Coleus flower, what’s wrong with the name of this amazing semi-shrub plant and why is propagation of coleus by cuttings considered the most effective and correct?
How to care for your unpretentious pet so that it can delight you with its extraordinary beauty as an annual or perennial plant?
The answers to these questions, as well as a description of the process of propagating my coleus by cuttings, followed by “care” for young plants without any experiments and the result obtained with an analysis of the mistakes I made - you will find all this by reading this publication to the end.
Home care
Caring for Coleus at home is simple and does not require much effort.
Actions after purchase
When buying coleus in a store, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- It is better to do this in early spring
- Buy a plant not with a single sprouted leaf, but with a good crown;
- Do not buy a plant in bloom;
- Carefully inspect it for diseases and pests.
After purchase, you can leave it in the same pot, unless it is too small (there are no roots sticking out of the drainage hole) and if it is not an imported specimen. They usually use transport soil, which is not suitable for further cultivation.
Lighting
Most Coleus are light-loving, but direct sunlight can burn their delicate leaves. The most suitable would be the southwest or southeast side of the apartment. In hot midday hours it is better to shade it.
To ensure that the crown and color of the leaves are uniform, from time to time you need to turn the pot towards the light in different directions.
In winter it needs good light, otherwise it will become very stretched and the leaves will fade.
Important! Plants with lighter colored leaves tolerate bright light better than dark varieties.
Temperature
During active growth, the flower needs a temperature of at least 20 degrees. It will not disappear even at 12, but in winter, when it is at rest.
Watering
Coleus reacts very painfully to a lack of moisture, begins to droop its leaves and can even shed them when it dries out. In summer, when the plant is actively growing, it should be watered as soon as the top layer of soil dries. In winter, watering is done no more than 1-2 times a week.
Air humidity
High air humidity is a prerequisite for good plant development. It requires frequent spraying - up to 2 times a day in summer. You can place the pot with it in a tray with wet pebbles or place a container with it next to the flower.
The soil
Any fertile soil will suit coleus, as long as it is well-drained and loose. Usually a mixture of leaf, turf and peat soil with sand is used.
Top dressing
To maintain the beauty and decorativeness of the leaves, the flower needs to be fed, especially in spring and summer.
Mineral fertilizers containing potassium are good to combine with organic matter.
Nitrogen is a mandatory element of fertilizing, as it is responsible for the brightness of the color of the leaves.
Coleus needs to be fed once a week when it is growing and once a month in the fall and winter.
Important! In winter, the concentration of fertilizer should be half as much.
Planting in houses and gardens
Planting can be done either by seeds or cuttings. It is produced in early spring. The seeds germinate quickly, and after just a few months the plant delights with its luxurious leaves.
Because of its heat-loving nature, coleus does not tolerate too low temperatures, so it should be planted in the garden only after hardening and in already warmed soil. The landing site should be windless and slightly protected from direct sun by an openwork shade.
Transfer
If coleus is grown as a perennial plant, then it needs replanting once every 2 years. It is done when the plant becomes crowded. You need to take a larger pot, prepare a fresh substrate and simply transfer the plant into it
Trimming
Flowering greatly weakens the plant. Peduncles should be trimmed as soon as they appear. Long shoots are also removed. In order for the plant to bush well, its tops are pinched. Spring cardinal pruning of the flower is also important.
Growing from seeds
Coleus reproduces well by seeds.
Small seeds are scattered on a layer of soil and sprinkled with sand on top.
The soil should be moist.
The first shoots appear after 15-20 days and are planted in a container at a distance of 2 cm from each other.
When 1-2 pairs of leaves appear, the sprouts are planted in small pots 7 cm in diameter.
After another month, they are transferred to larger pots (9-11 cm).
Next, care for them as for an adult plant.
Important! The decorative effect of new plants appears 5-6 months after planting the seeds.
Reproduction
In addition to seeds, coleus is propagated by cuttings. They can be taken when pruning the plant at the end of February. Cuttings with the lower leaves removed are immersed in water. When roots appear, they are planted in a prepared substrate in small pots. Temperature is about 18 degrees. This indoor flower is characterized by rapid growth, so after 2-3 months a good crown with large leaves grows.
