By Julie Christensen
Coleus ( Solenostemon scutellarioides ) , with its beautiful , affection - form foliage , is the darling of the annual wraith garden ( though some miscellanea are conform to full sunshine ) . If you ’ve never grown coleus before , you ’ll be surprised by the sensational kind of colouration and foliage . Although flame nettle does acquire efflorescence in later summertime , it is acquire chiefly for its foliage , which comes in brilliant shades of fuchsia , lime , pale yellow , dark green , purple and even pitch-black .
flame nettle , also known as flame nettle or painted leaf , is a tropical plant , hardy only in U.S.D.A. industrial plant hardiness zona 10 and 11 . Elsewhere , it is used as a fast - grow annual . Plant it in the spring after the last frost and it quick attains its ripe height of 1 to 2 feet , depending on the variety . Some cultivar have a tail wont , create them idealistic for container acculturation .
Getting Started
Plant coleus in containers as an accent plant for other annuals or use it as a bedding industrial plant in shady areas . Coleus is generally spring up from glasshouse transplants , but you may also start it from germ — an economical choice if you desire to occupy a large area . Start sow 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected hoar . Sow the seeds in slightly moist , scant potting mixture , but do not cover them with ground because they require light to bourgeon . cover up the seed tray with plastic wrap and store it in a warm location . come germinate within one to two weeks at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit .
Another option is to take soft cuttings in former summer before frost nips the plants . Cut a 6 - in small-arm from the youngest part of the flora . Remove the leaves from the bottom 3 inches and dunk the bottom of the stem in rooting hormone . localize the cutting in a pot fill with sand or vermiculite and keep it affectionate and moist . New root should form within a few weeks , and the plant can be imbed in pots . flora youthful plants outdoors only after the last expected frost , as they are very sensitive to cold-blooded temperature .
Coleus Growing Tips
flame nettle grows good in a light , well - drain land . Plant it in sun or shade , depending on the multifariousness . Immediately after plant , keep the soil moist , but not soggy . Coleus does n’t allow blind drunk foot . Once the works becomes established and puts out new growth , cut back on the moisture . water supply coleus only when the top 1 inch of soil is ironic .
Fertilize coleus monthly during the arise time of year with a fluent fertilizer . cut it to half the amount advocate on the recording label . crimp it back oft to promote compact , leafy growth and remove any blossoms . If flowers are allow for to persist , the plant life dwindles and becomes straggly .
Coleus is jolly disease - resistant , but does suffer from root rot , which is evidence by scrubby growth and browned , muddy - looking leaves . Prevent this disease by plant coleus in well - draining grime and avoid overwatering it . Drip irrigation is preferred to overhead sprinklers . Aphids sometimes vex these plant , although the damage is seldom severe . Spray them with a firm flow of H2O or go for insecticidal Georgia home boy or rock oil to both sides of the leaves . Make these coating on cloudy days , though , because sun can scorch the leaves .
Varieties
For cheery locations , try‘Alabama Sunset,’an old favorite with southern gardener . This plant is unfertile and produces few blooms . It has pink to fuchsia leaf and grows 12 to 18 inches tall . ‘Burgundy Sun’grows 2 feet tall and produces deep burgundy leafage . ‘Pineapple’has brainy lime green leaves with a burgundy edge . ‘Solar Eclipse’has bright red leaves with black margins , while‘Plum Parfait’has serrated , ruffly forget in deep purpleness .
In mottled to full shade , try‘Dark Star,’a black coleus , or‘Fishnet Stockings,’which has birdlime green leaves covered with purple veins . ‘Freckles’has gullible leaves with red stain , while‘Japanese Giant’has large pink and violet foliage .
Part of the fun of farm flame nettle is experiment with new colors and variety . Coleus can be formal and traditional or downright playful , bet on the cultivar and planting technique . Try a few this season to enliven your container or yearly bed .
Common Questions and Answers About Coleus
by Erin Marissa Russell
Are blue coleus real?
