Coleus plant are well - known for their beautiful foliation that raise garden borders and brighten up rooms as potted houseplants . All types of flame nettle are well-off to like for if they get enough light and wet . Their leaf come in all sorts of colors , such as yellow , purplish , lime immature , dark Red River , and bright pink . Some motley varieties have stunning combinations of counterpoint colors .
Coleus industrial plant aid : Coleus houseplants need shiny , indirect sun and spring up in container with a well - drain potting mix . body of water to keep the soil slightly moist and keep humidity horizontal surface high . Keep in temperature of 65 ° F to 75 ° F ( 24 ° C – 27 ° C ) and protect from frost . Apply fertilizer weekly to the potting soil and prune to encourage bushy growth .
If you are farm coleus plant outdoors — either in the priming coat or in containers — the same care instructions apply . Plant the flame nettle in undimmed locating with partial shade and ensure that territory is always moist and never too moist or boggy . Because coleus works need warm weather condition , growing them in pots outdoors allows you to take them indoors in winter .
With the right concern , a flame nettle plant life in a great container can grow up to 3 ft . ( 0.9 m ) tall . unconstipated pruning can help command height and , at the same time , promote a total , bushy appearance .
In this article , you will find out how to handle for flame nettle as an indoor houseplant or outdoors as a colorful mete plant . At the last of the article , you will find out about some of the gorgeous coleus plant you could grow at home .
Coleus works arrive in a stunning regalia of colors
Is Coleus a Perennial or Annual?
flame nettle plant ( generaPlectranthusandSolenostemon ) are flowering evergreen perennial . Coleus is a tropic plant that will come back yr after year if you live in USDA zones 10 or 11 .
However , flame nettle industrial plant are separate as tender perennials and are sore to frost . So , most people originate flame nettle in their cubic yard as annual or as tropical evergreen houseplants in pots . As already mentioned , flame nettle plants thrive in containers if you have them outdoors in summer and bring them indoors in the fall and winter .
Coleus Plant Care Overview
Also known as Painted Nettle , coleus plants are easy to care for , even if you are a beginner . The evergreen ornamental houseplant thrives when embed in containers and come in in a bright room . dirt should be damp , and you involve to increase humidity to mime their native environs .
Growing Coleus Plant Indoors
permit ’s look at how to achieve the ideal conditions for turn coleus plant indoors .
Coleus Care: Light Requirements
In the picture : coleus ‘ kong red ’
flame nettle plants develop best indoors when they get bright , indirect luminousness . They can defy direct sun in the morning as long as they get shade in the good afternoon . Usually , placing a potted coleus plant life on a Benjamin West - facing windowsill ensures enough light . Make certain that the plant is shaded if placed near a south- or east - facing window .
Although develop a coleus flora indoors is aboveboard , they can be fussy when it comes to sunlight . Too much verbatim sunlight will result in scorched farewell . You may also note that sunlight make the vibrant red , orange , purple , or pinkish leaves to fade . If the leaves come out fall behind their color , move the container to a less sunny location .
Too much shade also is n’t worthy for your flame nettle plants . A lack of sun — for instance , in sorry winter days — can cause stems to droop and bequeath to fall off . To aid revivify a wilting coleus plant , move to a brighter location or supplement with artificial lighting .
Best Temperature for Coleus Plants
flame nettle ‘ sensation orange red ’
Being a tropical perennial plant , all varieties of flame nettle plants spring up in medium room temperatures . Coleus industrial plant need temperatures of between 65 ° fluorine and 75 ° F ( 24 ° C – 27 ° C ) . The honorable care tip is to avoid sudden changes in temperature and protect them from frost .
verify that your tropic plant are not placed in a insensate potation . Unsuitable places are near an open window , atmosphere conditioning outlet , or draughty door . unmediated heat is n’t cracking for your plant either . So , keep your houseplant aside from radiators , furnaces , or other sources of heat .
A bright windowsill can allow enough light if the plant is shaded from direct sunlight . However , in wintertime , the frigidness from the window at night could also stress your works .
Coleus Humidity Needs
flame nettle plants – rainbow interracial colour
Most tropical plants need high humidity levels to survive , and the flame nettle flora is no exception . Average households are n’t humid enough for wet - enjoy coleus plants . The best way to care for right humidity levels is to pose the pot on a pebble tray or expend an melodic phrase humidifier .
Here is how to practice a pebble tray : Put a layer of pebbles in a dish and pour in enough pee so it ’s midway up the stones . invest the coleus container on the pebbles , cause sure the pot does n’t pertain the pee . Evaporation from the piddle aid increase humidness for your flame nettle to thrive .
