Coleus planting and care in the open field landscaping

Flowers are loved by everyone, but only the tropics give an endless wealth of green plants that create amazing landscapes in regions with unusual climatic environmental conditions. Coleus is another gift from evergreen perennials from the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. Coleus quickly took root in different regions of Russia, at first as a houseplant, and over time as an annual it began to be used in garden plantings. Coleus, planting and care in the open field is simple, but will provide an exquisite decor for adjoining flower gardens. The contrasting coloration of large leaves is excellent in landscape plantings, highlighting the originality and beauty of flowering plants of other families.

The beauty of Coleus in landscape plantings

Coleus in landscape design

Coleus in landscape design

The beauty of Coleus is especially evident when planting together in mixborders, on flower beds, borders, rabatkas. The rich range of contrasting color of variegated velvety leaves gives a special sophistication to the flower beds:

• pale green with a bright yellow edge;
• with marble, fine-speckled pattern, in various veins,
• with a purple center surrounded by a white border;
• pink and red curly patterns;
• green with a copper tint;
• violet-red with white border and others.

The color scheme of the leaves distinguishes them into a group of popular ornamental crops. In the people, for the external similarity of the structure of the leaves, coleus are called "colored nettle", "nettle", "colored nettle".

Reproduction of coleus

Coleus in the open field is propagated in 3 ways:

• seeds;
• seedlings;
• by cuttings.

Seed reproduction of Coleus

Coleus seeds

Seeds are best purchased from a licensed store or mall.

Coleus is a southern, thermophilic plant, which dies already at + 12 ° С. For the emergence of seedlings, the temperature should not be lower than +20 .. + 24 ° С. Coleus plants, with proper care, quickly grow leaf cover. Plants need a fairly high temperature for rapid growth and development. Therefore, seed propagation is rarely used and only in rather warm southern regions. The most common is open field planting through seedlings.

Growing seedlings

Coleus seeds are small, resemble poppy seeds, so sowing is carried out in specially prepared cassettes with a light water and air-permeable, nutritious substrate. Sowing period - March, April. The sowing time for seedlings is tied to the onset of constant warm weather in the region (not lower than +19 .. + 20 ° С).

Soil preparation

For sowing, you can buy ready-made soil or make up the soil mixture yourself. The acidity of the substrate is neutral, pH + 6-7 units. For the substrate use:

• 4 pieces of leafy land;
• 2 parts of turf or fine mature humus;
• 1 part sand or perlite, vermiculite.

Sowing

The prepared soil is moistened, left to ripen for 2-3 days (slightly moist, crumbly to the touch). The seeds are laid out on a flat surface and sprinkled with sand or a fine substrate with a layer of no more than 3-4 mm. Spray from a fine spray bottle and cover with a film. Place the inoculated container in a dark place with a temperature of +20 .. + 25 ° C. The soil is moistened as necessary. The improvised greenhouse is aired daily so that drops of moisture do not clog the sowing.

Seedling care

Coleus seedlings

• If the agrotechnical requirements of the Coleus for care are observed, the first shoots of seedlings appear on the 8-10th day.
• In case of mass shoots, the cover is removed from the container and placed on a windowsill with sufficient, but diffused lighting. The temperature is maintained +17 .. + 20 ° С.

Coleus shoots from seeds

• By the end of 3-4 weeks, the plants have unfolded the first pair of leaves. In this phase, densely sown plants dive into other containers with sufficient soil level.
• The soil is kept constantly moist. Watering must be carried out with soft, settled, warm water.
• At 6 weeks from germination (about 10 cm in height), the pick is seated in separate containers (cups), where it develops before disembarkation.

Coleus seedlings in separate containers

• When transplanting, the dived seedlings are pinched so that the plants do not stretch, but form a bushy shape.

• For watering, you can fertilize with flower fertilizers in half the dose (from the recommended).
• Seedlings are ready for planting 6-7-8 weeks after mass germination
• If warm weather is delayed, and the cups are small in volume, the seedlings can be transplanted into large containers again by transshipment.

Features of care for Coleus

Landing

When preparing seedlings for flower beds, it is better to grow several varieties, characterized by variegated patterns of the leaf blade. So it will be possible to create a bright, colorful composition of ceremonial flower beds in city recreation parks, alleys of official institutions, mowed lawns of the country landscape. Transplant / planting in the open field behind the wheels is carried out at the beginning of the first summer month (June).

