The joy of planting in a seed that is cultivated once and never fails, and the everlasting pleasure it provides is incomparable— your heart and soul with nature, with the heat of the sun, along with specks of dirt in your hands. And maybe at some point, you’ve been wondering what the perfect plants to put in your garden. Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plant care is the right place to be!
Perhaps you are considering coleus. It could be an ideal variety for your garden since it has the most beautiful foliage colors in a combination of maroon, red, pink, yellow, green, etc. Depending on your location, you might recognize these as Coleus blumei or as nettle with bright colors.
These beautiful foliage plants provide rain or shine color in the partial, or full shade of the sun, and they need only a little bit of your attention. Continue reading to learn how to cultivate a coleus plant in your backyard.
How to Choose
Coleus cultivars come with a wide range of leaf patterns and textures, as well as a wide range of shades. Solid veins and edges, flecks, streaks, blotches, splashes, and shades all contribute to the incredible pattern variability. The coleus adds color, and its color strength differs based on heat and sunlight exposure and other factors. Variations that can handle more sun are referred to as “sun coleus.”
To identify the most unusual types, you may need to visit various online stores or garden centers. Here are some series of coleus to consider:
- Fairway series: There are dwarf coleus species with leaves in various colors and patterns that are just 6 to 10 inches long.
- Premium Sun series: These cultivars have been raised to survive under direct sunlight.
- ‘Black Dragon’:The leaves of this rare type have fringed edges and are a deep color of burgundy.
- Kong series: These coleus cultivars have massive 6-inch leaves on 2-foot-tall plants. They are very vulnerable to intense sunlight.
- Wizard series: These are tiny plants that range in size from 12 to 14 inches tall and come in various mixes of colors. They’re well-known for being relatively easy to develop from seed.
How to Grow
Coleus has long been recognized as a shade and foliage plant, but the greatest leaves shade is obtained when it receives sunlight from the morning and any midday light. Coleus is one of the most transparent plants to propagate and develop. Coleus could fill in gaps throughout borders and beds, and be cultivated in containers since many varieties survive in partial and full sunlight.
Where to plant:
The intensity of light a plant receives will significantly affect the shade of its leaves and of its length. A spot with direct morning light and daytime shade are ideal for its finest leaf color. Darker-leaved types are effective at handling more sunshine than lighter-leaved types. And, since their semi-succulent buds are vulnerable to fracture, consider a wind-protected spot.
When to plant:
8 to 12 weeks just before the frost period lasts, you can start indoor cultivation with coleus seeds. Transplants can be planted after the risk of frost has ended and the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees at least. A certain volume of frost can harm coleus plants.
How to Take Care
It’s just as easy to look after coleus. Coleus that are newly planted, they need to be kept in moisture. Container plants often need to be watered more often than greenhouse plants. During their growth phase in summer and spring, the plants may boost with a 1/2 liquid fertilizer, though it is not necessary.
Avoid too wet soils since they can promote disease and leaf fall. Feed plants with a water-soluble fertilizer on a regular basis, particularly if they are in containers. Keep the soil moist because coleus are thirsty plants.
Summer is when their spiked flowers grow, but they can be extracted if needed. To promote bushier growth, trim the stems of the young coleus plant species. Since coleus is primarily grown for its vibrant foliage, there is no need to spend its resources on seed production or propagation.
How to Landscape
Coleus is a popular plant for borders, beds, and containers because of the wide variety of textures, shapes, and colors. Coleus is often used in outdoor container baskets and gardens or as an annual bedding plant.
These plants are occasionally taken indoors to survive winter in cooler climates.
- For containers, use up straight types of growing as a thrill and trail style spiller.
- Vivid, multi-colored coleus adds a splash of color to a white container.
- Light and bright colors leaves will lighten up a gloomy area.
- Choose colors that complement or match with surrounding flowers or plants.
- Make a strong statement by mass planting with a single variety.
- Trailing types may be used to drape around the sides of hanging baskets.
Final Thoughts
Take into consideration that when cultivating coleus, all these lovely plants can grow quickly. Coleus may be planted near each other as bedding plants or stuffed into containers or baskets to boom fast and provides an eye-catching feature.
