Coleus dwarf. Coleus - planting and care in the open field for a bright nettle! Types and varieties

Perhaps, if you put together several varieties and varieties of coleus, it will be difficult to imagine that this is one and the same plant. Its height varies from 20 cm to 1 m, the color of the leaves is from pale beige to purple, almost black. Yes, yes, coleus is grown mainly not because of the beauty of the inflorescences, but the noble "appearance" of velvety leaves.

Peculiarities

Coleus are plants in the form of small bushes. Its distinguishing feature is lush and numerous leaves, outwardly similar to nettles. However, coleus boasts a variety of shades of these leaves. By the way, because of the similarity, the coleus is often called "nettle" by the people.

Another name - "poor man's croton", as if hinting that the beauty and luxury of the leaves of the plant can compete with the more noble - codiaum.

Coleus is grown both as an annual and as a perennial. Despite the fact that the tropics are considered its homeland, domestic flower growers and gardeners note the unpretentiousness of the plant, the ease of caring for it. In the wild, the plant reaches 50-100 cm in height. And, although it blooms, the leaves are still considered the main decoration of the nettle. Its inflorescences are small and inconspicuous.

The plant has a light-loving disposition. With a lack of light, it changes the bright color of its leaves to faded. This can be seen in winter. However, the bright color of the leaves at the same time allows the plant to protect itself from UV rays. However, despite such resistance, it is better to shade a tropical guest in the hot summer heat.

The optimal temperature for nettles is the range of +20 ... +25 degrees. At the same time, she is not afraid of minor temperature changes. The critical temperature drop threshold is +12 degrees, the plant can die even with spring frosts. That is why the plant is planted in open ground at the end of May, when the earth and air are warmed up to 15-17 degrees.

In hot weather, coleus requires moisture as the earthen clod dries. At the same time, the plant will tolerate a short-term drought more easily than excessive watering. Although, ideally, the earthen ball should always be slightly damp. In the summer heat, you can spray the air around the coleus with water, avoiding moisture on the leaves. The latter cannot be wiped with a damp cloth, as this can easily damage them.

Drip irrigation should be avoided. Before watering and after prolonged rains, it is recommended to loosen the soil. The plant is propagated by seeds or stem cuttings. Usually propagated by seeds experienced gardeners, while the second method will be quite simple and understandable for everyone.

Main varieties

Coleus has up to 150 varieties. Consider the most popular among them.

coleus blum

The name of the plant deserved in honor of the botanist Karl Blum, under whose leadership it was bred. It is a shrub up to 0.8 m high, with a tetrahedral stem and large, egg-shaped leaves. This species is the progenitor of most ornamental varieties. It is characterized by a rich palette of shades of leaves. It includes many shades, from purple and dark red to soft pink and white.

Suitable for growing in open field, while being unpretentious in care and resistance to frost (survives until the first autumn frosts). It produces many cuttings per season, which can be first rooted in water and then planted in the ground (during the summer) or rooted as a pot plant.

At the end of the growing season, the mother plant can also be transplanted into a pot and taken indoors for the winter to be planted again in the spring in the flower bed.

"Renelta"

This variety includes all ampelous varieties of coleus, which allows you to actively use the plant for decorating parks, loggias, terraces, shopping centers and offices. Sri Lanka is considered to be the homeland. When this variety was crossed with others, decorative ampelous varieties appeared, intended for home cultivation. This wren can be recognized by its characteristic color - rich red in combination with green edging.

Hybrid

For convenience, all varieties of the hybrid variety can be conditionally divided into high, medium and low.

tall perennial- This is a bush up to 60-80 cm high, formed by erect multifaceted stems. The leaves of hybrid forms can be varied - wide ovate or narrower heart-shaped. Opposite on long petioles. They have wavy edges and a velvety surface, their color can be either monophonic or variegated.
medium sized coleus hybrid reaches a height of 30-50 cm. It can be grown in open ground and in room conditions. There are both relatively unpretentious and more capricious shrubs in the care.

For indoor cultivation usually choose undersized hybrids (up to 30 cm). In this case, the plant is more compact, resistant to shortened daylight hours.

Forskolia

It is fair to single out the plant as a separate variety. Today, forskolia are actively used as a fat burning supplement. In the wild, it grows in the mountainous regions of Thailand, India, and Nepal. The leaves are characterized by a high content of essential oils, and therefore very fragrant. The smell can be compared to the smell of camphor.

The plant is a shrub up to 70 cm high. Unlike decorative analogues, forskolia have not variegated, but uniformly green leaves. The color is more emerald, mint, rather than herbal. It blooms with beautiful blue or lavender "spikelets".