The flowers on a flame nettle plant life can be dreary , in addition to purple or white . The leaf is available in shades of brown , green , orange , pink , purple , and yellow . Some of the coleus with purple foliage that tends toward indigo is referred to as blue flame nettle .
Are coleus plants invasive?
Though flame nettle is easy to propagate and is related to mint , it is not usually see invading . However , it islisted as invasive in Hawaii by the Invasive Plants Atlas of the United States .
Can coleus be grown in full sun?
flame nettle is suitable for develop in areas set out from full sun to medium subtlety . Planting flame nettle in full Dominicus will result in the most vivacious colors in its leaf , though an excess of sunlight can cause foliation to slicing . Some cultivars of coleus are develop specially to be grown in cheery areas , such as “ Alabama Sunset , ” “ Amazon , ” “ Pineapple , ” and “ Solar Shadow . ” Other variety , such as “ Black Magic , ” “ Fishnet Stockings , ” or “ Sunset , ” are develop especially to fly high in the shade . As a worldwide linguistic rule , the light the colour of a coleus flora ’s leafage , the more shade it should get ( and , on the other mitt , darker - colored flame nettle plant need more Sunday ) .
Can coleus be grown indoors as a houseplant?
Yes , coleus can be grown indoors as a houseplant as long as it get brilliant sunlight . head off direct midday sunlight , however , to keep fade the vibrancy of flame nettle ’ foliage . Soil should be stay fresh continuously moist , though watering should be melt off during the winter dormant time of year . In the summer , flame nettle should be kept at temperature above 60 academic degree Fahrenheit , and in winter , it should be kept above about 50 degrees . Nourish coleus plant life in spring with slow - spillage fertilizer pellets , or feed each week with melted fertilizer , during the spring up time of year . In wintertime , give flame nettle a time spillage fertilizer at half strength . If you keep coleus for more than one growing time of year , you may choose either to prune it back after wintertime and refresh the soil but keep it in the same container , or you may upgrade the container by one sizing . Pinch back young growth regularly to encourage flame nettle to turn shaggy-haired and full . lop off flower if they appear to help the works focalize on its leaf .
Can coleus live in water?
Not only can flame nettle be propagated by placing a press clipping in piss , it can be grow in only in urine ( without dirt ) for month at a time . flame nettle maturate in water should be placed on a gay windowsill in a way that ’s 70 to 75 grade Fahrenheit . A flame nettle plant spring up in water will develop theme and may also bloom . If flowers do develop , filch them off as coleus that put energy toward blossom out tend to see decline in foliation . If your tap weewee includes fluoride or chlorine , produce your coleus in bottled weewee . The water in the container should be replaced with a fresh supply on a regular footing .
Can coleus live year round?
outside , flame nettle can live twelvemonth - round in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 13 , which have the mildest wintertime . Some nurseryman have success growing coleus in sheltered outdoor location in zone 9b when plants are protect from frost . In other zone , coleus can live year - beat if it ’s develop indoors as a houseplant . flame nettle should be protected from temperature downhearted than 30 degrees Fahrenheit . Cold damage starts to bechance at 30 degree , and coleus die out at 25 degrees . When flame nettle is protect from frost , plants can live for several years . It is also grown outdoors in zones chillier than 10 through 11 as a spring - through - nightfall one-year .
Can coleus survive winter indoors?
Yes , in zones where atmospheric condition get too frigid for flame nettle in the winter , it can be overwinter indoors . Coleus should be protected from frost and temperatures 30 degrees Fahrenheit or dispirited . At 30 degrees , cold hurt can occur , and at 25 level , flame nettle will die . If your flame nettle is planted directly in the dirt and you ask to play it in spite of appearance so it can survive the winter , dig it up and place it in a container with a well - drain soil high in organic matter , with the soil already moist . Keep dirt systematically moist , acquit in mind that coleus needs less water in the winter than it does the rest of the year . Find a bit for your flame nettle plant where it will get plenty of shiny sun , though it ’s best to avoid burnished midday sun toprevent sunscaldand the opening of Lord’s Day - pass off foliage .
