. Whitmer. Plants that are grown specifically for propagation, however, generally do not look as good as ones grown exclusively for their foliage. Coleus love warm, humid environments, so make sure that they retain moisture. Otherwise, seeds can be sown directly into the ground in late spring or early summer when the nighttime temperature stays above 40 degrees F (4.44 degrees C). Step 1 - Know When to Plant. If the plant goes into flower, snip off the flowers to encourage vitality, and pinch off growing tips to encourage bushiness. Their vibrant colors are intensified when grown under fluorescent lights. Your email address will not be published. Debra LaGattuta is a certified master gardener with decades of experience with perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. Cover the container with plastic and place in a warm spot in … Coleus are native to tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. Your email address will not be published. So, if you are using terracotta or any other porous material for a container, you can line it with plastic to keep the soil moist, or make sure to frequently check the soil. To stimulate germination, take 2 – 3 seeds and place them on the surface of the soil. Choose a healthy coleus stem that is 2 – 6 inches long and contains nodes. Growing indoors can help get you a head start on the season to come. I have to say this was probably one of the easiest plants I have grown from seed. When the plants begin to fade in autumn, the string will remind you which are the strongest plants. Available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, you can easily bring any dull corner of your home to life with a potted coleus plant. Apart from its attractive foliage, coleus is a tough plant that can easily grow into a lush shrub inside your home. Sow the coleus seeds in a pot containing seed raising potting mix, just sprinkle the seeds over the damp soil. Ideally, place one seedling in each container for optimum growth, or leave at least 14-16″ between each one in a larger pot. If starting the seeds indoors, start the seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area. This is because once the plant starts producing flowers and seeds it will soon die. This is because coleus is grown mainly for its colors and green seedlings will not grow up to have colorful foliage. Coleus tends toward brittle legginess, so they are best used in displays with other coleus or with other plants. Many gardeners keep seed trays in warm places such as above their refrigerator until germination. An often overlooked aspect of coleus care is the humidity. Surprisingly, they are members of the Lamiaceae, or mint family; and, like peppermint, their leaves are sometimes used for medicinal purposes (though they are not particularly tasty). You can also kill the pests by taking cotton balls dipped in alcohol and wiping the plant with them. Pelosi responds after Trump says 'we really need' stimulus. Place the container in a warm bright place in shade. Sunny or Shady Side. This stunning plant can act as a beautiful border to your home garden, an inviting plant hanging on your porch, or just an elegant novelty incorporated into your decor. Growing Broccoli Indoors – How To Get Started, © 2020 The Indoor Gardens. Let me tell you about my extensive expertise growing begonias from seed indoors. Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. During this process it’s best to keep the soil warm to help speed up the process. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Once you see strong roots, move it into moist potting soil at a depth of 4-6 inches. Keep misting the soil with water for the next 2-3 days and check back to see if the seeds have started germinating. While the lifespan of an average coleus plant is one year, you can prolong its life by pruning. Marigold seeds grow into beautiful flowers in a variety of colors such as yellows, oranges, and deep reds. Buy coleus for its foliage and don't worry too much about its parentage. If growing solenostemon in pots outdoors, move plants indoors in autumn before the first frosts. They are doing very well, although they are not too tall. To stimulate germination, take 2 – 3 seeds and place them on the surface of the soil. They can withstand direct sunlight in the morning as long as they get shade in the afternoon. You can still find seed of the older, shade tolerant varieties. Coleus plants grow best indoors when they get bright, indirect light. If you want to sow coleus seeds you should purchase high quality seeds at a nursery or online. Its seeds can start in the garden about 8-10 weeks before the date of their last frost. Growing Coleus from cuttings is also easy. You can start growing coleus indoors by adopting three different methods: with a seed, with a seedling, or using cuttings. Coleus are popular plants for good reason. Why are the colors on my coleus plant looking faded? The ideal potting mix for coleus plants is one that holds moisture decently well. If foliage color fades, the plant is probably receiving too much sunlight. If you are growing them as a houseplant, then you can start it by seed at any time, though they continue to grow year-by-year. If using as bedding plants, you could transfer to pots and move to a sheltered indoor area. Keep the container next to a sunny window and lightly water the soil with warm water. Growing Coleus plants from seed is also an easy process and generally results in success. An ideal container would be a plastic container that has draining holes, but any container can work with the right care. Set plants out after all danger of frost is past. Although the growing guidelines described here make it possible to grow coleus indoors year-round, coleus is often grown as an annual and discarded once it becomes leggy (a problem that can often be contained by pinching off new growth). Keep a seed tray or small pots indoors, and fill them with seed starting soil or potting soil. The third method is to use coleus cuttings. Hello, Coleus 69 and everybody who participated in this thread! Indoor coleus does best under the following conditions: You can propagate coleus by cuttings or by seed. Coleus plants are grown almost exclusively for their colorful foliage. Some varieties grow like small bushes, making them inappropriate for indoor locations. To help in propagation, place the stem in a container filled with water in a way that ensures the nodes are submerged. Sow seeds by spreading them thinly. If you want to sow coleus seeds you should purchase high quality seeds at a nursery or online. However, virtually all of the coleus available are derived from the single C. Blumei species, crossed with a few other species. Alternatively, you can repot into a pot one size larger. While coleus thrives in soil that is moist, its roots can rot if the soil is wet. Pfft. Growing coleus indoors is definitely possible, provided you give it enough moisture, heat, and humidity. Virus-stricken Patriots star sends clear message to fans Keep misting the soil with water for the next … Grow Coleus From Seeds or Cuttings. Start tender annuals indoors or after the threat of all frost. Check out our article on growing lavender from seeds here 10. An abundance of light is a must if you propagate coleus indoors in January. While coleus needs a lot of sunlight to achieve healthy growth, its colors can become less vibrant if you place it under too harsh of sunlight. And it was my first successful experiment with growing plants on our balcony. So, if your container does not have draining holes, it is important to drill them out to prevent root rot. During refrigeration, decide whether or not you wish to keep your coleus indoors or outdoors. Step 1, Start the seeds in early spring. Start seeds meant for the garden indoors, about 8 – 10 weeks before your last frost date. If you wish to start with a coleus seedling, you can buy high quality coleus seedlings at a nursery or other store. Keep it in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of indirect light. This also goes for air conditioning vents in the summer which can have a similar negative effect on your plant. Coleus can easily be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in your region. I also grew coleus from seeds this spring. Be careful to pick potting soil and not garden soil. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. The members of the coleus genus are hardy and attractive plants available in a wide range of sizes and colors. Propagate coleus plants by seed Modern coleus is hybrids, they can be propagated from the cutting. I’m not a master gardener or a horticulturist (yet), and I haven’t been growing begonias for years. Watch out for any small flower buds and prune it before the flower buds bloom. Choose a high quality soil from any nursery or home improvement store. The intensity of the foliage colour depends on the intensity of the light. Known for their unique foliage, coleus is an annual plant that has a life cycle of one year. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. Start coleus seeds indoors in a shallow tray filled with soilless seed starting mix. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. Tie a colorful string or yarn around one or two of the healthiest coleus plants. Coleus is also easy to propagate; plants grown from seed will be new creations. Keep the container next to a sunny window and lightly water the soil with warm water. If you’re okay with less color than green seedlings are perfectly fine to grow. Follow along as we plant and grow coleus in our indoor growing room. You may use these HTML tags and attributes: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can also use artificial sun lamps if you do not find a place that receives a lot of sunlight. While this vibrant and leafy plant is usually grown outdoors, coleus can also be easily grown inside your home. Hybridizing work within this group has been extensive—there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of cultivars. Some of the popular and the best indoor plants for … Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home.". Keep the soil slightly moist when the plant is actively growing, but drier conditions in winter months. Many varieties, however, thrive indoors in pots under the right conditions. The simplest method is to use a seedling tray full of potting soil and evenly spread seeds across it. Coleus plants are grown from seed or cuttings. Once the coleus grows out of the seedling phase, start watering it only when the soil starts to feels dry to the touch. Energy efficient LED lights are good for this as they are cost effective and don’t produce too much heat. Feds bust plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Alternatively, grow as a conservatory houseplant. Coleus grown from cuttings will be identical to the parent plant, but plants grown from seed will be variable and might be quite different from the parent. I can hardly keep up with pinching their flowers. As water needs to be drained frequently, which can wash away soil nutrients, you can add a liquid water-soluble fertilizer every other month to keep the plant nourished. Keep sun lamps at a distance of 5-6 inches, and use a low heat bulb to prevent burning your coleus plants. A good indicator of over-watering a plant is when the leaves turn yellow. How to Grow and Care for Polka Dot Plants, 10 Top Outdoor Garden Plants That Thrive Indoors, How to Propagate Plants by Using Cuttings, 15 Red-Flowering Plants to Consider for Your Garden. Make sure that the plant is shaded if placed near a south- or east-facing window. Coleus will do well even if they only see a few hours of sun per day. Coleus branches break easily. Coleus plant care indoors: Provide bright indirect sunlight, temperatures of 65-75°F, and moderate to high humidity levels. A large coleus will reach 2 to 3 feet in height. Coleus varieties grow so well that they will grow indoors, outdoors in partly shady areas and even in a glass of water where they will develop roots left in water for a short length of time. This article will tell you all you need to know about coleus plant care indoors, so you can brighten your indoor space with their stunning foliage. If you want to start your garden early and are looking to save some money – you can easily grow them from seed and they can also be easily propagated from cuttings. Leave even spaces between each seed before covering them with a thin layer of soil. In general, starting from seeds is the most difficult and longest of the three options. So what’s my street cred growing em? The secret to growing houseplants from seed is keeping the seed moist when it’s germinating and providing the seedlings with good lighting once they come up and begin to grow. Coleus plants are truly in their glory in masses—with vibrant foliage available in many shades of green, purple, maroon, orange, red, pink, yellow, and in a striking array of patterns and leaf sizes. Add another layer of potting soil on top so that the seeds are no longer visible. Once the germination process finishes, start watering just enough to wet the soil. After you have spread the coleus seeds, cover them with a fine layer of potting soil. [1] X Research source In a pinch, seeds can be started in late spring or summer, but may not grow as quickly or healthily. [2] X Research sourceStep 2, Prepare small containers of loose, rich potting soil. The easiest route is probably to start with a seedling, but we’ll cover all three here and let you choose for yourself. Mixing the seeds with fine sand before sowing can help you to spread the seeds more evenly with a bit more of a gap between the seeds. Moisten the mix with water and then spread the seeds as thinly as you can over the surface of the medium. Coleus is a tropical perennial plant that is normally grown as an annual by gardeners who live north of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Coleus thrives in warm climate. They can be found at just about any home and gardening center. Growing Coleus From Seeds Get coleus seeds which are typically sold as mixed, which will give you a nice variety in the colors. Pots outdoors, coleus is also easy to grow surface of the older, shade tolerant.. Our balcony, if not thousands, of cultivars spread seeds across it under-watered a plant is when the begin... Begonias from seed - Episode 0ne - in this video we start off coleus plants is one that holds decently!: a new video Series plants with 2-inch ( 5 cm. of. The date of their last frost date i had a lot of indirect sunlight least 14-16″ between each before... 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