If you adore foliage color, then coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) will be your best bet. With their serrated leaf edges, bold multiple colors, and hairy, ovate leaves, Coleus are a plant collector’s treasure. They originate from tropical Africa and Asian forests.
Why are coleus so popular
Variety
Coleus is popular due to the variety in which they come. No matter what you just can’t have enough of their arresting leaf colors. The colors can be copper, bright yellow or green, red, multicolored, patterned or wavy margins. Different sizes and shapes. Certainly, very cheerful colors. Most coleus have weak stems, which makes them adaptable to hanging baskets too.
Ease of growing And then there is the ease of growing and faster growth. All you need is a light soil mix. You dip in a few cuttings or twigs and you can be sure in a fortnight or so, your coleus pieces will be showing signs of life-unlike many other plant cuttings. Actually coleus does have flowers which occur in blue, white, and purple flowers. But the colouration of their foliage is what steals the show-and makes the plant to stand out.
How to use coleus in the garden
Coleuses are good bedding plants in the garden. If you live in warmer areas you should use them as bedding plants in shady locations. In other climates use them for summer bedding.
Ideally you can plant them in pots as they make for an awfully crazy color combinations in a pot. Plant coleus in large pots to allow for eventual growth.
How to Grow Coleus
Grow coleus in moist but well drained humus rich soil. They are bushy, erect perennials and will require removing of bare shoots to encourage bush compact growth. Plant your coleus in a bright spot that is not under direct sun. Intense heat will burn the soft leaves. Neither should you plant them in a dark spot. Lack of ample light causes coleus plants to lose their vibrant leaf color.
You can get bushy coleus by pruning bare shoots and weak branches. Pinch the tip -to remove auxins-the growth hormones from the shoots and encourage lateral growth.
Watering coleus
In dry season, water your coleus frequently to avoid drying out with water containing as little mime as possible. Water thoroughly but avoid pots standing in water. In dry season you can occasionally mist the leaves as they tend to hang limp.
Feeding
Outdoor coleus should be fed with green organic compost weekly. This contains nitrogen which is required for leaf foliage. For indorr plants, feed them every fortnight.
Repotting
It is not necessary to repot coleus. Rather you can grow more from new shoots pruned from old ones. Place several cuttings together in a new pot.
Propagation
The easiest way to propagate coleus is via cuttings. You can also divide coleus at the roots and plant them right away.
Pest and diseases
Mostly affected by mealy bugs and white flies. Simply cut off affected parts or prune heavily .
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