Growing coleus from seeds
Coleus seeds of different varieties, as well as varietal mixtures, can often be found in flower shops. It is recommended to purchase seeds only from resistant, proven varieties.
The seeds are sown at the end of winter in a damp sand-peat mixture, sprayed, covered with film and placed in a warm, bright place. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated, the soil is moistened as it dries.
Shoots appear in 7-10 days.
After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the seedlings are planted, and when they grow 15 cm, they are planted in separate pots.
Coleus at home
Despite the possibility of growing the crop in open ground, it is more often used as a houseplant. This is due to the fact that at home it is much easier to provide the optimal lighting, temperature and humidity conditions necessary for the full development of the crop.
Let's take a closer look at the main methods that can be used to propagate this ornamental plant at home.
Growing from seeds
Sowing seeds at home is no different from the procedure carried out in open ground. The purchased seeds are sown in containers with light nutrient soil, sprinkled with a small amount of sand, lightly watered and covered with glass. After this, the container is transferred to a cool room for 7-10 days, and when the first shoots appear, the plants are planted in separate pots.
Once the plant has formed several true leaves and a strong root system, they can be transplanted into permanent pots.
Growing from cuttings
The cutting method is an even simpler way to obtain high-quality planting material. But for this you need at least one adult plant. During the pruning process, you will in any case be left with pieces of shoots that can be used to grow new crops (Figure 3).
Coleus propagation by cuttings is carried out as follows:
- The shoot is shortened so that its length does not exceed 10 cm.
- The lower part is freed from leaves and immersed in moist, light soil.
- Each cutting is covered with film or a plastic bottle, transferred to a warm room and kept at a temperature of about 20 degrees.
Figure 3. Growing an adult plant from a cutting
The rooting process takes no more than 10 days, after which the sprouts can be carefully removed from the soil and transplanted into permanent pots.
Home care
Like planting, caring for the plant does not cause significant difficulties. The main thing is to water the plant on time, using settled soft water. In addition, when grown at home, it requires mineral supplements, especially in spring and summer. They are applied to the soil weekly, but in winter the frequency can be reduced to once a week (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Features of care at home and in the open ground
Since coleus is a tropical plant, it is necessary to maintain optimal air humidity for it. In the summer, periodic spraying of the leaves will successfully cope with this task, and in the winter it is enough to place flower pots in trays with moistened expanded clay. Removing buds is also a mandatory condition for caring for the crop. Without this, plants will spend their vital energy on flowering, and not on forming lush bushes. In addition, during the period of vegetative dormancy, it is necessary to carry out rejuvenating pruning, shortening the shoots by 5-7 cm to stimulate branching.
Coleus diseases
The main diseases are associated with improper care or placement of the plant. For example, if pruning is not done in a timely manner, the shoots of a bush become very elongated, become thin and brittle. The same process occurs if the plant does not have enough light. Conversely, under very intense lighting, bright and colorful leaves turn pale, and when excess moisture accumulates at the roots, they fall off.
Common pests that are dangerous to the plant include spider mites, whiteflies and aphids. To combat ticks, both in open ground and at home, acaricides are used. A regular soap solution used to treat the leaves and stems will help eliminate aphids on coleus in a pot, while in open ground insecticides are used for this purpose, as well as to combat whiteflies.
Description of the plant
Coleus
Coleus is the Latin name for the plant. People simply call it nettle, since the flower in its natural environment is a bit like nettle, but with bright leaves. Belongs to the genus of evergreen, perennial plants from the Lamiaceae family. Its homeland is considered to be Africa and Asia. The flowers are inconspicuous and simple, but they smell nice.
Interesting!
On the island of Java, coleus is planted along the edges of coffee plantations to protect the plantings from wild boars.
The height of the crop can be different and depends on the type, variety, and place of growth. It has a strong stem, which is usually woody at the base. Leaves are the main quality of a plant. They are heart-shaped, jagged at the edges. They are the most decorative, aesthetic part of culture. The color of the leaves can be very diverse: burgundy, purple, red, yellow, brown, green, with spots or stripes. There can be one or two colors, sometimes more.
