The coleus plant has just a fantastic color, thanks to which it has recently been gaining more and more popularity among gardeners. This plant does not have lush, fragrant and bright colors. Why is Coleus so remarkable? And it is noticeable for its unusual coloring of the leaves, combining 2-4 colors. Coleus leaves resemble nettle leaves. This was the reason for the second name - "nettle". Currently, there is an incredibly huge number of hybrids of this plant. It is sometimes impossible to take your eyes off the color of some of them. Coleus leaves can have a contrasting color edging, thin, like marble, veins, colored spots in a chaotic arrangement. This plant will be an excellent option for creating colorful flower beds, colored spots on a green lawn. If it seems to you that the flower beds in your garden look a little dull and faded, then the coleus will definitely correct this situation. In this article we will analyze all the tricks of growing this fantastic in its own way. color scheme plants, learn the ways of its reproduction and the secrets of care.
What does a coleus look like. Distinctive features
Coleus belongs to the mint family, native to Africa and Asia. It has a huge number of varieties that differ in the shape, color of the leaves. But one can single out the most common features appearance:
- coleus have thin and almost transparent stems;
- coleus leaves have a velvety surface and carved edges;
- coleus can bloom. But the flowers are very small and inconspicuous, white, purple. It is the leaves of this plant that take over all the decorative value;
- the color of the leaves of the coleus is striking in its diversity - light green, bright green, burgundy, blood red, scarlet, bright orange;
- The leaf shape is also varied. For the most part, it resembles the shape of stinging nettle leaves. May be heart-shaped, rounded;
- coleus is quite unpretentious in cultivation, which attracts even beginner gardeners;
- Coleus is often called the "poor man's croton" because of its similarity in color beauty to croton, but it can be bought at a much lower price;
- coleus with proper care can reach 35 cm in height;
- coleus can be grown not only in open field but also at home.
Types and varieties of coleus
According to the shape of their growth, coleus are divided into:
- upright;
- ampelous.
There is simply a huge number of hybrid species that have many spectacular varieties. Among the most spectacular and favorite species of gardeners are the following:
- Coleus Hybrid. This erect plant can reach 80 cm in height. The stem is finely pubescent, the leaves are oval and heart-shaped. The color of the leaves of the coleus is diverse - from light green to purple-red.
- Coleus Bloom. The island of Java is considered the birthplace of this species. Among the numerous hybrid varieties, there are both dwarf and quite tall varieties up to 70 cm. The leaves have a traditional shape, similar to the shape of nettle leaves. The predominant color of the color is difficult to distinguish. There are varieties with both monochromatic colored leaves and multi-colored ones. The texture of the leaves is wavy and even corrugated. Among the most common varieties of Bloom's Coleus are: Saber, Butterfly, Firebird, Golden Bedder, Volcano, Milky Way, Fashion Parade, etc.
- Coleus Renelt. Sri Lanka is considered the birthplace of this species. Wonderful hybrid varieties with an ampelous form of growth were obtained from it. Typically, Renelt's coleuses are grown at home for interior decoration.
It is simply not possible to describe all existing species and varieties. Looking at the photo, you can see the splendor and unusualness of such coleus varieties as Edulis, Shirensis, Frederici, Religious Rutabaga, Parviflorus and many others.
Planting a coleus in your area
Growing coleus from seeds
Coleus lends itself remarkably to growing from seed. It may seem to some that this is a rather troublesome business, but if you are not new to this business, you will understand that this is far from the case. This method of reproduction of coleus is suitable both for growing at home and in open ground. We are more interested in the second method, so we will consider it in more detail. So, in order to sow coleus immediately in open ground, you will need:
- Choose right time landing. Since the coleus still comes from hot countries, then it needs to be sown when the cold and night frosts have passed. Focus on the climatic conditions of your area.
- Select quality planting material. The choice of seeds should always be approached with all responsibility. The result of your work will directly depend on this. You can buy coleus in large specialized stores. Read the label carefully, pay attention to the expiration date.
- Choose right place. Find a well-lit and windless place in your area. This will be the ideal "home" for the coleus.
- Prepare holes for planting seeds at a small distance from each other.
- Prepare the nutrient substrate that will be needed to fill the wells. To prepare it, take: 1 part of leafy soil, 1 part of sod land, 1 part of sand. Add some of this substrate to the wells.
- Moisten the soil with a sprayer and plant the seeds. Then do a light watering. room temperature.
- You can cover your plantings if you are afraid of sudden night colds.
In this way, coleuses are sown as annuals. If you want to enjoy this beauty and next year, then with the onset of winter it will have to be dug up. Reproduction of coleus by seeds at home is almost the same. The grown seedlings will need to be planted in pots of the desired diameter, and a chic houseplant is ready to decorate your home.
Growing coleus using cuttings
Cuttings are one of the most beloved and frequently used methods of coleus breeding. This procedure is intended not only for reproduction, but also for rejuvenation of the plant. If you see that the coleus has become faded, elongated and has lost its former beauty and stateliness, then cuttings can save the day. Just pinch off the shoot and put it in the water. Coleus takes root well in water. Some gardeners can keep it in this position all winter. After the roots have become of sufficient length (about 1 cm) and strengthened, the plant can be transplanted into the ground. Coleus cuttings root very quickly. A young plant that has grown up needs to pinch off the top after a while so that it begins to produce side shoots.
Secrets of coleus care in the open field
In order for the coleus to please the eye, showing all the fantasticness of its colors, you need to properly care for it. Beginning gardeners need not worry - the plant does not require any complex care actions. Absolutely everyone can fulfill the most elementary requirements of a coleus flower:
- Lighting. Coleus loves sunlight. And this is not surprising, because. He came to us from Africa. But direct sunlight will not appeal to every plant, including coleus. The color of the leaves under bright rays may not be as bright and impressive. Choose the right place for landing - illuminated, but shaded from the midday rays. If you are growing coleus at home, then east windows will do.
- Watering. Coleus does not like the soil to dry out, but waterlogging is also undesirable. It is better to water with settled water at room temperature. If the street is too hot, then spraying will be to the taste of the coleus. It is better to spray in the evening so as not to burn the leaves. In winter, watering is reduced, but not brought upper layer before drying out.
- Temperature. This plant is southern and therefore tolerates the hot summer months well, but subject to regular watering. AT room conditions coleus also feels great. However, a sharp change in temperature from high to low can negatively affect the growth rate of coleus.
- Soil composition. This is what many gardeners will be happy about, so this is the absolute undemandingness of the coleus to the composition of the soil. It grows well on leafy soil, and in ordinary garden soil, etc.