• In the area allotted in the flower garden drawing under the coleus, break holes at a distance of 20-30 cm.
• If the soil in the garden is dense, heavy, be sure to add the substrate required by the plant to the holes.
• Fill the hole with a solution of biofungicides to prevent fungal diseases of the root system: planriz, phytosporin-M, trichodermin. Add root.
• After absorbing moisture, plant the seedlings using the transshipment method.
• Water the Coleus planting with a moderate rate of warm water.
• Mulch the planting and mulch the soil each time after watering until the plants close together.
• To protect the sun's rays and better survival, shade the plants for several days.

Care

Outdoor care for wheels includes:

• keeping the soil moist, free of weeds;
• constant loosening of the soil until the plants close into a continuous carpet;
• pinching and cutting;
• watering;
• feeding.

Watering

Coleus are water lovers. They need regular, abundant watering with settled warm water. To water them, water is heated in barrels or other containers. When the temperature drops to +15 .. + 16 ° C, watering is carried out less often, but the moisture content of the soil is monitored, preventing it from drying out. Plants react to the lack of watering by losing the turgor of the leaves. In hot weather, the plants are additionally sprayed with clean water.

Feeding rules

Considering that coleuses quickly build up large biomass, top dressing is carried out weekly:

• the first feeding is carried out after picking / transshipment while still in seedling age, with flower fertilizer in 1/3 of the dose, from the norm indicated on the package;
• the second feeding is carried out with a solution of nitrophoska, kemira or a mixture of complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 20-25 g / 10 l of water;
• the third is better to carry out with an infusion of ash, prepared from a glass of the drug for 10 liters of water. Strain the infusion and add with watering.

Remember! Watering with a fertilizer solution should be carried out under the plants so as not to burn the leaves and not worsen the appearance of the leaf mass.

The rest of the dressings alternate mineral with organic. The introduction of organic matter significantly enhances the brightness of variegated varieties of Coleus. You can buy a ready-made composition of organic fertilizers or prepare yourself at the rate of 0.5 liters of a can of poultry manure or cow dung for 12 or 10 liters of water, respectively

Pinching and trimming

Planting and caring for coleus in the open field necessarily include procedures such as pinching and pruning bushes of mature plants.

• Pinching and pruning of coleus bushes is necessary for better formation and regrowth of lateral shoots, which will ensure bushiness of plants. Without this procedure, plants can stretch out and lose their decorative effect.
• Pinching of the central and lateral shoots is carried out, if necessary, by 1-2 cm.
• Bushes 1-2 times per season (also if necessary) can be trimmed, giving them a neat, desired shape. Lateral shoots are cut off, which violate the general shape of the bush and greatly thicken it.
• The thickened bush loses its splendor, and reduces the overall decorative effect of the flower garden.
• Trimmed cuttings can be put on rooting and get additional material for flower beds or home cultivation.

Popular varieties and hybrids for outdoor cultivation

Coleus are planted not only in groups of one variety or hybrid, but also together with other plant species. Depending on the type of flower garden, plants of different heights are required. The bred varieties can be divided into 3 groups:

• low varieties with a height of 18-30 cm;
• medium - 30-50 cm high;
• high - from 50 cm and above. Some varietal hybrids form bushes up to 1 m tall.

Low Coleus varieties suitable for outdoor containers and outdoor cultivation from the Wizard Series:

Coleus-wizart

• Wizard Jade;
• Wizard Golden;
• Wizard Pineappl;
• Wizard Velvet Red;
• Wizard Mosaic;
• Wisard Coral Sunrise;
• Wizard Pastel.

Medium varieties of Coleus, for open ground and large street containers when grown in the sun and in partial shade:

Coleus Black Dragon is the shortest, 30-35 cm high.

From the Chocolate Series:

• Chocolate Splash;
• Chocolate Mint;
• Chocolate Crimson Gold.

Coleus Chocolate Mint

Coleus Chocolate Crimson Gold

From the Superfine Rainbows Series F1 varietal hybrids:

• Superfine Rainbows Volcano F1,
• Superfine Rainbows Festive Dance F1.

Coleus hybrid - an annual plant with decorative foliage

Coleus hybrid - an annual plant with decorative foliage (C. frederici, C. thyrsoides, C. shirens ...)

High varieties of Coleus for landscape flower beds and tall street containers grown in the sun and in partial shade.

From the Versa Collection Series:

• Crimson Gold;
• Rose To Lime;
• Burgundy To Green;
• Green Halo.