Coleus propagation
Coleus are propagated by seeds and, mainly, cuttings, in order to avoid splitting and loss of decorativeness of the leaves.
Coleus seeds are small (3500 pieces in 1 g), they are sown in February-March-April in bowls and sprinkled with sand on top. Keep at a temperature of 20-22°C. Shoots appear on the 14-18th day. Seedlings are planted in bowls or boxes at a distance of 2x2 cm. The composition of the soil is as follows: leaf - 1 part, peat - 1 part, turf - 1 part, sand - 1 part.
In the phase of 1-2 pairs of leaves, coleus are planted in 7-centimeter pots, 1 copy each. The composition of the earth is the same. After a month, they are transferred into 9-11 cm pots. The main care of plants consists of watering and keeping them in a lighted place, since the intensity of the color of the leaves largely depends on the lighting (sun rays). Young plants are pinched for branching purposes. After 5-6 months, plants become important for decorating rooms.
Propagating Coleus Guy Grigsby and Amy Fieling
Plant cuttings begin in February, but this can be done until May. Coleus cuttings are planted in distribution boxes or directly on a rack in the sand. Rooting occurs within 8-12 days. Rooted cuttings are planted in 9-centimeter pots. The composition of the soil is the same as for picking. In order to obtain branched plants, pinch the tops of the shoots.
When caring for plants, watering, ventilation, a temperature of 16-18°C, a bright, possibly moderately sunny location are provided (with significant solar insolation, curling of the edges of the plate and discoloration of the leaf color are observed at high temperatures at night and low during the day). Coleus are characterized by intensive growth - within 3 months they are branched plants with large leaves. Then they are transferred into 11-centimeter pots.
How and when to pinch coleus
Pinching is done in order to give the plant a bush shape. This should be done exclusively with young plants. To do this, it is enough just to break off the upper part of the main stem after three pairs of leaves have formed on it. After this, it is worth pinch off from time to time the excess stems, the growth of which is directed towards the inside of the bush.
This procedure will help stimulate the development of new branches with denser and more lush foliage, which will significantly improve the appearance of the green pet. Such a plant looks more neat and compact, it is pleasant to look at, and it is convenient to care for.
It is important to remember that not pinching will significantly worsen the appearance of the flower. So, the main stem will stretch, grow in breadth, and then shoot out the arrows.
Such a plant significantly loses attractiveness points. However, this can be fixed. To do this, you need to trim the main shoot (use a clean pruner or a sharp knife). Sprouts that will go to the sides after pruning need to be pinched.
When caring for young nettles, it is important not to miss the moment when you can and should pinch the stem. This will help avoid the need to injure an adult plant, which tolerates pruning much harder than a young one.
Coleus: planting and care at home
To grow indoors, the plant is planted when it reaches a height of 15 cm, regardless of the propagation method. Suitable planting time is late March - early April. And by summer the room will be decorated with a full-fledged flower.
Coleus at home requires minimal attention
High-quality drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, since the flower loves watering, but does not tolerate stagnant liquid.
The flower has characteristics and care requirements. They are taken into account when growing flowers indoors.
Temperature
Temperatures are important for successful growth and flowering. Winter temperature is required to be at least 12 °C. The rest of the time, the thermometer readings are within 15-25 °C. The temperature should be stable and without sudden changes. Lower rates slow down the development of the plant and destroy its elegant shape.
Lighting
The indoor coleus flower prefers bright, diffused light. Direct rays destroy it: the bushes stop growing, the leaves turn yellow, and they get burned. To prevent this situation, windows facing east or west are selected.
Note! By placing the coleus on a south window, the flower is shaded during the day. Northern windows are illuminated with fluorescent lamps
Watering
In winter, water as the soil dries out. At other times, the soil is kept moist. Water for irrigation is settled and slightly heated. Leaves should remain dry when watering.
From time to time the water is acidified. Use lemon juice (3–5 drops per 1 liter of liquid) or acid (0.2 g per 1 liter). The procedure will enhance the brightness of the foliage. Hydrogen peroxide (20 ml per 1 liter of water) is also suitable.