Popular varieties

From coleus blum

"Saber". Miniature shrubs, the height of which does not exceed 15-20 cm. They are characterized by the colorful color of the leaves - in the central part they are cherry-pink, and at the edges they are painted in a salad-yellowish color.

"Black dragon". One of the hybrid varieties of this variety. Spectacular shrub with dark purple, almost black, corrugated leaves, and light pink veins. They are velvety to the touch, jagged at the edges, are both more rounded and oblong. With this variety, the variety "Velvet of the night" is often confused. Plants are really similar.

"Velvet of the Night"- these are the same velvety leaves of a dark purple hue. However, instead of having pink veins, they have a purple "core".

"Wizard". A small (up to 30 cm) plant with fluffy leaves. This variety has several varieties, each of which has a different shade.

Variety "Wizard Jade" is distinguished by a white-green color, the main part of the leaf is milky white, gradually the color turns into a jade-emerald border;
Variety "Wizard Evening Dawn" is a red-scarlet "foliage" with a gold rim around the edge;
"Wizard Golden" surprises with yellow-golden leaves;
'Wizard Pinneaple' has cherry-green leaves;
"Wizard Scarlett" also known as "Wizard Velvet" (leaves are mostly cherry with a thin green-yellow rim).

"Butterfly". This species owes its name (translated from English as “butterfly”) to the unusual shape of the leaves - they resemble the wings of butterflies.

"Kong". This species got its name from large sizes- a tall shrub with long leaves looks impressive. In an adult plant, the width and height of the crown can be equal.

"Buttercup". Another "giant" among the coleus. The height of plants of this species can reach 50 cm. Another sign is light green with white, sometimes almost completely white foliage.

"Fire Nettle" ("Burning Bush"). The name of the plant is explained by the appearance of its leaves - they look like dancing flames, have an orange-yellow color.

In flower beds, you can increasingly find carpet varieties - "Yulke" (beautiful undersized shrubs with dark green velvety leaves and a golden border) and "Gero" ("carpet" of dark purple leaves).

Ampelous varieties or coleus varieties of Renelt

"Pumila". It is an ampelous shrub with recumbent stems. Due to the peculiarities of the location of the shoots, it can take a different form.

"Reneltianus" and its variety "Reneltianus superbus". House wren with reddish-brown leaves and a green border around the edges. With proper care, these varieties bloom, throwing out a delicate blue spikelet-like inflorescence.

Coleus Diamond. An ornamental variety characterized by smaller leaves. At the same time, the shrub is covered with them very abundantly, which makes it look very magnificent. Leaves can be lemon or burgundy.

hybrid varieties

Carefree Series. A small shrub (height 25-30 cm) with corrugated sheets - best option for growing in a pot.

Fairway Series. Strongly branching hybrid, literally strewn with leaves. Thanks to this, the shrub looks lush. At the same time, its height does not exceed 20 cm, and the number of leaf colors reaches 10 species. Among the most impressive are "Salmon Rose" (rich pink leaves with a green border), Ruby (scarlet leaves have a thin yellow border).

Coleus ( lat. coleus) − shrub ornamental leafy plant, family labiales (Lamiaceae).

Coleus has tetrahedral stems and opposite broadly oval leaves, serrated along the edges.

Coleus is native to tropical Africa and Asia.

Coleus sometimes called "poor man's croton" due to the similarity with croton in brightness and color range. Coleus is an unusually beautiful decorative leafy plant. Among modern varieties, the variegated velvety leaves of coleus are beautifully speckled with various patterns of light green, almost white flowers, rich red, dark purple, brown tones. With contrasting colors of cut veins and frames, coleuses resemble works of art from tropical Africa and Asia.

The genus Coleus includes about 150 species of plants of the mint family. Evergreen shrubs and annual herbaceous plants. The leaves are opposite, of various colors and patterns, with petioles. Flowers in apical spiky inflorescences. Some species (especially forms and numerous varieties of the so-called hybrid species Coleus blumei) are known in cultivation as deciduous ornamental plants.

Despite their tropical origin, coleus are unpretentious. Designed for light exposure in the room. In summer, a pot with a plant can be put on a balcony or open veranda(terrace). Coleus are characterized by active growth.

