2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Coleus belongs to the group of decorative deciduous plants. Its foliage can be called greenery at a stretch, because the leaf plate is rich in pink, purple, red, violet, yellow shades, decorated with variegated patterns and framed with an elegant border. What kind of care does this houseplant require in order not to lose its bright appearance?
Coleus in the garden and in the house
Coleus is also interesting because it is cultivated both as a houseplant and as a garden plant. Its heart-shaped leaves with intricate patterns become a noticeable decoration for rabatki, mixborders. In its natural habitats - the tropics of Africa, the countries of Asia, in Ceylon - it is a perennial plant. But in more severe climatic regional conditions, it is cultivated as an annual.
To admire Coleus for many years, growers grow them at home. Plants can be propagated by seed and vegetative means. Coleus form buds, but the flowers are unattractive, petals are white and purple. Often, when sowing the collected seeds, varietal characteristics are split, the decorative appearance of flowers is reduced. Therefore, for reproduction of this kind, it is better to use branded seed.
Coleus propagation by seeds
Sowing is started in the second half of winter. The seeds are very small, and it will be more convenient to sow in a shallow bowl on the sand. At a temperature of about + 20 ° C, the seedlings will sprout in about 2 weeks. They are dived into a container according to the 2 x 2 cm scheme. The soil mixture is made up in equal proportions from the following ingredients:
• deciduous land;
• sod land;
• peat;
• sand.
In the 2-leaf phase, the seedlings are moved into individual 7 cm pots. After 4-5 weeks, the transplant is carried out in a container of a larger diameter. So that the stem does not stretch out at the bush and it turns out to be more lush, pinch the top.
Reproduction of coleus by cuttings
To be sure that the varietal traits of valuable crops are preserved, vegetative propagation is the best choice. Cuttings are carried out in the first half of spring. Young, only regrown shoots are pinched off from the bushes and lowered into a container with water or wet sand.
Coleus takes root in a fairly short time. Already a week later, roots will grow on the handle, and it will be possible to start transplanting into separate containers. To do this, you need pots with a diameter of no more than 9 cm.
The soil mixture is made up of:
• turf land - 4 parts;
• deciduous land - 4 parts;
• humus earth - 2 parts;
• peat - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part.
Coleus keeping conditions
The place for the Coleus must be set aside in a sufficiently illuminated area. If left in shade, the variegated foliage will lose its vibrant color. But the flower also cannot be left in direct sunlight for a long time.
Coleus is picky about not only lighting, but also heat. In winter, it is impossible to allow temperatures below + 15 ° C in a room with a Coleus. At this time of the year, the flowers are dormant, but you still need to irrigate the soil in pots. It is impossible for the earthy clod to dry out completely - the plant stops growing in winter, but does not shed its beautiful leaves. In this regard, at low values on the thermometer in cold wet soil, the roots will rot. And when the flower begins to shed its leaves, it is a sign of illness.
To accelerate the growth of Coleus, mineral fertilizing is carried out. In particular, potash compositions will be very helpful in this. In the cold season, when carrying out fertilizing, the dose of fertilizer is halved.
Coleus has good disease resistance. But among the pests there is a frequent visitor on the leaves - aphids. In the fight against it, tobacco broth with the addition of soap is used.
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