Coleus CRIMSON GOLD.

Find Versa Crimson Gold Coleus

Coleus Versa Collection Rose to Lime

Coleus green halo

Dear Reader! The color palette of Coleus, placed in the article, will help you choose the varieties and hybrids you like and create color compositions for flower beds, flower beds and other flower beds in your country house. Plant care is simple, and the compositions are unique. The choice is yours.

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Do you want a fantastic Coleus to give your site bright colors, but you don't know anything about it? It's not a problem. Today we will tell you absolutely everything about growing this unique plant. You will be able to learn about when and how the Coleus is planted in open ground, how to provide it with proper care and much more. Take a look at the presented photo and appreciate the unsurpassed beauty of this plant.

The most famous species and varieties of plants

The charming flowers of coleus are popularly called the "poor man's croton". They themselves come from hot Africa and the tropical forests of Asia. They are characterized by ribbed stems, lignified at the very base, as well as very attractive cordate, serrated, pubescent leaves that are a bit like nettles. The foliage color of these plants is simply charming, it can combine shades of maroon, green, bright red and even yellow tones. Lilac or blue flowers of Coleus are collected in small spike-shaped inflorescences. However, the cultivation of this plant is carried out exclusively because of the stunning decorative beauty of its leaves.

Coleus is very popular for the beauty of its leaves.

Fantastic Coleus, annual and perennial, today has about 150 different species.

For example, polyhybrid varieties and species have earned immense popularity in indoor floriculture. One of their parents was Coleus Blume... The height of representatives of this species is about 1 m, and its leaves have an oval shape and serrated edges. The shade of the foliage can change, depending on whether they are located in the shade or in the sun.

Coleus Blume

Also quite famous Coleus Renelta, which originates from distant Sri Lanka. The leaves of the plant are placed on tall cups, they are opposite, with wavy edges and multi-colored veins.

Coleus Renelta

The most popular varieties of Coleus.

1. Brilliant. Its representatives are characterized by lemon or red leaves.
2. "Butterfly". The foliage of this variety has wavy edges.

   Variety "Butterfly"

3. Crimson Ruffles. A fairly large variety that has a raspberry-burgundy color.
4. Buttercup. These are tall plants with a pleasant white-light green hue.
5. "Candidum". The center of the leaf in such coleus is white, and the edge is pale green.
6. Golden Bedder. It is characterized by yellow monochromatic leaves.

   Variety "Golden Bedder"

7. "Firebird". A very bright and beautiful variety with corrugated foliage.
8. "Rose Blush". Lush enough variety. Its large corrugated leaves have a light green edge and a pale pink center.
9. "Saber". Compact coleus. Their maximum height is only 20 cm.
10. "Salmon Lace". The leaves of these plants have a green-yellow edge and a red center.
11. "Glory of Luxembourg". A very attractive variety. Coral streaks are scattered carelessly on its yellow leaves.

Features of planting and caring for Coleus

Rich contrasting shades of your busy area can be given a chic Coleus. Planting and caring for it is absolutely not difficult, which is one of its main advantages.

Coleus can be planted in open ground after the end of the cold weather. The best place for him would be a well-lit place, protected from strong gusts of wind.

Provide access to the sun's rays for Coleus

Dig holes in the ground, keeping a small distance from each other, add a fertile substrate to them and plant Coleus. Also, do not forget to water the seedlings moderately with water. The growing process does not require much effort or skill on your part, especially if you want to grow it as an annual species. As for the perennial coleus, for the winter it is dug out of the ground and stored at home until spring.

Provide the Coleus with regular, abundant watering during the dry season. Use settled water for this, which can be stored in a barrel right in the garden. Loosen the soil and remove weeds periodically so the plant can develop and grow normally.

Advice. Cut the Coleus several times during the summer season. So it will bush better and become even more magnificent.

In the warm season, provide the indoor Coleus with regular spraying, and in the winter keep it on a special pallet with wet expanded clay.

Attention! Remove new buds from indoor coleus in time so that they do not weaken the development of beautiful foliage.

Reproduction methods and plant feeding

Coleus is propagated in two ways:

• seeds;
• by cuttings.

Coleus reproduces perfectly by the seed method. In open ground, fertile and light, it is sown at the end of March. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, sprinkled lightly with water and sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. Next, the container with the seedlings is covered with glass or transparent film and kept in a dark, warm room.