Types of coleus

- herbaceous perennial plant up to 50-80 cm tall. The stem is erect, branching, tetrahedral, juicy, finely pubescent. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, oval or broadly ovate with a truncated or heart-shaped base, often wavy along the edge, crenate, less often shallowly indented, finely velvety-pubescent with sparse longer hairs, variously uniformly or variegatedly colored green, red, dark purple, violet- brown and other colors. The flowers are numerous, collected in the final rare complex raceme or complex ear. Calyx bilabiate, lower lip with 2 teeth. Corolla up to 1.5 cm long, two-lipped, upper lip much larger than lower, blue, lower with 2 teeth, whitish. Collected taxon consisting of 200 hybrid forms of horticultural origin, one of whose parents is Javanese
Coleus Bloom.

. Homeland - the island of Java. There is an incredible variety of Coleus blumei hybrids. Plant height is usually 35-70 cm, there are also dwarf varieties. In most (but not all) forms, the leaves resemble nettle leaves, in some the leaf edges are folded, in others wavy, and the plate itself is corrugated. It is difficult to talk about the predominant color in the color of the leaves - they are very variegated. In culture, both multi-colored and single-color forms are common.

Some varieties of coleus bloom:

— Saber(dwarf variety)
— The Chief(folded leaves)
— Butterfly(wavy leaves)
— firebird
— Golden Bedder(yellow)
— Volcano(Dark red).
— scarlet poncho
— milky way
— fashion parade
— Coleus pumilus

Currently, new varieties are grown in the rooms: colosseus nanus- 30 cm high with beautiful leaves; Laciniatus- with cut edges of leaves. Both varieties are rare and unusual. Propagated by cuttings.

There are varieties used in flower beds as carpet plants: Hero (Gero)- with dark purple leaves and Yulka- with velvety red leaves with a golden border.

Highly decorative ampelous garden forms and varieties obtained from Coleus Renelt (Coleus rehneltianus) . Homeland - Sri Lanka. From crossing with other species, the best varieties of ampelous forms for rooms in the winter were obtained: Reneltianus and Reneltianus superbus with beautiful brown-red leaves with a greenish border and blue flowers.

Coleus parviflorus

Coleus verschaffeltii. The largest and most colorful leaves. It is highly decorative. The leaves are velvety dark red leaves with a green border.

Coleus religious rutabaga

Coleus edulis

coleus frederici

coleus thirsodies

Coleus shirensis

coleus care

Lighting. Coleus is a photophilous plant, it prefers bright light. Depending on the color of the leaves, it requires a different amount of light - varieties with bright (for example, red, white and almost white) leaves are able to tolerate direct sunlight better varieties with green leaves. Plants are suitable for growing at windows of southern, western and eastern exposure. In spring and summer, there may be a loss of color (burnout) and turgor in the leaves, associated with excessive exposure to sunlight. For this reason, plants should be shaded from the midday sun. In addition, coleuses are accustomed to direct sunlight gradually, in order to avoid sunburn.

Temperature. Coleus is relatively undemanding to temperature; in summer it can fluctuate between 16-25°C. In winter, at low temperatures (below 12°C), the plant can shed its leaves, rot, which will lead to its death, so the plants are kept at 16-22°C. Intense heat in summer leads to loss of turgor in the leaves.

Watering. From spring to autumn, it is plentiful, with soft settled slightly warm water, as the top layer of the substrate dries up. If tap water is hard, then rain water should be used. In winter, watering is moderate, but the clod of earth should not be allowed to dry out. Coleus react very sharply to the lack of moisture in the soil - the leaves become flabby. In case of cool conditions (14-16°C or below), the plants are watered occasionally.

Air humidity. For a normal existence must be high. Coleus leaves are recommended to be regularly sprayed with settled soft water at room temperature. In winter, coleus are in a state of relative rest and hardly grow. It is best to keep them in the kitchen, as in the warmest room with more or less high humidity air.

Fertilizer. In spring and summer (during the period of intensive growth), fertilizing with organic or mineral fertilizers is useful, preferably potash (0.3-0.5 g per 1 liter of water) once a week. In winter, the concentration of the solution is reduced by half, fertilized every 3-4 weeks.

Bloom. Flowering in coleus is not very decorative: small, nondescript flowers with a two-lipped corolla with a blue-violet upper and whitish lower lip are collected in complex spikes. The formation of flowers takes a lot of strength from the plant, because of which the leaves become smaller, so it is better to remove the buds.

Growing features. To enhance bushiness, it is recommended to pinch the apical shoots of coleus. In February, the coleus should be cut into a stump, leaving 5-8 eyes for a new growth.

Transfer. If coleus is grown as an annual, then it is not transplanted. In other cases, transplantation of overgrown plants is carried out 1 time in 2-3 years. The substrate for transplantation is taken slightly acidic or neutral (pH 6-7). A mixture of turf, hardwood and humus soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 4: 4: 2: 1: 1 is suitable. The bottom of the pot needs good drainage.