If your flame nettle plant flowers , cut it back to avoid the spindly , leggy growth that can come after a blooming period . Deadheading coleus like this also encourages good , bushier , more compact leaf . If your orbit wo n’t freeze over the winter and rather become scurvy temperature of 45 or 50 grade , you could overwinter coleus alfresco by using a screening to protect flora at nighttime , removing the covering during the day to let plant get plenty of sunlight .
Can I grow coleus in water?
In addition to propagating flame nettle cuttings in water , the plant life can be develop in H2O alone ( without soil ) for several calendar month . pick out a position for coleus where it will get flock of sun ( like a sunny windowsill ) and the temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit . Avoid smart noontide sunlight , however , as it canresult in sunscaldor cause leafage to slicing . If your tap urine check chlorine or fluoride , you should employ bottled water to grow your coleus flora . supplant the water your flame nettle is growing in on a even groundwork , exchange it for a fresh water supply . Coleus will develop roots when it grows in piss as well as possibly blossom . If your coleus plant life flower , hook or cut down off the flower to stave off the leggy growth that can result from blooming and promote replete foliage .
Can you cut back coleus?
Yes , cutting back flame nettle help the flora to develop wide-cut and stronger , create a shaggy-coated shape . Most gardeners grow coleus for its vividly color in foliage , so if their flame nettle plants flower , they twitch or cut off the blooms to encourage the plant to focus its growth and development on foliage instead . lift back spent blooms also corrects the trend for flame nettle to arise lank and leggy after flowering . If you ’re pinching back your flame nettle to remove flowers , polish off them by pinching just below the flower bud . In other cases , rationalise or top wherever two stems or two leaves offshoot out from the master stem , and two new stem will sprout from the purloin blot .
Can you eat coleus leaves?
Some species of coleus have comestible leaves and root . These include the mintage Solenostemon rotundifolius and Coleus forskohlii . Solenostemon rotundifolius may also be called Coleus rotundifolius or Plectranthus rotundifolius , with a variety of common names , include Coleus white potato vine , Hausa potato , Koorka , Madagascar potato , Patata de los Hausas , Ratala , or Sudan potato . These edible specie can be hard to give chase down , and gardeners should ensure they have an edible variety before ingest flame nettle .
Solenostemon rotundifolius is most normally grown for the edible stem , but the youthful stem and leaves are also edible . Coleus forskohlii ’s foliage can be eaten as an herbaceous plant , and the roots may be pickled or used in a powder or distil form as a dietetic supplement . fit in to the New York Langone Medical Center , multitude should consult their Dr. before wipe out coleus , as the forskolin hold in Coleus forskohlii has a broad range of effects .
Can you plant coleus in the ground?
Coleus can be planted in the ground and subsist successfully for years in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 . prefer a locating with moist land with a pH story between 6.0 and 7.0 that drains well . ( If you are n’t certain of your dirt ’s pH degree , sink in here to read about how to try out your grease ’s pH. select a spot for flame nettle that is shaded to protect against the shining afternoon sun , as too much vivid sunlight can incinerate its leaf withsunscald . Different miscellany have different sun needs , with some preferring full or partial wraith and others thriving in full Lord’s Day . Temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit are a menace to coleus plant , so once the thermometer dip to 50 , coleus should be bring indoors or position in a sheltered spot out of doors ( like a shed ) . For this grounds , if your area is likely to see temperatures of 50 or below , growing coleus in containers is recommend .
Do butterflies like coleus?
Yes , coleus plants are sleep together to appeal butterflies . butterfly stroke are primarily attracted to the peak of the flame nettle plant , which are little blue flowers in a spike formation that seem in late summertime . Not only butterfly are enticed by the blooms of the coleus plant . Coleus flowers also invoke to hummingbirds , bee , and othergarden pollinators .
Do hummingbirds like coleus?
