Coleus is a bright, spectacular, but very unpretentious plant. It is successfully grown both indoors and in the garden. In open ground, coleus is often used for landscaping balconies and loggias, to create borders and picturesque flower beds. He feels great in containers, flowerpots, pots and planters. Coleus from seeds is a perennial plant, but after a year and a half its stems are strongly stretched and exposed, especially with a lack of light, and the bush loses its decorative effect. Therefore, coleus is often grown as an annual. New he althy plants come from cuttings, not just seeds.
Seedling growing
For sowing take low boxes. They are filled with a light nutrient substrate, which is prepared from turf and leafy soil. To improve the physical properties, sand and peat are added to the mixture. In early March, small seeds are carefully laid out on the surface of the soil, pressed in and lightly sprinkled with sand. Water the crops very carefully. If waterlogged, fungal diseases can appear that will ruin your just sowncoleus. Growing from seeds should be done carefully enough. The boxes are then covered with glass. The air temperature in the room is maintained within 20-25°C. After one and a half to two weeks, friendly shoots appear. After that, the boxes are transferred to a cooler, well-lit room. This must be done, because with a lack of light, the plants are very stretched and sick. As mentioned earlier, coleus is a whimsical flower, growing from seed can be a lot of work, but it's worth it.
Transfer
Coleus easily bears it. Seedlings dive after real leaves with a clearly visible pattern appear. In addition, each plant is planted in a separate pot. When the coleus, which was grown from seeds, is strong enough, its formation begins. To do this, pinch the tops of the shoots at a height of 10 cm. Such an operation causes the growth of lateral branches. They are pinched too. Thus, by the beginning of summer, compact bushes with bright leaves are formed. In order for the seedlings to be strong and he althy, you need to provide it with good lighting. The light should be bright but diffused. With the onset of warm weather, the plants are hardened. To do this, they take them out to the balcony or terrace, gradually accustom them to fresh air and sunlight.
Coleus. Growing from seed on site
But in the summer, under the hot midday sun, its leaves become faded. Sometimes plants burn badly. Therefore, in the gardenin the plot, the coleus is placed in partial shade, planted according to the scheme 20 × 30 cm. And when grown in a room, pots with plants are kept on the east or west windows. Coleus is picky about soil moisture. Especially in the summer, watering should be regular. With a lack of moisture, the leaves wilt and fall off. Plants are fed up to three times a month. Until mid-June, nitrogen is used, and then complex fertilizers with trace elements are used. This unpretentious plant with colorful leaves, even with minimal care, will decorate the garden from early summer until frost.
Here's how you can breed coleus at home or in the country. Growing it initially, although problematic, is worthwhile. See for yourself!