For your information! Flower growers recommend watering a flower growing in open ground or indoors with nettle infusion.
Humidity
To maintain humidity in the room, place a container with moistened sand or expanded clay next to the pot. And the pot itself is placed in a tray containing wet pebbles.
Growing coleus at home is a fun activity, especially for a beginner.
Priming
The soil chosen is loose and fertile with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. You can buy a soil mixture for flowers growing in the house, or you can prepare the soil yourself. There are two cooking methods:
- mix leaf soil (or turf), humus, peat, sand in a ratio of 4:3:1:1;
- mix leaf and turf soil, sand and peat in equal volumes.
Important! Moss, brick chips, coconut substrate, and coal powder are added to each mixture.
Feeding
From the first days of March until the end of summer, fertilizing is applied weekly. Complex mineral compositions for home flowers are used. In autumn, watering and fertilizing are carried out less frequently, and in winter the flower is fed once every 30 days, and the amount of substance is halved.
Features of winter care
Winter is the most difficult time that indoor coleus experiences. Due to lack of sunlight, the flower loses its picturesque appearance. The shoots stretch out, the leaves become dull, the lower ones dry out and fall off. Florists who do not want to care for such a plant simply dispose of it and re-grow it from seeds in the spring.
Those who do not want to part with the flower carry out the activities described below.
- Urgently place the pot in the sunniest place in the house, rarely water it to prevent the activation of stem growth.
- To prevent the plant from dying from low temperatures, the pot is placed on a thermal insulation pad (for example, polystyrene foam).
- Water is not left in the tray of the pot, and after watering it is immediately poured out.
- The watering schedule is being revised depending on the temperature in the apartment. If it is hot, the plant is watered once a week and once a month with the addition of mineral fertilizers.
- If necessary, maintain the room temperature at 15–18 °C. The plant will stop growing upward. But in this case, watering is carried out once every 3-4 weeks, and fertilizers are not applied at all.
- Fresh air has a positive effect on the plant, but not a draft.
Winter is a difficult time for coleus
During the winter season, the coleus indoor plant weakens and loses its appearance. Putting the flower in order begins with pruning. And only the Black Dragon variety, which has a compact crown, can be saved from these actions.
Coleus pruning
In spring, shoots with faded foliage stretching upward are cut off. Stumps 10 cm high are left, where new buds soon appear, then new shoots. After this, the coleus will fluff up the foliage and return the original chic.
You can’t limit yourself to spring pruning. It is carried out regularly to:
- inhibit flower growth;
- activate the growth of shoots after pinching;
- create a beautiful shape;
- recreate decorative effect after winter;
- get cuttings.
Note! For cuttings, choose old shoots located a few centimeters from the top
Rest period
In winter, coleus enters a dormant period - its growth slows down.
The plant is prepared for the dormant period by gradually stopping feeding and reducing watering. It is advisable to keep the coleus at a cooler temperature during this time - +15o - +16o. At the same time, do not limit the light and maintain a high level of humidity. You need to water just enough so that the soil does not dry out.
Drastic pruning of coleus is carried out at the beginning of the growing season, cutting off all shoots up to 10 cm. Cuttings are rooted for propagation. They can be replanted with an old plant for greater bush density or planted in open ground with the onset of warm weather.
Coleus of different varieties
Propagation is carried out by seeds and cuttings. Both methods are simple and successful.
Problems, diseases, pests
Coleus suffer from aphids, spider mites, scale insects and whiteflies. Homemade coleus is more vulnerable than outdoor coleus. To prevent damage by parasites, you need to inspect the flower more often and wash it in the shower.
Insects are found on the underside of leaves. A signal that coleus may be infected is discoloration and deformation of the leaves. For treatment, you need to cut out the affected parts of the flower and treat the plant with an insecticide.
The main growing problems and diseases are associated with defects in care:
- rotting of the lower part of the stem: stagnation of moisture due to lack of drainage;
- the ends of the leaves become brown: dry air, little watering;
- coleus leaves fall: low temperature, drafts;
- light spots are visible on the leaves: direct exposure to the sun;
- leaves lose brightness: lack of lighting;
- coleus growth slows down: soil is too poor.