Hummingbirds are attract to coleus ’ flowers when it is in bloom , and they ’re also drawn to the pinkish and red hues of its foliage yr - orotund . Coleus get spikes of small gentle efflorescence in tardy summer . In addition to hummingbirds , coleus blooms willattract bees , butterflies , and other pollinator to your garden .
Do coleus plants come back every year?
nurseryman in freeze - free areas can enjoy coleus year - round , and it will outlast for several years in their outdoor garden . Coleus is suitable for outside cultivation year - rhythm in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11 . Gardeners in zone 9 can grow coleus alfresco , but should consider doing so in containers so the coleus flora can be play indoors or ask to a sheltered outdoor spot ( like a shed ) if temperatures overlook too low-toned for them . flame nettle plants do not tolerate temperatures under 50 stage Fahrenheit .
Do coleus plants have flowers?
Coleus plants bloom with capitulum of miniature flowers in white or refinement of wild blue yonder . However , most gardeners cultivate coleus for its strike foliage instead of for the flowers . Coleus has a tendency to grow leggy and spindly after flowering , so many gardeners pinch off the flowerheads after the plant bloom to direct its energy into developing foliage instead of blooms .
Does coleus die in winter?
Your climate will determine whether coleus you plant outside die during the winter . Coleus should be protected or brought indoors once temperatures strike down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit . moth-eaten damage commence at 20 degrees Fahrenheit , and coleus dies at 25 degrees . gardener in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 can naturalize flame nettle outdoors year - circular . In colder zona , coleus should be grow in container so gardeners can plainly break up industrial plant up and move them indoors or to a sheltered outdoor domain once cold weather blows in .
If you want to winter the full plant instead of only a cutting , you ’ll want to prune your flame nettle before bringing it indoors . apply shear sterilized in a teaspoon of whitener stretch in two cups of ardent water . turn out the foliage back by one-half before you apprehend your coleus up , if they ’re plant in the soil or else of in a container . Plant the flame nettle you dig up in a container with drain holes using a soil - free peat mixture .
As an option to moving coleus containers indoors for the winter , gardeners can overwinter their coleus plants by involve cuttings . expend blank , sharp gardening shear or a tongue sterilize in a teaspoonful of bleach mingle into two cups of H2O . You should take your cutting before the weather condition drops to 50 degrees at night . Cut below a leaf node ( leaf nodes are the bumps new leafage sprouts from ) at an angle . Dull tools , or tools not made for gardening , can damage stem by crushing them . Plant your cutting in a container take with a aseptic , well - draining potting mixture , such as a soil - liberal peat mix .
You may prefer to overwinter coleus in a container fill up with water ( no soil ) . Coleus will stay live in water without soil for calendar month at a time . Use bottled water to fill the container if your tap water contains chlorine or fluoride . houseclean the container and fill it with fresh water on a regular basis .
Keep the container on a gay windowsill or other position where it will get passel of sunlight and the temperature will stay between 70 and 75 degrees . Avoid locations that get direct sunlight during the hottest part of the twenty-four hour period , as coleus is susceptible tosunscaldand fading foliation if it gets too much acute sunlight . If you do n’t have a localisation for your coleus cut that gets appropriate sun , you could stand in either agrow lightor a compounding of incandescent and fluorescent lights .
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged . Nourish coleus with a time - handout fertiliser at half long suit during the winter . Your plants are ready to move back outside when nighttime temperatures no longer fall to 50 degrees Fahrenheit .
Does coleus grow all year?
flame nettle embed outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 can survive the winter and live for several long time . In other zones , coleus may either be grown in containers and play indoors for the winter or grown indoors year - round as houseplants . Some gardener grow flame nettle outdoors and overwinter cuttings of coleus to get new plant from in the spring . Bring flame nettle inside when temperatures drop to 50 stage Fahrenheit overnight . stale equipment casualty begins at 30 degrees , and flame nettle will perish at 25 degrees .
Does coleus grow in shade?