Reproduction. Coleus are propagated by seeds and mainly by cuttings, in order to avoid splitting and loss of decorative leaves.

The seeds are small (3500 pieces per 1 g), they are sown in February-March-April in bowls and sprinkled with sand on top. Contain at a temperature of 20-22°C. Seedlings appear on the 14-18th day. Seedlings dive into bowls or boxes at a distance of 2 × 2 cm. Composition of the earth: leaf - 1 part, peat - 1 part, turf - 1 part, sand - 1 part. In the phase of 1-2 pairs of leaves, the plants are planted in 7 cm pots, 1 copy each. The composition of the earth is the same. A month later they are transferred to 9-11 cm pots. The main care of plants consists in watering, keeping them in a lit place, since the intensity of coloring of the leaves largely depends on the lighting (sun rays). Young plants are pinched for branching purposes. After 5-6 months, the plants become significant for decorating rooms.

Cuttings of plants begin in February (cuttings until May). Cuttings are planted in distribution boxes or directly on the rack, in the sand. Rooting occurs within 8-12 days. Rooted cuttings are planted in 9 cm pots. The composition of the earth is the same as for picking. In order to obtain branched plants, pinch the top of the shoots. In the care of plants, watering, ventilation, temperature 16-18 ° C, light, if possible, moderately sunny, location are provided (with significant solar insolation, twisting of the edges of the plate and discoloration of the leaf color are observed; discoloration is observed at high temperatures at night and low during the day). Coleus are characterized by intensive growth - within 3 months they are branched plants with large leaves. Then transshipment is given in 11 cm pots.

Possible difficulties

The bottom of the stem is exposed- lack of lighting, untimely pinching, for adult plants this is a common occurrence.

Leaf color fading− insufficient lighting.

leaf fall- lack of moisture.

With a lack of heat and excessively dry air plants are susceptible to diseases.

With a sharp temperature fluctuation the plant may die.

Damaged

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Coleus is sometimes called the "poor man's croton" due to its similarity to the croton in brightness and color range. In terms of brilliance, it can even surpass croton, but it is not much cheaper. You can, of course, buy a ready-made plant, although the coleus is very easy to grow from cuttings or from seeds. He has another advantage: he is undemanding, not like the capricious Croton.

colues, Latin name Coleus, folk - nettle. Coleus is a genus of perennial evergreen plants of the mint family, uniting about 150 species of shrubs and herbs.

A plant from the mint family, native to tropical Africa and Asia. It is a bushy plant up to 35 cm tall with quadrangular juicy, almost transparent stems and velvety leaves with rich coloration and serrated edges. In most forms, the leaves are similar to nettles. The main attraction of the plant is the leaves, variegated, with a varied combination of red, yellow, green, brown, spots and stripes. Coleus blooms, throwing up a panicle with small nondescript flowers.

coleus care

Coleus are easy to grow, even beginner growers can do them, if you follow the simple rules of care.

Panicles with inconspicuous small purple or blue flowers appear in coleus under unsuitable conditions (too dense soil, lack of nutrients).

So that the coleus does not spend a lot of energy on its flowering, and the leaves are not crushed, the flower arrow must be removed after it appears.

To get a charming shrub with a lot of side shoots, pinch the top of the coleus for better branching.

Coleus - light-loving plant ; only with a certain amount of light is the bright coloring of the leaves and the splendor of the bush preserved.

With a lack of light, the foliage of the coleus turns pale, and the stems are drawn out, which reduces the decorative effect of these plants. Some types of coleus prefer bright light, but cannot tolerate sunlight - their foliage fades and droops from the sun's rays, and the plant becomes oppressed.

In summer, coleus need good watering, otherwise, with strong evaporation of moisture, the leaves fall and become flabby. Charming coleuses grow beautifully in the summer season on a glazed balcony, protected from the weather.

The best conditions for winter maintenance are: a bright, cool place (about 15 degrees), the absence of sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts, moderate watering. Coleus sensitive to cold in inappropriate conditions may not survive a harsh winter.

With too warm and dry content in winter, pests often attack plants. Due to the lack of light in winter, coleuses grow (stretch and fade), losing their former beauty, so they need rejuvenation and frequent transplantation.

With the advent of spring, coleus must be radically cut off and transplanted into light flower ground. Experts for coleus recommend the following composition of the substrate: leafy, soddy soil, sand and peat.

Coleus fertilize 2 times a month, alternating top dressing (mineral and organic).

coleus fertilizer

Coleus growing at home need weekly top dressing complex fertilizers in summer. In winter, the number of top dressings can be reduced to 2 times a month, while not forgetting to reduce the concentration of the nutrient solution by exactly half. Coleus are also periodically watered with nettle broth, which helps them grow more compactly without stretching.

