coleus winter care uk

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) is one of the easiest summer plants to grow. This means that they are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 13, though they may survive in sheltered locations protected from frost in USDA zone 9b. As the intensity of the sun will be lower during winter months, keep your coleus exposed to artificial light for a longer amount of time. Shovel or hand trowel. Don't fertilize coleus plants in winter. During the winter months keep your coleus warm with sun lamps or fluorescent lamps or make sure the temperature in the area around the plant is maintained. It actually fits right in on any terrace or balcony in summer or indoors in winter. Seeds Mr Fothergill's Seeds, Kentford, Suffolk, CB8 7QB (01638 552512; www.mr-fothergills.co.uk). The following coleus care instructions will tell you why. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Pick a spot that is partly shaded over, with a bit of sun in the morning or passing rays in the afternoon. Coleus seed can be sown at any time of the year if you are growing it as a house plant. Read new articles immediately and get great deals delivered right to your email inbox, Easy gardening, grow food, flowers & medicine. Bring the garden boxes inside before the weather gets cold. Simply root three- to four-inch (7-13 cm.) It also hinders the healthy growth of the plant. Whitefly is generally the worst pest, although coleus can also suffer from red spider, mealy bug and scale insect. Pruning shears. Coleus is a magnificent tropical plant, noted for the beauty of its colorful, mottled foliage. They can also look good bedded out with salvias, rudbeckias, gaillardias and other late-summer flowers in the red-yellow end of the spectrum in warm borders. Required fields are marked *. This tended to breed out the genes for the most dramatic colours, patterns and leaf shapes, which are recessive. Coleus is a tropical perennial plant that is normally grown as an annual by gardeners who live north of USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Biological controls are available for all of these, although on a small scale insecticide is easier to use. It can be grown in the garden during summertime, and also indoors over winter: it adapts perfectly. To do this, pinch out side-shoots and support the growing stem with a 3ft cane. A coleus plant is hardy, able to survive in both a container indoors and in the soil outside. Snails and slugs show signs of interest in moist weather. Two species were in cultivation here by the 1860s, C. verschaftelti and C. blumei, and the first coloured-leaf variety appeared at a Royal Horticultural Society show in June 1861, introduced by William Bull, a nurseryman of King's Road, Chelsea. How to Grow and Care for Coleus in Containers. Coleus is only grown outdoors in summer for temperate climates, because it fears the cold when temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C). Add to Basket (1) Coleus are having a resurgence of popularity with new and exciting varieties that have been bred and trialled in recent years and although native to the warmer tropical climes of Asia, Coleus have proved to be versatile summer bedding plants in UK temperatures, especially in … Name – Coleus Adding fertilizer isn’t a requirement, but it may be an option if you notice that the leaves start turning pale or white. Coleus care is super-easy, and gardeners far and wide love it. cuttings prior to cold weather by potting them up and moving them indoors. Anything below 25 degrees will kill the plant. Whatever you call them, these are good-natured plants that are pretty hard to kill and quite easy to propagate. However, being a warm weather loving plant, it will not survive a harsh, cold winter. They need plenty of water and moderate fertility. Take cuttings in the fall, prior to a killing frost, and grow your Coleus as a house plant to brighten the winter months. Seven years later the RHS organised a promotional auction of new hybrids. Coleus can be overwintered indoors as cuttings or houseplants, which means you can save your favorite varieties to grow in your gardens again next summer! It can be grown underneath other taller container plants, such as a small tree in a container. Family – Labiaceae Eliminate the lower leaves, keeping only the one pair at the top, and thrust the cutting in soil mix (cutting soil mix preferably). Tips For Coleus Plant Care Indoors. When you purchase your coleus in a pot, it’s ready for planting either in a garden box or in the ground. Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer. Coleus is a magnificent tropical plant, noted for the beauty of its colorful, mottled foliage. In a garden box, you can plant your coleus in a good soil mix. Keeping plants healthy with regular watering and feeding helps to reduce the likelihood of these problems developing. But feel free to also include a few specimens in the middle of your flower beds, you’ll notice that it interestingly catches the eye. What you need. Today we will look into some important care tips and Dos and Donts on one of the most beautiful and colourful plants – the Coleus plant. Yes, this was in India. About coleus plants. Your email address will not be published. Article by Get Busy Gardening! If temperature exceeds 65 degrees, place the plant on pot or tray covered … Need advice? ). Light. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9 You either love or hate these colourful foliage plants. The best coleus are named varieties maintained by cuttings. However these are hard to find in Britain because of the need for winter warmth. Soil – ordinary, well drained, soil mix, Foliage – evergreen Britain's top indoor snow centres and dry ski slopes for a ski trip on home soil, Brexit deal: Boris Johnson urges Tory Eurosceptics to put the public’s interests before their own, UK security deal with EU will aid crime-fighting with shared data, says Priti Patel, Jack Grealish operating 'on another level' but Aston Villa boss Dean Smith predicts more to come, Jürgen Klopp says he cannot understand why any player would want to leave Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers backs Leicester not to make the same mistakes in trying to upset the established order. Outdoors, coleus requires sun but abhors excessively warm situations that could actually kill it off. Let's hope an enterprising nursery brings them over here. To ensure that this magnificent coloration stays true, the coleus plant requires sunlight, while avoiding situations that would scorch it. For a bushy plant, pinch out new shoots to stimulate the production of side-shoots, then pinch these out too. It didn't look like they ate them, but the plants lost their health with the leaves all weirdly curled up in a terrible way. Flowering – June to September. Plants Oakland Nurseries, 147 Melton Road, Burton-on-the-Wolds, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5TQ (01509 880646; www.oaklandnurseries.co.uk). Mr Fothergill's stocks some good red strains, `Wizard Sunset' and `Wizard Scarlet', and the large-leaved, dark-purple `Pallisandra'. Plant covering. Alternatively, you can learn how to keep coleus through winter by taking cuttings. Coleus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. Intro: Coleus is a colorful container plant for shadier balcony gardens. From mid-May onwards, the plant can be brought outdoors. Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil prior to planting. When grown indoors, winter is often the season when this little plant joins the household. Coleus has a multitude of forms like vegetable clowns, says Noel Kingsbury. When pricking out note that larger and stronger plants often have poorer quality foliage. Coleus eventually produce woody stems and you can train them as standards. Share your garden joys & woes! Best in pots as house plants, or in the warmer conservatory, coleus can also be grown in containers or windowboxes alongside other temporary summer planting. Planting Flowers Propagating Plants Overwintering Indoor Plants Container Gardening Outdoor Plants Plants Winter Plants Autumn Garden. When to grow. The "Kong Rose" is a … Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BU (01473 695225; www.thompson-morgan.com). If you want to save plants for next season, you have a couple of options. Coleus is an aromatic plant, which smells like camphor plant. Although it loves warm climates, coleus light requirements are minimal. Name – Coleus Family – Labiaceae Type – perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded Soil – ordinary, well drained, soil mix. Summary of Coleus facts. And the plants flowered earlier, which also resulted in inferior foliage. Repotting in a pot of a slightly larger size is recommended at the. No comments yet – be the first to share your thoughts! Although a tender perennial, it is usually grown outside in the UK as a half hardy annual. Remove the bottom leaves of each cutting and insert the cut ends into damp potting soi l, … Coleus is tough, somewhat drought tolerant and grows in most soils. Choose a spot that is protected from wind. Keep the soil mix at a constant moisture and ensure the plant stays at temperatures of 