Essential growing guide for thriving coleus plants

Coleus plants are a great selection to add to your garden. With vibrant leaves, that vary in colours and patterns, they bring subtle brightness to your garden.

Species Coleus the (scutellarioides) variation growing under a tree

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Growing the coleus plants

With the right conditions and care, these rapidly growing plants can easily start growing from seeds. It takes around 15-20 days for germination to process given the plant is grown in the right conditions.

The right conditions are warm weather, full sunlight and adequate water supply. Their bold colourful leaves make them the centre of attention in your garden, the leaves vary in colour, and at maturity the coleus plants produce white, reddish or full green flowers, depending on the variation you are growing.

Growing the flower is easy and can tolerate being transplanted as long as the frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. It should be planted in the spring to bring season-long interest to your garden. When planting the darker-leaved variation, plant it in full sun, as these can handle more sunlight.

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The Coleus plant care

To thrive, coleus plants need consistently moist, well-draining soil. They require regular watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Adding mulch can help retain moisture. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and water when the top inch feels dry to the touch.

Since the plants thrive in hot, humid conditions try to replicate their growing climate to have a healthy luscious growing plant. With your soil, watering and temperature conditions sorted, as your plant is maturing the only necessary need is to maintain the plant.

To promote denser and more compact growth, prune your plant. Coleus plants that aren’t pruned, tend to get leggy and lose shape. Propagation is also a popular option to add variety to your growing coleus plants.

A large coleus plant indoors in a window sill.

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So make a bold statement by planting the coleus in your garden. Choose colours that complement or provide contrast to the other flower plants in your garden.

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