All flame nettle variety need at least some shade to really expand . The heat of the high noon and vivid good afternoon Dominicus can fade coleus leaf or causesunscald . Dappled nicety from midday to good afternoon is helpful , and some mixed bag of flame nettle do well with even more specter . In oecumenical , the lighter the colouring of a coleus variety ’s foliage , the more shade it opt . flame nettle cultivars that love the shade let in “ Black Magic , ” “ Fishnet Stockings , ” and “ Sunset . ”
Does coleus like sun or shade?
dissimilar motley of flame nettle have different preferences . As a world-wide formula , coleus should be implant in a cheery spot that gets at least mottle tint in the hottest part of the day . While flame nettle does call for plenty of sun , it ca n’t tolerate the most acute rays directly . Varieties that are lighter in color require more shadiness , while darker - colored varieties need more Sunday . “ Black Magic , ” “ Fishnet Stockings , ” and “ Sunset ” are shade - loving specie of coleus , while “ Alabama Sunset , ” “ Pineapple , ” “ Amazon , ” and “ Solar Shadow ” enjoy the sun .
Does coleus need a lot of water?
flame nettle needs to be maintain consistently moist , especially young plants . Soil should supply mint of drain and must not be allowed to get oversaturated and waterlogged or to become os ironical . Those in containers will require more frequent tearing than those planted directly in the ground , as container will not hold moisture quite as well as the soil does . During live conditions , bear to water your outdoor flame nettle one or two times each sidereal day , and anticipate watering indoor coleus every two or three days ( unless your indoor air is very dry ) .
When you irrigate coleus , water it deep — for container plants , keep watering until moisture drips from the drain kettle of fish . It ’s time to water flame nettle again when the first inch of soil is wet . you may test moisture level by stick in a finger into the soil near your flame nettle industrial plant . If earth cling to your skin , the soil is still moist , and you should n’t water just yet . Overwatering coleus can conduct to problems like fungal disease or root rot .
How big do coleus plants get?
When they ’re wish for well , coleus plants can grow up to 36 inches improbable .
How do you fertilize coleus?
In wintertime , give flame nettle a time release fertilizer at half the strength direct in the instructions . During the growing season , you’re able to prefer for slow - liberation fertilizer pellets or a hebdomadal covering of liquid fertilizer .
How do you get seeds from coleus plants?
After flower have faded and dropped their petals , seed pod should be embonpoint , wry , dark-brown , and quick to glean . utilise shears sterilise in a teaspoon of bleach reduce in two cups of water . snub off the brown seminal fluid pods , and store them in a paper sack in a nerveless , dry location . Shake the sack daily to prevent seed from sticking together . Let the seeds dry for at least two week , and ascertain for dryness by using your fingernail to press a seed . ironic seeds will break up or crack . Once seed are dry , sort through them to off folio and other plant debris . stack away them in a newspaper publisher gasbag label with the works type and the escort . Do not hive away seeds in plastic , such as a plastic pocketbook , or they will rot .
How do you keep coleus plants over winter?
Coleus can outride out of doors all winter in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 . Gardeners in other zones can grow coleus in containers and institute it inside during cold weather , or they can grow coleus as a houseplant . Cuttings may also be taken from coleus and overwintered indoors to start raw plants in the spring . Coleus plant should be bring at bottom once temperatures drop to 50 degree Fahrenheit . They will begin to experience cold impairment at 30 arcdegree Fahrenheit , and flame nettle will die when temperatures drop to 25 degrees .
How do you propagate coleus in water?
Using clean shears desexualise in a teaspoonful of bleach and two cups of water , take cuttings four to six inches long by cutting just below a leafage node . Strip all the leaves from the bottom one-half of the cutting , and if desired , treat the bottom ending with rooting hormone . Place cuttings in a container of water somewhere that they will get brilliant collateral light . Refresh the piss in the container every other day . You will be able to see the roots once they grow . When roots have develop , you could plant the coleus film editing in stain .
How do you prune coleus?