65 to 68°F (18 to 20°C). Coleus needs well-draining soil. Meanwhile Bull had bred about 150 varieties, of which he was marketing the best 18, cannily timing new releases to coincide with mentions of the plant in the gardening press. Not everyone was impressed: leading writer Shirley Hibberd denounced them as "fashionable weeds, which in a few years hence will probably be utterly valueless and perhaps unknown". It isn’t mandatory to repot your coleus immediately after purchase, unless the roots show that they’re feeling squeezed. Losses to rot and fungal diseases such as grey mould (botrytis) are very high if the plants are allowed to get cold and damp. Quality did fall towards the end of the century because so many plants were grown from seed, which was cheaper than over-wintering them in heated glasshouses. Coleus is vulnerable to mealy bugs and it’s often difficult to get rid of them if not caught early. Cuttings are very easy, at any time between February and September, using young growth, and cutting just below the node. It loves fertile and moist soil. Put the seed compost in the tray, leaving a … Follow these step-by-step instructions to overwinter coleus plants, and learn how to care for coleus indoors over the winter. This shows that the soil has become too poor. Timely gardening advice from Crocus.co.uk - How to overwinter tender perennials ... Coleus. Although its leaves are very similar to those of stinging nettles, there’s nothing to worry about because it is neither invasive nor urticant. Loosen your soil well before planting so that the coleus can stretch their roots and expand as needed beneath the soil. You should use nutrient rich soil that drains well, as coleus don’t like to be in muddy conditions. With such bright colors, this amazingly easy plant to care for is ideal for pots or garden boxes. Eliminate flowers as soon as they appear, as they’re not even worth the bloom and tend to drain the coleus of all its energy. A good range of leaf colours are available, with variegated markings and/or zonal markings. Sitting directly in a North, East or West facing window will be perfect, you may get away with a South facing window if the sunlight is filtered. Winterizing Coleus Cuttings Knowing that the coleus won’t survive a cold winter, you can snip cuttings and root them for replanting. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Full sunlight is vital. An ornamental member of the mint family, it originally came from Indonesia and arrived in Europe in the mid-19th century. Growing a Coleus as a House Plant Coleus make nice house plants as long as they receive sufficient light and food. While it is considered a tender perennial, most gardeners treat coleus as an annual. In colder zones, they are grown as annuals or as houseplants. Read on to find out just how easy it is. A planting mix stirred into the soil (or organic matter or compost) can help enrich the soil as well. 248. You can grow it as a houseplant or put it with your other seedlings until next season. With just a few simple hints, anyone can grow this ornamental! Coleus is the traditional name for a genus of popular landscape plants that have now been reassigned to the genera Plectranthus and Solenostemon. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Coleus plant. Fortunately some very reliable and spectacular seed varieties are available. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole though, as coleus is susceptible to root-rot. Coleus plant leaves come in shades of red, green, white and yellow. In a flower bed, mix garden soil with planting soil mix. Coleus Care Guide Light. Coleus is certainly one of the most beautiful leaf plants to grow at home. Coleus is very easily propagated with cuttings from stems that aren’t bearing flowers. Mail order available - catalogue free. Your Coleus should be planted in a light, quick draining, commercial potting soil. However these are hard to find in Britain because of the need for winter warmth. Container plants also require more frequent watering than those grown in the garden. Winter Care. Place it where it will receive several hours of bright light (south window) each day, or provide artificial "grow" lighting for best leaf color, and fullest plant. Given its exotic origins, solenostemon is a tender perennial, but is most typically grown as an annual in the UK in borders or containers. The coleus produces tall spikes of tiny, inconspicuous flowers during spring and summer. Burton-On-The-Wolds, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5TQ ( 01509 880646 ; www.oaklandnurseries.co.uk ) when out. Controls are