Coleus: home care
The plant stands out not only for the variegated color of its leaves, but also for its ease of care. Moreover, it can be grown both indoors and in the garden.
Lighting
This flower is very photophilous and needs bright light. Like all plants, it will feel truly comfortable not indoors, but outdoors. Suffocating rooms cannot compare in illumination with the street, even for varieties such as coleus.
The coleus plant has an interesting feature - its species can react differently to the sun. Species with bright colors, such as those with red, yellow, orange or white leaves, tolerate direct sunlight better than those with green leaves. At the same time, they need to be protected from an excessive amount of direct rays, especially if they grow in a room. The abundance of rays penetrating through the glass can lead not only to leaf burning and loss of turgor, but also to burns. Therefore, those who keep plants at home (for example, Coleus Blume) must take care of their shading.
Temperature
In summer, the optimal temperature for a flower is 18 - 25 °C; in winter it should not fall below 12 °C. If the temperature is too low, the coleus plant may lose its leaves and its roots begin to rot, which leads to its death. At high temperatures, the leaves become less elastic and wrinkled.
Watering
The flower is watered with warm, settled water. In spring and summer, its quantity should be sufficient, especially if the coleus is outdoors. It is very sensitive to a lack of moisture - when the soil is dry, the leaves become flabby, but at the same time it should not be flooded. At cool temperatures (14–16 °C), watering is reduced.
In winter, watering should be moderate
It is especially important at this time to avoid over-watering the soil, as this can lead to root rot, but you should also keep it slightly moist and not allow it to dry out.
It must be remembered that for all types of coleus, be it Coleus Forskolia, Coleus Black Dragon or another variety, overwatering is no less harmful than underwatering. Moreover, overwatering can be more destructive than underwatering. The reason is that waterlogged soil does not allow the roots to breathe and leads to their rotting. Root rot can very quickly destroy a flower.
Water for irrigation must be soft. It is unacceptable to water plants with unsettled tap water - it contains too many salts that damage the roots.
Water quality is very important for the well-being of the flower and is reflected in its appearance.
Before using water for irrigation, it must be left to sit for at least a day (it is best to allocate large containers for this, for example, five-liter plastic bottles). No more than 2/3 of their volume can be used for irrigation; the remaining third is discarded because it contains harmful sediment.
Water temperature also plays an important role. Cold water cannot be used because of the risk of overcooling the roots - as mentioned above, this leads to their rotting.
Humidity and spraying
All species, including Coleus Black Dragon, Coleus Forskolia, etc., require high air humidity for normal development. The optimal level of humidity for a plant is the one it can receive outside. Indoor humidity is sometimes insufficient, so care should be taken with spraying (in the warm season).
To do this, you also need to use only soft water, otherwise the salts contained in the water will leave stains on the leaves. When sprayed with hard water, the leaves gradually become covered with an indelible coating, which prevents the plant from breathing and worsens its health. It is advisable to use distilled or bottled water for these purposes. The ideal option is clean rainwater, which leaves no traces at all.
In winter, with the beginning of the heating season, indoor plants especially suffer from dry air. You can increase the humidity level by placing small containers of water next to the plant or placing it on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. However, in this case, you need to make sure that water from the tray does not penetrate into the pot through the lower holes and the soil does not become waterlogged.
Air humidity
Air humidity is maintained quite high. The air around the coleus is regularly sprayed , trying not to get on the foliage (water can leave stains on the leaves). Water containers located next to the plant also increase air humidity well.
You can place the pot with the plant on a tray with moistened pebbles or expanded clay. The bottom of the pot should not come into contact with water, so that the roots do not become waterlogged.
Coleus-Kong-Rose
Methods for propagating indoor coleus
Coleus reproduces in two types:
- seeds
- cuttings
Growing from seeds
Coleus can be easily grown from seeds that can withstand temperature changes well. In cold climates, annual plants are grown from seeds. However, amateur gardeners believe that in this way, a grown plant will not be able to convey all its distinctive properties and characteristics of a particular variety. The most expensive and unique specimens of coleus grown from seeds can be transplanted into a pot for the winter, try to preserve it throughout the winter, and at the end of the season propagate by cuttings. You can buy ready-made seeds at any flower shop.