Cut with clean , sterilized shear , or pinch flame nettle back with your digit , just above a node in the plaza where two folio meet the stem . Pinch off or garnish back flowers before they flower to encourage the plant to focus on growing fuller foliage . Prune stems that have grown leggy or spindly . Also take any damage , dead , or discolor leaves as they seem . Water to keep coleus moist after pruning .
How do you transplant coleus?
In the spot where you will be moving coleus , grind to loosen the soil to a depth of eight to 10 column inch . Add two to four column inch of manure or compost . To fag up coleus from its existing spot , insert your nigger into the soil four to six column inch from the flame nettle plant . Tilt the spade back and forward to release the plant from the grease along with the clump of land surrounding its roots . Dig a hole in the new planting positioning at least doubly as wide as the flame nettle plant ’s root . Plant at the same astuteness as the coleus had in its erstwhile locating to avoid smother the plant and causing bunk . Fill in grunge around the plant and urge on the soil securely to take in the fix . Water right after embed to a depth of six inches , watering to keep the soil around flame nettle moist for the next seven to 10 years . After that , water whenever the top column inch of soil becomes ironical . supply one to two inches of mulch around the coleus plant to keep soil moist and cool .
How long do coleus take to grow?
Starting from seed , coleus takes 10 to 20 days to germinate . timeline will vary depending on the cultivar of flame nettle one is farm , but broadly , they senesce in about 50 days .
How long do coleus cuttings take to take root?
It claim coleus thinning between two and three weeks to take radical .
How long will a coleus live?
Coleus can life for several years when cared for properly and living in a zone that ’s prosperous for them . However , the ocular look of the plant life changes after it suppurate . After a few years , even the most well assert , conscientiously lop coleus will begin to sprawl and look leggy . You may take to spread a new works from a cutting if this pass to your coleus .
How much sun does a coleus need?
Some varieties of flame nettle bask more shade than others . broadly , choose a sunny spot for coleus that gets some shelter from sun during the heat of the 24-hour interval , such as mottled tint . Lighter - colourize assortment of flame nettle take more nuance , and darker - colored kind thrive in more sunshine .
How often do you water coleus plants?
Keep filth where coleus is growing moist but not wet or waterlogged . Coleus call for H2O when the top in of soil has dried out . you could try the soil by sticking a fingerbreadth into it , and if stain clings to your peel , the land is still moist . In the hottest seasons , coleus may need to be water doubly a day . Coleus grown indoors commonly demand to be irrigate every two or three daylight , except when the airwave indoors is especially dry .
How tall does coleus grow?
When manage for right , flame nettle can grow up to 36 inches tall .
Is coleus a perennial or annual?
Coleus is a perennial in USDA hardiness zone 10 and 11 . In other zones , it must be play indoors during the cold season to be grown as a perennial . Otherwise , it is grown as an yearbook .
Is coleus a shade plant?
All miscellany of coleus enjoy some shade to protect them from the heat of the Clarence Day . Varieties that are lighter in colour prefer more shade than those that are darker in color . The cultivars “ Black Magic , ” “ Fishnet Stockings , ” and “ Sunset ” are especially shade - loving .
Is coleus a succulent?
Coleus is not a succulent . It is an evergreen repeated , though in many zone it is grown as an annual .
Is coleus in the mint family?
Yes , flame nettle is an ornamental plant that is a member of the mint phratry .
Is the coleus plant poisonous to cats or dogs?
The oils in coleus plant are toxic to computerized tomography and dogs . If ingested , they can cause diarrhea , disgorgement , depression , or loss of appetite . If your pet has eaten coleus , contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888 - 426 - 4435 .
Is the coleus plant poisonous to humans?
Coleus is not poisonous to humans , but it is not comestible , and phthisis may make a reaction in sensible individuals . The saphead of the flame nettle flora may cause minor pelt irritation if skin do into contact with it . If the coleus flora is consumed , this sap may rile the tissue paper of the lip or throat .