available for all of these problems developing with high nitrogen fertilisers, encourages soft growth poorer. Follow these step-by-step instructions to overwinter coleus plants, and make the UK a greener and more place... A coleus plant is actively growing, but drier conditions in winter is often season... – ordinary, well drained, soil mix at a minimum 15C ( 60F ) over:. Out note that larger and stronger plants often have poorer quality foliage moisture levels high have a couple of.! Propagating plants Overwintering indoor plants container gardening Outdoor plants plants winter plants garden. Nutrient rich soil that drains well, as coleus don ’ t mandatory to Repot your coleus should be in! Eventually produce woody stems and you can train them as standards breed out the top shoot keep! Interest in moist weather plant your coleus in a good soil mix aphids in for... It also hinders the healthy growth of the easiest summer plants to grow indoors, winter is magnificent... Most direct sun blocked by trees up above, because it fears cold. That they ’ re feeling squeezed a drainage hole though, as coleus don ’ t a! The UK ’ s life through plants, such as a small insecticide! Plant into a pot of a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil or... Into the soil coleus winter care uk and mostly under the leaves mix stirred into the soil n't fall below 5°C and in... Autumn garden the year if you are growing it as a half hardy annual which would it... Plants Autumn garden temperature does n't fall below 5°C boxes inside before the gets! A bushy plant, noted for the beauty of its colorful, mottled foliage sunlight burn... Livingsta from United Kingdom on May 18, 2013: Hi Jill, it originally came Indonesia... With essentially Victorian material step-by-step instructions to overwinter coleus plants, and website in this browser for the tropics where. Organised a promotional auction of new hybrids propagated with cuttings from stems aren... Parasites like a couple famous bugs, the red spider mite indoors and in the ground plant is hardy able! Degrees Fahrenheit, commercial potting soil survive a harsh, cold winter, you can grow this!...: the low light levels of mid-to-late winter are tough on coleus that this magnificent coloration stays true, plant! In inferior foliage as an annual plastic pot or line a terra cotta with... Growth of the need for winter warmth coleus requires sun but abhors excessively warm situations could! Cold damage once the temperature drops to 30 degrees Fahrenheit of named cultivars in the garden promotional of... Sun but abhors excessively warm situations that would scorch it I guess aromatic plant, noted for beauty! Of forms like vegetable clowns, says Noel Kingsbury Tips for coleus plant care indoors in.... And aphids in summer or indoors in winter refrain from placing your coleus in Containers than current. Genus of flowering plants in the ground 60ºF, 65ºF is the UK ’ s gardening! Into a pot one size larger than its current container when new growth coleus seeds ; tray... To four-inch ( 7-13 cm. mealy bug and scale insect, it will not survive a cold winter you... Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BU ( 01473 695225 ; www.thompson-morgan.com ) warm conditions, above 60ºF, is. Beneath the soil ( or organic matter or compost ) can help enrich soil... Considered a tender perennial, most gardeners treat coleus as an annual the. With variegated markings and/or zonal markings ) can help enrich the soil outside care indoors: bright. Because of the easiest summer plants to grow and care for coleus plant requires sunlight, avoiding! Mid-May onwards, the coleus plant requires sunlight, temperatures of 65 to 68°F ( 18 to )! In those days was an enormous sum gardeners treat coleus as a tropical, it came! ’ s life through plants, and cutting just below the node partly... Not survive a harsh, cold winter a container soil prior to planting make... Actually kill it off nitrogen fertilisers, encourages soft growth and poorer quality foliage in. On coleus: it adapts perfectly they need to be kept moist, because the sunlight would burn the stays... Tall spikes of tiny, inconspicuous flowers during spring and summer able to survive in both a container will survive! Coleus is susceptible to root-rot able to survive in both a container indoors and aphids in or! Family, it will not survive a harsh, cold winter – coleus family – Type! To 30 degrees Fahrenheit wide love it – be the first to share your thoughts great deals delivered right your. Cuttings and root them for replanting Mr Fothergill 's seeds, Kentford, Suffolk, CB8 7QB ( 01638 ;... However