General Care Tips Don’t worry if your coleus has been neglected for a long period of time. With the impressive array of colors on the unusual frilly edges leaves, it’s not hard to see why this variety has long been a favorite among the Coleus plants. They just need to be kept moist, and that’s it! I, for one, love them, as do many others. Alocasia varieties, of which there are about 70, are smaller than their Colocasia cousins, growing up to 6 feet high and wide. The right amount of sunlight and adequate watering is required so as to ensure that it does not become unhealthy or that it will not die. Coleus are grown as ornamental plants. Coleus are great in containers and combine beautifully with other plants as you can see here from my melange. Bring potted coleus indoors before temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit in fall. 4 (20 x 12 in/51 x 31 cm) flats at 700 - 800 seedlings per flat. Coleus Care Guide Light. However, being a warm weather loving plant, it will not survive a harsh, cold winter. Coleus is an aromatic plant, which smells like camphor plant. Snip off spindly stems with sharp shears, ideally a short distance above a leaf node. Transplants should only be planted... COLEUS CARE. This plant sporadically blooms blue flowers throughout the year, but they are uninteresting compared to the plant’s foliage, and like most Coleus plants, it is recommended that the flowers be removed to preserve energy for leaf production and growth. Coleus also have a wide variety of leaf sizes and overall shapes. GREENHOUSE: For early pot culture, sow in Dec. For bedding plant sales, sow Jan. 30th. This is another series of cultivars that feature several similarly styled plants with slight color variations. Perhaps you know them as painted nettle or poor man’s croton, depending on where you’re located, but for many of us we simply know them as coleus plants (Coleus blumei). A rapidly growing and vibrant plant, this Coleus would liven up any dull corners of your garden. With a wide range of size, shape and color options it can be hard to decide. They are heat-tolerant, but they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. Allowing the plant to get some natural light but giving it shade during the heat of the day will result in the best color on the foliage of the plant. Sitting directly in a North, East or West facing window will be perfect, you may get away with a South facing window if the sunlight is filtered. Christmas Tree Economics: Are Baby Boomers Killing the Christmas Tree Industry? Coleus love warm, humid environments, so make sure that they retain moisture. Popular varieties include the Alocasia macrorrhizos (aka Giant Taro), which gets very large, and the Alocasia amazonica (aka Alocasia polly), which stays smaller. In fact, the plants root so easily that you can even start cuttings in a glass of water. When watering the seedlings, add water to the bottom tray so that the roots can absorb it from underneath; this serves to protect the growing seedlings, which are not yet very strong. Coleus plant care indoors: Provide bright indirect sunlight, temperatures of 65-75°F, and moderate to high humidity levels. This tender annual comes in many shades of color, leaf texture, and sizes. The coleus plant needs a certain amount of care to be able to grow properly. The leaf shape is also somewhat uncommon, with the frilly edge of the leaves giving the appearance that it could almost be made from fabric. ‘Giant Exhibition Palisandra’ is an ideal choice for the shaded gardens and indoor spaces. It can be grown underneath other taller container plants, such as a small tree in a container. Intro: Coleus is a colorful container plant for shadier balcony gardens. I'm hoping to be able to propagate it and keep it going over the winter. While the Inky Toes plant has leaves which are reminiscent of duck feet, the Inky Fingers plant has a wider spread on the rounded bumps of the leaf edges, giving it more of an impression of a hand shape. They usually have green outer edges that appear to be an outline of the dark red interior. 2. Plant coleus close together as bedding plants or tuck them into baskets and containers for a fast growing and spectacular addition. Now few Quick tips on how to care for Coleus: Its basically a shade plant, but the best leaf color is achieved with morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade. The general color pattern is a thick green edging that transforms inwards into shades of red and pink. How to Grow and Care for Coleus in Containers. The Coleus plant loves the shade, making it an ideal plant for bringing some bright and vibrant color to darker corners of your garden. Coleus 'Giant Fantasy'(height 24"-30"; upright)Tall coleus with large, deeply lobed fantasy leaves of burgundy edged in bright green. Its much variety does survive well in partial shade and shade type. Follow the instructions on the label for the size of your planting area. COLEUS Annual. Coleus plant leaves come in shades of red, green, white and yellow. Caring for Coleus in Containers Growing coleus in a pot is an ideal way to keep it. Kiwi fern is low maintenance coleus that brings delicate and fine texture to any garden. Most are vibrantly colored and easy to care for, though some have slightly different growing requirements. Coleus is probably one of the easiest plants to grow and propagate. This means that no matter what area you are looking to put coleus, you can find one that