- Top dressing. Coleus can perfectly do without top dressing. However, if you decide to still fertilize the soil, the plant will respond well to this. Any complex mineral fertilizers that are sold in specialized stores in a large assortment will do. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions and carefully observe the proportions.
- Soil loosening. Any garden plant loves loose soil. So, moisture and air pass better to the roots.
- Weeding. Removing weeds is a very important element of caring not only for coleus, but also for any ornamental garden plant. Otherwise, all decoration will be hidden. Weeds can become a source of disease or pests.
- Removal of dry leaves.
The use of coleus in landscape design
Coleus is an amazingly versatile plant for creating flower arrangements. It always successfully harmonizes with annual and perennial crops, herbaceous and garden plants. With the help of coleus bushes, you can create bright color spots of a bizarre shape on a green lawn, grow it in pots, planters. It can serve as both a background plant and a companion plant. Among the most successful "neighbors" plants are:
- ivy;
- ageratum;
- cumin;
- verbena;
- gaillardia;
- cuff, etc.
Use coleus in landscape design brings only pleasure. It grows very quickly, magnificently filling the space, unpretentious. Even the coleus in the photo does not convey all its beauty.
Diseases and pests of coleus
Like any plant in the garden, coleus in the open field can be subject to diseases and pests. But sometimes the cause of such troubles can be improper care of this plant. What difficulties can you face if you neglect some moments of care? For example, with these:
- the stalk from below was bare at the coleus. Cause: young plant they did not pinch from above, thus preventing him from developing his shoots;
- the leaves of the coleus began to turn pale and lose their color. Cause: The plant has been in direct sunlight for too long. You can reanimate it by placing it in the shade for a while;
- the leaves suddenly began to fall off the coleus. Reason: the plant received insufficient water;
- the coleus has become too elongated. Cause: The plant has not received enough sunlight for too long.
Among the pests dangerous for coleus are:
- spider mite;
- whitefly.
The plant can be rid of these insects, the main thing is to prevent the mass infection of the flower garden. Stores specialized for gardeners are full of insecticides that are dangerous for these pests (Karbofos, Iskra). After spraying the plant, it is better to put a plastic bag on it for a while to achieve the best result.
If you want to add some quirkiness to your garden, then be sure to consider growing coleus. This plant simply has a lot of advantages, and its decorative value is hard not to appreciate. You will spend a minimum of effort and get a gorgeous plant. With it, you can transform even the most dull flower bed, decorate some unsightly places on the site, create a beautiful background for other plants with it, or simply grow it alone. Be sure to enjoy the process of gardening, and the result will certainly surprise you. Good luck!
Coleus (poor man's croton) is a genus of semi-shrub perennial and annual plants, from the family of labiaceae. Their homeland is the tropical strip of Africa and Asia. However, despite this, the coleus is unpretentious. Due to the abundance of its species, it becomes possible cultivation coleus in the room and in the garden.
Common species and popular varieties
There are about 150 types of coleus in the world and much more. color combinations inherent in them. Most often, coleus has the appearance of a small shrub with opposite, densely spaced large leaves similar to nettle. Some species have edible tubers, others bloom beautifully, and still others belong to the category of decorative leafy plants. The stem of the poor man's croton is erect, slightly stiff and ribbed.
Coleus is distributed primarily as a houseplant. However, it can be planted in open ground for the summer, which is actively used by landscape designers.
Of the variety of coleus in horticulture, two species were taken as a basis, brought to Europe back in the 19th century. These are the Blume Coleus and the Verschaffelt Coleus. A huge number of hybrid species and varieties of the poor man's croton were bred from them. They are used in breeding today.
K. Blume (or Bluma) is a perennial herbaceous plant with an erect tetrahedral stem. Its leaves are oblong, pubescent, ovoid in shape. Painted in different shades green, burgundy and pink.
Widespread varieties of this species:
- Butterfly;
- Volcano;
- Sabre;
- Golden Bedder;
- The chief.
K. Verschaffelt is quite similar to the species described above, but stands out with larger and brighter leaves with a velvety surface.
K. Hybrid introduced large quantity varieties (Fantasy, Wizard, Weasley). They have a number of features in common:
- Upright stems, square in cross section;
- opposite leaves;
- Irregular leaf edges: jagged, wavy, dissected, curly and velvety.
Advice! If you want to grow a luxurious coleus at home, pay attention to the types of Laciniatus and Nanus. They grow about 30 cm tall and have beautiful leaves.
Ampelous (hanging from pots) varieties of coleus are very interesting. They are usually grown in hanging baskets and pots, as well as in boxes on balconies and terraces. For example, K. dwarf does not even reach 30 cm in height, but has hanging branches with elongated leaves of different shades of red.
Coleus Renelta has red leaves with a green edging with small teeth on the edges. He comes from Sri Lanka, but thanks to a number of crosses, he also took root with us.
Landing
As already mentioned, coleus is grown both in open ground and in pots and greenhouses. They plant it, of course, in different ways. Let's look at each type of landing separately.
Coleus at home
Before planting a coleus in a pot, you need to find a suitable place for it in the room. This plant loves the sun and does not grow if the temperature drops below 12 ° C, therefore it is placed, as a rule, on the windowsill on the east or south side, but protected from direct sunlight.
Advice! If you have glazed balcony or loggia, place a coleus pot there. The plant will be able to breathe fresh air, receive the norm of light put to it and will be protected from wind and rain..
And a bit more important rules plant growing:
- The container in which you plan to plant the coleus must have a depth of at least 15 cm, otherwise the root system of the flower will have nowhere to be located;
- Drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot;
- The soil should be chosen non-acidic, fertile and permeable;
Advice! The following mixture is well suited for planting coleus: compost (2 parts), peat (1 part) and sand (1 part).
- Both sprouts and seeds are placed deep enough to leave plenty of room for a rapidly expanding root system.
Coleus in the country
Most often it is an annual plant, which is renewed by cuttings or seeds.
As already mentioned, the coleus does not tolerate low temperatures, so it cannot winter in the open field. If you decide to plant it in the country, be prepared for the fact that in the cold season the plant will have to be brought into the house. Another option is to plant annual coleus varieties.
The current abundance of varieties and hybrids allows this plant to "weave" the most intricate Persian carpets on lawns.
The choice of a place for a coleus in the country should be even more careful than in a room. So, varieties with white patches on the leaves tolerate even the direct rays of the sun well, but other varieties can get burned. To avoid such a nuisance, plant the coleus in a slightly shaded area.