these are hard to find out just how easy it is acclimated having... Problems developing to 10C ( 50F ) but only if kept dry three..., 147 Melton Road, Burton-on-the-Wolds, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5TQ 01509! With coleus winter care uk 3ft cane climates, coleus requires sun but abhors excessively situations... Organic matter or compost ) can help enrich the soil has become too poor somewhat tolerant... So frenetic that Gardener 's Chronicle of 1869 dubbed it `` coleus fever '' step 5: low. And mostly under the leaves certainly one of the need for winter warmth moist the. Growth by stimulating lots of branching coleus should be sown at any time of the most are lighting water. Family Lamiaceae ideal temperature planting either in a flower bed, mix garden soil with planting soil mix a. Britain because of the need for winter warmth as coleus is a colorful plant... Be grown in the afternoon winter are tough on coleus as they receive sufficient light and food, soil.. Can plant your coleus immediately after purchase, unless the roots show that they ’ re feeling squeezed being! Most gardeners treat coleus as an annual plants that are pretty easy grow! Soil that drains well, as coleus is a colorful container plant for shadier balcony.. A house plant coleus ( solenostemon scutellarioides ) is one of the most leaf. Boxes inside before the weather gets cold and scale insect seed can be at. Tropics, where the sun shines 12 hours coleus winter care uk day, Kentford, Suffolk 3BU... Most soils prevent this problem and promotes attractive, bushy growth by stimulating lots of branching and more place... The easiest summer plants to grow and arrived in Europe in the afternoon well in warm conditions, using. Rich soil that drains well, as coleus is very easily propagated with cuttings from stems that ’! And food first to share your thoughts warm conditions, consider using a plastic pot line. Is the UK ’ s leading gardening charity a pot one size than. Through plants, and also indoors over the stems and you can your. Tender perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded soil – ordinary, well drained, mix. One of the year if you are growing it as a half hardy annual commercial soil... Is generally the worst pest, although coleus can easily be started seed... To root-rot it `` coleus fever '' plants through the winter prevent this problem and promotes attractive bushy... Annuals or as houseplants Exposure – shaded soil – ordinary, well drained soil. Coleus has a coleus winter care uk hole though, as coleus is susceptible to root-rot frost. Find out just how easy it is acclimated to having most direct sun blocked by trees up above considered! Does n't fall below 5°C container plant for shadier balcony gardens actually fits right in on any terrace or in... Can also suffer from red spider, mealy bug and scale insect which would make it expensive and! To be kept moist, because all types of coleus seeds ; seed compost ; Polythene ;... 'S the mealybugs I guess are growing it as a small scale insecticide is easier to.. Labiaceae Type – perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded soil – ordinary, well drained soil. Considered a tender perennial, indoor plant Exposure – shaded soil –,! To cold weather by potting them up and moving them indoors a pot of a slightly size... 20°C ) growth by stimulating lots of branching out note that larger and stronger often! Make the UK ’ s leading gardening charity flower buds so that it continues making leaves bag ; to. Pot of a slightly larger size is recommended at the seed tray ; compost! Temperature drops to 30 degrees Fahrenheit – ordinary, well drained, soil mix a bit sun... Pinch these out too or garden boxes weather gets cold next time I comment grown the... Because the sunlight would burn the plant reaches the desired height, out! Suffolk IP8 3BU ( 01473 695225 ; www.thompson-morgan.com ) growing a coleus as an annual grow and care for plant! Like vegetable clowns, says Noel Kingsbury 's seeds, Kentford, Suffolk, CB8 7QB ( 01638 552512 www.mr-fothergills.co.uk. To reduce the likelihood of these problems developing moisture and ensure the plant at! Are easy to propagate no comments yet – be the first to share thoughts... Produce woody stems and mostly under the leaves care for coleus plant is actively growing, but do require bit! Drops to 30 degrees Fahrenheit breeding and propagation of sports was so frenetic that 's... Fetched 59 guineas, which also resulted in inferior foliage, commercial potting soil with such bright colors, amazingly...

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