It is better to sow coleus in March, when there is already a lot of sun outside. To do this, it is recommended to place the pot with sowing on a window in a sunny place. If the decision to sow was made in late autumn or winter, it is necessary to provide an additional light source.
Coleus can be easily grown from seeds that can withstand temperature changes well.
It is better to sow nettles in a flat or oblong box or pot. The soil must be moist, and after sowing it must be covered with cling film to create a greenhouse effect. You can also use glass, which will allow sunlight and heat to pass through. The distance between the seeds should not exceed 5 cm. The germination percentage of each seed is very high, so it is necessary to foresee the fact in advance so that the grown stems are not crowded in the pot. It is not necessary to make a hole for each seed. They can be scattered evenly over the surface of the soil, and then sprinkled with water from a spray bottle and covered with film or glass.
Propagation of coleus by cuttings
If you simply don’t have time to start seeds, you can propagate coleus using cuttings. In order for the cutting to take root, it must be placed in a pot with soil and left in a warm place. For quick germination, it is recommended to cover the pot with film to create an additional effect of warmth and moisture.
Coleus can be propagated using cuttings
Coleus - my introduction to the flower
Coleus in a pot
My acquaintance with coleus, one might say, happened completely by accident, in June 2022, and until that moment I did not even suspect their existence. One day at the beginning of June, while visiting good friends, there was a conversation about landscaping a street gazebo; At that time, this question was very relevant for our family, since we were looking for suitable plants just for ours.
The problem was that due to the location of the gazebo itself, not all the plants that we would like to plant around it were suitable for these purposes: for example, there was not enough light for cultivated grapes, but for hostas, on the contrary, it was sunny, etc. P.
But as they say: “One head is good, but two are better.” So, in the process of lively communication, we were offered, as an option, to plant plants not outside the gazebo, but inside it, in flower pots. And they not only advised, but also provided us with coleus seedlings, which they grew from the seeds of this “flower.”
From their words, it turned out that coleus is an ideal flower in our case, since it is unpretentious, grows quickly, reproduces easily, just likes shading from direct sunlight and, in general, is a source of aesthetic pleasure.
But as it turned out later, coleus, however, like all ornamental plants, also requires proper care. In addition, coleus can hardly be called a flower in the usual sense, rather an annual or perennial flowering semi-shrub plant, since it is valued solely for the unusual shape and beauty of its leaves, and not for its elongated, candle-shaped, spike-shaped inflorescences with small and not very attractive flowers , although not without a subtle aroma.
Pest and disease control measures
If watering standards are violated, the roots of the plant may become rotten and the leaves will begin to fall off. You should periodically inspect the bushes and, if there are signs of disease, take measures by treating them with special preparations.
Of the pests, coleus likes mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. At the very beginning, before the pest has had time to seriously infect the plant, you can use simple home remedies; at later stages, use insecticidal agents, for example, Bison, Actofit, Confidor Extra.
Folk remedies for pest control:
- Mealybug. Treating the affected areas with alcohol (wet a cotton swab) or spraying with a daily infusion of lemon and orange peel (50g per 1 liter of boiling water) will help.
- Whitefly. Pour crushed soap (laundry, tar) with water (1:6), beat with a sponge and apply foam to the site of the colony, you can spray the entire bush and water the soil around it.
- Aphid. Spraying with a solution of laundry soap (300g per 10l) or tar (100-150g per 10l) with the addition of ash. The effect is enhanced if the product is heated for half an hour. Ash can be used to pollinate the soil near the plant.
- Spider mite. A good result is obtained by treating with a soap solution, ammonia solution (30g per 10l), daily infusion of garlic (30-50g per 10l of boiling water).
Coleus planted on a balcony in a dacha will delight you with its bright variegated colors throughout the season, and when planted in an apartment it will create a summer mood, bringing home a sunny smile and, at the same time, growing and caring for it will not bring much trouble.
