Planting and caring for Coleus in the open field, description of varieties and reproduction
Knowing the peculiarities of planting and caring for Coleus in the open field, you can arrange a flower bed, terrace, garden paths. An unpretentious plant is known to many as an indoor flower. Its original leaves serve as an interior decoration. When grown in the garden, the decorative properties of the Coleus are preserved.
General description of the plant
Coleus growers are fondly called nettle. The leaf is shaped like a nettle. In nature, the plant is found in the tropics. There, Coleus is a perennial, herbaceous shrub. In our climate, it is grown as a home flower.
A harsh winter is not suitable for a tropical dweller. For the winter, it must be brought into the house. Coleus is appreciated and grown for the original, contrasting or bright monochrome color of velvety leaf plates. The drawing consists of many shades.
It is unrealistic to list the entire color palette:
- red-violet and white border;
- green with a copper tint;
- purple and white edging;
- light green with a yellow border.
The leaves are located oppositely on the shoots. They have an oblong, pointed-ovoid shape. The height of the coleus bushes depends on the variety. Dwarf varieties do not exceed 20 cm.Large species reach 60 cm.
The flowering of the plant is inconspicuous. The flowers are white, blue or purple. They are collected in inflorescences. After pollination, seeds are formed. They can be used for breeding.
Types and varieties of coleus
In the temperate climate of the middle zone, three types of nettles are grown - Renelta, Blume and a hybrid form. The varieties of the Blume variety are tall. The length of the ribbed tetrahedral stems is 80 cm. They are covered with large ovate-pointed leaves. The length of the leaf plates is about 15 cm.
The color palette of the Blume Coleus is wide. The drawings contain shades of black, pink, burgundy, purple, cream, dark red. Popular varieties:
- Saber. Coloring pink and cherry, height 15 cm.
- Wizard Scarlet. The leaves are red with a gold border.
- Wizard Pineapple. A mixture of shades of green and cherry.
Varieties of Coleus Renelt are used to decorate office premises, trading floors, and living quarters. Reneltianus superbus and Rineltianus are popular among flower growers. Hybrid forms of coleus are herbaceous plants with a height of 20-60 cm.
The leaves are beautiful, velvety, variegated. Their edges are curly, fringed, serrated, wavy. The highly branching variety Rose Blush looks favorably in garden design. It has corrugated, pale pink leaves with a light green border.
Many varieties are named for the color of the pattern of the leaf plates:
- Red (red-green);
- Green (creamy green);
- Golden Bedder (yellow).
Features of growing crops
Nettle loves sunlight. The decorativeness of a plant directly depends on the quality of lighting. In the shade, the color fades. In the open field, the culture is grown as an annual. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground in early June.
What time to plant
Seeds for seedlings are sown in spring at the beginning of March or at the end of April. During this period, the days are short. Coleus seedlings lack natural lighting. Phytolamps are used to extend daylight hours.
Preparation of planting material
The seed of the coleus is very small. This creates certain difficulties. For better germination, they are treated with preparations:
- suspension of "Chlorella";
- microbiological fertilizer "Baikal EM 1".
Nettle shoots appear in a week. Seeds are sown in 2 pieces. in a glass. The substrate is taken from a store (universal flower soil) or prepared by hand:
- garden land - 1 h;
- peat or coconut - 1 hour;
- biohumus - 1 hour;
- river sand - 1 tsp;
Drainage is poured into the bottom of the glass (technological pot). They take small expanded clay, crushed stone or shells from walnuts.
How to plant correctly
The seeds are small, so they are sown superficially, not buried. The soil is moistened, compacted a little. The seeds are laid out with a toothpick. Maintain a distance of 5 cm between them. You can lightly sprinkle nettle seeds with river sand. The surface must be moistened with a fine sprayer. Before the emergence of seedlings, glasses with seedlings are placed in a greenhouse. They are placed on a pallet and placed in a large transparent bag.
Pre-emergence care consists of simple operations:
- airing the greenhouse;
- moistening the soil from a spray bottle;
- maintaining the air temperature 23-25 ° C.
At the age of 1.5 months, they are transplanted into larger pots. By this time, seedlings have 2-3 true leaves. The pick is carried out carefully so as not to damage the thin roots.
Seedlings can be transplanted into the ground at the age of 2 months. They should have 8-10 leaves by this time. The height of seedlings ready for transplantation is 12-15 cm. It is prepared for a week for outdoor conditions.
