Coleus plants do well in shade and are popular for gardening in pots. Coleus has bright leaves and can handle a lot, so many farmers want to know if they can grow more plants at home. Yes, and it’s really easy to do. It’s very easy to grow coleus from seed or from cuttings. Read on to find out more about how to make coleus grow.
How To Plant Coleus Seed
To grow coleus from seeds, you must first get the seeds. It shouldn’t be hard to find coleus seeds; they should be in almost any shop that sells flower seeds. There are many businesses that sell them online if you can’t find them in a store. Coleus seeds are usually sold in a mixed bag, which will give you a nice range of leaf colors.
Put coleus seeds in a flat or a container with damp potting soil to start. Put a few coleus seeds on top of the dirt. You can get a more even spread of seeds with a little more space between them if you mix the seeds with fine sand before planting them.
Cover the coleus seeds with a thin layer of potted soil after you have spread them out. Put the jar in a warm place with bright, indirect light and cover it with plastic. In about two weeks, you should see sprouts.
Take off the plastic when you see the coleus plants. As the seedlings grow, make sure the dirt stays wet. It is better for the coleus plants if you water them from below. The seedlings can be moved to their own pots once they are big enough to handle, which is usually when they have two sets of true leaves.
How To Root Coleus Cuttings
It’s just as easy to root and grow coleus cuttings as it is to grow coleus from seeds. Find a fully grown coleus plant to start this way of coleus propagation. With a sharp. Cut off as many coleus pieces as you want with a clean pair of scissors or shears.
The pieces should be about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long. Just below a leaf stem is where you should make the cut. Next, cut off all of the leaves on the bottom half of the cutting. You can dip the cutting in rooting hormone if you want to.
Prepare the dirt by making sure it is completely wet before you put the coleus cutting in it. After that, drive a pencil into the ground. In the hole that the pencil made, put the coleus cutting.
At least the leafless node at the very bottom should be covered by dirt. Backfill the area around the cut with dirt. To root the plant, put the container in a plastic bag with a zipper top or wrap the whole container in plastic wrap.
Make sure the cutting doesn’t touch the plastic. To keep the plastic off the cutting, you can use toothpicks or sticks if you need to. Put the jar somewhere with bright, but not direct, light. In two to three weeks, the coleus cutting should have roots.
When you see new growth on the coleus cutting, you’ll know it has roots. You could also put coleus cuttings in water to help them grow roots. After you take the leaves, put them in a small glass of water and put the glass somewhere bright but not direct light.
Every other day, change the water. You can put the coleus cuttings in dirt once you see roots start to grow.
How To Grow Coleus From Seed
You can easily grow coleus seeds from seeds that you can buy in shops or online. One type of coleus seed you can see at Burpee is a range of them. Coleus is a simple plant that can be grown indoors.
You can put the seeds at any time of the year. The best time to put seeds indoors for plants that will go outside is at least eight weeks before the last frost.
For best results, garden expert Anne Swithinbank says to “sow the tiny seeds thinly and evenly over the surface of moist seed compost” at 68°F to 75°F. Because coleus seeds need light to grow, you shouldn’t put a thin layer of compost over them.
Instead, you should just press the seeds into the dirt. To keep the humidity high, put a clear lid or plastic bag over the seed tray. You could also use a heat mat to give the soil more heat at the bottom.
After a few weeks, the seeds should start to grow. At that point, you can take off the cover and keep growing them. When seeds are a few inches tall and have at least two sets of leaves, move them to their own pot.
Nip out the growing tips all over when shoots get longer than three inches to keep the plant bushy and stop it from flowering. Once the last frost has passed, which normally happens in late May or early June, slowly move them outside to get them used to the weather before planting them in flower beds or containers.
If you want to make your yard look more tropical, then adding coleus is a great idea. One of the best plants for shade that can brighten up a shady spot, their showy leaves catch the eye.
Coleus can be beautiful outdoor plants even if you don’t have room for them in the ground. They look great in pots or other containers.
Conclusion
Coleus can be grown from roots, which is great for people who like houseplants or want to add a tropical touch to their garden. Coleus is still a favorite plant among farmers and plant lovers, especially for indoor spaces, thanks to its beautiful leaf patterns and bright colors.
Coleus is an annual bedding plant that easily turns any space into a bright oasis thanks to its wide range of colors and textures. Collinsia is a beautiful plant that will make any space look better, whether it’s a big yard or a small balcony.
The best part is that these plants are easy to take care of and fun to grow, so they’re good for both experienced and new farmers.