They’ll benefit from a monthly feeding of all-purpose fertilizer. Water to keep coleus moist after pruning. Make these applications on cloudy days, though, because sunlight can scorch the leaves. Solenostemon rotundifolius may also be called Coleus rotundifolius or Plectranthus rotundifolius, with a variety of common names, including Coleus potato, Hausa potato, Koorka, Madagascar potato, Patata de los Hausas, Ratala, or Sudan potato. Water it regularly but don’t allow it to sit in soggy soil. Good luck! Avoid locations that get direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day, as coleus is susceptible to sunscald and fading foliage if it gets too much intense sunlight. Coleus can be formal and traditional or downright playful, depending on the cultivar and planting technique. In dappled to full shade, try ‘Dark Star,’ a black coleus, or ‘Fishnet Stockings,’ which has lime green leaves covered with purple veins. They're vigorous growers and leaf size ranges from 1- 8 inches or more, and plants can grow up to 36 inches tall. They need moist, well-draining soil, but not  actually wet. If your coleus plant blossoms, pinch or cut off the flowers to avoid the leggy growth that can result from blooming and encourage fuller foliage. Dappled shade from midday to afternoon is helpful, and some varieties of coleus do well with even more shade. As a tropical plant, coleus can’t bear winter temperatures. Nell. It has pink to fuchsia leaves and grows 12 to 18 inches tall. If you have a spot with high light in your home, you may want to grow coleus as a houseplant. 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. Make cuts just above a leaf node, in the place where two leaves meet the stem. Dry seeds will break or crack. 02/19/2020 at 2:03 pm. If you’ve never grown coleus before, you’ll be surprised by the stunning variety of colors and foliage. At 30 degrees, cold damage can occur, and at 25 degrees, coleus will die. 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. Start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost. Yes, coleus is an ornamental plant that is a member of the mint family. And now I noticed that the Coleus and Begonias are of similar colors. I din’t find that the foliage got smaller. In the summer, coleus should be kept at temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and in winter, it should be kept above about 50 degrees. 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 needs to be kept consistently moist, especially young plants. When cared for properly, coleus can grow up to 36 inches tall. plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Coleus plants should be grown in the garden in bright, indirect light, or in partial shade. Coleus will develop roots when it grows in water as well as possibly blooming. Yes, cutting back coleus helps the plant to grow fuller and stronger, creating a bushier shape. However, the visual look of the plant changes after it matures. Add one to two inches of mulch around the coleus plant to keep soil moist and cool. Source(s): https://owly.im/a8677. Gardeners in other zones can grow coleus in containers and bring it inside during cold weather, or they can grow coleus as a houseplant. Log in to reply to the answers Post; Red witch. How Big Do Begonias Get. However, most gardeners cultivate coleus for its striking foliage instead of for the flowers. ... Once big enough, you can … Plant coleus in containers as an accent plant for other annuals or use it as a bedding plant in shady areas. medianet_versionId = "111299"; Some gardeners grow coleus outdoors and overwinter cuttings of coleus to grow new plants from in the spring. Cold damage starts to happen at 30 degrees, and coleus dies at 25 degrees. During hot weather, expect to water your outdoor coleus one or two times each day, and anticipate watering indoor coleus every two or three days (unless your indoor air is very dry). In other zones, coleus can live year-round if it’s grown indoors as a houseplant. These include the species Solenostemon rotundifolius and Coleus forskohlii. Upright plants grow 24-30" tall. Coleus does not tolerate cold weather or cold soil well, and in fact, will grow its best when temperatures are above 70 degrees. 08/15/2020 at 11:31 am. Hi Hecman – I pinched my coleus over the years to keep it from getting too rangy. Though coleus is easy to propagate and is related to mint, it is not normally considered invasive. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This plant is sterile and produces few blooms. Pinch back new growth regularly to encourage coleus to grow bushy and full. Try a big coleus as a fast-growing hedge. If your coleus has been potted for a long time, introduce it to regular feeding with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen to help keep the color of the leaves bright and strong. They're vigorous growers and leaf size ranges from 1- 8 inches or more, and plants can grow up to 36 inches tall. Dig a hole in the new planting location at least twice as wide as the coleus plant’s roots. 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. 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. }, © 1972 - 2020 National Gardening Association, Times are presented in US Central Standard Time, Today's site banner is by lauriemorningglory and is called "Mountain-ash (Sorbus sp.)". Watermelon coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) reaches 20 to 24 inches tall and 18 to 22 inches wide forming mounds of red leaves with green edges. 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). The large and upright, velvety leaves grow well in full sun to full shade. ‘Japanese Giant’ has big burgundy leaves with pink and violet highlights. Coleus can be used in your gardens, containers, patio gardens, flower arrangements or even as a houseplant. Cover the seed tray with plastic wrap and store it in a warm location. Keep soil where coleus is growing moist but not wet or waterlogged. You can test the soil by sticking a finger into it, and if dirt clings to your skin, the soil is still moist. Pair the red leaves of ‘Big Red Judy’ with ornamental grasses or other plants! Coleus is a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Susan says. To take a coleus … If you want to add more coleus specimens to your collection, propagation is super easy. Lv 4. Pinch it back frequently to encourage compact, leafy growth and remove any blossoms. They need fertile, well-draining soil and usually perform best in areas with partial shade, though many varieties can also tolerate sun. Germination takes 10 - 12 days if kept at 72 degrees F. They are also simple to propagate from cuttings. Coleus will stay alive in water without soil for months at a time. The roots of coleus plants have been used in India for many years as an herbal medication to treat heart and lung diseases. There are cultivars bred specifically for nearly full shade too. Once seeds are dry, sort through them to remove leaves and other plant debris. document.write(''); After that, water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry. Also remove any damaged, dead, or discolored leaves as they appear. (If you aren’t sure of your soil’s pH level, click here to read about how to test your soil’s pH. Along with all the beautiful foliage colors and patterns to choose from, there are different sizes, as well. Coleus can be added to beds and borders for interest or grown in containers. I put Coleus and Begonias in a pot this year and they played nicely with each other. They’ll do OK in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit but do best when kept between 70 and 80 degrees F., and they like humidity. hope this … CA Prop 65 PDF. Cynthia. 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