Planting Coleus and caring for it in the open field

It is not difficult to grow Coleus in the open field if you correctly plant a flower for seedlings and follow the rules for caring for it. This non-capricious plant will be a bright decoration for any flower garden.

Flower description

Coleus is a short perennial bushy plant with a succulent stem. Usually its height is from 20 to 60 cm, although there are also specimens with a meter growth, and ten-centimeter babies. The flower has very decorative leaves, similar in shape to the leaf blades of nettle. For its resemblance to this prickly plant, coleus is sometimes called nettle. The leaves are oval or crescent-shaped and are brightly colored. Red, white, burgundy, purple, pink, purple, orange, brown, copper, yellow shades are eye-catching. There are varieties with all kinds of spots, stripes and multi-colored strokes.

In summer, small flowers, collected in inflorescences, appear on the Coleus - blue, white or purple.

Numerous hybrids of the popular flower have been bred. Some varieties are used in indoor floriculture, there are perennial and annual species.

Varieties and hybrids

There are more than two hundred species and hundreds of hybrids of the Blume Coleus - the most common variant with a variety of leaf colors. This is a perennial shrub, there are varieties of dwarf growth and giants of meter height.

• Representatives of Coleus Renelt are numerous ampelous varieties. They are widely used for decoration by placing them in hanging pots.
• Ampel pumila has heart-shaped leaves, you can easily form the desired shape in a plant.
• Froxolia is a mint-like species with green leaves. It is used not only for decorative purposes, but also for medicinal purposes.

Reproduction methods

Coleus can be propagated in two ways

1. Seeds. In specialized stores there is a large selection of seeds of various varieties of Coleus at affordable prices. The method attracts with the opportunity to obtain a huge number of young plants at the same time. However, when grown from seed, it will take several months before the seedlings take up space in the garden.
2. Cuttings. Faster breeding option. This method is interesting in that it is possible to obtain rather large specimens in a short time.

How to grow a coleus from a cutting?

The best time for these works is from the end of February to the beginning of April. Cuttings are carried out using shoots about 10 cm long.

1. For rooting, shoots cut from healthy adult plants are chosen.
2. Several lower leaves are pinched off from cuttings.
3. The shoots are slightly deepened into the ground and watered.
4. They are grown in a dark place at a temperature of about 20 degrees, covered with foil.
5. After 10 days, roots will appear, then the plants are transplanted to the place of permanent cultivation.

You can simply put the scions in the water, out of direct sunlight. The water is changed about every three days. After the appearance of small roots, the coleus is placed in the ground and long shoots are pinched.

Flowers grown from cuttings are planted in open ground at an air temperature of about 17 degrees Celsius.

How to sow Coleus correctly?

Since the end of March, small seeds are placed in small containers with fertile soil. Moisten the soil in the pots, and then spread the seed evenly on its surface. It is enough to lightly sprinkle the seeds with sand, without deepening into the ground.The containers are removed in a warm and dark place, covered with glass or plastic wrap to increase humidity. Amicable shoots appear in about a week and a half. After that, they are transferred to the light, and the film or glass is removed. Seedlings are provided with a temperature of about 18 degrees, protected from direct sunlight and regularly moisturized.

After the appearance of the first true leaves, after about 20-25 days, young plants are planted. If the seedlings are very dense, then the Coleus will not be able to form a powerful root system. At about a month and a half, the young dive and pinch a little. Each specimen is grown in a separate small pot or glass until it is time to transplant it outdoors.

Coleus seeds can be sown directly into open ground. However, in this case, the plant will not have time to fully show its beauty by the end of the growing season.

Dates of planting seedlings on the street

Coleus is planted in open ground around the end of May - beginning of June, when warm weather sets in and the ground warms up well. After 3 months, the plant will be of impressive size, so they leave enough free space for each specimen. The interval between adjacent wheels should be at least 20-30 cm. When planting, adhere to the recommendations indicated on the seed package.

For a flower, choose well-lit areas without drafts, in which multi-colored leaves can reveal all their beauty, retain a bright color. Varieties with green leaves are not so demanding on light.

Fertile soil with a high nitrogen content promotes good plant development. If the site has heavy loamy soil, sand and peat are added to the ground. Low-lying areas are not used for planting, in which water lingers for a long time after rains.

