Coleus: when and how to plant

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Coleus, an incredibly beautiful evergreen perennial from the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. It is not surprising that many gardeners dream of decorating their plot with this plant. This is quite realistic, just first you need to understand all the intricacies with regards to planting in open ground and the subsequent care of the plant.

Coleus planting rules

With the arrival of spring, when frosts are already unlikely, it's time to start planting Coleus. Optionally, this can be done in the summer. The first step on the site is to find a place protected from the wind. It must also be remembered that a flower with bizarre patterns and a multi-colored border loves light.

With this part sorted out, now you can and should proceed to the next stage, digging holes. There should be a small distance between them so that the bushes can develop without interfering with each other. Before planting plants in the holes, it is necessary to fill them with a fertile substrate. After planting, the plant needs watering and, if necessary, shelter from the bright sun so that the leaves do not get burned.

Coleus with bright patterns on the leaves requires more sunlight, the shadow adversely affects the plant, making the color dull and lifeless. If adult plants are able to withstand a short-term drop in temperature to 7 ° C, then for the normal development of a young shrub, a temperature of 10 ° C is considered optimal.

Watering the Coleus

Coleus loves moisture, but it is important not to overdo it in this matter. Watering should be done as the first layer of soil dries up. The appearance of dry leaves and external wilting of the plant are direct evidence of a lack of moisture. Bushes can be watered directly from the hose, the sheet plate will not deteriorate from this.

The main thing is to ensure that the water does not stagnate in it, this can lead to rotting of the root system. It is better to water the Coleus with warm water, previously settled in a barrel.

Top dressing

The plant needs mineral fertilizers, but an important point must be taken into account, top dressing should contain a minimum amount of nitrogen. An excess leads to leaf tarnishing. Coleus is enough to feed once a week. Fertilizer is applied directly under the root, avoiding contact with the leaves. In winter, Coleus is not fed.

Exceptions are cases when the ornamental plant is in an insufficiently lit place. Then it needs to be fertilized once a month.

How the bush is formed

Planting a Coleus and caring for it in the open field has its own characteristics. The right approach to business will reward the gardener with a beautiful flowering bush that may well compete with other flowers.

Variegated multi-colored leaves will become a real decoration of any flower bed, transforming the look of the entire site.

A couple of important points to learn:

1. To make the bush lush, you need to pinch the top by 1-2 centimeters.
2. As soon as the first flower arrows appear - remove them. This is done to root the system.
3. Coleus needs pruning throughout the growing season. Thanks to this, a lush carpet of bushes that have grown in breadth is formed on the flowerbed.

Shrub propagation

You can do this in several ways, by seeds and cuttings. The first method involves planting seeds in containers for germination and then planting them in open ground. There they will wait in the wings. Care at first consists in lightly sprinkling the Coleus seeds with water and sprinkling with sand. The first shoots may appear in 8-10 days.

With the appearance of the first paired leaves (they appear on the 4th week), the seedlings must be transplanted into special cassettes for normal development and growth. The plant is transplanted around the fifth week. Then it must be pinched.

You can propagate the Coleus shrub by cutting:

1. The lower leaves are removed from the cutting, which is about 10 cm long.
2. The plant is then placed in moist soil.
3. Covered with foil.
4. And it is kept in a dark place at a temperature of 20 ° C.
5. Coleus is transplanted to a permanent place of growth with the appearance of roots.

Each of these methods is good in its own way, which of them to give preference, gardeners decide for themselves.

How to deal with pests and diseases

Whitefly, aphids and spider mites are the main pests of Coleus. To combat them, biological products are needed.

Well proven:

• "Lepidocide";
• "Nemabakt":
• "Bitoxibacillin";
• Aktofit;
• "Bisolbeefit".

Coleus, despite its stamina, is not immune from diseases, this mainly happens with improper care of it:

• overflow leading to root rotting;
• untimely pruning, exposing the stems;
• insufficient lighting, the leaves in this case wilt, turn yellow, and then completely fall off.

Compliance with the rules for growing Coleus will help prevent such troubles.

Coleus care in winter

Often in the open field, Coleus is planted precisely as an annual plant. And with the arrival of cold weather, in late autumn, they remove it, for example, on a balcony, in a winter garden, or simply on a well-lit windowsill. And already in a new place they take care of him.

As a rule, old bushes are not transplanted, but simply cut into cuttings and rooted in water or peat. This is done at home.

Since the daylight hours are short in winter, phytolamps have to be installed as artificial illumination. Compliance with the temperature regime is also a very important point. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 8 ° C. The plant does not need abundant watering at this time of the year. Coleus is afraid of drafts, this must also be taken into account. When favorable conditions are created, the plant will tolerate wintering well without losing its decorative qualities.

It is best to rejuvenate the shrub by pruning shoots and removing old leaves in late February or early March.

It will be possible to re-move Coleus to open ground in the spring, when the air temperature warms up thoroughly to 10 ° C.

Combination of coleus with other plants

Coleus, in our country, this plant has another name - "nettle", a rich color range. Therefore, it looks favorably with plain flowers and openwork greens, as well as against the background of sage, lilies and peonies. Fans of colorful and effective compositions should think about planting assorted Coleuses in their flower beds.

By the way, they are planted in open ground not only in garden plots, but also in city parks and alleys. Shrubs do not require painstaking care and adapt perfectly to our climatic conditions.

Popular varieties of Coleus

The variety of Coleus has about 150 species. This plant is a real find for landscape design. You can plant flower beds from one variety or create an original mix using several types at the same time, subdivided into three groups:

• low varieties, the height of which reaches 18-30 cm;
• medium, 30-50 cm;
• high, 50 cm and above.

For growing Coleus in outdoor containers in the open field, low and medium varieties are best suited.

High varieties are most suitable for high-rise landscape compositions grown in large outdoor containers. They do not require special care and withstand the temperature extremes inherent in our regions.

Coleus - interesting facts

1. This evergreen plant belongs to the Yasnotkov family, the genus of which unites 150 species of grasses and dwarf shrubs.
2. Due to its structure, the name of the flower has several meanings, including: case, tube, scabbard.
3. Coleus is popularly called nettle.
4. Mint, lemon balm, basil and other herbs are the closest relatives of coleus.
5. The plant was brought to Europe in the middle of the 19th century from Indonesia.

Today this Coleus is popular in our country as well. He was loved for its unpretentiousness and excellent combination with other garden crops. The plant pleases with its appearance, creating a wonderful mood and being a decoration of the garden plot.