How to grow Coleus from seeds?

Novice gardeners had to meet with an amazingly beautiful plant: coleus. It is popularly called nettle. This beautiful flower is used both in indoor plant growing and in landscaping parks and adjoining territories. We all love him for his unpretentiousness, rapid growth and unique decorative properties.

Coleus belongs to the herbaceous genus, the Labiate family, native to Central Asia, is also found on the African continent. Its leaves resemble ordinary garden nettles, but along the veins they are motley decorated with the brightest colors. Coleus is very photophilous, thanks to the long daylight hours and the abundance of the sun in his homeland, the leaves acquire the most spectacular colors. They are: dark green with defiantly burgundy blotches and a raspberry core, or pale green with a brown border and yellow veins. There is even a black Coleus with a fiery red or dark crimson pattern: "Black Dragon". In total, there are more than 50 varieties of coleus in the wild.

The average height of decorative nettles is 30-50 cm, but in the wild it can be even higher. Its leaves are often ovoid in shape, but there are other forms depending on the variety. In nature, the foliage of the Coleus can be compared to snowflakes: their pattern is so unique that two identical leaves simply cannot be found.

For the first time, breeders brought Coleus to Europe at the end of the 19th century, and it came to Russia relatively recently. The most common varieties at the moment: "Rainbow" (leaves interspersed with a variety of warm shades), "Fantasy" (variegated with a delicate pink heart), "Magic Sunset" (combines all shades of red), "Dark Chocolate" (brown-purple leaves, less often with a green border ), "Underwater world" (characterized by a special leaf shape, reminiscent of corals or seaweed). In the landscape, nettles can be used in drawing up flower arrangements, as well as as separate independent islands of bright colorful carpets. Beds of various varieties of Coleus look especially luxurious.

Coleus reproduces, like most other herbaceous plants, in two ways:

• cuttings;
• seeds.

Cutting is the easiest way to grow. The tops with 4–5 leaves are cut and rooted in the water. This stage lasts up to 10 days, then the cuttings are planted in a box in 15 cm increments.

Although the reproduction of coleus by cuttings is not difficult, it is much more interesting and no less exciting to grow it at home from seeds on your own. Thanks to the widespread use of online stores, you can easily purchase seeds of various varieties of this amazing plant. The seeds are faceted in shape, reminiscent of poppy seeds. Usually 20-30 pieces are put in one bag. The seeds germinate well and their seedlings get stronger rather quickly.

The more types of coleus are planted, the more colorful and richer the carpet will look along the edges of the house path or flower bed in combination with other taller shrubs. Novice gardeners are advised to choose more common varieties, experienced ones can grow exotic species.

Light, warm and humid are the three golden rules for growing Coleus, therefore, it is recommended to sow seeds in early spring, when the daylight hours are longer and the sun often pleases with its warm rays. Young seedlings love warm, but not dry air, therefore, in cases of growing seeds in central Russia, care should be taken to ensure that containers with seed are located away from heating devices, and young seedlings receive as much natural daylight as possible. The southeast window of the house is best suited, where the first spring rays will warm the soil.

When the seeds are ready for planting, you need to take care of the sowing containers. These can be ordinary plastic containers or special boxes for seedlings. The main thing is that the container must have special drainage holes to prevent stagnation of water and supply oxygen to the roots. If old pots are used, they must be thoroughly washed and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate before filling. Additionally, drainage up to 1.5 cm high is laid on the bottom of the pot: small pebbles or expanded clay. Then a mixture of the following components is poured:

• garden land or peat;
• humus;
• river sand.

Sowing Coleus seeds for seedlings is quite simple.

• Sowing is carried out superficial, that is, the seeds are not deepened, but are placed on the surface of the soil and only lightly sprinkled with soil.
• Sowing is moistened with a spray bottle. Avoid waterlogging and stagnant water.
• Now you need to cover the container with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect and place it in a well-lit place.

It is important to comply with certain conditions.

• In case of a lack of daylight, artificial lighting can be used.
• 24 ° is the most acceptable temperature for waiting for seedlings.
• It is recommended to open the film for a few minutes every day so that the soil can be saturated with oxygen during airing. Over time, the duration and frequency of ventilation can be gradually increased.
• Moistening is carried out as the top layer of the soil dries out in a gentle way: from a spray bottle, so as not to harm the loose structure of the soil.

If all planting conditions are met, then the timing of the appearance of the first shoots is 10-14 days.

After the emergence of seedlings, airing is performed much more often, and then the film is completely removed. Regardless of the variety, the first leaves of a young coleus always have a traditionally green color. After the appearance of 2-3 real carved and variegated leaves, the seedlings should be dived so that they do not interfere with the active growth of each other. This must be done very carefully, because young seedlings are still very fragile. When diving, it is recommended to use a plastic or wooden spatula so as not to damage the root system.

The sprout is dug out together with an earthen lump, adheres to the base and transplanted to a new place in a previously prepared hole, then it is slightly pressed down and covered with earth. This method will facilitate the quick adaptation of the young seedling. Seedlings should be planted at a distance of at least 10 cm.After picking, it is allowed to apply additional fertilizing in the form of dry mineral fertilizers.

After about 1.5–2 months, the seedlings will reach about 15 cm in height, will have up to 10 true leaves, colored in the color of their variety. When the threat of night frost finally recedes, the seedlings can be taken out in balcony boxes or open ground to a permanent place. When caring for a plant, you need to adhere to the rules.

• It must be remembered that in order to obtain a lush, richly colored bush, the place for the permanent cultivation of nettles must be ideally lit, fenced off from drafts and open winds.
• Do not forget about abundant hydration. In case of drought, the leaves of the Coleus fade and sag like rags, but within a few minutes after watering they come to life and restore turgor. However, you should not bring the plant to such a state. If possible, it is recommended to organize autowatering.
• Carrying out care, once a week the plant should be fed: at the beginning of summer - with nitrogen fertilizers, in July - August - with complex mineral additives to maintain the brightness of the color.
• In the process of growth, dry leaves fall off; to maintain the decorativeness of the glade, they are carefully raked out with small garden rakes. With this procedure, the soil at the base of the stem always remains loose.
• As it stretches, the bush is pinched, and the side shoots are cut off.
• Coleus is a perennial plant, therefore, with the approach of autumn and the threat of temperature changes, the strong and juicy tops of the Coleus bush are cut off, take root in the water and move to a warm room for the winter in order to continue to enchant with their unique color.

You will learn how to grow Coleus at home from seeds in the following video.