For hardening, seedlings are taken out to the balcony for a week or kept in a greenhouse. Nettle is planted in openwork partial shade. In the scorching sun, the color loses its rich color. The decorative properties of the Coleus are reduced.
Coleus care tips
All growers note that growing Coleus in the garden is not a burdensome occupation. Taking care of a flower is simple, little time is spent. Nettle bushes are planted in 20 cm increments. Humus and a little sand are added to the soil.
How to water properly
During cold snaps, watering is limited. In the heat, the bushes are irrigated more often. The sprinkling method is used. Sprinkle the nettle over the leaf. The soil in the flower bed should always be moist. The water is used warm (20-25 ° C), settled.
How to feed
Top dressing benefits the plant. The first time the fertilizer is applied 14 days after picking the seedlings. Water at the root with a solution of complex fertilizer for decorative deciduous crops.
During the summer, a flower bed with coleus is fed with potash fertilizers:
- water - 1 l;
- potassium nitrate - 0.5 g.
Fertilizers containing potassium, Coleus can be fed every week. The culture responds well to the introduction of organic liquid mixtures. Gardeners insist on grass, mullein. The concentrated "brew" is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Fertilize nettle after scheduled watering.
Pruning plants and shaping
The growing shoots of an adult Coleus lose their decorative effect. Dried leaves worsen the appearance. If your seeds are not needed, then the inflorescences are cut off without waiting for pollination.For plants wintering in an apartment, rejuvenating pruning is carried out in the spring.
The stems are shortened by 5-7 cm. This stimulates the growth of lateral shoots. The bushes become fluffy again, covered with young brightly colored leaves. The cut tops are rooted in water or in a fertile substrate. Standing in water, they retain their decorative effect for a long time. How to properly graft and root is described below.
Protection from diseases and pests
The plant is not afraid of diseases. The culture is characterized by stable immunity. Coleus must be protected from pests. A spider mite can attack it. Young bushes often suffer from aphids and whiteflies.
For pests, flower beds are treated with insecticides:
- "Extra";
- "Appolo";
- "Confidor".
Whitefly larvae are fought with folk methods. The leaves are washed with a concentrated solution of tar soap:
- water - 6 parts;
- grated soap - 1 part.
After watering, the soil in the flowerbed is sprinkled with ash. It repels pests, serves as a top dressing.
Breeding methods
The operation of reproduction of Coleus by cuttings is very simple. It does not require skills and special tools. In an adult plant, the top of the head 10-15 cm long is cut off with scissors or a sharp knife, this is the process of grafting. An apical cutting is obtained, ready for rooting.
Houseplants can reproduce by cuttings all year round. With the onset of autumn, garden coleus are transplanted into pots and brought in for the winter in a heated greenhouse, loggia or apartment. To decorate the backyard, Coleus vegetative propagation is carried out in March.
Experienced gardeners prefer to root their heads in water. A purchased root growth stimulator (Kornevin, Chlorella suspension) is added to it. Some growers speed up rooting with raw yeast (100g / l). The stalk is placed in yeast water for a day.
Roots appear quickly. Within a week, the lower part of the stem is covered with strong white roots. For further rooting, cuttings are planted in pots filled with a mixture of garden soil, sand and humus. In June, Coleus can be planted in a flower bed.
Coleus in landscape design
The French were the first to appreciate the charm of Coleus. They actively used the plant when creating garden compositions. The flower was appreciated by Russian masters of landscape design. The culture is used in combination with lilies, cannes, roses, and other flowers.
Dwarf species of nettles are planted on flower beds. Bushes Fiberb, Kolos Nana do not exceed 30 cm. Their brightly colored leaves fill the space between the flowers with companions. The main goal of a landscape designer is to choose the right Coleus companions.
Burgundy tall roses look good against a background of light green foliage with a golden border. Varieties of nettle with bright leaves are harmoniously combined in composition with monochromatic decorative crops:
- cineraria;
- sage;
- gray fescue.
Multi-colored ampelous and undersized varieties are planted in beautiful flowerpots. They decorate secluded corners of the garden, terraces, patios. Coleus looks harmoniously in the landscape of any garden. Its beauty is that it is decorative throughout the summer. With the help of different varieties of Coleus, gardeners create colorful compositions resembling an oriental carpet in patterns.