Coleus seeds

Coleus seed germination is quite high. Literally on the 8-10th day, seedlings will already appear. Then you will need to remove the glass and put the container on a light windowsill, but avoid direct sunlight. The optimum temperature for further growth will be 17-20 degrees.

When the first pair of leaves appears (at 3-4 weeks), the seedlings are transplanted into special cassettes, where their root system can grow normally and get stronger. At 5-6 weeks, transplant them into glasses and pin them.

Coleus cuttings can be obtained by trimming the plant. The length of the cutting should be about 10 cm. Its lower leaves are removed, and the plant itself is placed in moist soil, covered with foil and kept in a dark room at a temperature of 19-20 degrees. After 7-10 days, the cuttings will have roots, it is then that the Coleus can be transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Coleus sprouts

Dangerous diseases and pests

Many troubles can arise due to improper and untimely care of the plant. For example, if you do not cut it in time, then the shoots will become too elongated. From a lack of moisture, as well as from waterlogging, the leaves can simply fall off, and poor lighting will affect the color of the foliage.

Coleus can be affected by spider mites, whiteflies and aphids. In the fight against aphids, treatment with soapy water is used. Ticks are killed with drugs such as Oberon or Akarin, and whitefly with Aktaroy.

Use in landscaping and combination with other plants

Due to the rich and rich color scheme, coleus is best combined with monochromatic plants with openwork greenery. For example, coleuses are in perfect harmony with cineraria, sage, which will create a great background for them. In addition, gypsophila, all kinds of lilies, daylilies, etc. will become wonderful neighbors for them.

Coleus in a country flower bed

Having planted several varieties of Coleus on a flower bed, you will get a fantastic composition, very effective and colorful. This plant is best suited for creating carpet ceremonial flower beds with patterns that often decorate city parks and alleys.

In short, this is a real find for modern landscape design. You can see the use of Coleus in various design options for plots in the photo.

Coleus care features: video

Types of coleus: photo

Coleus has two names: one Latin - Coleus, the second folk - nettle. You can meet this ornamental plant in the park, in the country with friends, in the office or with friends in the apartment. An easy-to-care flower has long gained popularity among flower growers and professional designers.

Coleus is a perennial tropical ornamental-deciduous plant growing in natural conditions in tropical Africa and Asia, in our middle lane it is grown as an annual. Due to the high decorativeness of the leaves and its unpretentiousness, it is widely used in landscape design.

Description of the flower

The leaves have a velvety surface covered with delicate geometric patterns in various shades of color. It is very difficult to describe the beauty of the leaves, some color transitions are worth it. You can appreciate the beauty of plants from a photo, and simply list the options for color patterns:

• light green;
• white;
• deep red;
• purple;
• yellow;
• purple;
• pink;
• brown.

The leaf plates are oval-heart-shaped, in some species they are covered with patterns in shades of the same color, in other varieties - with patterns in contrasting colors. The graceful, jagged edges of the leaves make the plant even more decorative.

The stems of the flower are erect, tetrahedral. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, gathered in a panicle. Their colors are faded: light blue or purple. The height of the plants depends on the species and variety. And since there are more than 150 species of the Coleus genus, there are both undersized varieties and tall specimens among them.

Types and varieties of coleus with a photo

Of the whole variety of species, representatives of three types have found application in us:

1. K. Blume.
2. K. Renelta.
3. K. hybrid.

Coleus Blume

K. Blume (or Coleus Blume) is the species most widespread in temperate regions. It unites tall, shrubby plants, the average height of specimens is 0.8 m. The shape of the stems is ribbed, tetrahedral. The leaves are large (15 cm), ovate with a pointed tip. The colors of the leaves are varied:

• dark red;
• brownish yellow;
• black;
• white;
• cream;
• pink;
• burgundy;
• purple.

Saber grade

The flowers are small, purple, collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence. The most common varieties of this species:

1. K. Candidum. Yellow leaves with a light green pattern.
2. K. Saber. Dwarf variety (15 cm). The center of the leaves is cherry-pink, the border is greenish-yellow.
3. K. Salmon Lace. Leaves with a red center, green border. The border is wide.
4. K. Wizard Scarlet. The border is thin, yellow. Red is the main color of the leaf plate.
5. K. Wizard Pineapple. The color is beautiful - a mixture of cherry and green colors.

Coleus Renelta

Reneltianus variety

All ampelous, decorative varieties belong to this type and are widely used in the design of premises for any purpose (office, apartment, trading floor). The colors of the leaves are very diverse. Popular varieties: Reneltianus, Reneltianus superbus.

