the spikes or leave them to attract pollinators.
General Growing Tips For Your Unrooted Cuttings
For best results with Coleus, we recommend using a well-drained soil with a well-balanced fertilizer and a constant feed program of 200 ppm N. Maintain a pH between 5.8 - 6.2. The EC should be between 1.5-2.0 mmhos (2:1 dilution). While Coleus love full sun, shadier conditions can produce more intense color in the leaves.
Your unrooted cuttings will arrive freshly cut. You will need to plant them immediately and begin a misting cycle to root the cuttings. This will leech the soil of nutrients, so during the propagation phase use a constant feed of 1/3 the normal recommended dosage of fertilizer until well rooted.
Flowering
Coleus produce long bloom spikes on top, but the flowers are not a selling point for this plant. Coleus are grown for their striking foliage, so pinching back the bloom spikes can maintain a more desirable appearance.
Pinching
We recommend that you first pinch Inky Fingers 5-10 days after transplanting to your final container. Pinch regularly to encourage branching for height control and shape.
Spacing
Coleus should be spaced adequately to allow airflow and light penetration between the foliage. Usually 2’ centers on baskets will be enough.
Height Control
Apply plant growth regulators (like Bonzi) to reduce the need for pinching.
Pests
Aphids and whiteflies are the primary problem pests with Coleus.
Disease
Inky Fingers can be susceptible to downy mildew.To prevent this fungus, lower the humidity and water plants in the morning, allowing leaves to dry out thoroughly in the afternoon. (Horizontal fans at floor level can greatly improve air circulation to facilitate drying and reduce fungus problems.) If spores form (on the bottom of the leaf), treat with Adorn.
Watch for botrytis while the days are short. This grey rot is usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent botrytis by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label’s instructions.
Planting Inky Fingers Liners
We recommend planting 4 starter plants per 10 inch basket. Use a well-drained soil in your baskets and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil. If you are planting 4” pots, 1 plant per pot should be sufficient. Plant it directly in the middle of your pot.
Pinch Inky Fingers 5-10 days after transplanting to your final container. Additional pinches every couple of weeks may be required to shape your final pot.
Unrooted Cuttings Cuttings vary in size between different plant families, but most can be described as tip cuttings (ivy are leaf-and-eye stem cuttings not tips) that stick nicely
in small plug trays such as the 105-plug tray we use (some varieties are better suited for a 50 cell tray, i.e. Angelwing Begonia, Bougainvillea, Setcrecea, etc.). Please do not order unrooted cuttings unless you are an experienced propagator with mist systems and proper temperature control.
Coleus Inky Fingers Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
10 Weeks
10 Inch crop time
12-14 Weeks
Color
Bronze, Green Foliage
Habit
Mounding, Upright
Height
5-18 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
11-12
Water Needs
Moderate
Patented Plant
No
Current
Availability
Current Availability
02-16-2026 (Week 08)
4,700
02-23-2026 (Week 09)
4,900
03-02-2026 (Week 10)
4,900
03-09-2026 (Week 11)
4,900
03-16-2026 (Week 12)
4,900
03-23-2026 (Week 13)
4,900
03-30-2026 (Week 14)
4,900
04-06-2026 (Week 15)
4,900
04-13-2026 (Week 16)
1,900
04-20-2026 (Week 17)
1,900
04-27-2026 (Week 18)
1,800
05-04-2026 (Week 19)
1,900
05-11-2026 (Week 20)
1,900
05-18-2026 (Week 21)
1,900
05-25-2026 (Week 22)
1,900
06-01-2026 (Week 23)
1,900
06-08-2026 (Week 24)
1,900
06-15-2026 (Week 25)
1,900
06-22-2026 (Week 26)
1,900
06-29-2026 (Week 27)
1,900
07-06-2026 (Week 28)
1,900
07-13-2026 (Week 29)
1,900
07-20-2026 (Week 30)
1,900
07-27-2026 (Week 31)
1,900
08-03-2026 (Week 32)
1,900
08-10-2026 (Week 33)
1,900
08-17-2026 (Week 34)
0
08-24-2026 (Week 35)
0
08-31-2026 (Week 36)
0
09-07-2026 (Week 37)
0
09-14-2026 (Week 38)
0
09-21-2026 (Week 39)
0
09-28-2026 (Week 40)
0
10-05-2026 (Week 41)
0
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0
10-19-2026 (Week 43)
0
10-26-2026 (Week 44)
0
11-02-2026 (Week 45)
0
11-09-2026 (Week 46)
0
Coleus are wonderful plants for both full sun and shade locations. Coleus grow approximately knee-high. These plants are excellent for combination baskets, containers, or borders. Your customers will like how quickly Coleus grow and fill the landscape with color. They mix well with Verbena, Calibrachoa, and Bacopa since all of these varieties have similar cultural needs. Once they flower in the summer, you can either remove the spikes or leave them to attract pollinators.
General Growing Tips For Your Unrooted Cuttings
For best results with Coleus, we recommend using a well-drained soil with a well-balanced fertilizer and a constant feed program of 200 ppm N. Maintain a pH between 5.8 - 6.2. The EC should be between 1.5-2.0 mmhos (2:1 dilution). While Coleus love full sun, shadier conditions can produce more intense color in the leaves.
Your unrooted cuttings will arrive freshly cut. You will need to plant them immediately and begin a misting cycle to root the cuttings. This will leech the soil of nutrients, so during the propagation phase use a constant feed of 1/3 the normal recommended dosage of fertilizer until well rooted.
Flowering
Coleus produce long bloom spikes on top, but the flowers are not a selling point for this plant. Coleus are grown for their striking foliage, so pinching back the bloom spikes can maintain a more desirable appearance.
Pinching
We recommend that you first pinch Inky Fingers 5-10 days after transplanting to your final container. Pinch regularly to encourage branching for height control and shape.
Spacing
Coleus should be spaced adequately to allow airflow and light penetration between the foliage. Usually 2’ centers on baskets will be enough.
Height Control
Apply plant growth regulators (like Bonzi) to reduce the need for pinching.
Pests
Aphids and whiteflies are the primary problem pests with Coleus.
Disease
Inky Fingers can be susceptible to downy mildew.To prevent this fungus, lower the humidity and water plants in the morning, allowing leaves to dry out thoroughly in the afternoon. (Horizontal fans at floor level can greatly improve air circulation to facilitate drying and reduce fungus problems.) If spores form (on the bottom of the leaf), treat with Adorn.
Watch for botrytis while the days are short. This grey rot is usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent botrytis by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label’s instructions.
Planting Inky Fingers Liners
We recommend planting 4 starter plants per 10 inch basket. Use a well-drained soil in your baskets and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil. If you are planting 4” pots, 1 plant per pot should be sufficient. Plant it directly in the middle of your pot.
Pinch Inky Fingers 5-10 days after transplanting to your final container. Additional pinches every couple of weeks may be required to shape your final pot.
Unrooted Cuttings Cuttings vary in size between different plant families, but most can be described as tip cuttings (ivy are leaf-and-eye stem cuttings not tips) that stick nicely
in small plug trays such as the 105-plug tray we use (some varieties are better suited for a 50 cell tray, i.e. Angelwing Begonia, Bougainvillea, Setcrecea, etc.). Please do not order unrooted cuttings unless you are an experienced propagator with mist systems and proper temperature control.
Coleus Inky Fingers Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
10 Weeks
10 Inch crop time
12-14 Weeks
Color
Bronze, Green Foliage
Habit
Mounding, Upright
Height
5-18 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
11-12
Water Needs
Moderate
Patented Plant
No
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