Coleus sprouts are planted in the ground, which are obtained by cuttings or breeding from seeds (more on this will be discussed in the next section). Do it closer to summer when average temperature per day reaches 16-18°C.
There should be enough space between individual specimens, as the bushes grow very quickly.
Coleus prefers non-acidic, fertile soils. When planting, they can be fertilized with agroperlite. Well, if the drainage is thought out. A mineral complex is used as a fertilizer for the active growth of this plant.
Idea! To flower bed looked bright and colorful, plant coleus in groups, depending on the color of the leaves.
reproduction
Coleus propagates, or, as it is popularly called, urticaria, in two ways: cuttings and seeds.
cuttings
Cuttings are used when they want to preserve the color of the plant. Harvest them in the warm season - in spring or summer. Cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from young twigs. lower leaves cut off.
In order for the process to take root, it is placed in sand, water or soil. The pots are covered with foil and placed in a shaded but warm place (18-20 ° C), and after 10 days they are planted in a permanent habitat.
Growing from seed
If you use the seeds of an existing plant, you can get a coleus of an unpredictable color, so store-bought material is more often used.
Sowing is done in early spring. The seeds are placed in a box, laid out so that there is free space between them, and crushed with earth. Then they are sent to a room with a temperature of 20-22 ° C and often watered. Shoots appear after two weeks.
When the sprouts in the box become crowded, a pick is carried out. Planted bushes are pinched several times (for the first time, when the shoot reaches a height of 10 cm), so that by the time of planting they have quite a lot of branches.
Features of care
Consider the basic principles of coleus care:
Watering. During the warm season croton the poor are watered very abundantly. When the temperature drops, the volume and frequency of watering is reduced, but the surface of the earth is not allowed to dry out. Coleus responds to insufficient watering with sagging leaves.
Advice! If the tap water is too hard, use rainwater for irrigation.
Lighting. Coleus loves sunlight. But it is better not to leave it under direct rays, in order to avoid burns. Young plants need to be accustomed to light gradually;
Humidity. Like any other tropical plant, coleus loves humidity. In spring and summer, it should be sprayed with water at room temperature;
Temperature. This thermophilic plant dies when the temperature falls below 12°C. But it should also be protected from extreme heat (above 25 ° C);
Top dressing. During active development (spring-summer), the coleus is fed every week with mineral or organic fertilizers. Potassium top dressing is well suited (0.3 - 0.5 g per liter). In winter, plants are fed once a month;
Pinching. In order for the bush to branch well, pinch the top of the coleus, and in February they do pruning, leaving 5-8 eyes;
Diseases. Some problems with the appearance of the flower are caused by a violation of the rules of care. So, due to lack of lighting and untimely pinching, the lower part of the stem is exposed, and the leaves grow dull. Leaves fall from drying out of the soil, and dryness and lack of heat can lead to weakening and even death of the plant;
A good prevention against ticks is the constant spraying of the plant. Fight it by washing the leaves with a solution of soap. In severe cases, they resort to sulfuric and phosphorus preparations ("Temic", "Aldikarb").
Aphid afraid ladybugs and birds, as well as spraying with a solution liquid soap(2 tsp) with oil (2 cups) and water (2 cups).
Coleus is better known now as an unpretentious houseplant. But recently, it has gained great popularity as a plant for the garden. Breeding does not require special costs and does not cause difficulties. This plant is also known under the name "room nettle". Its spectacular appearance will be a good addition to any garden. Thus, our article will be about coleus planting and care in the open field behind him.
general description
Coleus is a representative of a group of evergreen shrubs of herbaceous annuals with opposite foliage on petioles. It is the foliage that is the most interesting in this plant, its leaves are variegated and original, I have many colors and patterns.
Flowers spike-shaped, collected from above in inflorescences. Most noticeable at single landings. There are many types of plants, both annuals and perennials, but the nettle, which is grown in open ground, has some differences.
Coleus grows in height up to 80 cm. Its stem is powerful, becomes stiff after six months. The leaves are presented in various color shades, may also differ in shape. On the leaves of some varieties, a border of various shades looms beautifully. Coleus flowers are similar to sage flowers, small and inconspicuous, blue.
Interesting! Indoor coleus was imported from tropical countries Asia for a very long time. Although this plant is one of the representatives of the tropics, it is unpretentious and requires little or no special care.
Consider some simple rules for growing coleus in the garden.
Where to plant coleus
If you plan to plant a coleus in open ground, you should choose the right place for growing it. The flower prefers sunlight, its leaves show their color best under bright rays. But here there are some nuances:
- If the plant has white or red leaves, then it is planted in direct sunlight.
- Varieties with green leaves and its shades are not so fond of bright light. When the sun is very active, the plant will need to be shaded. Or you can immediately plant green flowers in a dark place. If this is not done, burns will appear on the leaves.
Interesting! Although initially the plant had only one name - coleus, in everyday life you can often hear another name - nettle. Perhaps this is because some species of their foliage are similar to nettles.
Soil selection
The choice of soil is also one of important points for planting coleus. In principle, the composition itself can be anything, but the presence of nitrogen and nutrients in the soil is mandatory. This contributes to the full growth and development of beautiful, bright leaves with a more pronounced stencil pattern.
In order for the seeds to germinate, the most nutritious mixture will be:
- 4 servings of black soil;
- 2 portions of pine needles;
- 2 servings of cow dung;
- 1 portion of sand.
The earth for the preparation of the mixture should be well warmed up and sieved. In order for the plant to take for sure, it is worth planting the seedlings in separate containers, and after germination, transplant them into the ground in the garden.
How to plant coleus
After all the preparations of the soil and the choice of a landing site, it is worth figuring out how to plant a coleus. Most often planted with seedlings, but some use seeds.
Growing from seed
Coleus can reproduce and seeds, and seedlings. To determine suitable option, you need to familiarize yourself with all and decide which method is better to apply.
For example, using seeds, seedlings will have to wait longer. When planting seedlings, you can quickly get a full-fledged ornamental plant. But often the price of seedlings is too high. Can you buy seeds? various colors, English and Dutch species, which are sown at the end of March.
If the seeds are sown at other times, then it may be necessary to additionally organize artificial lighting for seedlings.
- You should take fertile land and warm it thoroughly.
- Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, it is better to use a flat box.
- Seedlings are sprayed with a spray bottle and sprinkled with a fine layer of sand.
- The container is covered with glass, transferred to a dark warm place.
- The ground should always be slightly damp.
Advice! It is better to choose seeds in special stores to be sure of their quality.
- Seedlings will appear within a week.
- When the first sprouts appear, the glass is removed, and the container is transferred to a bright place, preferably to the east or west window.
