How to Grow Coleus from Seeds

The coleus is a vibrant and versatile decorative plant with beautiful leaves that come in various colours, patterns, and textures. The splashes of colour against the green of the ferns and hostas are one of my favourite features of my shady garden.

It’s quite simple to take coleus and cultivate it from seed. To find out more about how Coleus is spreading, keep reading.

Coleus Plants Overview

When to Plant This Annual Flowering Plant

Coleus grows slowly, and its seeds can take a while to germinate. Therefore, it is preferable to start your plants eight to twelve weeks before the final frost.

Therefore, your outdoor plants will grow faster the sooner you start. At last, you have to ensure they are not moved before the ice has melted.

The fact that your plants require a lot of watering and gentle, loving care is another noteworthy thing. Nevertheless, since Coleus makes exquisite houseplants, you do not need to move your potted plants.

Planting Coleus Seeds Indoors

You can start indoor seed sowing for potted plant planting approximately eight weeks before the latest frost date. Selecting a planting medium such as African Violets or using light-rich soil with some topsoil sifted through a screen wire will aid with the seed-starting mix.

• When planting seeds inside, the dirt should slightly soak the seeds rather than cover them.
• Keep the soil damp, and your Coleus will appreciate a heat mat if you have one since it aids with germination. Maintain soil temperatures between 65°F and 85°F.
• The seeds will begin to germinate in 12 to 21 days if you don’t cover them.
• Once they sprout, it helps to provide plenty of light for the seedlings on a sunny windowsill. Alternatively, you might use 16-hour days and 8-hour nights with fluorescent plant lights.
• Additionally, as your plants get higher, adjust the grow lights; incandescent bulbs do not work when it gets too hot. Since seedlings require a dark period to grow, we advise against leaving the lights on for a full day.
• When a seedling develops two sets of leaves, it is time to take it out of the cell.
• When your seedlings are four weeks old, give them full-strength indoor houseplant food.
• Before transferring young plants outside, it is still essential to harden your seedlings.
• You can achieve this by hiding them for about a week. Keep your young plants out of the wind and direct sunlight.
• Additionally, if frost is predicted, transfer containers inside for the night.

Transplant hardened-off seedlings

Once your Coleus seedlings have hardened off, locate the ideal location in the garden that provides either full sun or partial shade. Give your Coleus some well-draining organic soil.

• To transplant Coleus, turn over the soil in a plant bed until it is eight inches deep.
• When weeds vie for water, use a rake to get rid of any clumps, debris, grass, stones, and other plants. After planting, you can adjust the soil by adding organic materials such as top dressing or compost.
• After planting, you can add organic mulch to help hold onto soil moisture.
• Every Coleus plant should have a hole dug between them that is big enough to accommodate the root ball and is spaced about 12 inches apart.
• Using your fingers, press down to make sure the root ball is level with the surrounding earth.
• Allow the saucer to settle and expunge any air pockets by adding enough water to produce puddles.
• To designate your location, attach a plant tag.

Care for Coleus

Coleus is a low-maintenance; productive plant that creates a scrambling ground cover. For their species to thrive, full light may be preferable to moderate shade. Some plants may tolerate a slight frost and grow well in potted potting soil.

Soil

An expansive but well-draining soil mixture is ideal. Making soil amendments with organic material, compost, or perlite is beneficial before planting potted plants.

Plants for hanging baskets can be potted in superior potting mix; just make sure the plant has a container with holes for drainage. To be sure you are providing the proper soil for your plant’s requirements; we also advise doing a soil test.

Sunlight

It is necessary to provide bright light for the Coleus seeds to sprout. Your small plants will prefer full or partial shade over direct sunshine as they get bigger and are outside. Nevertheless, this will depend on the kind of variety you grow.

One problem is that the sun could damage the lovely foliage. Next, show filtered shadows at dusk and dawn. Vibrant indirect light is sufficient for indoor container plants throughout the summer, but they require dappled sunshine during the winter.

Water

Wet, but not wet, soil is what your plant loves. This is because the edges of the leaves turn dark during the growing season, especially during periods of drought. Once the upper inch is dry to the touch, stop using water.

Mulch aids in retaining soil moisture; however, avoid using cedar, as it is harmful to plants. It could be necessary to water container plants frequently in warm weather.

Temperature and Humidity

Although Coleus likes warm, humid climates, even a small amount of frost can destroy it. When the weather falls below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, bring indoor containers inside to keep your plants safe. Getting cuttings for Coleus propagation before the winter months begin is another piece of advice.

Additionally, keep your tiny plants indoors and out of the way of air conditioners and chilly drafts. Purchasing a humidifier or keeping one in the bathroom is beneficial in dry conditions. Indoor Coleus can be brought outside when April approaches and the weather reaches 70 °F or higher.

Fertilizer

There is no need to fertilize plants if they are growing in rich soil. On the other hand, adding granular, liquid, or slow-release fertilizer to poor soil can help. For optimal foliage colour, apply a little fertilizer. A great choice for Coleus plants growing in pots is liquid fertilizer.

Pruning

When it gets to six inches tall, it helps pinch the tips of the stems to promote bushy growth. On pinched flower stalks, more energy is concentrated on the formation of leaves beneath the buds. If left unpruned, it develops a vigorous-looking, lanky, and extended stem tip. When this happens, provide more sunlight for your plants.

Propagation

To increase the number of coleus cuttings, follow these steps:

• Using sterile, sharp scissors, cut six-inch-long stem cuttings from a parent plant beneath a leaf node before removing the lower leaves.
• After immersing the sliced end in rooting hormone, plant it in damp soil, being sure to cover the exposed leaf nodes.
• Cover the container with a plastic bag, making sure the bag stays away from the plant crown and foliage.
• Put your plant somewhere warm and bright until the roots start to form. It might require three weeks.
• When new growth with root development appears, you can take off the covering and store it in a warm, sunny area.

Common Pests and Diseases

While groundhogs and rabbits can annoy these plants, they adapt well to their outdoor existence. Look out for snails, whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. When bugs begin to annoy your indoor plants, remove the affected plants to prevent the pests from spreading further.

Conclusion

Coleus seeds sprout quickly and are easy to grow from seed to plant in gardens. If at all possible, use cuttings from well-established coleus plants. Go ahead and try seed starting if it’s your thing; you’ll save money and end up with some large, gorgeous plants.

Select your cultivator and proceed accordingly. A well-maintained seed-starting coleus can survive for a considerable amount of time.

Reference

Wikipedia.org