This is interesting! The small white coleus flowers with a bluish tint are not at all decorative. And how to collect good seeds this plant at home is difficult, then they have no practical value. Experts advise cutting them off, as the coleus blooms to the detriment of its outrageous beauty. Flowers may appear from March to September.

pruning coleus

Coleus care would be incomplete without regular pruning. The procedure is carried out in several cases:

to stop growth - as soon as the plant reaches the optimum height, it is cut off, which stimulates the diligent growth of green mass;
to cause active tillering of shoots 2 to 3 weeks after picking;
to form a bush - the plant will take any shape, provided that its green mass is very lush;
in order to restore the decorative appearance in the spring - after wintering, the coleus is very elongated, because for a long time it did not receive sufficient light. Pruning is cardinal: only 2-3 buds are left on the trunk;
to get cuttings for planting coleus. To do this, you need to choose strong shoots located at the top of the bush.

The most famous types and varieties of plants

Charming coleus flowers are popularly called "poor man's croton". They themselves come from hot Africa and tropical forests of Asia. They are characterized by ribbed stems, woody at the very base, as well as very attractive heart-shaped, serrated, hairy leaves that look a bit like nettles. The color of the foliage of these plants is simply charming, it can combine shades of maroon, green, bright red and even yellow tones. Purple or blue coleus flowers are collected in small spike-shaped inflorescences. However, the cultivation of this plant is carried out solely because of the stunning decorative 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 may vary, depending on whether they are in the shade or in the sun.

Also quite famous Coleus Renelt, which originates from distant Sri Lanka. The leaves of the plant are placed on high cups, they are opposite, with wavy edges and multicolor veins.

The most popular varieties of coleus.

"Brilliant". Its representatives are characterized by lemon or red leaves.
Butterfly. The foliage of this variety has wavy edges.
Crimson Ruffles. A fairly large variety that has a raspberry-burgundy color.
Buttercup. These are tall plants with a pleasant white-green hue.
"Candida". The center of the leaf of such coleus is white, and the edge is pale green.
Golden Bedder. It is characterized by yellow monochromatic leaves.
Firebird. Very bright and beautiful variety with corrugated foliage.
Roseblush. Fairly lush variety. Its large corrugated leaves have a light green edge and a pale pink middle.
Sabre. Compact wheels. Their maximum height is only 20 cm.
Salmon Lace. The leaves of these plants have a green-yellow edge and a red middle.
Glory of Luxembourg. A very attractive variety. Coral touches are casually scattered on its yellow leaves.

Growing coleus from seed.

Indoor coleus, like garden coleus, is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Propagation of indoor coleus by seeds occurs in exactly the same way as garden coleus: seeds are sown, and when shoots appear, they are dived into cassettes, and during the second picking, the seedling is planted in a permanent pot. Everything is simple, and almost the same as with seed propagation of the garden coleus. And now we will tell you how to grow a coleus from a cutting.

Growing coleus from cuttings.

When you cut the coleus, you are left with cuttings that you can use for cuttings. The cutting should be about 10 cm long. It is necessary to remove the leaves from its lower part and stick it into wet soil or sand, cover it with polyethylene or plastic bottle and keep in the shade at a temperature of 18-20 ºC. Roots will appear in 8-10 days, and you can immediately transplant the cutting to permanent place. This type of breeding is as simple as it is reliable.

Coleus disease.

If you pinched or cut off a young plant at the wrong time, then its shoots can stretch out a lot. The same happens if your coleus is old or if the young plant is dark. If the light is too bright, then the color of the leaves turns pale, discolors. With insufficient watering, the plant loses leaves, with waterlogging, the leaves also fall off.

Of the pests, aphids, spider mites and whiteflies are dangerous for coleus. Aphids feed on plant sap, causing damaged leaves to turn yellow and shrink, and are a carrier of disease. It is easy to deal with it: you need to treat the ground parts of the indoor coleus with soapy water, and if some of the pests survive, then after a week the treatment must be repeated. Do not forget to cover the soil in the pot with a film before manipulation so that soap does not get into it. With garden coleus, this "detailed" method is too time-consuming, so insecticides will have to be used. Actellik and Fitoverm proved themselves well in the fight against aphids. Ticks cannot be taken with soap, so we recommend Oberon, Apollo, Agravertin or Akarin. The whitefly can be destroyed with the same drugs as aphids: Aktellik, Aktara, Oberon, etc.