- The best temperature is 17-19 degrees, and direct sunlight should not be allowed.
Planting coleus from seed is a simple yet effective method of growing an ornamental plant. If there is time, then it is better to resort to this method. Moreover, it is more economical.
Watch the video! How to grow coleus
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are planted in open ground when the soil warms up well. And if the seedlings are grown independently on the windowsill, then you just need to plant them in a flower bed.
If you plan to buy seedlings, then first you should choose the variety that will be grown.
The first of all varieties that began to grow in the garden is "Blume". From him came many popular hybrids:
- "Fantasy";
- "Rainbow";
- "Dark Chocolate";
- "Black Dragon".
To choose the right seedlings, you should pay attention to the color of the leaves, the stem and the elasticity of the plant. If the sprouts are sluggish and dried up, then it is better not to take them.
Seedlings are planted in open ground in early June, when the ground is already fully warmed up and there will be no more night frosts.
Having dug holes of a suitable size, a nutrient substrate is placed there and seedlings are planted. It is worth measuring the distance between the bushes correctly.
After planting, the plant needs moderate watering. Caring for coleus does not require much effort, especially if you plant annuals. Perennials must be dug out of the garden and stored in pots until spring.
Coleus care in the open field
Like a plant in a pot, coleus in open soil needs moderate watering, fertilizing and pruning.
How to water properly
In the warm season, nettles that grow in the garden should be watered moderately. It is better to use settled or rain water. When the air temperature is very high, the plant is additionally sprayed, and make sure that the topsoil does not dry out.
In winter, watering should be reduced, but the soil should not dry out. If there is not enough moisture, the plant will begin to wither and lose elasticity. If the temperature is less than +14 degrees, it will rarely be necessary to water.
How to feed coleus
Both annual and perennial nettle species must be fed:
- The first time complex fertilizers are applied 14 days after picking seedlings. When feeding young plants, it is better to reduce the dose indicated on the package by approximately 3-4 times.
- When the active growth of the coleus begins, fertilizing should be done every 7 days. To do this, you can take mineral fertilizers, which are used specifically for ornamental plants, and potassium compounds (0.5 g per 1 liter of water).
- In winter, you can feed once every 30 days, but dilute fertilizers 2 times from the indicated dose.
Plant trimming and shaping
Both indoor and garden coleus should be cut to give it a certain shape. Garden plants practically do not need pruning, unlike indoor plants. But the coleus should be cleaned of leaves that have already withered, as well as dried flowers. Prune the plants before each new season, this will help keep the plant for a few more years. Shoots are cut at a height of about 5 cm, which can be used to germinate cuttings.
How coleus is propagated
Coleus reproduction occurs in two ways:
- seeds;
- cuttings.
Planting cuttings is an opportunity to quickly get large and healthy plants.
- Cut cuttings at the end of winter or in early spring.
- They are planted in the ground or placed in water.
- Roots appear within 1-2 weeks.
- When the roots get stronger, nettles are planted in peat pots.
- In order for the plant to grow, you should pinch the tops.
- Sprouts are planted in the ground at their summer cottage only when the temperature during the day stays within +16 degrees.
Seeds are sown in boxes with a nutrient container and sprinkled with sand, as described above.
- With proper care and temperature conditions (approximately +20 ° C), seedlings can appear from 7-20 days.
- Sprouts are planted in peat pots, in a mixture of leafy soil, sand and turf in one part.
- Water them regularly, until planting in open ground.
Important! It is worth remembering that coleus grows quite rapidly.
Those plants that are sown with seeds turn into large and highly branched plants with large leaves after only 90 days.
If cuttings were planted, then the process is even faster. In order for the bush to grow not only in height, but also in width, you just need to pinch the tops of the shoots.
Conclusion
Unpretentiousness and undemanding care makes the coleus a good decorative inhabitant of many flower beds and garden plots. Flower arrangements that are created in the garden with the help of coleus will delight the gardeners' eyes.
Watch the video! How to grow coleus quickly. Coleus reproduction
In contact with
There are plants that everyone is used to, consider them unremarkable. But one fine day you suddenly discover that you do not know the most familiar flower at all.
Both spring and summer passed with me under the sign of coleus, the very “nettle” that has always served to plug gaps on state-owned window sills. Previously, imagining ever-elongated, half-naked stems with purple medium-sized leaves, I hung the label of a “garbage” plant on the coleus. And then she herself sowed the amazing variety Scarlett Wizard red with a yellow border, and besides, they threw a bunch of seedlings from the mixture to me.
Coleus (Coleus)
© joeysplanting
I was lucky with the mixture of seeds: it really was a mixture, and was not packaged according to the principle “from what was”. Coleus rose with spots various shapes and size, and colors - from green to lemon yellow, raspberry and maroon (I'm not talking about rusty brick, I didn’t even see this in the pictures). The seedlings did not have a particular variety of leaf shapes, but then they gave me a coleus with a fancifully cut leaf blade. Now the abundance of choice is such that coleuses may well compete with whimsical crotons (dear croton lovers, please don't throw rotten tomatoes at me).
Coleus really deserve a lot of respect. Judge for yourself: planting material High Quality it turns out quickly - both by cuttings and sowing seeds. The plant is undemanding to the soil, although fatty earth allows you to grow simply luxurious specimens. By cutting cuttings in the spring, you can get seedlings for flower beds in the open field, where the coleus are decorative, unlike, say, balsams, not only near, but also at a distance, with minimal cost and effort and finances.
Coleus (Coleus)
© joeysplanting
But coleus, like a sheepskin, is worth the candle only if you decide to grow a really Beautiful Coleus. Since, depending on the care, he is able to change the look from the Beauty of the Window Sill to the Perfect Dirty! With insufficient lighting, all the charm of this plant will be lost. The motley pattern will disappear, the leaves will be crushed, the stems will become thin and weak, the internodes will lengthen ...
In addition to the flow of sunlight (with sufficient watering, it will only burn in the south, and in middle lane- unlikely) regular watering is needed (otherwise the stems will quickly become bare, and the plant will bloom), top dressing (be careful with phosphorus-potassium, they can stimulate flowering, nitrogen should prevail). Fertilizers are better to take complex for decorative and deciduous, organic or simply nitrogen. I didn't really like the effect of Emerald, it really "restores the original greenness and freshness of yellowing leaves" as promised in the instructions. But alas, the top dressing turned out to be too effective, in the yellow-leaved forms, the chlorophyll content in the leaves clearly increased, which I, who did not believe in advertising, did not expect at all. From now on, I will use the Emerald only for its intended purpose, for green-leaved forms.
