How Do You Grow Blue Coleus From Seed?

Is blue coleus real?

Coleus flowers are quite small and grow on a terminal bloom spike. The colors of the blossoms range from purple to true blue to virtually white.

Trailing variants are the most likely of all Coleus types to bloom, hence they require pinching on a regular basis to preserve them bushy and bloomless.

The blue coleus is a variety of the Plectranthus that has been cultivated to develop a deep and dark blue color. “The Blue Coleus” is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that grows up to 3 feet tall.

How do you prune blue coleus?

Pinch out the growth tips when the plants are around 6 inches tall to get full, bushy plants. If you want the plant to focus its energy on leaves rather than flowers and seeds, pinch under the flower buds.

Plants that are not trimmed grow leggy and lose their attractive shape and rich foliage. If they continue to grow leggy, the plants may require additional sunlight.

This is especially prevalent with indoor plants throughout the winter, so give them some extra sunlight or, if required, artificial light.

How do you grow blue coleus?

Coleus is a fragile tropical shrub endemic to equatorial regions. Coleus can be grown as a garden perennial in warmer climates, where it can develop to resemble tiny shrubs with thick woody stems.

Though it prefers heat, it will grow happily as an annual in almost any garden, where it is typically used as an annual bedding plant or in pots.

However, coleus plants are not frost-tolerant, so don’t put them in the ground too soon. Wait until temperatures consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit before relocating them to the garden.

They thrive in rich, loose, well-drained soil, therefore amending the soil with compost or adding perlite before planting is recommended unless you have very good soil.

Is blue coleus perennial?

Easy-to-grow Coleus plants are no longer solely for shade. Heat and sun-tolerant cultivars are readily available, making them an attractive option for any outdoor planting. Their eye-catching foliage draws attention to them no matter where they are planted.

Although technically a herbaceous perennial, blue coleus is typically planted as an annual because these sensitive tropical plants cannot tolerate even the slightest frost.

Coleus is a fragile tropical shrub endemic to equatorial regions. Coleus can be grown as a garden perennial in warmer climates, where it can develop to resemble tiny shrubs with thick woody stems.

Though it prefers heat, it will grow happily as an annual in almost any garden, where it is typically used as an annual bedding plant or in pots.

How do you grow blue coleus from seed?

Growing coleus from seed is simple. Be patient as it can take up to 21 days for the seeds to germinate. Once seedlings emerge, it will take three to four weeks of warm weather to help them grow into fully grown plants.

• Sprinkle the tiny seeds lightly over a tray filled with potting mix, then lightly cover with dirt.
• Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it in a sunny, warm location for two weeks, or until seedlings grow.
• Remove the plastic and continue to develop the seedlings in moist soil.
• When the seedlings have two sets of true leaves, carefully transplant them into their own pots and continue to cultivate them until it is time to plant them outside. Before planting seedlings in the garden, make careful to harden them off.

How do you make coleus blue?

If you want to keep your coleus plant’s color, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight. If you’re growing it indoors, this may be a little more difficult.

When you observe your plant’s leaves fading, look around your house for the brightest location. This is most likely a south-facing windowsill, so move your coleus there if possible.

You’ll probably need to increase your watering schedule to ensure the plant receives enough to drink, especially if it’s summer, because heat causes water to evaporate from the soil more quickly.

You’ll have to experiment a bit because, if you live in a hot nation, a south-facing windowsill may expose the coleus to too much sunshine, causing the plant’s leaves to fade or brown as a result of scorching.

If that’s the case, you’ll need to relocate the plant further away from the window. It can still appreciate the light, but giving it less direct sunlight for the most of the day may help.

Alternatively, if you have a windowsill that receives adequate sunshine but not as much as the south-facing one, consider placing the plant there.

How do you repot blue coleus?

To grow blue coleus in a container, start with a large pot that the plant can grow into; otherwise, you’ll be repotting this fast-growing plant before you know it.

In mixed container plantings, coleus is typically used as an upright “thriller” plant in the middle of the pot, surrounded by “fillers” and “spillers.” Container plants are sometimes taken indoors to overwinter in colder climates.

Can coleus be blue?

Coleus, which was popular as Victorian-era bedding plants, has made a great resurgence due to the all-season color the magnificent leaves provide, whether planted in full sun or shade. Coleus plants have square stems and leaves that are directly opposite one another.

It produces tiny blue to white flowers that are unimpressive and are frequently clipped off to conserve the plant’s energy. The shape, style, and color of the leaves can vary greatly. Breeders create new introductions with even more odd hues and patterns on a regular basis.

Where is blue coleus native to?

Blue Coleus species are native to tropical and subtropical regions ranging from Southeast Asia to Australia, and they have become naturalized in many other tropical areas.

Karl Ludwig Blume brought them to England from Java in the nineteenth century.