Coleus hybrid

Herbaceous perennial plant with a bush height of 50 to 80 cm. The bush is formed from erect, branching stems, tetrahedral in cross section. The leaves are arranged oppositely, on petioles. The shape is varied: wide ovoid, oval-heart-shaped. The edges of the leaves are crenate, wavy, the surface is fleecy. The color is uniform or variegated.

When to plant Coleus

Coleus, as a typical representative of a tropical country, loves warmth and absolutely cannot stand low temperatures. A spring drop in air temperature to + 12 ° C can lead to its death.

In the central zone, in the Urals and in Siberia, it is justified to plant ready-made seedlings on flower beds in late May and early June, you can plant them throughout the summer. Seedlings grown in separate cups take root quickly. Direct sowing of seeds into the soil is permissible only in the southern regions, since they germinate at an air temperature of 20 ° C and above.

Landing

The established warm days at the end of May, the first days of June are the right time for transplanting if you have grown multi-colored seedlings of Coleus to decorate your garden or yard. Coleus will grow poorly in full shade, so choose sunny places for flower beds. Light partial shade in the middle of the day will not hurt.

A little sand and peat should be added to heavy loamy soil. The plant is tropical, therefore it prefers fertile and loose soils. In lowlands, where water lingers for a long time after rain, it will grow poorly.

Seedling holes are dug according to the size of the pot. Humus, ash, peat, sand and mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium nitrate) should be added in advance during spring or autumn tillage.

The distance between the holes should be in accordance with the recommendations of the seed manufacturer.

The standard spacing is 20-30 cm if the cut is borrowed from friends or from a flower bed in a public park and the variety is unknown. Wells after transplanting seedlings into the ground must be watered well.

Care

The main thing in caring for a Coleus planted in open ground is a tender attitude towards a beautiful plant with velvety leaves. If watering, then with water settled in a barrel. Fertilizing only after watering. Obligatory loosening of the soil.

Loosen after the end of long rains and the next day after watering. Water gently, do not spray on the leaves. Refuse the sprinkler irrigation method. Remove weeds that have appeared on the flower bed. Start treatment as soon as you see signs of disease or damage caused by pests of ornamental leafy plants.

Follow the shape of the bush:

• pinch the top of the central shoot and lateral stems
• carefully cut out damaged leaves and stems with pruning shears
• remove the inflorescence immediately after its appearance.

Reproduction

For a novice gardener, it will not be difficult to master two methods of breeding Coleus:

• seeds into the ground;
• seedlings;
• cuttings.

In flower shops, you can pick up seeds to your taste, the choice is very wide and can satisfy anyone.

Growing from seeds at home

Even a beginner can cope with seedlings. Success is ensured if quality seeds of the desired variety have been purchased, which means they have a high germination percentage. The second ingredient for success is soil. You can buy it in the store or make it yourself. Take for this:

• 4 parts soda earth;
• 2 pieces of pine or spruce needles;
• 2 parts of well-rotted cattle manure;
• 1 part sand (washed, river).

Prepare the potting mix in advance, preferably in the fall. Chop the needles well. Disinfect the soil two weeks before sowing. Don't skip this step if you want healthy seedlings. Most of the plants become infected precisely through the soil due to the larvae of pests, fungal spores and other infections in it.

You can process the soil in any of the following ways:

1. Warming up for 45 minutes at a temperature of 120 ° C or 2 hours in a water bath.
2. Hot water treatment.
3. Freezing.

Any method is effective if, in addition to temperature treatment, the soil is additionally shed with Fitosporin solution 10-14 days before planting. Biofungicide will accelerate the development of beneficial microorganisms.

Container for seedlings

The container can be used in different ways. Disposable cups made of clear plastic of a small volume are suitable. Seedling cassettes sold at any flower shop are ideal. If you sow in peat tablets, then greatly simplify your care for young plants.

When and how to sow

Seed producers recommend starting sowing in mid to late March. The sprouts will appear after 10-12 days. It will be good if the air temperature in the room is at least 20 ° C. Seeds hatch better at 25 ° C.

The size of the seeds is very small, which is why they are never buried in the soil, but are scattered randomly over well-moistened soil.Above, a thin layer of sand moistened from a sprayer is acceptable.

A mini-greenhouse, built of PVC film or glass, will maintain the desired level of humidity in the air and soil in the planting box. Before the sprouts appear, only 1-2 times the crops will need to be moistened from the sprayer.