But the use of insecticides does not add health to plants, so as a preventive measure, observe simple rules coleus care, and such troubles as diseases and pests will bypass you.

Note to florist

1. The main "highlight" of the coleus is the variegated coloring of its leaves. To indoor flower showed itself in all its glory, as neighbors for him it is worth choosing plants with a monophonic leaf color.
2. In the cold season, coleus is best kept on the windowsill in the kitchen.
3. A young coleus acquires a “presentable” appearance 5 months after planting - knowing this, you can easily determine the time for planting a plant for yourself.
4. The warmer the room where the coleus grows, the more abundant its watering should be.
5. If you forgot to water the flower and its leaves have lost their elasticity, the earth in the pot should be generously moistened and the flower should be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Coleus will soon come to life.

Growing coleus in open ground

Most often it can be found in houses and apartments planted in pots. However, this plant is suitable for outdoor cultivation. It does not require special care, but at the same time, in order to get viable strong plants, certain planting rules must be followed.

Siew

Currently, for sale you can find not only ordinary, wild varieties, but also hybrids in English and Dutch, which are characterized by a high degree of decorativeness. The purchased seeds are simply sown in the ground and will provide them with optimal care in the future - and your garden will be decorated with this extraordinary representative of the tropics.

Coleus seeds are sown as follows:

The best time to sow is March, although in some cases the seeds may be placed in the ground at different times of the year. However, in this case, for full growth, they will need additional lighting, which is difficult to place in an open field.
The soil on the site should be light, but fertile enough, so the bed must first be freed, if necessary, loosen and fertilize.
Seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil, sprinkled with a thin layer of sand and slightly moistened. It is recommended to arrange a shelter in advance, and if sowing takes place at home, before shoots appear, the containers must be transferred to a cool shade.

The first shoots appear in about a week. During this time, the shelter can be removed and the temperature of the natural spring will ensure vigorous plant growth. It is worth noting that the seeds are characterized by high germination, so the bed can be abundantly covered with young plants. If you want to create a beautiful flower arrangement based on this crop, then it is better to sow seeds in separate containers and grow seedlings at home, as well as plant seedlings in open ground.

seedlings

When young plants reach one month of age, they will have their first set of true leaves. This is a signal that each seedling should be placed in a separate container for further growth and establishment of a strong root system (Fig. 2).

The method of growing seedlings

Under such conditions, seedlings will quickly become stronger and form strong roots that will not be damaged after transplanting into open ground.

Before moving to an open area, this is necessary only after the culture is fully formed. To do this, at the age of 5-6 weeks, each sprout is transplanted into a large container and clamped to stimulate the development of side shoots.

Landing

Seedlings can be planted in open ground only after warm weather has stabilized, since this crop belongs to tropical species. The site is better to choose well-lit, but with a little shading in the middle of the day. It is also desirable that the garden bed be protected from strong winds and drafts.

Dig up required amount holes in the right place and fill them with light, moisture-permeable and breathable soil. The distance between plantings can be anything, since the plant grows well, is crowded and lonely.

Note: keep in mind that although coleus is a perennial plant, it is easier to grow as annual plant. The fact is that for the winter, in any case, the plant will have to be removed from the ground and moved home, and in the spring it will be planted again in the ground.

After planting and compacting the soil around the bushes, water the soil thoroughly. Then we'll see. What cultural features are required in the process of soil growth.

garden care

Coleus belongs to undemanding cultures, but still needs care. First of all, it concerns watering: the plant loves moisture, and during a drought Special attention watering should be given. For this purpose, it is recommended to use waste water or rain water. In addition, after each watering or rain, the soil around the bushes must be loosened so that moisture penetrates deep into the ground and does not find roots.

During active growth, nitrogen supplements should be used and light pruning should be carried out, which will stimulate the formation of lush shrubs. Since the flowers of the plant do not have a high decorative value, after the first formation of peduncles, they should be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste vitality on flowering.

Coleus in winter

Coleus cannot tolerate winter temperatures in temperate climates, so if you grow it in a garden, you will need to pot it up for the winter and take it home. The spring bush can be returned back to the flower bed.
. Main varieties: 1 - hybrid, 2 - Renelta, 3 - Blume

The Coleus room will also require special care in winter. First, reduce the frequency of watering because the plant does not need excessive moisture during its rest period. Secondly, it is advisable to move the pot to a cool place. Under such conditions, the culture will not only remain profitable, but will also begin to actively develop in the spring.

Types and varieties

There are several natural types of coleus, as well as hybrid varieties bred by breeders. Representatives of each species differ in certain characteristics (Fig. 5).