Should I pinch or cut off coleus flowers?
Because flame nettle is normally grown for its coloured foliage and not for its blooms , you could top or cut off the blossom to encourage the works to focus growth on making fuller foliage . employ your fingers or clean shear sterilize in a teaspoon of blanching agent mixed into two cup of water . Make cuts just above a leafage node , in the place where two leave of absence receive the shank .
What kind of soil does coleus like?
Coleus call for a fertile , moist soil that offers sight of drainage . Soil where coleus develop should have a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0 that drain well . ( If you are n’t certain of your soil ’s pH horizontal surface , click here to read about how totest your grease ’s pH. you may make land richer by amending it with compost or manure to make it more fertile for coleus .
When can I plant coleus outside?
Plant flame nettle alfresco once the grime has warmed up to 50 academic degree Fahrenheit . Coleus does not stick out cold weather condition or cold soil well , and in fact , will uprise its best when temperature are above 70 degree .
When can I transplant coleus?
Coleus can be transplanted either in spring or autumn . Whichever time of year you choose , make certain to do your transplanting on a cool day so that the industrial plant does n’t get increased tenseness from the atmospheric condition .
Why are my coleus leaves turning yellow?
To keep flame nettle develop leave of absence with vivid , vibrant colors , check that that the plant is receive plenty of light . Coleus needs some direct sunlight during the sidereal day and as much indirect Inner Light as possible all of the fourth dimension . Coleus also needs to be maintain in a proper temperature , sooner 60 degree F or high . Keep it in a rich dirt , ideally one rich in loam and sand with a morsel of manure . If your flame nettle has been potted for a long time , inaugurate it to even feeding with a plant food that is gamey in nitrogen to serve keep the color of the leaves bright and strong .
Why are the leaves falling off my coleus plant?
Several dissimilar thing can cause the foliage of the flame nettle industrial plant to fall off suddenly . The main culprit is underwatering , but cool draft and cold temperatures can also have defoliation as well .
Why is my coleus losing color?
Too much exposure to direct sunshine will make the coleus fade in people of color . Older leaves have a tendency of fading in color as well . Pinch your flame nettle back to encourage healthy new leaf growth and to help your plant uphold a bright , vivacious vividness . Pinch the oldest leaves down , taking leaves from the backside of the flora . New leaves will shoot up in their place , and they should have the coloration vividness you covet .
Will coleus come back every year?
In mild - winter areas , such as USDA hardiness zones nine through 11 , your coleus flora has a good chance of survive the wintertime . In zones 10 through 11 , it ’s safe to leave coleus in the ground . If you are in zone 9 , it ’s dependable to establish your coleus in a container and move it indoors during the winter . Outside of USDA zones nine through 11 , your coleus will dish as a beautiful springiness through descent annual . As a tropical plant , coleus ca n’t turn out winter temperature . It will blacken and die as soon as temperature flatten much below 50 degree F. If you ca n’t bear to see it die , make for it inside for the winter and locate it in a warm sunny localisation .
As an indoor plant , coleus will live for many years if placed near a shiny windowpane and kept away from drafts or intense heat sources . Water it regularly but do n’t allow it to ride in soggy grease . Fertilize it with a limpid plant food contribute to your lachrymation can throughout the spring and summertime months at a charge per unit of one tablespoonful to one gallon of water . Keep you coleus pinch back to promote goodly , bush - like ontogenesis . It ’s up to you whether you want to let your flame nettle bloom or allow the plant to focus on its leafage . If you desire to add more flame nettle specimens to your collection , propagation is extremely easy .
Learn More About Coleus:
Coleusfrom Clemson University Cooperative Extension
Coleusfrom Cornell University Home Gardening
Skip Richter with Agrilife.org talks about Coleusin his YouTube video .
When she ’s not write about horticulture , solid food and canning , Julie Christensen enjoy drop fourth dimension in her gardens , which include perennial , veggie and yield trees . She ’s written hundreds of gardening article for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several e - books .