Important! Seedlings do not need bright sun. A container with seedlings should be placed on the east or north-east windows. After the appearance of young growth, the air in the room can be reduced to 19 ° C.

The increased soil moisture is not needed by the root system of the Coleus, it promotes rotting of young roots. Therefore, water it correctly, assess the moisture content of the soil.

Seedlings sown in a box need a pick. It is carried out as a standard in the phase of 2 leaves in separate cups. Small expanded clay can be poured into the bottom of the glass. Make 2 holes in the bottom of the cup with a hot nail. Such measures will prevent root rot.

It is necessary to pinch the top when the seedlings grow up and the central stalk is 5 cm long. Pinching stimulates the formation of lateral shoots. By the time the seedlings are planted in the ground, it will have the shape of a small bush.

Coleus - home care for a bright decorative handsome man!

Cuttings

Cuttings cut from a healthy, mature plant take root quickly and easily. Carrying out a cut in late summer, early autumn, flower growers constantly update their planting stock. Plants rooted in autumn decorate the apartment, office.

For the street, cuttings are carried out in March-April.

Any shoot no shorter than 15 cm and thick enough is suitable for cutting. First, you need to put it in ordinary water at room temperature. Transplant into the ground after the appearance of a sufficient number of roots. Change the water several times until the roots appear. In a high-quality cutting, the first roots hatch in a week.

Standard care for rooted cuttings:

• watering;
• sufficient lighting (solar, artificial);
• top dressing 1-2 times before planting in open ground.

Diseases and pests

Do not expect great decorativeness from Coleus if you neglect the rules of care: you often and abundantly water the plant, there are no drainage holes in the pots, there is no drainage, the flower receives little light. With this kind of care, you are most likely to get a diseased plant. He is provided with root rot and loss of leaves.

Pests can spoil the appearance of the plant:

• aphid;
• mealybug;
• whitefly;
• spider mite.

How to deal with parasites is up to you. At the initial stages, folk methods of getting rid of the Coleus from the pest are acceptable. The neglected forms lend themselves better to destruction when using chemistry. The following drugs are usually recommended:

1. Extra.
2. Confidor.
3. Aktofit.
4. Bison.

Folk ways

Love to eat citrus fruits: lemon, orange, tangerine, that's good. Don't throw away the crusts. They are a good remedy for mealybugs. From them, you can prepare an infusion for processing a plant. Pour only 50 g of crusts with a liter of boiling water and insist for a day.

A plant affected by a whitefly (its larvae) can be saved with a concentrated soap solution. Take not any soap, but only household or tar. Add 1 part grated soap to 6 parts of water. Cover the places where the parasite larvae accumulate with foam, pour the soil in the pot with the solution.

Soap solution will also help against aphids, but to achieve a greater effect, it is worth adding sifted, wood ash to it. Ash can be used to powder the soil in the pot, the leaves of the plant and its stems. Spider mites are fought with the same soapy solution, but crushed garlic is added to guarantee it.

Perennial garden geranium: planting and care in the open field

Tips for gardeners on growing Coleus

When breeding Coleus by cuttings:

1. There should be no inflorescences and apical buds on the shoot for the cutting.
2. Make a straight cut clearly under the leaf node.Use a sharp, clean knife for cutting.
3. Be sure to pinch off a few of the bottom sheets. The area of ​​the cutting in the water must be free of leaves.
4. Rooting is faster when using the drug "Kornevin". A root stimulant is added to the water. Strictly adhere to the dosage indicated in the instructions.
5. Change the water every 3 days.
6. Can be rooted in vermiculite with the addition of water.
7. Maintain an even temperature in the room (20 ° C).
8. Use additional artificial lighting to get strong coleus bushes. Bright coloration with sufficient light is guaranteed.

Quick tips for caring for grown plants:

1. Watering. Water often, but little by little. Exclude the splashing of water on the leaves. The soil should always be moist to the touch.
2. Top dressing. Combine watering with fertilization once every 10 days. Use complex fertilizers designed specifically for decorative leafy species.
3. Pinching. Form the desired shape of the decorative bush using the pinching method. Tall specimens are obtained by pinching all lateral shoots, bushes in the form of a ball with uniform pinching of the tops of all shoots. Always remove the top of the panicle during flowering.
4. Lighting. The good shape of the seedling bush depends on the uniformity of the illumination. For this, seedling pots need to be turned occasionally in relation to the light source.

