Coleus 
Most annuals are grown for their flowers; Coleus is grown for their colorful foliage. Coleus offers colorful foliage in a variety of interesting shapes and sizes. Coleus is currently enjoying a revival due to the appearance of wonderful new varieties bred by crossing the best of the old Victorian varieties with their cousins from Asia and Africa. The new varieties of coleus are referred to as Sun Coleus.
|
|
Seed Coleus is widely available and is inexpensive compared to Sun Coleus. They require frequent pruning to remove flowers, if flowers are not regularly removed Seed Coleus will decline in Vigor. |
|
|
Sun Coleus is more sun tolerant and more vigorous than Seed Coleus. There are many varieties with an array of colors, leaf shapes and plant habits. |
Tips for Growing Healthy Coleus
| Seeding |
 |
Coleus is relatively easy to start from seed, though the seed is very small. |
|
Coleus seeds take 10 to 12 days to germinate at 70 degrees, so it is best to start them indoors; the plants will need to be acclimated outdoors. |
|
Plant the seeds in mid-March. They germinate best with light, so don't bury the seed; just press them lightly into the surface of the soil. |
|
| Acclimate tender plants |
|
Set outdoors in a sheltered area for a couple of hours on nice, mild day and return indoors at night; add 1 hour each additional day. |
| |
|
It is important to protect the plants from strong sun, wind, cool temperatures and heavy rains. |
|
Acclimating tender plants can take 7 to 14 days. |
|
Average last frost date in Minneapolis is May 10. |
|
| Light |
|
Most seed variety Coleus prefers partial shade |
|
Varies with each variety, refer to plant tag. |
|
| Locations |
|
Coleus is perfect for mixed containers or great by itself. |
|
Coleus also thrive when planted in: |
| |
|
garden beds |
| |
|
mass plantings |
| |
|
backgrounds |
| |
|
accents |
| |
|
fillers and borders |
|
| Soil |
| Containers: |
|
Any peat-like mix such as Bachman’s Mighty Earthä Potting Soil; for best results replace soil annually. |
| Ground Beds: |
|
Amend soil with compost or peat moss once the frost is out of the ground. |
|
| Transplanting |
|
Coleus has a very fine, fibrous root system, so ease them out of their pots gently. The outside of the root ball may be a mat of white roots. |
|
Make several shallow cuts through these roots to encourage outward growth. |
|
Plant them at the same depth they were growing. |
|
| Spacing |
|
Varies widely with each variety, refer to plant tag. |
|
| Water |
|
After transplanting, water immediately. |
|
Coleus requires water throughout the summer. |
|
| Fertilizer |
| Containers: |
|
Add a slow-release granular fertilizer at time of planting. |
|
Feed with water-soluble fertilizer weekly. |
| Ground Beds: |
|
Add granular fertilizer at time of planting. |
|
Feed with water-soluble fertilizer monthly. |
|
| Protection |
|
Annuals planted in containers or ground beds should be covered with frost cloth if frost is forecasted. |
|
Remove frost cloth once the sun rises and temperature is above 32 degrees. |
|
| Grooming |
|
Snip out any leaves that develop milky white patches, usually caused from plants that are not fully acclimated. |
|
Related Bachman's Information
Recommended Products
|
|
Bachman's-grown Coleus |
|
|
Quality seeds and seed starting supplies |
|
|
Plant fertilizer |
|
|
Potting soil, compost and peat moss |
Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Centers
Your local garden expert since 1885.
bachmans.com | ©Bachman's 2012
Select source information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension, www.extension.umn.edu.
Last Updated: March 2012