Coleus (Coleus)
© Korzun Andrey
But if you do not feed and water the coleus for slaughter, then it will bloom. It is better to break out the flowering tops, otherwise the plant will immediately lose its beautiful and neat appearance. You can, of course, give flowers if you intend to collect seeds for fun, or if you want to make sure that the coleus filaments fuse together, forming a “case” (this is how the name of the genus is translated from the Greek).
Coleus are sown superficially, without digging, and create high humidity(the easiest way is to put the bowl in a leaky bag), the seeds germinate quickly, usually within a week, the germination rate is about 100%. A long absence of seedlings indicates the low quality of seeds and the need to buy new ones. In early spring, the first few pairs of leaves on my seedlings were completely green (don't be alarmed if the mixture seems monotonous at first), and closer to summer, the pattern even appeared to some extent on the cotyledons. Despite the exactingness of coleus to lighting, their early sowing is justified: the seedlings begin to branch early, you can have time to choose and cut the most beautiful ones.
Coleus (Coleus)
© joeysplanting
Coleus can be planted only after frost, as this tropical species cannot stand them. When this spring the cold was below 10 degrees and one day it even snowed, on my open balcony the leaves of only two plants froze: basil and coleus. Overgrown, of course, then, but it was still a shame. In autumn, it is better to take the most beautiful coleus for wintering in an open area, since the cuttings give roots in water very quickly and at any time, because it hardly makes sense to drag plants that have grown strongly over the summer into the house. Reproduction of coleus by cuttings, in addition to guaranteeing the same color, also gives better planting material: root system from adventitious roots, not so powerful, inhibits growth and inhibits flowering.
So, if the sun peeks into your room for several hours, you like fast-growing, cheerful plants, you have country cottage area, you are happy to share cuttings with friends, you are able to boldly renew the plant, you are a fan of mosaics and decorative painting, coleus is your plant. Coleus is artistic and democratic by nature, any beginner grower can handle it, and you can always get cuttings for planting, and even an orchid connoisseur will not cast a contemptuous glance at a beautiful, well-groomed coleus.
Coleus (Coleus)
© joeysplanting
Materials used:
- E.Modestova
Coleus (Coleus), or indoor nettle, fell on the windowsills of flower growers from the distant shores of India and South Asia. The hearts of flower lovers were conquered by the velvety leaves of the plant, unusual in shape and color.
This plant has a fleshy stem that can become hard over time. Height ranges from 10 to 70 cm, depending on the type of plant and its care. The most common type is home nettle with oval and heart-shaped leaves. Less common are coleus with lanceolate, lobed and twisted leaves. In nature, there are plants of very different colors: pink, green, orange, black. The flowering of the coleus is not of aesthetic value: small flowers collected in ears, the upper lip of the corolla is colored blue-violet, the lower one has a whitish color.
If the coleus variety does not belong to decorative flowering, then all emerging buds should be removed so that they do not take strength from the plant.
At home, coleus blooms last all summer. In the natural environment, you can observe flowering all year round. The fruits of this type of domestic plants are extremely rarely tied.
How to care for coleus?
- 1 It is very important to consider the place where the indoor nettle will stand. It must be well lit. Direct sunlight should be avoided. But insufficient lighting will lead to a loss of variegation of the plant. In summer, the plant will feel good on the balcony.
- 2 The pot for the coleus is chosen small. The soil needs light, sandy content. Nettles are transplanted as needed, usually every 2-3 years. The signal for this procedure will be the roots that have crawled out of flower pot. The best time for this procedure is the end of winter.
- 3Water the plant should be separated during the day with water at room temperature. In summer, watering should be plentiful - overdrying of an earthen coma is unacceptable.
- 4In the spring-summer period, complex fertilizer is applied to the soil (2-3 times a month). In the autumn winter period feeding is reduced to once a month. Fertilizer should be chosen with a high nitrogen content.
- 5 In the summer heat, regular spraying is carried out. This should be done in the shade to avoid sunburn leaves. During the heating period, it is advisable to place a pot with room nettle on a pallet with wet claydite.
- 6 During the active growing season, pinch the plant, stimulating the emergence of new branches. After winter, the plant is annually rejuvenated - all branches are cut off, leaving stems about 7-8 cm long.
Breeding issues
Coleus indoor propagates in two ways: cuttings and seeds.
Method of propagation by cuttings
We cut off the stalk 8-10 cm long. Remove the lower leaves. We place the cutting in moist soil and build a mini-greenhouse, covering the cutting with a cut plastic bottle or polyethylene. Such a greenhouse should be in a dark place at a temperature not exceeding 20 ° C.
The roots of the plant appear in 10-12 days. After this time, the plant can be planted in a permanent place.
Method of propagation by seeds
With seed propagation, it cannot be guaranteed that the coleus will inherit the characteristics of the parent plant. Best time for planting seeds - March. The soil for sowing is prepared from three parts of leafy soil, one part of soddy land and one part of sand.
Seeds are disinfected before sowing. The most accessible method is to soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 25 minutes. Potassium permanganate can be replaced by any industrial growth stimulator. If you like more folk remedies, then you can take garlic or aloe juice as stimulants.
It should be noted that after disinfection, the seeds need to be thoroughly dried!
Coleus seeds are planted in slightly moist soil to a depth of no more than 4 mm. Next, we build a mini-greenhouse. The temperature in the room where the seeds are grown should be 22-25 ° C. Seedlings will please the eye in a week.
Seedlings of home nettle are demanding on lighting. Choose a place with diffused light for the container with the shoots. With a lack of light and no additional light, the seedlings will begin to stretch and weaken.
Do not forget that the mini-greenhouse needs regular ventilation.
After 2 weeks, coleus seedlings need to be fed. For this, complex fertilizers are used, and the recommended dose is reduced by 3-4 times. After the appearance of the first true leaves, the plant can dive. Six months later, the seedling will reach the size of an adult flower.
characteristic diseases
Problems that a florist may face when growing coleus:
- 1Ugly elongated shoots. The reasons for the loss of decorativeness of the plant include lack of lighting, age of the coleus, missed pruning or pinching of the plant.
- 2 Falling leaves. The loss of leaves indicates excessive soil moisture or, conversely, the rarity of watering.
- 3 Stem rot. It also leads to excessive watering.
- 4 Slow growth of coleus. The result of a lack of nutrients.
- 5 withered leaves brown spots. The reason for this is too dry air.
- 6 Soft or drooping leaves. It is necessary to increase the temperature in the room where the coleus is kept.