Advice! Remember that the bright light of the sun is not needed by the Coleus. Consider this when growing seedlings.

Coleus in landscape design

Landscape designers willingly include Coleus in flower arrangements. The best combinations are obtained with flowering plants of solid colors. Coleus looks harmonious against the background of sage, cineraria. It successfully adjoins with lilies, daylilies, good neighbors of gypsophila.

Combinations of purple coleus with yellow marigolds, silvery cineraria, fiery salvia, and sapphire aggregates are considered classics of the genre.

The ideal duet is red coleus, silver alyssum.

Carpet beds and arabesques are created from different varieties of Coleus. The "Persian" carpet made of multicolored coleus becomes an excellent decoration for the lawn. The most suitable type for carpet beds is Werishffelt nettles. Its varieties with golden yellow, dark purple leaves tolerate our climatic conditions well.

Small courtyards are decorated with containers with colorful compositions of bright coleus, red-leaved cannes and other green-yellow plants.

Coleus is a great background for roses

Dwarf coleuses combined with a sheared boxwood border are the perfect decoration for any rose garden. Equally impressive is the combination of coleus and white sedum curb.

For rosaries, plants belonging to the Colossus Nana cultivar are used. They are short (30 cm) colorful plants with beautiful leaves. In the rose garden, Coleus should act as a background for the regal beauties of roses. Its color should highlight their beauty.

Red and burgundy roses go well with pale green or golden foliage. A carpet of dark red Coleus variety Terro perfectly sets off the delicate beauty of white and delicate salmon-colored roses.

Coleus - lifeguard

Faded lilies and other bulbous are depressing, Coleus, planted between bulbous plants, quickly restores the decorative effect of the flower garden. By pinching its top, they stimulate the accelerated growth of lateral shoots. In a short period of time, Coleus covers the entire flower bed with a multi-colored carpet. Bulbous forms that have lost their decorative effect are cut off.

To decorate the loggia

The varieties of the ampel-type coleus, planted in beautiful pots, fit perfectly into the interior of the loggias. Surfinia, white-bordered budra are excellent companions for decorative nettles. Balconies decorated with colorful hanging baskets make the facade of the house unique and unrepeatable.

Growing, planting, wintering Coleus in the open field: video

Coleus awakens creative imagination among gardeners. The ability to create colorful compositions makes it a popular design element for park areas, backyards and loggias.

Coleus from the labiate family is an evergreen perennial, distinguished by bright decorative leaf plates and unpretentious care. The name of the plant, which is a native of the rainforest, is of Greek origin and translates as "case".

Coleus: species, varieties and description

The aerial part of the inhabitant of the tropics is represented by silvery shoots, which are covered with oppositely located, jagged leaf plates resembling nettles in shape, for which the culture was popularly called "nettles". The color of the leaves is varied - green, yellow, burgundy and red. Flowers that are of no particular value form racemose inflorescences of blue or purple colors.

Despite the fact that in the wild the genus has more than 150 species, in culture it is represented by only a few species.

Coleus Blume

Widespread in open ground, a semi-shrub up to 80 cm high with a lignified base from the tropical zones of Southeast Asia, which has become the basis for the work of breeders to develop many varieties.

The most popular representatives of the species:

• Coleus "Black Dragon" is a variety that stands out with brownish-purple foliage with corrugated edges and pronounced red veins.
• Coleus "Wizard" is a variety series that deserves attention due to the motley coloring of the leaves, framed by borders of different sizes and shades.

Coleus hybrid

The species has gained the greatest popularity in indoor floriculture, although it is sometimes possible to find it in the garden. A medium-sized plant that can reach a height of one meter. The color of elongated oval-shaped leaves with jagged edges can vary depending on the amount of light received. In the shade, the leaves of the representative of the tropical laura are green, but if the flower grows in sunny areas, the leaf plates acquire a burgundy color.

Coleus Renelta

The truss form is grown in hanging pots used to decorate balconies, terraces and courtyards. The species is distinguished by heart-shaped petioled leaves, which are decorated with multi-colored veins along the edges, giving the look a special charm.

Growing coleus from seeds at home

The most common way to get variegated and unpretentious bushes is to grow coleus from seeds, which are presented in a wide range of flower shops.