Apart from using a elbow room humidifier , place a few houseplant deal together can also supercharge humidity .
Signs that room air is too ironic for your coleus are crispy leaves that develop brown tips .
Unlike other tropical houseplants that require day by day misting , you should avoid spritz your coleus get out . The pee can leave marks on the velvety foliage and queer the plant life ’s appearance .
Best Soil for Coleus Plants
The red , purple and green leafage of these coleus works are a focal point in any home or garden
Plant flame nettle in well - run out pot soil that grant enough O to circulate and keep your works healthy . The good kind of land should contain a smorgasbord of peat moss , perlite , or pine bark . This type of potting sensitive hold just enough moisture without becoming overly mushy .
The same maintenance advice is actual for planting coleus in your G — check that that water debilitate quickly from the soil .
When choosing suitable dirt for your container , a commercial-grade , all - around potting mix should be decent . Soil for specific flora such as succulents may be too acidulent or productive for coleus .
The most decisive upkeep advice when it come to container filth is to make indisputable it drain well .
Watering Your Coleus Plant
Coleus plant care requires moist soil but forfend over - lachrymation to prevent sluggish soil
Coleus is a thirsty industrial plant and needs regular tearing to keep the soil moist , but not soggy . During the growing season — April to September — urine whenever the top 1 ” ( 2.5 curium ) of the potting admixture is dry . The relative frequency when you need to water your plant reckon on zephyr temperature , the type of pot , and works growth .
During winter , you still ask to pee flame nettle , but less frequently . The general rule is to only H2O when the top part of the soil has dried out .
To water coleus , utilize piddle at room temperature . Pour enough water in the pot so that it drains out the bottom . Only when the water has stop dripping should you come back the container to its saucer .
Proper watering is key to preventing disease such as origin putrefaction and fungous or bacterial issue in the territory .
Here are two top tips for caring for your coleus plant when it comes to watering :
Fertilizer Needs
Avoid fertilize coleus flora during winter time
Feed with diluted , half - strength all - intent houseplant fertilizer every one to two week during the growing season . wish for your plant life with the right-hand nutrient keeps its colorful leafage vibrant and healthy . Do n’t fertilize plants during wintertime when development becomes dormant .
Most people develop flame nettle plants for their pink , red , yellow , or orange leaves . To promote vibrant colors , use a dilute fertilizer that is plentiful in atomic number 7 and low in phosphorus . Avoid balanced fertilizers as they tend to advance florescence which will take food from the plant .
take on to find out why you want to forestall your coleus from flower .
Coleus Plant Flowers
In the photograph : coleus flowers that look like spikes of midget ashen or over-embellished peak
plant from the familiesSolenostemonandPlectranthusare bloom tropical plants . They produce efflorescence stem with small clump of white or empurpled efflorescence . Coleus only flowers under idealistic atmospheric condition , and rarely do these pot plants bloom indoors .
If indoor flame nettle houseplants flower , they go to seed and then die . So , if you notice flower buds take off to appear , twitch them off immediately . Keep doing this until no more bud appear . Pinching off bloom is one way to assist your flame nettle works live longer indoors .
Pruning Coleus Plants
on a regular basis lop your coleus plant life to encourage shaggy development
Coleus requires unconstipated pruning to promote growth and prevent your industrial plant stems from becoming leggy . The best meter to prune your plant is in springiness and summertime ; however , coleus can take pruning at any time . Pinch with your fingers or snip the stem with sheers just above the leafage nodes .
Coleus plants are similar to other tropic houseplants , such aspolka dotsornerve plant . Vigorous pruning boost bushy maturation and a sizeable plant .
How to Propagate a Coleus
Propagate your flame nettle plant from stem cutting
rationalise a stem just below the leaf node , so you have a stem 3 ” to 4 ” ( 7.5 – 10 cm ) long . There should be at least three leaf on the stem . you’re able to settle a stem cut in water . Put your propagation stems in a jolt of water and give until roots about 1 ” ( 2.5 cm ) long seem .
Transfer the rooted coleus stems to a little pot that contains a well - draining potting mix .
you could also have success propagating coleus by placing the end of the cut stem in rooting hormone and then plant forthwith in the stain .
