How Do You Take Care Of A Wicked Witch Coleus?

How Do You Take Care Of A Wicked Witch Coleus?

Solenostemon Wicked Witch (Coleus) is a vibrant tropical evergreen delicate subshrub with rich burgundy to chocolate leaves accented with ruffled edges defined in chartreuse.

It blooms late in the season, which helps to keep the leaf display throughout the season.

Coleus thrives as a sensitive perennial in Zones 10a to 11b, native to SE Asia all the way to Australia.

They are cultivated as an annual in Zones 3-9, which implies that no place in the United States can consistently overwinter them.

Because they are particularly cold sensitive, they should be planted when temperatures are well into the 60s.

These enhanced hybrids have been engineered to postpone flower production for as long as possible, allowing plants to focus on leaf production and keep the magnificent colour continuing well into the fall.

This is a plant that requires little upkeep. Because the blossoms of this plant may detract from its attractive aspects, they should be removed as soon as they develop.

Deer dislike this plant and will typically leave it alone in favour of better goodies. It does not have any significant drawbacks.

Sunlight

This plant thrives in partial to full shade. Place at a window with dappled sunlight or in the center of a room. Alternatively, place it immediately in a window facing west or east.

Each plant need the following quantity of light or shade to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), and Shade (6+ hours) (up to 4 hours).

Water

Keep the soil at room temperature, somewhere around 68F.

Keep plants moist at all times. The most common reason for this plant to grow poorly is overwatering. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil becomes dry and visibly starts to wilt.

Warm season water weekly on a consistent basis throughout the entire year, particularly during fall dormancy and winter cold weather periods.

These plants have strong roots that can tolerate occasional dry spells, but they need consistent moisture throughout the warm and even hot seasons in order to grow correctly.

Soil

It grows best in an equally wet, well-drained soil, but will perish in standing water. It is not sensitive to soil pH, however it grows best in rich soils.

It is extremely resistant to urban pollutants and may even grow in densely populated areas. To preserve soil moisture, spread a thick layer of mulch around the root zone throughout the growth season.

Propagation

This is a chosen variant of a species that is not native to North America. It may be reproduced by cuttings; however, because it is a cultivated variety, it may be subject to propagation restrictions or prohibitions.

What can I plant with wicked witch coleus?

Space plants every 18 to 24 inches to allow this plant to spread out. It may reach a height of 40 inches and a width of 36 inches.

Air circulation is essential for plant health because it minimizes the likelihood of powdery mildew and insect infestation.

Combine this gorgeous dramatic foliage with caladium, dichondra, bidens, sedum, calibrachoa, gaillardia, angelonia, euphorbia, and helianthus for a very spectacular spring to summer show.

How often do you water Wicked Witch Coleus?

Watering is an important part of a Wicked Witch Coleus’ care. Because these plants are very drought tolerant and can usually go four to six weeks between watering, it is important not to overwater them.

If your Wicked Witch Coleus starts to wilt, it needs more water than usual. If this happens frequently, you might be overwatering the plant and causing root rot.

Average watering is what this plant needs. This plant is drought tolerant, but can be overwatered. Watering once a week is enough to allow it to thrive.

How do you prune Wicked Witch Coleus?

This plant is quite low maintenance, requiring little pruning. Prune this plant in the spring to promote new growth, but wait until after it has finished flowering to prune it back.

Cooley’s Deadheading is essential to extend leaf output, which is the main attractiveness of this foliar.

To retain the focus on those magnificent leaves, pinch off any flower spikes that may grow. Remove any dead or dry stems to encourage new growth.

Prune any out-of-control growth, then shear to reduce volume and induce branching, resulting in a more compact look.

How do you propagate Wicked Witch Coleus?

Propagate by seed in early spring (cultivars may not come true) or by softwood cuttings in summer.

Seeds propagation

The first step in producing coleus from seed is to obtain the seeds. Wicked Witch Coleus seeds are quite simple to obtain and should be available at practically any store that sells flower seeds.

If you can’t locate them in a store, several companies sell them online.

Wicked Witch Coleus seeds are frequently sold in a mixed package, offering you a wide variety of leaf colours. Begin by distributing coleus seed in a damp potting soil-filled flat or container.

Lightly scatter the coleus seeds over the soil. Mix the seeds with fine sand before planting to help them spread more consistently and with more space between them.

Once the Wicked Witch Coleus seeds have been disseminated, cover them with a fine layer of potting soil. Cover the container with plastic and place it in a warm spot with bright, indirect light.

Seedlings should appear in about two weeks. When you notice coleus seedlings, remove the plastic. Keep the soil moist while the seedlings grow.

Watering the coleus seedlings from below will be less damaging. When the seedlings are large enough to handle (typically when they have two sets of true leaves), they can be separated into other pots.

Cuttings propagation

It is just as simple to root and cultivate coleus cuttings as it is to grow coleus from seed.

Locate a mature coleus plant to start the coleus propagation process.

