Coleus was a favorite plant in Victorian gardens. To grow a new Coleus, take a stem cutting from the mother plant of around five inches in length. Coleus Plant Coleus Plants Features: An Overview. By creating an account, you accept the terms and Pairing Up with Coleus Plants. ‘Solar Shadow’ has green leaves with dark red serrated edges and tips. And How Do You Celebrate It? At this point, if you wish, you can dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Sorry, comments are currently closed. Older coleus varieties may only thrive in a shaded spot, however, and can experience unsightly sunburn (bleaching of the leaf colors) when grown in all-day sun. Cut off flower spikes in late summer to extend the life of the plant and growth of new colorful leaves. Coleus needs well-draining soil. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Some coleus are trailers, great for hanging baskets; most are just the right size to fill a pot on the porch or a spot in a perennial border. 101 Hilarious Elf on the Shelf Ideas to Keep Kids Jolly All Holiday Long, 200 Best Crock Pot Recipes and Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Ideas for the Family, 100+ Weight Watchers Recipes with WW Points to Help You Lose Weight, Which One of These 100 Diets Could Help You Lose Weight? of our. They are a very popular choice for many areas, being the center of attention due to the beautiful foliage. Gone, But Not Forgotten: Remembering the Celebrities We Lost in 2020. While many coleuses grow best in shade, there are varieties that take full sun. The soil of coleus should remain moist but never soggy. Whoops! Look for a plant with lots of distinct well-formed branches. Do not sell my personal information. ‘Alabama Sunset’ has brick-red leaves with yellow edges. Coleus is a member of the mint and dead nettle family. Place in a sunny windowsill and if desired, you can cover the tray with a humidity cover or plastic. Also remove flower stalks when they appear. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. ‘Fishnet Stockings’ has lime-green leaves with dark purple veins. Coleus branches break easily. Later, it was recognized as its own genus of plants. There are dozens of different coleus plants, but they all have one thing in common: Coleus plants are easy to grow and flourish in summer heat. There was an error in your submission. Empty comment. If you overwinter coleus indoors, prune the plant back by one-third in early spring before placing it outdoors. If a Coleus plant is tall and stringy it’s not one you want to buy to plant in your garden, but it will do okay for cuttings. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com. Start the seeds in early spring. Because seeds require light to germinate, sow them on the surface. Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Sorry, comments are currently closed. Plant the coleus in bright locations with partial shade and ensure that soil is always moist and never too damp or soggy. Whatever you call them, these are good-natured plants that are pretty hard to kill and quite easy to propagate. Insect pests to watch for are aphids, mealy bug, and whiteflies. If you are growing coleus plants outdoors—either in the ground or in containers—the same care instructions apply. Pot coleuses in high-quality potting soil that provides moisture retention, yet drains well. You are posting comments too quickly. You seem to be logged out. Use Nutrient Rich Soil to Grow Coleus Mix a little organic matter into your soil before planting so it is nutrient rich. Coleus is a gorgeous type of ornamental plant with a very complicated naming history! Place the coleus cuttings in a glass jar filled with water. Prune often. Coleus branches break easily. Find coleus in the nursery as grown plants, or try growing your own from seed. Uh-oh! Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Starting Your Victory Garden, 150 of the Best Holly Jolly Christmas Jokes Guaranteed to Spread Holiday Cheer, Better Not Cry, Better Not Pout! Fertilize in mid-summer with a liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength. When growing coleus, keep in mind that these beauties can grow rapidly. Coleus stems have two types of structures growing on them: short leaf stems (petioles) and tiny leaf structures that grow between the leaf stems and the main stem (stipules). Plan to sow them indoors, eight to 12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Provide proper lighting. To keep them healthy and actively growing, coleuses require feeding every two weeks from spring through late summer or early fall. Coleuses become rangy and unruly if not pruned on a regular basis. While traditionally shade-tolerant, some modern varieties will thrive in the sun, too. Fertilize regularly. Many varieties of coleus do best when grown in bright shade or dappled sunlight, as their delicate foliage will burn in direct sun. Slow down. conditions of our. Start sowing coleus seed with a flat or container with a damp potting soil. Celeb interviews, recipes, wellness tips and horoscopes delivered to your inbox daily. Stem rot and root rot can occur if soil is too wet. Coleus is a tropical perennial plant that is normally grown as an annual by gardeners who live north of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. They need to be kept moist, especially newly planted coleus. Plant coleus close together as bedding plants or tuck them into baskets and containers for a fast growing and spectacular addition. Grow coleus indoors in a bright location. Coleuses that receive insufficient water will lose leaves, becoming spindly and unattractive. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Slow down. Coleus roots easily enough for it to be started in a glass of water without any problems. If you wish to plant coleus seed, keep in mind that it will take about six weeks for the seed to germinate and create plants that are large enough to plant in containers. Outdoors coleus grows best in partial shade; it … To have luck with coleus in the garden, keep the following tips in mind. Coleus grow easier from cuttings than sown from seed. Some like coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) decorate the landscape with a colorful tapestry of variegated foliage. Pinching out the growing tips, which are the sets of two to four leaves at the tip of each branch, encourages plants to branch out and become bushy. In cool regions, take cuttings from your plants before the first frost in the fall and place them in water to root. Inspiration. Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. Known for its colorful foliage, Coleus is a wonderful, low-maintance plant to add to summer flower beds as well as containers. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. Set plants out after all danger of frost is past. Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. It’s best to start the seed indoors in the late winter or early spring. Be sure to check with your garden nursery on the variety. Plant into well-worked soil with added compost and a slow release fertiliser, after all risk of frost has passed. If you wish to grow them in direct sunlight, choose a cultivar developed for full sun, such as PanAmerican Seed’s ‘Chocolate Mint’ and ‘Watermelon’ coleuses. Your coleus will last well into the fall months if you give it soil that feeds it instead of limiting it. Mixing the seeds with fine sand before sowing can help you to spread the seeds more evenly with a bit more of a gap between the seeds. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. The most common cultivars include the Wizard series, Kong series, Fairway series, Premium Sun series, and Black Dragon. Seed your own. Basic potting soil mixed with some organic matter like eggshells or compost is ideal. Pursuant to U.S. Raising coleus from seed is relatively easy. Coleus plant care indoors: Provide bright indirect sunlight, temperatures of 65-75°F, and moderate to high humidity levels. Coleus tends toward brittle legginess, so they are best used in displays with other coleus or with other plants. What Is Día de Los Reyes (Three Kings' Day)? Plant the rooted cuttings in small pots and keep near a sunny window for the winter. Watering. Growing coleus indoors is definitely possible, provided you give it enough moisture, heat, and humidity. Recipes. Try this planting combination with solenostemon, for a shady window box . Celebrity interviews, recipes and health tips delivered to your inbox. Light: Different coleus varieties have varying light needs, so check the plant tag or dig into our Our Favorite Varieties section below.Most newer coleus varieties thrive anywhere from full sun to deep shade. Coleus was first discovered in 1853 in the mountains of Java, which is Indonesia’s most populous island today. Because coleus plants need warm weather, growing them in pots outside allows you to take them indoors in winter. For best results, use an all-purpose, organic, liquid fertilizer. Coleus blumei are tropical plants that are mainly grown for their leaves.These plants are easy to grow are have very colorful leaves. Remove all the leaves from the lower part of the stem and submerge in a glass of water positioned in a warm, sunny spot for a couple of weeks until roots start to emerge from the leaf node, then transplant out. Several cuttings may be placed together in one container. The plant does bloom occasionally at the end of long stalks; trim the stalks for a more compact, bushy plant. Step by step easy to follow instructions showing you how to grow Coleus Plants from seed. Incorrect email or username/password combination. Growing coleus in pots is a lot like growing it in the ground with a few important differences. Can You Solve This Coin Probability Problem? The cut should be made just below a leaf node, and you can then remove all of the leaves from the stem except for the top pair. Coleus genus provides us with gorgeous species that come in distinct colors, patterns, and leaf textures. Thanks for signing up! Give coleus full sun from a southern exposure to maintain bright foliage colors, but will adapt to eastern or western exposure, Does well under artificial light, needing 14 hours of light each day. Coleuses are tender, tropical plants originally from Southeast Asia and Malaysia, so they do best potted, as this keeps the roots warmer than when you plant them in the ground. Coleuses can also be successfully grown indoors as houseplants. Your account was created. For best results, plant the seeds indoors, 8–10 weeks before the last frost is expected in your area. To have luck with coleus in the garden, keep the following tips in mind. ‘Mardi Gras’ is compact and has red, green and yellow leaves. Water properly. Be sure to monitor water levels carefully. Step 4: Watch the coleus root Care for Coleus Plant. You can also start them from seeds indoors two or three weeks before the spring temperatures start climbing. Here Are 55+ of the Best Coronavirus Memes We’ve Seen So Far, Ready to Grow? Caring for coleus is just as easy. Tips. To propagate coleus, cut a stem 10-15cm long just below a leaf node. Not all eye-catching plants in the garden flaunt flowers. ‘Brilliancy’ has bright red leaves with green scalloped edges. When the top ½ inch of soil dries out, soak the pot well. In 1763, coleus was part of the Ocimum genus. Place indoor grown coleus in a location that receives bright light, such as in a southern or eastern window, or under full-spectrum lighting. Refresh your page, login and try again. Keep the soil slightly moist when the plant is actively growing, but drier conditions in winter months. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Media Group. We've Got Tons of Info to Help You Decide. Today’s coleuses come in a wide variety of stunning color combinations. It looks as though you’ve already said that. Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance All of these should be removed, leaving only the topmost leaves. The 26 Best Online Games to Play With Friends While Social Distancing, 28 Classic Dishes for a True Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. You are posting comments too quickly. Ad Choices. Find coleus in the nursery as grown plants, or try growing your own from seed. In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid plant food to stimulate new growth. ‘Pineapple’ has bright lime-gold leaves with burgundy stems. While coleus is a hardy plant, it is not very drought tolerant. This spring and summer, light up your garden with easy-to-grow coleus. If you use a humidity cover, make sure the seeds receive indirect light as direct sunshine will cause the seeds to cook. You seem to be logged out. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Get ’Em Here! Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. Coleus are in the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Notification, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Moist, especially newly planted coleus Far, Ready to grow Los Reyes ( three '! It to be started from seed a slow release fertiliser, after all danger of frost is expected your... 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