How to Grow and Care for Coleus in Containers. However, the amount of preferred light depends on the specific cultivar you are growing, so read the plant tag listing the coleus’ preferences before planting in a permanent location. The robustly colored foliage retains its eye-catching good looks even through the state’s hottest summers and best of all, there’s over 200 varieties from which to choose. Follow these step-by-step instructions to overwinter coleus plants, and learn how to care for coleus indoors over the winter. Caring for the plants is pretty easy once you set them up in a good spot. Additionally, it’s recommended to remove any blooms to promote the growth of additional leaves. When growing a coleus indoors, keep the soil evenly moist, watering the plant whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. ). Bring your … Caring for coleus is just as easy. Planting and Care. Every home gardener familiar with the name of Coleus Indoor and outdoor plants easily grow by cuttings and propagation at home with care. Soil: This plant makes an attractive ground cover when not in flower and is spectacular when flowering. However, there are now many new varieties—some developed by the University of Florida—that thrive in full, hot sun. Coleus are in danger of cold damage once the temperature drops to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants, which are native to Malaysia and parts of Asia, can really thrive in your Florida landscape during the summer while providing you with interesting foliage. Therefore, they must either be dug up, potted, and brought indoors for overwintering or grown through cuttings to establish additional plants. Hence, the best way to avoid these problems would be to make sure that the plant is clean, healthy, and happy. If you choose to grow coleus for more than one season, you might consider trimming the plant back after … Learn How to grow Coleus in a pot, Growing coleus plant, Propagate Coleus by cutting, pest problem plectranthus scutellarioides, coleus care in this article. Since coleus are mainly grown for their colorful foliage, there’s no need to waste the plant’s energy on flowering or setting seed. Coleus are in danger of cold damage once the temperature drops to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Trusty Rusty™: Thriving in both sun and shade, Trusty Rusty coleus makes an eye-catching addition to gardens with its coppery leaves boldly lined in yellow. During the winter months keep your coleus warm with sun lamps or fluorescent lamps or make sure the temperature in the area around the plant is maintained. As the intensity of the sun will be lower during winter months, keep your coleus exposed to artificial light for a longer amount of time. Coleus plant care indoors: Provide bright indirect sunlight, temperatures of 65-75°F, and moderate to high humidity levels. They were planted in patterns so that their leaves simulated prints in tapestries or Persian rugs. Coleus is a heat-tolerant, durable annual that has very few disease or insect problems. Agave, Banana, bird of paradise, creeping jenny, croton, hosta, and Schefflera are some of the best plants to plant... My name is Josh and I love to garden. Coleus plants are known for their colorful, variegated leaves and can be excellent additions to an indoor or outdoor garden. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer. Climate Conditions and Required Care. In colder zones, they are grown as annuals or as houseplants. Plants thrive in partial sun to shade and have an upright habit growing around 18 inches tall. However, there are quite a few choices developed to thrive in sunnier conditions. They just need to be kept moist, and that’s it! Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. Coleus is a beautiful landscape plant prized for its colorful foliage, which comes in shades of green, yellow, pink, red, orange, and maroon. The dizzying array of electrifying colors and foliage shapes enthralled the Victorians, and more than 100 years later, these seed-grown, shade-loving plants are still the most widely sold types. 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. Water only when the top 1 inch of soil in the pot begins to dry, but before the soil dries out completely. The bright, full direct afternoon sunlight can scorch the leaves and bleach out the plant… While not... Best Plants to Plant around Your Florida Pool. Solenostemon ‘Chocolate Mint’ – the semi-succulent stems bear velvety, maroon leaves edged with bright green and prominent, rounded teeth.The pale blue flowers are insignificant and can appear at any time of year; Solenostemon ‘Trusty Rusty’ – the stems are semi-succulent stems and bear velvety, rust-colored leaves with a serrated, golden outer edge Solenostemon varieties to try. Coleus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. Light Requirement. Coleus Care Guide Light. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'flgardening_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',107,'0','0']));However, if you live in a cooler area of the state and grow your coleus in containers, you can bring the plant indoors to a bright location before Old Man Winter pays a visit. Coleus is a magnificent tropical plant, noted for the beauty of its colorful, mottled foliage. A special note: Due to changes in light level, coleus sometimes alter their leaf colors in winter. Flowering plants aren’t the only ones that add pops of color to the garden. Once your cuttings have a healthy amount of roots, transplant them to a loose, rich potting soil in a larger container or plant them in the landscape. Depending on local weather conditions, you may have to give landscape and potted plants a drink of water daily. Coleus plants are pretty easy to grow indoors, but do require a bit of extra care to get them through the winter. I was born in Tampa and have never left Florida. With their hardy nature, ease of growth, endless choices of rich multihued foliage and ability to grow in all areas of Florida, adding coleus to your landscape will definitely bring eye-grabbing attention wherever used. (Cuttings root quickly in water, though, so gardeners in cold-winter areas can save prized selections from year to year.) The species is so variable, you could potentially plant an entire landscape of it, and have dozens of plants, with no two looking the same. In the past, coleus plants benefitted from frequently pinching back the growing stems of young plants. Set plants out after all danger of frost is past. Coleus inspired a craze among 19th century gardeners to rival that of the one for tulips in 17th century Holland, with collectors paying big … eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'flgardening_com-box-4','ezslot_10',106,'0','0']));Mainstreet Wall Street™: Mainstreet Wall Street coleus makes a bold statement in the garden with its robust growth and richly colored reddish-orange foliage. If you are growing your coleus in containers, use a rich, well-drained potting mix. Here are a few coleus plants … Choose a spot that is protected from wind. A coleus in the house needs regular pruning. Coleus is an annual plant, so it will not survive the winter months. Moisture: To keep your coleus plants from wilting, especially during hot and dry Florida summers, water regularly. Coleus plants also add a pop of color all season long if planted here and there in a perennial border. If you want to increase its numbers, no plant is easier to start from cuttings. This means that they are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 13, though they may survive in sheltered locations protected from frost in USDA zone 9b. Though usually sold as annual-like bedding plants, these tender tropical perennials can survive for years if protected from frost. Plants work well used along borders, planted in mixed beds, used as vibrantly colored specimens, shade gardens or adding vibrant color to an entranceway. Many gardeners are looking for bold color in their landscapes or containers, and they often think flowers are the best way to get that pop of color. These plants should be never planted in winter. Additionally, there are multitudes of different coleus cultivars developed over the years by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with all thriving throughout the state. The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc: Coleus Cultivars, Coleus Cultivars Developed by UF Graduate Student Penny Nguyen, Read more about Nguyen's work in developing UF cultivars, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Soil for these plants should be kept lightly moist at all times; mulching around your plants helps conserve soil moisture. Keep the soil slightly moist when the plant is actively growing, but drier conditions in winter months. Don't plant too early in springall coleus hate the cold. Tips For Coleus Plant Care Indoors. Starting New Plants. Coleus reliably survive winter outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 11 and warmer, where winter temperatures rarely dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. How to Care for a Coleus Plant. Coleus Care Instructions Coleus is an annual plant which can be grown from seeds as well as cuttings. However, if you live in a cooler area of the state and grow your coleus in containers, you can bring the plant indoors to a bright location before Old Man Winter pays a visit. They need to be kept moist, especially newly planted coleus. This site is owned and operated by Joshua Kipp Enterprises. A coleus plant grown indoors, especially in winter months, is more susceptible to this, so you might need to supply your plants with some supplemental light. Coleus also grows well indoors, provided the plant gets adequate light. Coleus branches break easily. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'flgardening_com-leader-1','ezslot_11',109,'0','0']));Coleus has multiple uses in the landscape where you desire a blast of vibrant color and interesting texture. To promote denser and more compact growth, pinch out flower spikes before they elongate. A large coleus will reach 2 to 3 feet in height. Joshua Kipp Enterprises is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Coleus needs well-draining soil. Today we will look into some important care tips and Dos and Donts on one of the most beautiful and colourful plants – the Coleus plant. Though usually sold as annual-like bedding plants, these tender tropical perennials can survive for years if protected from frost. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. ). Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer. Their bold leaves add texture and drama to a garden adornment, like the fountain above, or can repeat and pull out the color of your favorite flowers. Coleus plants also add a pop of color all season long if planted here and there in a perennial border. A coleus in the house needs regular pruning. In case you live in a cool, humid area, it’s best to place it in full sun. When growing a coleus indoors, keep the soil evenly moist, watering the plant whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. With so many stunning choices, don’t be surprised if you end up gracing your landscape with several varieties instead of just one. Those residing in southern regions of the state where frosty and freezing temperatures aren’t a problem can plant year-round. The Coleus plant with their bright colors, a wide variety of foliage colors, leaf shapes and forms are easy to grow and durable. I just want to share my experience and hope that it helps others. The bright, full direct afternoon sunlight can scorch the leaves and bleach out the plant… It’s easy and affordable to turn one coleus plant into many by taking stem cuttings. It is a source of forskolin, an extract used in pharmaceutical preparations and in cell research. With the proper care, a coleus plant in a large container can grow up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall. Make sure to take plenty of cuttings, just in case one or more doesn’t take root. Soil: Coleus grows in a variety of acidic Florida soils, including sand, loam and clay provided they drain well. All varieties of coleus grow well in partial shade. Coleus. Some species of Coleus plants are succulents, while others have fleshy or tuberous rootstock. Because coleus plants need warm weather, growing them in pots outside allows you to take them indoors in winter. Coleus reliably survive winter outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 11 and warmer, where winter temperatures rarely dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. About coleus plants. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Coleus hybrids were all the rage when they were first introduced into Europe from Java in the 1700sand their popularity has remained high. You can also start new coleus plants from a mature plant by taking stem cuttings and rooting them. The species is so variable, you could potentially plant an entire landscape of it, and have dozens of plants, with no two looking the same. 3. Though rainy season is the ideal season for planting most of the plants, coleus plants should be planted during the summer season. Coleus. This technique can help overwinter coleus in colder parts of the state. Coleus provide boldly colored and textured foliage plants in all sizes from upright mounded to trailing habits. Coleus Care Guide Light. Name – Coleus Family – Labiaceae Type – perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded Soil – ordinary, well drained, soil mix. Northern Florida and portions of Central Florida that regularly receive frosts or freezes should wait until the weather warms in spring before planting frost-sensitive coleus. However, there are now many new varieties—some developed by the University of Florida—that thrive in full, hot sun. It isn’t necessary to feed the plants during fall and winter, as this is a period of minimal growth. You can also prune off leggy stems to promote additional branching, creating a fuller plant. Coleus can survive in sun or shade, but dif… On the contrary, if you live in a hot, dry area, place your coleus partially in shade. Flame Thrower Chipotle™: Thriving in full sun or shade, Flame Thrower Chipotle coleus is an attention grabber in the landscape with its multi-colored foliage in colors of chartreuse, purple and dark burgundy. Anything below 25 degrees will kill the plant. Growth Coleus plants kept in containers can be fed a liquid fertilizer once a month throughout spring and summer. How to Grow and Care for Coleus in Containers. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'flgardening_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',108,'0','0']));If you live in an area with consistently warm temperature without threats of frosts or freezes, you can expect your coleus plants to thrive for several seasons. New varieties developed at UF have been selected for prolific lateral branching and late flowering, so they don't need as much maintenance. Joshua Kipp Enterprises also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. You can bring your potted coleus indoors during the winter and it will continue to grow nice and tall. This means that they are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 13, though they may survive in sheltered locations protected from frost in USDA zone 9b. Florida gardeners desiring to add a blast of constant color to their gardens cannot go wrong growing coleus (Coleus x hybridus). Light Requirement. All of these diseases show up on vulnerable plants that do not receive optimum care or are living in inadequate environments. Many grow coleus plants in garden beds as annuals or planted in pots to create dramatic, colorful borders in full sun, bright light and some in partial shade. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'flgardening_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',104,'0','0']));All types of coleus require the same cultural conditions for good growth, regardless of where you reside in the state and whether they have an upright or trailing habit. 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