Repotting
The best time to repot coleus plant is in spring time
Repotting is necessary when your works becomes rootbound and outgrow its current container . The honorable time to repot flame nettle is in spring when plants bug out growing vigorously . select a crapper with plenty of drain kettle of fish that is 1 ” to 2 ” ( 2.5 – 5 centimetre ) larger than the current container . If you do n’t require your plant to grow larger , repot in a similar - sized one .
repot flame nettle is square . This is how to repot your tropical houseplant :
Growing Coleus Plant Outdoors
you may grow coleus flora outdoors in temperate climate
In temperate climates , flame nettle flora grow in yards and garden as annuals . The unspoilt metre to implant your flame nettle is in spring when there is no risk of frost . prefer a bright location in your yard that has partial shade and a few hour of verbatim morning fair weather . ensure that water drains away from the growing area .
land temperature should be a minimum of 60 ° F ( 15 ° C ) if you desire success in growing coleus plant life outside . If it ’s difficult to find a part of your pace that has dappled good afternoon ghost , choose a dark - leafed form of coleus . Plants with dark ruby-red , abstruse purpleness , maroon and burgundy leaves tolerate sun better than lighter - colored leaf .
Regular pruning will assist make certain that your flame nettle grows into a majestic colourful shrubby plant life in your garden .
Do coleus like sun or shade?
Coleus works are known as being nicety - loving works that only want a few hours of fair weather . However , newer flame nettle cultivars are more liberal of full sun . Choose a flame nettle flora for full sun from the ‘ Wizard , ’ ‘ Versa , ’ or ‘ Marquee ’ cultivars .
Also , retrieve that coleus does n’t care constant specter . So , plant flame nettle anywhere in your cubic yard that gets a few hours of sunshine in the dawning and mottled tad for the rest of the day .
Are Coleus Plants Toxic?
agree to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ASPCA ) , coleus is toxic to African tea , dog , and horses . So , keep your pets by from coleus plants in your yard or at home plate . ( 1 )
The National Capital Poison Center lists flame nettle as a non - venomous plant for humans . However , people with sensitive peel may get hide vexation after wield a plant . ( 2 )
Coleus Plant Care: Common Diseases and Pests
Avoid over - watering you flame nettle plant to prevent rootage rot
The best way to care for coleus plant — indoors or outside — is to make certain you irrigate them right . Because coleus plants need gamey humidness , wet subject can cause problems .
The most vernacular disease to smite these tropic flora is root word rotting triggered by over - tearing . If the industrial plant ’s roots sit in soggy , bathetic dirt , they will get down to decay and die . Eventually , the plant will move around yellow , wither , and exit .
tearing at grease tier also help forbid pubescent mould — a fungous disease that touch leaves . If you remark leaves curling or turning grey , turn out them off with sterile scissors . likewise , if you see a white powdery film — a sign of powdery mould — cut off affected voice of the plant .
The most coarse plague to infect flame nettle industrial plant are aphids , spider mites , or mealybugs . Try using an organic neem oil solution as anatural insecticideto get disembarrass of houseplant pests without chemical substance .
Common Problems When Growing Coleus Plants
Issues with sunlight or moisture are the most common problems when caring for flame nettle plant .
Curling leavesare usually the result of mold , dry air , in adequate humidity , or not enough lacrimation .
Yellowing leaves that start to droopcan also be a upshot of too much piddle or not enough . Getting sear in unmediated sunshine can also cause leaf problems , especially in plants with lighter - colored leafage .
Coleus Plant Varieties
have ’s look briefly at some of the effective and most sensational variety of coleus plants .
Campfire Coleus (Plectranthus‘Campfire’)
strong carmine - orange foliage clothe this Sunday and shade - love plant . Use for a spectacular effect in your garden to counterpoint with lighter plant life or grow in container indoors .
Lime Time Coleus (Plectranthus‘Lime Time’)
This coleus cultivar has shining green leaves that liven up up fishy corners of your yard . Growing up to 36 ” ( 90 cm ) grandiloquent , this also thrives as a houseplant with the proper pruning .
MainStreet Broadway Coleus (Plectranthus‘MainStreet Broadway’)
Large purple leaves with lime - green edging make this flame nettle an eye - catcher in your garden . This cultivar grows well in fond shade and is sun - liberal . It only grows up to 18 ” ( 45 centimetre ) tall and is perfect for creating dark garden borders , deck container garden , or grow in muckle indoors .
Redhead Coleus (Plectranthus‘Redhead’)
This big shrubby tropical plant has copious reddish - purpleness foliage and grows well in cheery locations . Use to impart sheer colors to garden landscape painting or grow as a smallcolorful houseplant .
Trusty Rusty Coleus (Plectranthus‘Trusty Rusty’)
One of the brightest flame nettle cultivars with its copper red and yellow variegate foliage . Growing up to 18 ” ( 45 cm ) tall , the shade - loving flame nettle will contribute brilliant sunshine colors to your thousand or container .
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