Popular Coleus species include:

Hybrid- most often grown indoors. Adults can reach a meter height, although in most cases the bushes are quite compact. The color of the leaves depends on the lighting and can be green in the shade or burgundy in the sun.
Coleus Renelta grown as an ornamental ampel culture. The shoots can reach a length of 50 cm, and the leaves are pleasing to the eye with multi-colored veins, from light green to purplish red.
Coleus Bloom- the most popular variety for growing at home, which includes many varieties. Depending on the variety, the leaves can be brown-purple, light green or red.

In the video you will find useful information and practical advice on planting, breeding and growing coleus.

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Coleus - evergreen shrub or annual herbaceous plant, which until recently was grown only as a houseplant. Coleus horticultural varieties have ornamental leaves in a variety of colors and shapes. you can often find bicolor plants. Flowers are collected in spike inflorescences and attract attention in various plantings. Let's take a closer look at this plant, the features of care and cultivation in the open field.

On the garden plot there are usually perennial varieties of coleus, which have the most power. For planting, it can be used as seeds and cuttings. However, it is worth remembering that each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Growing coleus from seeds will take longer and require some effort, but at the same time, this method is much cheaper. Using cuttings to get ornamental bushes is much easier., but the price of such planting material will be much higher.

Popular varieties of garden coleus

The blackThe Dragon ( dragon black)
Coleus Black Dragon (Dragon Black)

This unusual bush grows up to 80 centimeters in height. The leaves are of medium length, oblong in shape. The edges are large, rounded cuts. The middle of the sheet is pale pink, but the closer to the edge, the more intense the color becomes, causing it to turn into magenta ink. The spikelet inflorescence consists of small blue flowers.

Kong Mix Empire

Coleus of this variety grows up to 80 centimeters in height, and its crown can reach 55 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are large, with smooth cuts along the edges. The middle part of the leaf blade is crimson, and the edges are mostly green with fancy purple patterns;

Electric lime (electric lime)

This variety has an average size for its species group. The leaves are large, oblong, with smooth wavy edges. Due to the rich greenish-limey tint, they look very unusual in any garden composition. Also, such a shrub boasts that grows well in shade and will not fade in full sun.

Masterpastel ( pastel master)

Such a bush grows only up to 35 centimeters in height, so it is often used as a border. Variety not afraid of heat, lack of light and drought. Leaves of medium size and with beautiful carved edges often attract attention. Their central part is painted in a delicate pink, and then has a burgundy hue, which is surrounded by a thin green line.

jade wizard

This miniature shrub 30-35 cm high very often used for growing in pots, vases, hanging pots and as a border. The leaves are small, with wavy edges. Their interior is done in soft beige tones, and the edges are painted in a light green shade. The variety is not afraid of heat, but in the absence of sunlight, the leaves can turn completely green and lose their decorative effect.

Coleus born in the rainforests, the photo of which is presented below, fell in love with European flower growers with rich color of leaves. The decorativeness of the plant and unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention made it a welcome decoration in landscape design and in the interior of the apartment.

The rich color of the foliage combines green and various shades of red, sometimes with the addition of white blotches. Shrub height from 30 to 80 cm. Succulent stalk of coleus in cross section has a rectangular shape.

Toothed leaves are placed in pairs at each node, opposite each other. They look like nettle leaves so coleus is called "nettle". Blue flowers have a pleasant aroma and are collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence.

Growing coleus in open ground

Landscape designers were the first to appreciate the unpretentiousness of the beautiful shrub and began to use it in the floral design of the city. Breeders cultivated colorful varieties, and the seeds of new species appeared in specialized stores. Now even a novice gardener can decorate country cottage area this bright flower.

Coleus in landscape design photo:

Reproduction methods

seeds

To ensure the most comfortable conditions heat-loving flower must be grown by the method seedlings. Seeds are sown in containers with fertile soil, sprinkled with sand and rammed the top layer. The air temperature in the room should be +22 °C. Seedlings require regular soil moisture, and heavy watering should be avoided.

The seeds will germinate in two weeks. When should coleus dive into separate containers? After the appearance of the fourth leaf. For increase tillering, it is recommended to remove the upper part of the stem. Coleus picking can also be done in one box, but then the distance between the sprouts should be 15–20 cm.

cuttings

Cuttings are the easiest way to propagate plants. For cultivation in open ground, cuttings are harvested in early autumn. The length of the stem should be 10-15 cm.

For the formation of the root system, the lower part of the stem is first placed in a vessel with water. After ten days, the root processes will become strong, and they are placed in a separate pot with nutrient soil. Vegetative coleus is planted in June in a flower bed.

