Shovel or hand trowel. Coleus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. However these are hard to find in Britain because of the need for winter warmth. When the plant reaches the desired height, pinch out the top shoot and keep removing lead shoots. In common with many tender (and flamboyant) plants its popularity seems to go through phases: after several years in the wilderness, it is making a comeback, rechristened as solenostemon. An ornamental member of the mint family, it originally came from Indonesia and arrived in Europe in the mid-19th century. In a garden box, you can plant your coleus in a good soil mix. Coleus plants need an excellent light source without scorching sun to retain the markings and because the leaf markings are the sole point to this attractive plant, it's essential that you get the light requirements correct. Name – Coleus Family – Labiaceae Type – perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded Soil – ordinary, well drained, soil mix. Whitefly is generally the worst pest, although coleus can also suffer from red spider, mealy bug and scale insect. Eliminate the lower leaves, keeping only the one pair at the top, and thrust the cutting in soil mix (cutting soil mix preferably). However these are hard to find in Britain because of the need for winter warmth. Tips For Coleus Plant Care Indoors. Coleus is vulnerable to mealy bugs and it’s often difficult to get rid of them if not caught early. Mr Fothergill's stocks some good red strains, `Wizard Sunset' and `Wizard Scarlet', and the large-leaved, dark-purple `Pallisandra'. Coleus is a magnificent tropical plant, noted for the beauty of its colorful, mottled foliage. Your email address will not be published. Set plants out after all danger of frost is past. A planting mix stirred into the soil (or organic matter or compost) can help enrich the soil as well. Need advice? Given its exotic origins, solenostemon is a tender perennial, but is most typically grown as an annual in the UK in borders or containers. Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer. Thompson & Morgan's `Dragon Sunset and Volcano' offers a range of red, gold and pink `Fantasia' types, with twisted or deeply incised, almost divided, leaves. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Soil – ordinary, well drained, soil mix, Foliage – evergreen In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid plant food to stimulate new growth. It actually fits right in on any terrace or balcony in summer or indoors in winter. Coleus can survive in sun or shade, but dif… You either love or hate these colourful foliage plants. ). Coleus is an aromatic plant, which smells like camphor plant. Anything below 25 degrees will kill the plant. Coleus is tough, somewhat drought tolerant and grows in most soils. What you need. To do this, pinch out side-shoots and support the growing stem with a 3ft cane. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Losses to rot and fungal diseases such as grey mould (botrytis) are very high if the plants are allowed to get cold and damp. Plant covering. Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. Meanwhile Bull had bred about 150 varieties, of which he was marketing the best 18, cannily timing new releases to coincide with mentions of the plant in the gardening press. Winter Care. Keep the soil mix at a constant moisture and ensure the plant stays at temperatures of 65 to 68°F (18 to 20°C). A coleus plant is hardy, able to survive in both a container indoors and in the soil outside. Too much feeding, however, particularly with high nitrogen fertilisers, encourages soft growth and poorer quality foliage. They need plenty of water and moderate fertility. Grown for its bright colourful leaves rather than its tiny insignificant flowers. They need to be kept moist, especially newly planted coleus. Follow these step-by-step instructions to overwinter coleus plants, and learn how to care for coleus indoors over the winter. 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. Coleus likes a warm and slightly shady spot to grow. Your email address will not be published. Article by Get Busy Gardening! Coleus plant care indoors: Provide bright indirect sunlight, temperatures of 65-75°F, and moderate to high humidity levels. In summer, however, refrain from placing your coleus near a window facing south, because the sunlight would burn the plant. Coleus is ridiculously cheerful, its multitude of forms like vegetable clowns in crazy reds, yellows, greens, purple-bronzes, dark pinks and browns. Flowering – June to September. Coleus is a tropical perennial plant that is normally grown as an annual by gardeners who live north of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Coleus needs well-draining soil. When to grow. There is also a growing list of named cultivars in the United States. The breeding and propagation of sports was so frenetic that Gardener's Chronicle of 1869 dubbed it "coleus fever". With such bright colors, this amazingly easy plant to care for is ideal for pots or garden boxes. Coleus Care Guide Light. Coleus has a multitude of forms like vegetable clowns, says Noel Kingsbury. Loosen your soil well before planting so that the coleus can stretch their roots and expand as needed beneath the soil. Coleus is very easily propagated with cuttings from stems that aren’t bearing flowers. To ensure that this magnificent coloration stays true, the coleus plant requires sunlight, while avoiding situations that would scorch it. Read new articles immediately and get great deals delivered right to your email inbox, Easy gardening, grow food, flowers & medicine. Coleus isn’t a very picky plant but it does need some attention, especially to protect and preserve its nice colored, spotted leaves. Let's hope an enterprising nursery brings them over here. Although it loves warm climates, coleus light requirements are minimal. It can be grown underneath other taller container plants, such as a small tree in a container. Family – Labiaceae A good range of leaf colours are available, with variegated markings and/or zonal markings. They can also look good bedded out with salvias, rudbeckias, gaillardias and other late-summer flowers in the red-yellow end of the spectrum in warm borders. 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