- 7 Yellowed leaves. The reason is the lack of mineral supplements.
- 8 Faded color of leaves. The reason is excessive lighting.
How to deal with pests?
Insects harmful to coleus include:
- whitefly;
- spider mite.
You can fight pests with industrial preparations or folk remedies. To the well-established shop drugs relate:
- Actellik;
- Apollo;
- Fitoverm;
- Akarin;
- Oberon;
- Agravertin.
Effective folk methods of dealing with aphids include spraying an infected plant with soapy water. For its preparation, 300 g of household or 125 g of liquid soap is taken and diluted in 10 liters of water. Processing is done once every 10 days during the month. The earthen ball during this procedure must be covered to protect it from the ingress of soapy water.
Species and varieties
There are over 100 species of this plant. And the beginning of diversity was given by two varieties of this plant: the coleus of Blume and the coleus of Verschaffelt. By crossing them, European breeders gave the world a stunning splendor of colors and a riot of colors. The most famous coleus is Blume. Its varieties include:
- 1 Variety Black Dragon. Coleus with purple-brown foliage. The leaves are grooved along the edges and decorated with red veins.
- 2 Dwarf cultivar of the Saber coleus. His maximum height- only 20 cm.
- 3Variety Glory of Luxembourg. Its bright yellow leaves are adorned with coral veins.
- 4Rose Blush variety. This variety is characterized by strong branching. The leaves are large, corrugated. The center is painted with a pale pink color; the edges are framed by a light green stripe.
- 5Crimson Ruffles variety. Differs in large leaves of saturated burgundy-crimson color.
- 6Saturn's Rings variety. Its emerald leaves are adorned with a dark purple border around the edges.
- 7Fireworks grade. Attracts attention with its red leaves.
- 8Desert Sunset variety. Depending on the lighting, the foliage changes color from fiery red to all sorts of shades of yellow.
- 9Lemon Twist variety. Openwork green leaves are decorated with small spots of lemon color and exquisite thin burgundy edging.
- 10Coleus variety Mosaic. It has striped leaves of green and red-cream colors.
- 11 Hybrid coleuses from the Wizzard series: Wizzard golden with yellow-green leaves, Wizzard Evening Dawn with bright fiery red leaves framed by a narrow strip of greenish border, Wizzard Jade with white leaves decorated with a wide dark green border.
- 12Coleus Renelta. His shoots fall in whips up to half a meter. Decorative leaves give multi-colored veins different colors: purple, yellow, red and brown. The ampel variety Golden Bedder attracts with plain, yellow leaves.
A few years ago, Canadian students, in the course of painstaking work, bred a series of 8 coleus under the general name " water world". The asymmetrical leaves of these plants are decorated with fancy fringes and resemble marine life: fish, scallops, crabs. This series is resistant to temperature fluctuations. Experimental students deliberately exposed young shoots to extreme heat and extreme cold. The "Water World" series withstood all the tests with dignity. Plants of this variety are propagated by cuttings, like ordinary coleus.
Place in the interior
Variegated coleus leaves will enliven any interior, giving it coziness. Ampel coleuses in hanging boxes and planters are ideal for decorating terraces and balconies. Home nettle is also suitable for children's rooms - it does not contain any irritating substances. These colorful plants goes well with any other house colors.
Homemade nettle is an excellent air filter, contributing to a noticeable improvement in people's well-being. And thanks to the bright and unusual coloring, homemade nettle will decorate any interior.
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Coleus is an ideal plant for decorating borders, flower beds. But in order to realize such ideas, you need a sufficient number of these colors, and this is very expensive. You can solve this problem if you grow flowers from seeds. Coleus care at home is simple and does not require much time. The main thing is to find those varieties that will look original in plantings.
Plant features
Coleus is one of the brightest representatives of the Lamiaceae family. There are about two hundred types of nettle. By the way, the name Coleus got because of its foliage, shaped like a nettle. You can hear another name - the poor man's croton. This nickname is given to the flowers because of the similarity in color. The coleus has the same fancy patterns as the croton. If we compare nettle with croton, then the former has many more color options. It is worth noting that coleus care at home is much easier than other similar plants.
Under natural conditions, coleus grows in Asia and Africa, where it is used not only as decorative ornament garden, but also eaten. In Russia, only hybrid varieties are available for sale, which are suitable only as a garden decoration.
Such different circles
Coleus cultivation and care at home should begin with an acquaintance with the plant, its appearance, at least a little understanding of the varieties. After all, each of them has its own unique color and a certain leaf shape. The shades of nettle foliage can be very different: green, purple, cream, pink, yellow, burgundy, red, black.
The most unusual are those types of coleus that have an original pattern of several shades. Aesthetic appearance the plant is given dots, stripes, specks, marble pattern, stains.
Coleus belong to flowering plants, but it is valued because of the decorativeness of the leaves. Bushes bloom with white or bluish small flowers. When caring for a coleus at home, the released arrows with flowers are removed. This is done in order not to spoil the decorative look of the flower.
Popular types
The most popular types of coleus are Renelta, Pumila and Blume.
Renelta is characterized by matte red shades of foliage. It is emphasized by a cream, green edging.
Pumila is characterized by its ability to hang down with beautiful lashes. This variety belongs to the ampelous.
In the process of breeding on the basis of Scutellarioides, a variety of the Blume species was obtained. It has many different colors - from pure green to camouflage, there are spotted, pink representatives of the species.
One of my favorites and popular varieties is the Coleus Black Dragon. Home care for this species comes down to providing enough light to see the true color of the foliage.
plant care
Planting a coleus and caring for it at home is very simple, and even a beginner can handle these tasks. The basic rule for successful flower growing is good lighting. It depends on him how pronounced the nettle pattern will be. It is also important to follow temperature regime, watering.
Watering
One of the most important elements of home care for coleus is watering. This plant loves moisture very much: even a short-term drying of the soil leads to partial shedding of leaves and developmental delay. Nettle also does not like excessive watering, and stagnant water is especially dangerous for its roots. When growing in pots, the excess should be removed from the pan, and there should be drainage in the pot itself.
For irrigation, it is necessary to use settled water without chlorine. In winter, watering is reduced, but the drying of the soil is not allowed.
Fertilization
Coleus flower in home care requires fertilization. In spring and summer, it is necessary to feed the plant every week.
For top dressing, complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are used. In winter, it is necessary to feed the plant once a month. To prevent a burn of the root system, top dressing is applied only after abundant watering.
