Coleus

Eons ago I first became interested in gardening as a child but a few years later my environmental science teacher hired another student and myself through the school.  Our job on the surface was easy, to help out with the greenhouse.  The real purpose of the job was to teach us how the greenhouse was maintained including all the operational functions.  I absolutely loved it!  I would spend every single minute I could outside of class time in the greenhouse.  Years later through during my academic career as an adult I spent many hours of free time equipped with my lunch and camera then later with laptop enjoying one of our universities small greenhouses.  I still enjoy greenhouses especially during the winter months in beautiful Ontario, Canada.

One of the very first plants I learned to propagate was coleus.  Coleus is a beautiful, lower growing ground cover outdoors or an lovely potted houseplant although it is more difficult to get it to bloom indoors.  It will thrive in lower light conditions while adding a splash of colour to garden beds.  I particularly like using coleus in pots outdoors as accent plantings that can be brought indoors for the winter.

Coleus benefits from pinching that results in thicker, bushier plants.  It can be propagated by dipping a cut stem in rooting hormone then putting the prepared stem in moistened vermiculite or the stems will root simply by placing them in water.  If using the water method, fill a glass jar with water to about a half-inch from the top.  Cover with plastic wrap and secure.  Poke two or three holes in the plastic wrap.  Let the prepared jar sit until the water is at room temperature.  Cut the same number of stems as holes from a healthy coleus plant.  For best results the stems should be about 4 to 5 - inches long.  Remove any bottom leave.  Poke each stem down into the holes until they are below the water level by about an inch.  Set in a location out of direct sun.  It will take a few days for roots to appear.  When the root ball is sufficient, pot each rooted stem in individually prepared pots.   If planting outdoors allow the new coleus plant to become established in the potting soil first then remove from the pot and plant in prepared outdoor locations (ground or containers).

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011