This video tells how to properly care for Coleus, how to fertilize, transplant and propagate.

Landing features

Coleus grows well in lit areas, but for some species, prolonged exposure to bright sunlight can be detrimental. on foliage. It is better to choose places for landing with scattered shadow. This will help preserve the beauty of the plant and avoid foliage burns.

Landing in open ground is carried out in the first decade of June and adhere to the following rules:

if the soil is dense, then it is lightened with sand;
the distance between plants should be 20–30 cm;
for guard root system from fungal diseases it is necessary to pour a fungicide solution into the well;
seedlings are planted by transshipment with the preservation of an earthen coma;
after watering, the planting should be mulched;
in the early days it is necessary to protect the plants from direct sunlight.

Important! Coleus beds should not be placed in low places. After the rains, water accumulates there for a long time, and this adversely affects the plants.

Care of seedlings and mature plants

Coleus is one of the most unpretentious tropical flowers, but some simple care rules will help to reveal it in all its glory:

Maintain soil moisture.
Weeding and removing weeds.
Regular loosening of the earth until the plants close together.
Pinching the top for lush bushiness.
Fertilizing.

Coleus need watering with settled water which heats up during the day in the sun. If the air temperature drops to +15 ° C, then water the plants less frequently, while preventing the soil from drying out.

Fertilizer

Nutrient soil should contain a high amount of nitrogen fertilizers. This will provide a bright and rich color to the leaves. First feeding carry out complex mineral fertilizer, for 10 liters of water take 25 grams of the mixture. In the second dressing, ash is used. To prepare the infusion, one glass of ash is added to a bucket of water, filtered and applied under the plant.

Remember! Watering the flower with a solution should be done carefully. Care must be taken to ensure that fertilizers do not fall on the leaves. .

pruning

When caring for coleus in the open field, you need to cut and pinch the stems. These procedures will provide bushy plant formation. It won't stretch up and will not lose the decorative foliage. During the season, side shoots can be cut if they destroy the correct lines of the bush or strongly compact it.

Popular varieties and types of coleus photo

The motley color of the flower prompted breeders to develop new varieties. Plants appeared with complex ornaments and attractive leaf color combinations. Description presented below:

Cantigny Royale

It has tiny leaves of an intense purple hue.

Tilt a Whirl

The twisted leaves of a round shape, with a fringe in the form of needles, look fantastic.

lemon chiffon

The peculiarity of the variety is the combination of pale greens with a bright shade of fuchsia in the middle of the leaf.

bonnie gold

It has yellowish foliage, which is framed by dark red braid.

Coleus Watermelon

Wavy leaves in color resemble a juicy watermelon. It is characterized by lush bushiness.

Coleus Solar flare

The green shade of the foliage "burns" with bright spots of purple framed by a yellowish mesh.

Coleus Stormy weather

Justifies its name with a riot of dazzling yellow, purple and bright green colors.

Coleus Fishnet stockings

This variety has voluminous oval-shaped leaves with dark purple veins.

Coleus Pele

Feature of the variety - light green leaves interspersed with burgundy. The edges are ruffled.

Coleus Henna

Green leaves with a golden coating on the reverse side are painted in wine color.

Coleus Gilda

Thin leaves have a purple middle, bordered pink with yellow trim around the edges.

Coleus Faust

Mainly used as a houseplant. Velvet leaves have a rich purple color.

The most widespread was the coleus of Blume. This species combined tall shrubs with large leaves. The plant reaches a height of 80 cm. The stem is ribbed. The leaves are shaped like an egg, with a pointed tip. Coleus Blume is preferably propagated by cuttings.

The miniature size of the shrub allows it to be used in the design of borders, grown in flowerpots and hanging planters. Height does not exceed 35 cm.

The variety is resistant to temporary drying of the soil. and is not subject to burns from prolonged exposure to the sun. In low light, it may lose red hues.

The variety is distinguished by lush bushiness. Plant height 25–30 cm. The leaf has arched contours and a convex shape. Intense dark red coloration (sometimes black) makes this variety the most decorative among coleus. Numerous signs and superstitions are associated with its gloominess.

Prefers diffused light, well-drained soil and regular top dressing.

Renelta

Ampel version of the plant with long, curly stems, reaching 50 cm in length. Grown mainly in hanging pots.

Frosted red leaves with pale green edging are heart-shaped and wavy the edges. The plant is characterized by pronounced purple veins on the leaves.

Home care

Fans of indoor plants have appreciated the brightness of the motley coleus. Easy to take care of not only for experienced florists, but also for beginner flower growers. The colorfulness of the foliage provides year-round decoration of the apartment.