Coleus, or as it is popularly called, nettle, naturally grows in the forests of Africa and Asia. The flower got its popular name because of its similarity to nettle, their leaves have characteristic denticles. The plant gained popularity due to its unusual color. The leaves of the flower have red, raspberry and pink hues, and also have a beautiful pattern.
Coleus: planting and care at home
Coleus houseplant is not picky in care, so it is suitable even for beginners. If you take care of it like the rest of the home flora, then the flowers will not appear, the plant will increase leaf mass. The lack of water causes the coleus to throw out a peduncle, which drains it, so it is immediately cut off so that the flower grows healthy.
What does a coleus look like?
Coleus Dragon can be grown in any way. He feels good in a pot, on a balcony and in the open ground in a flower bed. The main thing is to adhere to the basic agricultural rules for watering, lighting, spraying, and also to observe the temperature regime.
For your information! The coleus inflorescence resembles a spikelet of plantain. The plant appears small blue or white flowers, which are difficult to call beautiful.
Temperature
The optimum air temperature is 18-25 ° C. In winter, due to a small daylight hours, it can be reduced to 15 ° C, but not lower, otherwise the plant will drop its leaves.
Lighting
The flower is a photophilous plant. With good lighting, his color becomes brighter and more beautiful. However, the black coleus is not worth keeping in the sun, it can die.
Note! In summer it is better to take it outside, if this is not possible, then a balcony is also suitable for a flower.
Watering
It is necessary to water the coleus indoor flower with filtered, settled water, if it is possible to use rainwater, then this will only benefit the plant.
From spring to autumn, the flower is watered when the soil dries. In winter, watering is significantly reduced. It all depends on what temperature is in the room. The main thing is to prevent drying of the soil.
Important! If the coleus lacks moisture, then this will affect its appearance: the leaves of the plant will become sluggish. However, it is not worth overdoing it with watering, due to excessive moisture, the roots can rot, since water will block air access to them.
Spraying
Tropical nettle spraying procedure is very pleasant. For such purposes, soft water at room temperature is most suitable.
Humidity
Coleus loves a humid climate, so the kitchen will be the most suitable place for him. It is always warm and humid.
Priming
Although tropical nettles are not picky, it’s better to prepare the soil for it yourself. To do this, take in equal quantities sheet and sod land, peat, sand.
Planting in the ground
Top dressing
Fertilize the flower in spring and summer. Top dressing should contain nitrogen. In winter, fertilizers are not applied. Organic and mineral dressings are suitable for nettle, but it is better to use potash with a calculation of 0.5 g per 1 liter of water. They are made once a week.
Winter Care Features
Coleus is mainly grown as an annual, but perennials are often found. When preparing a flower for winter, it is reduced watering. However, care must be taken that the earth does not dry out. Top dressing in the winter is stopped and the temperature is provided no more than 18 ° C.
Coleus pruning
Pruning of these plants is carried out for different purposes and at different times of the year:
- when the nettle reaches the required size in height, then it is cut off so that the room coleus begins to build up green mass;
- three weeks after a dive for the purpose of good tillering;
- pruning can be done to give shape, but this is done when the plant has become lush;
- in spring, the flower needs seasonal pruning. After winter, the plant looks completely unattractive, so you need to cut it as much as possible, leaving only 3-4 buds;
- for cuttings you need to cut off the old shoots that are located closer to the top.
Note! The first time pinching is carried out when the flower reaches a height of 4 cm. During this period, the top and young shoots of the plant are cut.
Coleus breeding
The plant reproduces very easily. Two methods are suitable for this: by seeds and rooting by cuttings.
Seed germination
Coleus seeds are very small, 1 g of them contains 3500 pcs. They are sown in a container and sprinkled with sand on top. Sowing takes place from February to April. The room should be kept at a temperature of about 20-22 ° C. Shoots appear after 2-2.5 weeks.
Seed cultivation
When the flowers grow up, they are planted in containers at a distance of 2 cm from each other. If two leaves appear at the coleus, it can be transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm. After another month, the sprouts are planted in a container with a diameter of 11 cm.
Seeds can also be grown in peat tablets. To do this, follow the step-by-step scheme:
- Before sowing, the tablets are abundantly watered so that the peat is very swollen and increased in volume.
- It is necessary to eliminate excess fluid.
- Having spread the seeds on the ground, they are pressed a little into peat.
- Tanks with plants are installed on pallets and covered with a film.
In order not to overdo it with watering, it is better to add moisture to the pan or spray the pots with an interval of 3-4 days.
Rooting cuttings
Roots need to be rooted from February to May. They are planted in sand trays. After 8-12 days, roots appear. Rooted seedlings are transplanted into the ground. The diameter of the pot should be at least 9 cm. The sand is changed to the soil familiar to these flowers. For the handle, the optimum temperature regime is 180-20 ° C, it also needs regular watering and good lighting. If the seedling does not have enough light, then its leaves will curl or become light.
Then the flower intensively develops for three months, and then it is transplanted into a container whose diameter is 11 cm.
Note! Also, the coleus stalk can be put in water and wait until it has roots.
Scion with root
Coleus transplant
If coleus is grown as an annual plant, then it does not need a transplant. Otherwise, this must be done every 2 or 3 years. A transplant is also needed if the flower pot has become too small.
Before you remove the flower from the container, you need to water it well, and then carefully pull and shake off all the old earth from the roots.
There are many varieties of coleus, so choosing your favorites will not be so easy. However, any of them will be an excellent decoration of the garden or home.