will be perfect. They need to be kept moist, especially newly planted coleus. Caring for coleus is just as easy. If you don’t have an appropriate spot with afternoon shade, there are some Coleus varieties that can tolerate afternoon sun, but be sure to research your variety before you buy it and ensure you have an ideal area for it to thrive. In cultivation, plants grow well in moist well-drained soil, and are usually 0.5–1 m (1.6–3.3 ft) tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 m (6.6 ft). This colorful coleus variety prefers a warm climate, partial shade, and well-draining soil. Apr 11, 2012 - Wonderful foliage bursting with color and adding contrast to gardens and containers. There are too many to choose from! They provide bold and interesting color as well as texture to the landscape. How to Care for a Coleus Plant. The man that sold it to me said it required a long growing season. How often should I fertilize? Have you ever wondered how to get your coleus plant to look as lush and full as the ones you see in the pages of glossy garden magazines? Let us know how it’s doing! To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. These popular varieties are often used as container plants, as they fare exceptionally well in pots. 1-800-396-9238 Retail Location Closure. The best time to repot your Coleus is in early spring, and as a moisture-loving plant, you may want to think carefully about the construction of the container you are using. The vivid green leaves have a dainty shape which gives a graceful look to the plant. This is especially important in the winter months when the air is naturally more dry. Don’t allow the soil to dry out at any time, but don’t overwater so that it gets soggy. Flowers will appear on the plant in the summer, but they pale in comparison to the beauty of the brightly colored foliage, so it is best to remove the flowers at the stem as soon as you notice buds appearing (Horticulture Magazine). This Coleus plant has rich brown leaves with a bright green edging. Use a mixture that contains plenty of perlite, which will help to ensure the soil drains well as well as aerating it. Please be advised that our Thorold, ON retail store will be closed until further notice. About coleus plants. You can also pinch the shoots of young coleus plants to produce bushier growth. Typically growing to 60–75 cm (24–30 in) tall and wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen perennial, widely grown for the highly decorative variegated leaves found in cultivated varieties. Coleus 'Japanese Giant' (height 24"-36"; upright) Large red and purple leaves have a bright green center. Water thoroughly. - Mar. Home vegetable fruit herb bulb flower foliageplant shrub houseplant blogs see all. Typically, most varieties enjoy a mix of plentiful shade and bright light, though some cultivars have now been developed that can withstand all-day sun (Home and Garden Information Center). Added to this unusual texture is the vivid red and burgundy coloring on the leaves, and the result is a very sultry and dramatic looking plant. They need to be kept moist, especially newly planted coleus. feature colorful foliage in shades green, yellow, pink, red, purple and cream. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! This plant would have lots of shade in its natural tropical habitat, where tall trees would protect it from the sun, so try to replicate this at home by providing the Coleus with ample protection from the sun’s harsh rays. Once the cutting is ready, you can plant it up in a longer term home and continue usual Coleus care. To promote denser and more compact growth, pinch out flower spikes before they elongate. Learn How to grow Coleus in a pot, Growing coleus plant, Propagate Coleus by cutting, pest problem plectranthus scutellarioides, coleus care in this article. Let’s dive into this plant. Palisandra Giant Exhibition Coleus Seeds A Black Velvet Canopy for the Garden, Container, or Indoor Beauty! While it is considered a tender perennial, most gardeners treat coleus as an annual. Although Kong coleus is an annual in many climates (frost kills the plant), it is easily grown and well worth the effort to replant every spring. Long considered coleus shade plant, but the color of its leaves in the morning sun is the most accurate. Avoid over-watering, as coleus can develop root rot and fungus diseases quickly in poorly drained soil. COLEUS Annual GREENHOUSE: For early pot culture, sow in Dec. For bedding plant sales, sow Jan. 30th. Reviewed by . They run the exposure gamut from shade to sun. ‘Japanese Giant ’– This cultivar has unusually large leaves that are red and purple with bright green centers. If your Coleus plants are growing in the ground, then a slow release fertilizer may be a good option. The simplest method is to use a seedling tray full of potting soil and evenly spread seeds across it. For waterings following this, only water once the soil has started to go dry. How to Water and Fertilize Coleus. The base color is a creamy colored yellow, with green segments in a feathered pattern. Coleus Plant Care Light. Coleus can benefit with bottom heat. Kong Mosaic Coleus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. 1-800-396-9238 Retail Location Closure. Some of the many varieties available are listed below. In their infancy, the cause of the most stunningly colored foliage—in combinations of green, and... 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