Contributing

Does coleus like sun or shade?

Does coleus like sun or shade?

Coleus thrive in cool, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Consistent moisture is good, but soggy conditions cause root disease. Watering should complement available sun. Some modern coleus varieties handle full sun, but most still flourish with at least dappled shade and direct sun limited to morning hours.

Do coleus plants come back every year?

Coleus is a perennial, a tropical shrub, that is not hardy except in warm, frost-free zones.

How long do coleus plants live for?

In a frost-free area, coleus normally lives for several years. In USDA zones 10 through 11, the winter is mild enough to plant coleus in the ground. Coleus appreciates moist soil that drains well.

Where does coleus grow best?

Growing Coleus Plants Coleus can be added to beds and borders for interest or grown in containers. They need fertile, well-draining soil and usually perform best in areas with partial shade, though many varieties can also tolerate sun.

How often do you water coleus plants?

Coleus in containers may need watering twice a day during hot weather. Outdoor containers may require water twice a day. Indoor plants need water only once every two or three days, or a bit more if you live in a dry climate.

Should I let my coleus flower?

Coleus plant flowering signals the end of the plant’s life cycle, and plants usually die soon after they are allowed to produce blooms. You can just leave them on and enjoy the plant as an annual, or take steps to encourage thicker growth and continued life in a greenhouse or cold frame.

Does coleus need a lot of water?

Water. Coleus plants are not very drought tolerant, so it’s important to develop a good watering cadence that allows you to keep your coleus well-hydrated but not soggy. In hot months, coleus plants grown in pots outdoors will need watering once or twice a day.

What happens if you let coleus Flower?

Can Coleus survive frost?

Coleus has no tolerance for frost and is usually one of the first annual plants to die in the fall. After it freezes, your coleus may have slimy blackened leaves and limp stems.

Should you let Coleus flower?

You can also pinch just under the coleus’s flower buds if you don’t want the plant’s energy to be spent on producing flowers and seeds. (When this happens, the leaves lose beauty and vigor.) Around midsummer, coleus should be pruned regardless of whether it will be allowed to flower.

Will Coleus grow in shade?

Coleus grow well in partial shade, but not deep shade as a certain amount of bright light is necessary to maintain the proper level of pigment in the leaves. The deeper shade will create washed out colors of the leaves. In bright hot regions, the Coleus colors are more intense in shade than in full sun.

Can I grow Coleus indoors?

Growing coleus indoors is definitely possible, providing you give it enough moisture, heat, and humidity. If the plant goes into flower, snip off the unremarkable flowers to encourage vitality, and pinch off growing tips to encourage bushiness.