Coleus spends a lot of moisture and nutrients on the development of flower arrows, therefore, in newly planted young specimens, the rudiments of inflorescences are removed until the plant grows stronger. The flowers do not have high decorative qualities, therefore, they often do not allow adult specimens to bloom.

Features of cultivation in the open field

Coleus is a non-capricious plant. The rules for caring for him are quite simple.

• Water regularly, preventing the earthen coma from drying out. During dry and hot weather, the amount of moisture is increased and spraying is carried out. When it gets colder, the amount of watering is reduced, especially if the coleus grow in a shaded place.
• It is better to use settled warm water for irrigation. Spraying is carried out in the evening or in cloudy weather; direct sunlight should not fall on a wet plant.
• Regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds in the flower bed.
• Top dressing is carried out in a timely manner, using fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants after watering.
• If necessary, they fight pests and diseases.

Some changes in the appearance of the Coleus will help determine the growing problem.

• The stem is bare - it's time to pinch or the Coleus does not have enough sunlight.
• The plant sheds leaves - too much or little moisture, draft or cold.
• Shoots are stretched, decorativeness decreases - poor lighting.
• Leaves are discolored - there is a lot of sunlight, the night temperature is too low or, conversely, very high.
• Leaves bunch up - the plant is cold.
• The tips of the leaf blade dry up - low humidity, it is necessary to water more often and spray.
• Spots on the leaves - a burn from too bright sunlight, an attack of pests, a disease.

As you grow, pinch the top branches of the coleus. Then the flower will be more magnificent, its decorative effect will increase. The operation is carried out as needed, several times during the entire growing season.

Fertilizers have a beneficial effect on Coleus, with them the flower develops better and has a healthy appearance.For the first time, a complex top dressing is introduced under the sown young plants. The concentration is made 3-4 times less than recommended in the instructions. After planting in open ground, fertilize with mineral dressings 2 times a month. Organic fertilizers are used several times a season.

Diseases and pests

Coleus is a flower quite resistant to pests and diseases, however, a plant weakened by unfavorable conditions may suffer.

• It happens that whiteflies attack it and settle on the inside of the flower.
• Sometimes aphids cause serious damage. It is especially dangerous for young plants, since it can completely capture immature specimens in a couple of weeks.
• Spider mites and mealybugs can also attack the flower.

At the initial stage, dusting with wood ash or spilling with soapy water is carried out from aphids. A concentrated infusion of laundry soap can also help with whitefly larvae. For treatment, foam is whipped from one part of grated soap and six parts of water. The resulting solution is used to lubricate the accumulation of pests. A citrus infusion is prepared against the mealybug. Lemon, tangerine, orange peels (50 g) are poured with boiling water. After a day, the resulting mixture is irrigated with plants infected with worms.

A broad-spectrum insecticide, such as Actellik or Aktara, will help to get rid of a large number of pests.

When waterlogged, rot can develop on the coleus. It is important to observe the water regime when caring for a flower, especially with temperature changes.

The plant can suffer from downy mildew. Gray-yellow spots appear on the leaves of the infected specimen. Their number increases over time, with a strong defeat, the flower dies. For treatment, they are treated with a fungicide according to the instructions, the affected parts of the plant are removed. It is important to follow agricultural practices when growing Coleus in order to prevent disease.

Coleus in the cold season

Usually this flower is grown outdoors as an annual. However, the plant can be preserved. For this, it is better to use young specimens that have not lost their colorful appearance. Old flowers can be used for propagation by cuttings.

Coleus is dug out before the cold weather, in late autumn. It is transplanted into flowerpots of appropriate size and placed on well-lit windows in the house. You can transfer the plant to an insulated balcony, loggia or winter garden. It is necessary to ensure the temperature is not lower than 8 degrees Celsius. The lower the temperature, the less often you need to water the flower in winter. The earthen coma should not be allowed to completely dry out.

With the arrival of stable warm weather, the plants need to be rejuvenated. The flower branches are shortened, leaving shoots of about 6 cm, dry and damaged parts are removed. Coleus is gradually hardened, and at night temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius, planting in open ground is possible.

Bright and unpretentious Coleus is an excellent solution for decorating any flower garden. It is actively used in landscape design. Coleus goes well with other plants in flower beds. With a minimum expenditure of time and effort, you can get a spectacular element of decoration, and a variety of colors will allow you to choose an item for every taste.