Coleus is a plant that can be grown both indoors and in a flower bed in a personal plot. Its bright variegated leaves are very decorative, although the flowers are not of great value, some varieties have a pleasant aroma.
Coleus, as a rule, is propagated in two ways - by seeds and cuttings. Both methods are quite simple and even beginner growers can do it.
Currently, about 60 varieties of Coleus are found in nature, but all cultivated varieties are derived from the species - Coleus Blume. On the basis of this species, a huge number of all kinds of varieties have already been bred and more and more new ones continue to be bred. Modern varieties of Coleus can satisfy the most demanding tastes. By purchasing the seeds of these plants in the store, you can also choose the variety that suits you. You can also buy a mixture of seeds of different varieties.
By adhering to a few simple rules, you can grow beautiful ornamental plants, both at home and in a flower bed.
Growing and care rules
Lighting requirements... Coleus is a light-loving plant, however, direct scorching sunlight is not desirable, since when the light is too bright, the leaves lose their brightness and become pale. Therefore, when planting plants in a personal plot, it is better to choose slightly shaded areas. And for coleus grown indoors, windows facing east or west are suitable.
Temperature requirements... Coleus normally withstands an increase in temperature in the summer, but only if they do not forget to water it.
A sharp drop in temperature has a negative effect on plants. If in the summer months the temperature drops below +15 C, the growth of the plant slows down. Coleuses grown at home feel great at room temperature, they can also tolerate a drop in temperature to +10 C. However, you need to try to protect them from sudden temperature changes.
Soil requirements... Coleus is not picky about the composition of the soil. It grows well in ordinary garden soil, and in sod, and in leaf.
Watering rules... Coleus needs regular watering. The soil should not dry out too much. In addition, it is advisable to spray the plants with clean water from time to time, preferably in the evening. In winter, watering is slightly reduced - the soil is moistened when its top layer dries up.
Coleus feeding rules... Coleus are unpretentious plants, in the open field they grow well even without fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. However, if you choose to fertilize your plants, it won't hurt them. To do this, you can purchase a complete mineral fertilizer in specialized stores and fertilize the soil in accordance with the instructions on the package.
Breeding rules... The easiest way to propagate coleus is by seed. To get healthy young plants ready for planting in the ground, seeds need to be sown in March.
It is believed that surface sowing is best for Coleus. With this method of sowing, the seeds are not buried in the soil, but simply squeezed a little. Coleus seeds germinate well at a temperature of 20-24 C. At this temperature, seedlings appear 10-14 days after sowing the seeds. Seedlings can grow normally at a lower temperature - 16-18 C.It is desirable that the seedlings be well lit during the period of active growth, since in insufficient light, the plants are too stretched and weakened.
When a colorful decorative pattern appears on the leaves of young plants, they can be planted in separate pots. After the seedlings are planted, you can start forming plants - they pinch the top and side shoots. When new shoots appear, they are also pinched, etc. In order for the Coleus bush to have a beautiful compact shape, you need to start pinching it when it reaches a height of 4 cm, and the side shoots from 3 to 4 cm.
The second way of reproduction of Coleus is by cuttings. With this method, you just need to choose a healthy shoot, carefully cut it off, put it in the water and wait for the roots to appear on it. And then plant it in a pot of soil.
For those who want to grow Coleus as a house plant, it is better to propagate it by cuttings in August-September. So you can get new indoor plants and young plants for the flower bed every year.
Advice for composing a composition in a flower bed... Coleus have very beautiful variegated leaves, so they look great in combination with plants that have monochromatic leaves. Cineraria, sage, gray fescue are best suited. Such plants will emphasize the bright unusual leaves of the coleus, creating a beneficial background for them. A flower bed made up of various plants will look very decorative.