Coleus can be grown as a garden perennial in warmer climates, where it can develop to resemble tiny shrubs with thick woody stems. Though it prefers heat, it will grow happily as an annual in almost any garden, where it is typically used as an annual bedding plant or in pots.

Is blue coleus an indoor plant?

Many people choose to grow coleus as an indoor plant, but this sturdy plant can also be grown outdoors, provided that temperatures don’t dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) during the fall and winter months.

This tender perennial is prone to die back in temperatures where the temperature drops below 50 degrees. As long as it’s not stuck outside all winter, it can be brought indoors for the coldest months.

What are the best gardens for blue coleus?

Blue coleus is a tough plant that can handle poor conditions and even drought. If you live in an area that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight a day, you can grow blue coleus outdoors.

It will grow quite well in full sun locations with temperatures between 55- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit (13 – 29 Celsius).

Some people prefer to keep blue coleus indoors, where it can be grown as a houseplant.

How do you propagate blue coleus?

The easiest way to grow favorite coleus plants is to take stem cuttings and root them.

• Cut a 4- to 6-inch-long stem tip with a sharp shearing scissor. Make sure to cut directly beneath a leaf node on the stem. Remove all of the leaves from the cutting’s lower half.
• Dip the end of the stem in a rooting hormone compound, then plant it in a moist potting mix with the exposed leaf nodes covered by earth.
• Place the container in a plastic bag, making sure that the plastic does not come into contact with the cutting.
• Place the covered cutting in a sunny, warm position for two to three weeks, or until new roots appear.
• Remove the plastic and keep the new plant growing in a bright, warm location.

Some of the more uncommon varieties may be reluctant to root, so take as many cuttings as possible to guarantee that you have enough viable plants.

How often do you water blue coleus?

Blue Coleus plants thrive on soil that is consistently damp but not saturated. The soil should not be wet all of the time, but protracted dry spells can limit plant growth and cause the leaves to turn brown around the margins.

Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and water only until the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Mulch will assist the soil retain moisture for extended periods of time, but avoid cedar mulch, which can be harmful to coleus.

Also, avoid allowing the mulch to come into contact with the stems, since this might promote rot and hide slugs.

During warmer weather, Coleus in containers may require twice-daily watering. Watering outside containers twice a day is recommended. Water indoor plants just when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

How do you fertilize blue coleus?

You may not need to feed blue coleus plants at all if you have good soil. If your soil is deficient, add a balanced slow-release fertilizer to the bed. You’ll obtain the best color from your coleus leaves if you don’t over-fertilize them.

Water-soluble fertilizer should be applied to container-grown plants once a month. Because regular watering drains nutrients from the potting soil, container plants require more food than garden plants.

Is blue coleus easy to care for?

Blue coleus is a relatively low-maintenance plant. It can be propagated from cuttings and doesn’t need to be repotted very often. It is an excellent candidate for people to learn about basic plant care and propagation in their own homes.

Growing blue coleus is a very rewarding experience regardless of whether you choose to treat it as a houseplant or grow it outdoors.

Blue coleus plants are not susceptible to many pest problems, but aphids may attack it given the opportunity.

Is blue coleus cold hardy?

The good news is that blue coleus is a sturdy plant that is virtually pest- and disease-free.

The bad news is that it isn’t hardy in areas with cold winters, so you may have to replant every year if your climate dips below 55 F (13 C).

Blue coleus will tolerate temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, so in areas with even colder weather, this plant can survive the winter.

In higher areas of the United States and Canada, where temperatures seldom dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, blue coleus may not die back completely. If it is not planted outdoors, however, it may suffer frost damage.

If you live in a climate with cold winters, consider planting blue coleus as a houseplant instead of trying to grow it outside.

If you are growing the plants as houseplants, be sure water them whenever the top inch of soil feels dry, and fertilize them monthly.

Why is my blue coleus dying?

If your coleus plants are dying suddenly, which is extremely unusual, you can rule out a few problems as causes.

It may be that the coleus is suffering from a dry soil. If this is the case, then it’s important to make sure you’re watering often enough. Also, try adding an additional inch of potting mix for each plant to compensate for overwatering.

While blue coleus is a very sturdy plant, you may still accidentally kill it by overwatering.

When you first begin growing this plant, allow the soil to dry out between waterings so that the roots can grow more rapidly. This will help prevent root rot when the soil becomes moist again. The main way to kill blue coleus is by watering too much.

The temperature can also be the next suspect. However, since coleus plants take warm temperatures in stride, they are frequently killed by too cool of weather.

How to get rid of blue coleus?

If you want to remove a blue coleus plant, dig it up carefully to avoid breaking off the roots. Use a shovel or spade to dig the plant out of the ground, holding onto the stem near the top and pulling gently back toward you until you can feel it begin to come loose from the ground.

Once the coleus is out of the ground, you may need to cut away damaged roots in order for it not to grow again.