Lighting
Coleus cultivation and care at home requires compliance with the light regime. He is light-loving and should be placed in the brightest place. But you should not place a flower on a southern window in direct sunlight, as its delicate leaves can burn out, lose their unique color. The western and eastern windows are best suited for the plant. In the north, it can stretch up, the leaves turn pale.
When placing the coleus in the garden, you should choose a place where there will be partial shade or shade.
Temperature
Coleus are not demanding on temperature. They grow ideally at 16-25 degrees. For winter maintenance indoors, a temperature of at least twelve degrees is suitable. At lower temperatures, the plant's metabolism is disturbed, which is why the nettle rots.
Humidity level
Coleus in natural conditions grow in the tropics high level humidity. Domestic hybrids are just as demanding on this condition as wild counterparts. In order for the flower to please with its splendor, spraying should be carried out at least once a day. You can place the flower on the kitchen windowsill, where it is always warm and very humid. When placed in the garden, the plant will receive moisture at dawn, with morning dew.
Transplant Features
Most often, coleus is grown as an annual crop. In winter, its trunk usually fades, becomes bare, the plant loses its decorative effect. Some manage to maintain its attractiveness by cutting bare stems. In this case, the flower is transplanted every two years. If the roots are knocked out of the drainage hole, then this is a signal that there is a need for an urgent transplant.
To do this, use the soil, consisting of humus, soddy land, sand, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. At the bottom of the pot, drainage is made of expanded clay, pieces of foam or other material. Before transplanting, the old soil is removed from the roots as much as possible. During this procedure, all rotten and intertwined roots are removed. This must be done as carefully as possible. Then the flower is placed in a new pot and sprinkled with prepared soil.
Planting in the garden involves annual cultivation. Of course, the varieties you like can be brought into the house for the winter, but they rarely take root: they shed their leaves, and soon they begin to die completely. To preserve the variety, cuttings are taken and rooted.
Breeding methods
Coleus propagates by cuttings and seeds. The easiest way to get a new instance is with the method vegetative propagation. However, over the years, the plant loses its decorative effect, the leaves become smaller. In this case, it is necessary to sow the variety again.
Reproduction by cuttings
During the pruning of the plant, all cut branches can be rooted. This can be done in two ways: in the water and in the ground. In the first case, the plants are placed in a container with water so that the lower part of the stem does not touch the bottom of the jar. Ten days later, white roots appear. Now the cutting can be planted in the ground. When rooting in water, no root stimulants need to be added.
When germinating in the ground, it is necessary to cut cuttings about ten centimeters long. Remove bottom leaves. The blanks are planted in the ground and covered with glass on top. In such a mini-greenhouse, the plant will quickly grow, after which it must be opened.
Reproduction by seeds
Benefits this method breeding set. Firstly, you will immediately receive a large number of seedlings, which is important when growing plants to decorate the garden. Secondly, by purchasing seeds of mixtures, you can get many new, original colors. Thirdly, when sowing seeds, it is possible to grow healthy plants with strong stems and large leaves without crushing, which is typical for propagation by cuttings.
You need to start breeding with the choice of planting material. Country stores offer a large selection of coleus seeds of various colors, there are many mixtures. Having decided on the variety, prepare the soil for sowing and the container. It is best to use a small food container in which the seeds will be sown en masse.
The container is filled with soil, which is lightly tamped. Then the earth needs to be watered. Since the seeds are small, they can be sown in the snow. In this case, preliminary moistening is not required: when thawing, the moisture itself will slightly draw the seeds into the soil. Otherwise, you need to lightly spray the crops from the spray gun. Drops of water will push the seed into the ground.
The container with crops is placed in a bright, warm place. After five days, shoots will begin to appear.
Usually coleus sprout together, it often happens that all the seeds hatch during the day.
During growth, the plant dives twice. The first pick is best done three weeks after germination, and the second - on permanent place after landing.
When growing, pinching the coleus is carried out. Home care comes down to the formation of a bush, and this procedure contributes to the formation of a beautiful, healthy plant.
The first pinching occurs at the stage of two true leaves. After this procedure, lateral branches begin to grow from the leaf sinuses. As soon as they dissolve two pairs of leaves, they are pinched. In this way, you can get very beautiful and lush plant. It is these balls that can be seen in the photo of the coleus. Home care using the pinching technique helps to get flowers of any shape: some flower growers even practice growing standard trees.
Coleus is one of the most popular types of plants that are grown for decorative purposes to decorate flower beds, paths and flower beds. It is appreciated not only by lovers of indoor plants, but also by gardeners for its unpretentiousness in care, brightness of color and a large selection of varieties.
It is a herbaceous plant resembling a nettle in appearance, only without thorns and beautifully colored. In culture, hybrids of the Coleus Blume Coleus blumei are common. The stem is erect, plant height up to 80 cm. The leaves are opposite, oval, pointed at the end, wavy or serrated along the edge. The leaves are finely pubescent, usually variegated. Inflorescence raceme of numerous small flowers.
General information about coleus
coleus (coleus), family labiales. Other names: nettle
population: About 150 species are distributed in nature.
Place of origin: Origin of the island of Java.
Usage: decorative leafy.
plant size: 60 - 80 cm in height.
Growth: very fast.
coleus bloom: summer and autumn.
Coleus care and maintenance
Temperature summer 19 - 25
Temperature winter 13 - 17
Lightingcoleus: light-loving
direct solar
Sunny, but so that the leaves do not turn green, we shade only in the afternoon if the window faces south; in winter, due to a decrease in the amount of light, it is necessary to provide low temperature(about 10 degrees).
Wateringcoleus: Coleus is watered abundantly in summer, watering is reduced in autumn and winter, but the soil should be slightly moist. It is preferable to use soft water for irrigation.
reproductioncoleus: By seeds in spring, stem cuttings in spring and summer. When coleus is propagated by seeds, they germinate easily and quickly. At the same time, when the pattern of leaves is clearly visible on the seedlings on young leaves, the brightest and most beautiful of them are selected, the rest are thrown away. Young seedlings usually form flower arrows rather quickly and lose their decorative appeal. Therefore, they are cut, and the cut stems are used for cuttings. Cuttings usually take root in 2-3 weeks.
Air humidity: Coleus loves very humid air. Therefore, the air is humidified by frequent spraying or a pot with a plant is placed on a pallet with wet pebbles or expanded clay.
