Coleus , Coleusspp . , is a genus of tropical foliage plants in the Lamiaceae or mint kinsfolk , prized for its bold colors and strike variegation .
In USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11 , they are grown outdoors as perennial . Gardeners elsewhere constitute them in - ground or in pots as annuals , tossing them out at the end of the growing time of year .
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Mealybugs on coleus. Photo credit: Anne W. Gideon, Bugwood.org
These colourful foliage plants thrive in shady location , with mature dimension up to three human foot tall with an adequate spread , look upon the form .
Inour guide to mature coleus , we traverse how to cultivate these easy - care plants in your landscape .
This guide talk about how to bring coleus indoors to enjoy it as a houseplant .
Mealybugs on coleus. Photo credit: Anne W. Gideon, Bugwood.org
What You’ll Learn
Getting start up
cultivar to Select
How to maturate
Pests and Disease
Coleus are easy to originate from seed , but if you have memory access to an existing plant you could take stem cutting or merely buy a potted greenhouse start .
seedling in seed starter trays with a few reliable foliage , cuttings in piddle that have grown visible roots , and nursery take off in plastic pots are all ready to transpose to more permanent homes .
Porous ceramic container , like terracotta , put up excellent air permeability and excess wet desiccation .
They should have ample drain maw and you will involve removable dribble saucers for wet management and furniture protection .
apply an eight - inch sens for one works or blank multiple between six and 12 inches apart in large vessel .
Select a quality pot soil that is prolific , wet - retentive , and well - draining .
This product from Midwest Hearth ply nourishing - full-bodied peat moss and absorbent perlite and vermiculite .
Premium Potting Soil with Peat Moss
It keep moisture while facilitating excess water system drainage to forbid oversaturation and rotting .
Premium Potting Soil with Peat Moss isavailable from the Midwest Hearth Store via Amazon .
To pot up seedlings , rooted cuttings , and nursery start :
irrigate the potting medium until it drip from the drainage holes , conduct care to direct thewatering canat the soil . nullify wetting the leaves to inhibit fungal disease .
There are a declamatory number of unlike flame nettle cultivar in a panoptic variety of beautiful colour .
Here are a few favorites to get you started :
Chocolate Covered Cherry
With dramatic , multicolored leaves of pink , surrounded by burgundy and edge in green , ‘ Chocolate Covered Cherry ’ is a stunning cultivar .
‘ Chocolate Covered Cherry ’
you could find packet of 10 seedsavailable at Burpee .
Coral Candy
‘ Coral Candy ’ won the All - America Selections award in 2023 for its vivacious colors and compendious form .
This hybrid cultivar sport pinkish and green foliage .
‘ Coral Candy ’
you may find packets of seedsavailable at Eden Brothers .
Watermelon
‘ Watermelon ’ is a hugely pop cultivar with dramatic pink and bright green edging . Deep red mineral vein give the leaves grain and interest .
‘ watermelon vine ’
you’re able to discover packets of 25 seeds or a four - flora parcel to get you get going quickly , available at Burpee .
Indoor coleus thrives when we meet its cultural requirements .
Light
select a location in indirect sunlight , sooner near a north- or east - facing window .
deflect situating the plant directly in a cold draft or near spicy gentle wind vents . The idealistic temperature is between 60 and 75 ° fluorine .
It ’s a respectable idea to rotate your heap occasionally so all the foliage receives the benefit of the usable light to asseverate even growth .
Water and Humidity
keep up even wet by water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch . Use a popsicle stick or chopstick as a guide , orpurchase a moisture metre .
If your home is peculiarly dry , consider place pots on a bed of damp stones to increase the ambient humidness .
Fertilizing
fertilise at planting time and annually in former leap .
Use a liquid plant food diluted to half - forcefulness . Choose one that is nitrogen - copious for leafage rather than one for flowers .
Miracle - gro Tropical Houseplant Food is formulated with copper , Fe , magnesium , and manganese micronutrients to support the robust growth of lush tropical foliage .
Miracle - Gro Tropical Houseplant Food
Miracle - Gro Tropical Houseplant Food isavailable from the Miracle - Gro Store via Amazon .
