Common Name. Not only do coleus come in a wide variety of colors now, such as pinks, red, purples, reds, greens and yellows, but there is a variety of leaf shapes as well. Solenostemon rotundifolius is most commonly grown for the edible roots, but the young stems and leaves are also edible. If flowers do develop, pinch them off as coleus that put energy toward blossoming tend to see decline in foliage. Spray them with a steady stream of water or apply insecticidal soap or oil to both sides of the leaves. To dig up coleus from its existing spot, insert your spade into the soil four to six inches from the coleus plant. If the soil is allowed to dry out, the foliage will start to wilt. 08/15/2020 at 11:31 am. In other words, something for everyone! How do you care for a coleus plant? Pinch the oldest leaves down, taking leaves from the backside of the plant. The coleus fad faded away, as fads always do, and only people who grew coleus from heirloom seeds had them in their gardens throughout most of the 20th century. Plant it in the spring after the last frost and it quickly attains its mature height of 1 to 2 feet, depending on the variety. Coleus can be formal and traditional or downright playful, depending on the cultivar and planting technique. In winter, give coleus a time release fertilizer at half strength. 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. if ($(window).width() < 1025) { (If you aren’t sure of your soil’s pH level, click here to read about how to test your soil’s pH. Coleus doesn’t tolerate wet feet. Tilt the spade back and forth to release the plant from the soil along with the clump of soil surrounding its roots. Coleus is a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. In addition to hummingbirds, coleus blooms will attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden. In the hottest seasons, coleus may need to be watered twice a day. Some gardeners grow coleus outdoors and overwinter cuttings of coleus to grow new plants from in the spring. Temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit are a threat to coleus plants, so once the thermometer dips to 50, coleus should be brought indoors or placed in a sheltered spot outdoors (like a shed). Do not store seeds in plastic, such as a plastic bag, or they will rot. Coleus seeds are usually found in mixtures, offering several varieties of colors and sizes in one seed mix. When growing coleus, keep in mind that these beauties can grow rapidly. Yes, coleus plants are known to attract butterflies. It has pink to fuchsia leaves and grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Drip irrigation is preferable to overhead sprinklers. Coleus for partial to full sun: (If you aren’t sure of your soil’s pH level, click here to read about how to test your soil’s pH. In winter, give coleus a time release fertilizer at half the strength directed in the instructions. You will be able to see the roots once they grow. Does anyone have any good working links. They have endless variations in color, shape and patterns, and work well as a focal point or a compliment to other plants. Coleus is known as a shade plant but there are many new varieties that can take the sun too; they like plenty of organic matter and moist soil. They have endless variations in color, shape and patterns, and work well as a focal point or a compliment to other plants. They’re so resilient that you can almost cut them back to ground level and they’ll come back. Plant the coleus you dig up in a container with drainage holes using a soil-free peat mixture. Hummingbirds are attracted to coleus’ flowers when it is in bloom, and they’re also drawn to the pink and red hues of its foliage year-round. Lv 4. Some cultivars have a trailing habit, making them ideal for container culture. Like most houseplants, it's best to water when the top inch or so of the potting mix dries to the touch. One great thing about using coleus is that it only takes 6-12 months to have a good looking standard compared to years for plants like rosemary or bay to become a decent size standard. ‘Japanese Giant’ has big burgundy leaves with pink and violet highlights. I bring it in … Talk about beautiful foliage and versatility all in one plant! At 30 degrees, cold damage can occur, and at 25 degrees, coleus will die. Too much exposure to direct sunlight will make the coleus fade in color. Using clean shears sterilized in a teaspoon of bleach and two cups of water, take cuttings four to six inches long by cutting just below a leaf node. Your plants are ready to move back outdoors when nighttime temperatures no longer fall to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Coleus is not recommended for human or animal consumption. Yes, cutting back coleus helps the plant to grow fuller and stronger, creating a bushier shape. This plant is sterile and produces few blooms. It’s even being tested to see if coleus cell cultures may be useful in production of a compound called rosmarinic acid which has anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Coleus is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, sometimes succulent, sometimes with a fleshy or tuberous rootstock, found in the Old World tropics and subtropics. 1 decade ago. The oils in coleus plants are toxic to cats and dogs. Coleus is generally grown from nursery transplants, but you can also start it from seed — an economical choice if you want to fill a large area. } Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), with its beautiful, heart-shaped foliage, is the darling of the annual shade garden (though some varieties are adapted to full sun). Nell Foster says. Filed Under: Growing Flowers Tagged With: Coleus, growing coleus, how to grow coleus, how to grow flame nettle, how to grow painted leaf, Your email address will not be published. It takes coleus cuttings between two and three weeks to take root. Avoid bright midday sunlight, however, as it can result in sunscald or cause foliage to fade. I really liked the site called coleus finder but most of the links are dead. As an indoor plant, coleus will live for many years if placed near a bright window and kept away from drafts or intense heat sources. If ingested, they can cause diarrhea, vomiting, depression, or loss of appetite. In other cases, cut or pinch wherever two stems or two leaves branch out from the main stem, and two new stems will sprout from the pinched spot. Log in to reply to the answers Post; Red witch. This cultivar grows to a height of 12 inches and is relatively smaller in size compared to the rest of the Coleus plants. Using starter trays or pots and pre-moistened sterile potting mix, the seeds should be placed on the surface and gently pressed into the soil. It is an evergreen perennial, though in many zones it is grown as an annual. While a pinch will always benefit a coleus crop, we have new research that shows FlameThrower is successful with no pinch and no PGR for a target week 15 finish. Coleus does not tolerate cold weather or cold soil well, and in fact, will grow its best when temperatures are above 70 degrees. New roots should form within a few weeks, and the plant can be planted in pots. Feed monthly with a diluted house plant fertilizer. New leaves will sprout up in their place, and they should have the color intensity you covet. They’re also very easy to grow into a standard. Western Region. Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) have a tough constitution but are easy to grow. Coleus is suitable for growing in areas ranging from full sun to medium shade. Whichever season you choose, make sure to do your transplanting on a cool day so that the plant doesn’t experience increased stress from the weather. Keep soil where coleus is growing moist but not wet or waterlogged. However, always be careful not to overwater, as too much water will destroy the roots and leave the plant unable to absorb any water or nutrients. Midwest, Canada and Northeast Region. Botanical Name. Coleus can be used in your gardens, containers, patio gardens, flower arrangements or even as a houseplant. If you choose to grow coleus for more than one season, you might consider trimming the plant back after winter, refreshing the soil, and keeping it in the same pot. Shade-loving coleus with blended leaf color provides vivid color and wild markings even in the darkest corners of your yard. The large and upright, velvety leaves grow well in full sun to full shade. For this reason, if your area is likely to see temperatures of 50 or below, growing coleus in containers is recommended. When they’re cared for well, coleus plants can grow up to 36 inches tall. Germination takes 10 - 12 days if kept at 72 degrees F. They are also simple to propagate from cuttings. 0 2 0. Plant coleus close together as bedding plants or tuck them into baskets and containers for a fast growing and … The lower growing dwarf varieties (6-12 inch) will create a colorful border, or you can use the taller (up to 36") types as a dramatic background planting. There are more than 600 varieties of coleus to choose from! Some coleus leaves are small with ruffles, whereas others are large with bold ripples. Nourish coleus plants in spring with slow-release fertilizer pellets, or feed weekly with liquid fertilizer, during the growing season. In mid-season, if they start to get leggy don’t hesitate to cut them back by half. 2.5. Strip all the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, and if desired, treat the bottom end with rooting hormone. Cuttings may also be taken from coleus and overwintered indoors to start new plants in the spring. Planting coleus in full sun will result in the most vibrant colors in its foliage, though an excess of sunlight can cause foliage to fade. As mentioned, this Coleus and the highly colourful bedding Coleus, are not hardy, so need to be sheltered or raised as annuals in gardens with winter freezes. Though coleus is easy to propagate and is related to mint, it is not normally considered invasive. Gardeners in other zones can grow coleus in containers and bring it inside during cold weather, or they can grow coleus as a houseplant. Plant your coleus in a sturdy container that won’t tip over if it does get to be 2 feet tall. In general, the lighter the color of a coleus variety’s foliage, the more shade it prefers. These include the species Solenostemon rotundifolius and Coleus forskohlii. Every week see the 10 best gardening photos to inspire your gardening projects. ‘Burgundy Sun’ grows 2 feet tall and produces deep burgundy leaves. Choose a location for coleus where it will get plenty of sun (like a sunny windowsill) and the temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. These midsize coleus are good for filling gaps. Coleus also needs to be kept in a proper temperature, preferably 60 degrees F or higher. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. After flowers have faded and dropped their petals, seed pods should be plump, dry, brown, and ready to harvest. This one is only about 4 months along. In bright spots indoors, it keeps its colorful leaves all year long. If earth clings to your skin, the soil is still damp, and you shouldn’t water just yet. Coleus plants blossom with spikes of miniature flowers in white or shades of blue. Keep soil consistently moist, bearing in mind that coleus needs less water in the winter than it does the rest of the year. Choose a location with moist soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0 that drains well. Find a spot for your coleus plant where it will get plenty of bright sunlight, though it’s best to avoid bright midday sun to prevent sunscald and the possibility of sun-faded foliage. These varieties are easy to grow -- just plant them in a shady but warm spot; give them enough water to keep the soil moist, but not wet; and add a little fertilizer. Coleus is fairly disease-resistant, but does suffer from root rot, which is evidenced by stunted growth and browned, muddy-looking leaves. You may choose to overwinter coleus in a container filled with water (no soil). Sow the seeds in slightly moist, light potting mix, but do not cover them with soil because they need light to germinate. medianet_width = "1120"; medianet_height = "250"; Coleus are frequently used as “lab rat” plants. They're vigorous growers and leaf size ranges from 1- 8 inches or more, and plants can grow up to 36 inches tall. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. They are awesome they have a reservoir for water that would help your plant when you are … Some will grow up to 4 or 5 feet while others stay in the 2- to 3-foot range. Gardening Channel. Otherwise, it is grown as an annual. Similarly, how do you keep coleus over the winter? They have endless variations in color, shape and patterns, and work well as a focal point or a compliment to other plants. medianet_versionId = "111299"; You can remove the flowers. Fertilize coleus monthly during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer. Make these applications on cloudy days, though, because sunlight can scorch the leaves. Gardeners in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 can cultivate coleus outdoors year-round. Outdoors, coleus can live year-round in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 13, which have the mildest winters. All Rights Reserved. When she’s not writing about gardening, food and canning, Julie Christensen enjoys spending time in her gardens, which include perennials, vegetables and fruit trees. 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