Soil preparation and containers

To get friendly and healthy shoots, you need to choose the right dishes and soil:

• Soil - Coleus prefers a fertile and light soil with a loose structure, which is prepared from garden soil, peat and sand in equal parts. Before use, the soil mixture is calcined in the oven.
• Capacity - a shallow box is selected for future seedlings.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To obtain seedlings, sowing is carried out at the end of March according to the following scheme:

1. The flat container is filled with the prepared substrate.
2. Seeds are spread over the surface of the soil, slightly pressed and moistened with a spray bottle.
3. The container is covered with glass and moved to a shaded, warm place where the substrate is kept in a slightly damp state.
4. After emergence, the glass is removed.
5. The box is moved to a window with diffused light, where the temperature value varies between 17-19 ° C.
6. When the seedlings develop the first pair of true leaves, they dive into special cassettes for the development of the root system.
7. When two pairs of true leaves are formed, the seedlings are planted in half-liter cups, where they are pinched for better branching.

Planting Coleus in open ground

After the onset of stable heat, when the threat of recurrent frosts has passed, you can start planting seedlings in open ground:

• A sunny area is chosen, protected from the winds and slightly shaded during the period of solar activity.
• Holes are dug with a size corresponding to the root system of the seedlings, with a small distance from each other.
• Peat or compost is poured into each hole to improve aeration and fertility.
• Further, bushes from the cups are rolled over and sprinkled with the extracted earth.
• The soil is slightly compacted and watered.

Caring for Coleus in the open field

The flower won the love of flower growers not only for its decorative foliage, but also for its undemanding care. Growing a healthy, lush plant requires a short list of simple procedures.

Watering rules

For the full development and preservation of decorativeness, an exotic flower needs abundant watering, in which the earth should not dry out completely between new portions of water. Humidification should be carried out with settled water at room temperature, for which a barrel is well suited, where tap water will be collected, and then warmed up for a day.

Attention! When watering, it is necessary to be guided by a sense of proportion, since an overabundance or constant lack of moisture can cause the culture to dump ornamental foliage, for which Coleus is valued.

Tillage

Periodically, the trunk circle under the bush must be loosened to prevent the formation of an impenetrable crust. Weeds should be dealt with as needed. As a rule, when removing weeds while loosening, you do not need to devote time separately for such a procedure.

How to feed the plant?

In order for the plant to intensively increase the green mass, it should be fed weekly with liquid nitrogen-containing fertilizers during the growth period. A high nitrogen concentration will also delay the onset of the flowering phase.

Cutting technology

To stimulate branching and obtain a lush bush with variegated foliage, which will retain its decorative effect throughout the season, the Coleus is trimmed and pinched:

• The first pinching is carried out in the seedling phase to give the flower a bush shape.
• During the summer period, the Coleus is cut three times, which allows it to form a dense and well-groomed crown.
• When flowers appear, the peduncles must be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste energy on flowering to the detriment of preserving the beauty of the leaves.

Disease and pest control

Coleus is a flower with strong immunity. However, it can also be attacked by pests such as aphids, spider mites and whiteflies. To protect the plant from dangerous insects, one should resort to spraying the crop with well-proven insecticidal preparations - Actellik, Appolo and other pesticides of a similar effect.

Some difficulties can arise with a lack of lighting, when the shoots of the coleus begin to stretch, the stem becomes bare, and it loses its decorative effect. Excessive lighting can also harm and cause discoloration and fading of the sheet plates. Due to improper care, the leaves of the plant fall off.

Coleus in winter

A thermophilic plant from the tropics, it does not tolerate harsh winters, therefore it is grown outdoors as an annual plant.

If the grower wishes, he can keep the flower alive, but this will require:

• dig a bush from the garden;
• transplant the plant into a pot;
• place in a room with a temperature regime of 8-15 ° C;
• reduce watering and feeding.

After the ground has warmed up enough and the risk of frost has disappeared, the flower can be planted back into the garden or flower bed.

Coleus breeding methods

In addition to the seed propagation method, which was described above, there is a vegetative breeding method using cuttings when:

• Cuttings 10 cm long are harvested from the apical shoots, which are cut off during shearing.
• The leaf plates are removed from the bottom of the resulting cutting.
• The resulting planting material is buried in a special soil mixture of equal parts of sand and peat.
• The landings are covered with plastic bottles.
• After 10-14 days, root formation occurs.
• New plants are planted in their designated places.

Thus, the garden plot can be decorated not only with flowering plants. Decorative coleus with spectacular variegated leaves that does not require special care will be a great addition to any landscape compositions.