Coleus Plant (Solenostemon)

A Coleus Plant is a fast- growing, hanging houseplant that comes in over 100 different leaf colors, textures, shapes, & designs. A Coleus Plant was very popular during the Victorian era but fell out of favor for a while because of the poor plant quality being sold. Today, a Coleus Plant is once again very popular both as an indoor house plant and as an outdoor plant. The colors on Coleus Plant leaves may be a mixture of lavender, cream, pink, maroon, yellow, red, bronze, and various shades of green. The color patterns on the Coleus Plant leaves can be marbled, striped, or dappled. If you have a very bright area in your home that calls for a hanging plant, then a Coleus Plant is perfect for you.

LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS: Very bright light is a must for a Coleus Plant. Coleus Plants can even gradually get used to a few hours of direct sunlight. Florescent grow lights help make the foliage leaf color of a Coleus Plant even more spectacular.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS WATER: A Coleus Plant is a fast growing houseplant and dries out more quickly than many other indoor plants. Allow the top inch or two of soil in a Coleus Plant to dry out before watering. Frequent wilting due to under-watering causes the leaves of a Coleus Plant to develop crispy edges, dull colors, and brown spots. Over-watering a Coleus Plant results in root rot.

FERTILIZER: The best fertilizer for a Coleus Plant is fish emulsion. If fish emulsion is not available, feed a Coleus Plant monthly with a basic balanced plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength.

TEMPERATURE: A Coleus Plant likes warm temperatures between 70-85 degrees though it can survive in temperatures as low as 55 degrees.

HUMIDITY: Coleus Plants plant like high humidity.

FLOWERING: Pinch the small flowers off of a Coleus Plant as soon as they appear to encourage the beautiful leaves to grow.

PESTS: Mealy Bugs, Aphids, and whitefly are plant pests attracted to a Coleus Plant. Check your Coleus Plant weekly so these pests don’t get a foothold on too many of the vibrant colored leaves. Washing a Coleus Plant frequently with warm water helps keep insects away.

DISEASES: Because a Coleus Plant likes high humidity, powdery mildew can be a plant disease problem.

SOIL: Use a quick draining well-aerated potting soil for a Coleus Plant. Add sand or perlite if the soil is too heavy.