Coleus: one great plant

by Judy Logue
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 2:08 PM MDT

Coleus, a descendent of C. Blumei, are a durable and easy to grow plant. Their bright variety of colors offer a nice change from green in your home. They are technically a tender perennial; if grown outdoors, the slightest frost will cause them to die.

They are a member of the nettle family, yet are a mint native to Indonesia and Africa. As an indoor plant, they can be kept as a perennial by pinching off the flower spikes and pinching back the plant. The intensity of light will affect their color dramatically, depending on variety. Coleus colors encompass a wide range from yellows, greens and pink to deep reds and purples.

A coleus makes a wonderful houseplant in Wyoming and is fairly easy to grow indoors. They should be planted in a light, quick-draining potting soil and receive several hours of bright light a day with temperatures in the 70- to 85-degree range. A south window is perfect for many varieties.

A monthly fertilization of houseplant fertilizer will keep your coleus healthy. Flower buds should be pinched off as soon as they appear to keep it from seeding. Once a coleus goes to seed, it has reached its life objective and will usually die.

Pinching the plant will produce lateral growth, creating a bushier plant and keeping your coleus from getting leggy. They are also a very hearty plant and can withstand a severe cutting back if desired.

Coleus plants are very easy to propagate. Seeds sprout readily and quickly, usually within two weeks. Each packet of seeds contains a wide variety of colors, which is a real advantage in planting seeds.

They should be sown in a shallow tray with a moist layer of fine soil and covered with a layer of plastic to retain moisture. Keep the tray in a warm place, which is bright but does not receive direct sun. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they should be thinned and transplanted into individual pots.

Propagating from cuttings is also very easy. Use a sharp, clean knife or a pair of scissors and cut just below the leaf node. Remove the lower leaves, dip into rooting hormone and insert into fresh potting soil. Moist sand or vermiculite or even a glass of water will also work to propagate cuttings.

Older coleus tend to become leggy and the foliage color will fade, so propagation of your favorite coleus is a sure way to continue to have healthy plants.

Print this story   |   Email this story