Pinching
flame nettle grows fast . hook back the clusters of fresh untested leafage , call “ gratuity growth , ” an column inch or two to promote a compendious , shaggy-haired form .
Blooming , although pretty , halts leaf yield . If you see inflorescences or prime spikes rising above the leave of absence , pinch them off before they bloom to keep the plant looking sharp .
Repotting
When the foliage doubles in sizing , go up one pot size .
reject the enticement to go larger ; the big the pile , the longer the soil stays sloshed after watering , and the enceinte the hazard of oversaturation and decomposition .
Winter Care
flame nettle goes into semi - dormancy during the gloam and winter month .
As increase slows down , so does the need for lachrymation . Use your wood spliff or wet metre to forefend oversaturation .
Indoor flora is not resistant to pests and disease . Avoiding excessively dry or wet precondition run a long way toward denigrate the risk of both .
Some pests you may confront are :
Let ’s talk about .
Aphids, Mealybugs, Spider Mites, and Whiteflies
Aphids , mealybugs , spider mites , and whiteflies are all sapsucking plague that get foliar discolouration and disfigurement .
It ’s best to deflect wet coleus leaves to inhibit fungal growth . In the case of an infestation , however , a rinse under the kitchen faucet can transfer most of the pesterer .
Neem Oil is a fungicide , insecticide , and miticide that you’re able to use preventatively and as a treatment for sapsucking worm and mould pathogens .
It is safe for indoor and outdoor utilization . mention that it has a strong , garlic - corresponding odor .
Bonide Neem Oil
Bonide ® Neem Oilis uncommitted from Arbico Organicsin quart and Imperial gallon quick - to - spray bottles and a dry pint - sized concentrate .
Slugs and Snails
slug and escargot are less likely to be an issue on indoor flora than out-of-door .
However , if you give your pots an al fresco summer vacation and conditions are damp , they may get a problem .
See ourguide to slug and snail eradicationfor information .
Disease
Diseases to be aware of include :
Downy mold is caused byPeronospora choii , a urine - cast ( oomycete ) and infection causes sloppy spotting on the leafage .
As the disease progress , the leave of absence turn white-livered and brown before send away from the flora .
Pathogens favor flora that is over- or underfertilized and nerveless , wet conditions with high humidness .
Proactive avoidance measures include :
delicacy houseplants with organic neem oil preventatively under less than idealistic conditions and at the first signs of contagion .
Powdery mold is a fungous disease triggered by numerous emcee - specific pathogens .
Symptoms include a white - to - greyish powdery coating generally on the upper foliage surfaces , folio and shoot defacement , and leaf fall .
Spores proliferate under juiceless conditions or those that are coolheaded and humid .
Unlike many fungi , the spore do n’t require water for sprouting , and water inhibits the activation of most types .
Proactive step include :
You canlearn more about powdery mildew in our guide .
flame nettle root buncombe is caused byRhizoctonia solanifungusandPythiumwater moldspecies .
symptom include folio yellowing , wilting , and growth anomaly including stunt and stem fissures . The roots break down , discolor , and soften .
These pathogens thrive in oversaturated territory that inhibits the power of the beginning to suck up oxygen .
preventive measures admit :
There is no therapeutic for root rot , but you may try on and save the industrial plant . If it is plain , unpot the impress plant , and nip off off and discard sodden roots and deface stem in the methamphetamine .
Sanitize the gage with a nine - to - one urine to decolourise solution , rinse , and let it gentle wind dry .
Repot with fresh grow medium .
You canlearn more about how to deal with root rot in our guide .
A Kaleidoscope of Color
Because most types of flame nettle are shade - loving , their ability to adjust to indoor luminance is outstanding . Most appealing is the heroic pallet of variegate leafage from which to pick out .
Are you seem for a vibrant , easy - care houseplant that is n’t a sunny window diva ?
Add coleus to your indoor decor for a kaleidoscope of non - picky , eye - catching color .
If you found this clause informative and desire toread more about grow flame nettle , we advocate the following guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more contingent . production pic via Arbico Organics , Burpee , Eden Brothers , Midwest Hearth , and Miracle - Gro . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Nan Schiller