Transfercoleus: Transplanted annually in the spring. Sometimes in the summer, the coleus is transplanted again, or rather, transferred to a larger pot, as its roots grow rapidly and braid around an earthen ball. Repotting is necessary when the roots of the plant emerge from the drain hole at the bottom of the pot. Soil - any nutrient mixture, the coleus is not picky about the composition of the soil.
top dressingcoleus: Regularly from March to September they are fed with a solution of mineral fertilizers for decorative and deciduous houseplants. Top dressing is carried out weekly. The more nitrogen the soil and fertilizers contain to feed the coleus, the less pronounced the pattern on the leaves and the greener they are.
pruningcoleus: pinch regularly, remove inflorescences, cut radically in spring.
Features of coleus care
In summer, you can take it out into the fresh air.
Can be grown hydroponically.
The lower leaves turn yellow and fall off - little light.
In the spring and summer, the coleus should be regularly and abundantly watered with settled water at room temperature, preventing the soil from drying out. In addition, the plant must be sprayed every day. Feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers best done once a week. In the autumn-winter period, watering should be reduced, but be sure to ensure that the soil is constantly moist. It is not necessary to feed the coleus at this time. For planting a coleus, a soil mixture should be prepared, consisting of one part of sod, two parts of humus earth and one part of sand. When planting a plant, it is necessary to make a good drainage layer so that when watering, water does not stagnate at the roots. Excessive moisture can cause them to rot and the subsequent death of the plant. The lush crown of the coleus must be formed by trimming and pinching.
Coleus, or as the plant is sometimes called, nettle, is a native of Asia and Africa. Thanks to the unpretentiousness of the coleus, growing from seeds at home and the lack of special care, the culture has become truly popular and is widely used for outdoor and indoor gardening.
What is the attraction of the plant? And how to grow coleus from seeds?
The main feature of numerous varieties and varieties of a herbaceous plant with a height of 30 to 50 cm is the decorative pointed-ovate foliage of incredible colors.
Leaves sitting on pubescent succulent stems can have such a bright and variegated color that even flowering species will envy the abundance of shades. For coleus, revered by lovers of indoor and garden crops, it is not at all uncommon not only green or yellowish-white tones, but also such exotic paints like lilac, crimson, brown, purple and pink. In many varieties, the leaves are decorated with spots, stripes, wide or narrow edging along the edge.
At the same time, growing coleus will not be difficult even for beginners in floriculture, and with minimal care, a bright non-capricious plant will please the eye for a long time both outdoors and indoors.
Ways to grow coleus at home
As far as coleus are unpretentious in care, they are so easy to grow. Moreover, there are two main ways of plant reproduction:
- with the help of cuttings;
- through seeds.
Since the stems of the plant do not branch out on their own, and a dense compact crown can only be obtained if there are many shoots, when grown at home, the coleus must be cut and pinched.
Apical cuttings cut from adult plants with several leaves are used for propagation. Young shoots cut in spring can be rooted in water or by digging in with a light, damp mixture of sand and sphagnum. Roots, as a rule, appear within a week, after which the plant is ready for planting in separate pots.
If the grower has several young coleus of different colors at his disposal, you can create a decorative composition from them by placing the seedlings at a distance of 10-15 cm in one large container. As the plants grow, they pinch, forcing them to bush and take on a beautiful rounded shape.
Such cultivation of coleus will allow you to decorate with a multi-colored hat of lush foliage both the house and the backyard, veranda or flower garden.
Growing coleus from seed
Getting unusually attractive coleus plants from seeds is not difficult at all. Self-harvested or purchased seeds give a high percentage of germination, and young seedlings grow well.
Still, there are several factors to consider when growing coleus from seeds at home.
Plants are quite photophilous and develop in stable warm air. Therefore, in order to obtain strong healthy seedlings, sowing is carried out in early spring, when daylight hours begin to increase. In this case, the seedlings are guaranteed not to be weak and elongated due to lack of sun, and their development is noticeably faster than in autumn or winter.
Spring sowing saves not only the florist's time, but also his labor costs. Spring heat is enough not to arrange greenhouse conditions and illumination for seedlings.
Growing coleus from seeds will require shallow containers with pre-made drainage holes. For sowing, take a light, very loose substrate with a high nutrient content. An example of such a soil is a mixture of humus, sand, peat and crushed sphagnum. Backfilling is carried out, almost without compacting the soil so that about 1.5–2 cm remains from the soil to the edge of the container.
Now you can proceed to sowing:
- Coleus seeds are very small, so they are not buried in the ground, but only evenly distributed over its surface.
- Moisten over the planting with a spray bottle. This has to be done very carefully, since even a jet of water can deepen the seeds or lead to their crowding.
- The container is placed in a window greenhouse or placed under a film.
When the seeds intended for growing coleus are in a nutritious moist substrate, they need heat and light. Therefore, the container should be immediately placed on a bright window sill or artificial lighting should be arranged for crops. Optimum temperature for coleus 22 - 24 ° C.
It usually takes about two weeks before germination occurs. Until the sprouts appear, the crops are aired every day. If necessary, the substrate is moistened.
Growing coleus from seeds in peat tablets
If the grower has peat tablets at his disposal, they can be successfully used at home to grow coleus from seeds:
- Before sowing, the tablets are watered abundantly so that the compressed peat swells and increases several times in size.
- The excess liquid is then removed.
- Seeds are carefully laid out on the surface at a small distance from each other, easily pressed into an elastic substrate.
- Tablets with seeds are placed in a tray under the film and transferred to a warm, bright place.
Using peat tablets it is important to prevent drying out or excessive moisture of the substrate. Therefore, water can be sprayed onto the surface of the peat or, at intervals of 3-4 days, add a little moisture to the tray where the tablets are located.
Seedling care when growing coleus
With the advent of seedlings, they need to be aired more and more often. Due to this, coleus plants, when growing their seeds, acclimatize to the external environment faster.
The first leaves are green, but with the formation of real foliage, it turns into different shades, as it should be for adult specimens. As soon as the crowns of plants close up, and the senets begin to interfere with each other, they dive, planting them at a distance of at least 2 cm from neighboring bushes.
If coleus seedlings were grown in, it is better to cut off the surface layer before planting them in the ground. This will allow the roots to develop freely in all directions.
1.5–2 months after sowing, the plants have several true leaves, fully colored in accordance with the selected variety, and the height of the sprouts reaches 10–15 cm. In this state, the coleus, when grown at home, can be transplanted into separate pots, where they to grow constantly.
In the future, coleus houseplants need:
- in diffusely bright light;
- in an air temperature of about 18–25 ° C in summer and not lower than 15 ° C in winter;
- in and regular summer top dressing, which is stopped with the onset of winter.
To form a lush crown when growing coleus, it is imperative to pinch and trim the shoots. With the help of such a formation, in a few years you can get spectacular standard trees with bright unusual foliage.
Growing coleus from seeds - video