Making use of a sharp object. Using a clean pair of scissors or shears, cut as many coleus cuttings as needed.

The cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long and made just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves from the lower portion of the cutting.

If desired, dip the cutting in rooting hormone. Make sure the soil in which the coleus cutting will be rooted is well-watered.

Insert a pencil into the soil after that. In the pencil hole, insert the coleus cutting.

At the very least, the dirt should cover the leafless node at the bottom. Recirculate the soil around the cutting.

Put the rooting container in a plastic zip-top bag or thoroughly cover it in plastic wrap.

Take care not to let the plastic come into touch with the cutting. If required, use toothpicks or skewers to keep the plastic away from the cutting. Place the container in a well-lit, but indirect, location.

The coleus cutting should root in two to three weeks. You’ll know it’s rooted when you see new growth on the coleus cutting. Another method for rooting coleus cuttings is in water.

Put your clippings in a tiny glass of water and place it under a strong indirect light once you’ve removed them.

Change the water every other day. When roots emerge on the coleus cuttings, plant them in soil.

Is Wicked Witch Coleus poisonous to dogs?

Wicked Witch Coleus is toxic to dogs, and while it is unlikely to be lethal if consumed, it can produce a response and sickness.

Coleus leaves include the diterpenes coleonol and coleon O, both of which are toxic to dogs. When pets eat Coleus leaf, they may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, and depression.

Is Wicked Witch Coleus invasive?

Wicked Witch Coleus is not an invasive plant. It is a perennial plant, but it does not spread aggressively through rooting or seeding.

Wicked Witch Coleus can become weedy if you neglect to deadhead the spent flowers, which will send up more stems.

Wicked Witch Coleus is a beautiful and easy to grow flowering vine that looks great in containers and on fences.

A typical blooming season will last at least two months, and it progressively gets more impressive as the season progresses.

Is Wicked Witch Coleus an indoor plant?

Wicked Witch Coleus will captivate you and give wonderful contrast for your sun or shade landscape or container garden, with rich burgundy leaves precisely highlighted in chartreuse green, highly frilled margins, and being one of the tallest coleus in the ColorBlaze range.

Coleus is fantastic as a bedding annual or placed in pots where it never fails to create drama. It is easy to grow, low maintenance, and heat resistant.

Bring inside during the winter if it is outside of its hardiness range. It can reach a height of 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) and a width of 18-36 inches (60-90 cm).

How big do Wicked Witch Coleus get?

Plants should be spaced every 18 to 24 inches to let this plant to spread out. It may reach a height of 40 inches and a width of 36 inches.

Air circulation is essential for plant health because it minimizes the likelihood of powdery mildew and insect infestation.

Coleus are simple to care for after they have established themselves in the habitat in which they flourish.

This annual will thrive in well-draining rich soil with a moderately acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 6.5, full sun to part shade, and lots of peat moss or organic matter in the soil.

Are Wicked Witch Coleus poisonous to cats?

Wicked Witch Coleus plant is poisonous to cats. Coleus has low toxicity for cats and kittens, so consuming it is unlikely to be hazardous, but you should avoid exposing your pets to it.

If you have house cats, you can grow Coleus outside, but you should not grow it as an annual and bring it inside for the winter.

Some of the symptoms of ingesting Coleus for cats include vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhoea.

Why is my Wicked Witch Coleus dying?

It is most likely due to one of the following reasons: over or under watering, trouble with insects or diseases, problems with the soil, not enough sunlight.

Overwatering is a common problem and can be avoided by keeping the soil moist, but do not overdo it.

A good rule of thumb is to water thoroughly when the potting mixture feels moist to the touch.

Underwatering is another common problem. The roots will become weak and the “head” may begin to wilt and fall off.

This is most likely due to poor drainage, so try growing your coleus in a raised flowerbed.

The soil may be failing to support the head of the plant. Add some perlite or coarse sand to the mix when repotting and replace any soil that was removed during repotting.

Diseases is one of the most common challenges that people run into when they grow Coleus.

Learning how to identify and treat them will ensure that your Wicked Witch Coleus is healthy and thriving.

When you first see coleus wilting or turning yellow, it might be a sign of disease or insect infestation. Diseases of Wicked Witch Coleus include red spider mites, coleoptera miners, aphids, powdery mildew, and root rot.

Not enough sunlight is the most common reason for plant wilting or yellowing. The plants require at least six hours of direct sunlight every day if they are to thrive and flourish.

Does Wicked Witch Coleus require fertilizer?

Wicked Witch Coleus will benefit substantially from an all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer applied every two weeks as part of your fertilization plan.

If you’re fertilizing annuals, give your coleus some fertilizer. Fertilizing will help them grow quicker and larger.

This is fantastic because I live in an area where they only grow for 3-4 months. As a result, I want to make as much progress as possible in as little time as possible.

If you live in an area where they are perennial, consider just enriching your soil with compost to keep all of your perennials, including coleus, healthy.

Dry plants should never be fertilized. Water first, then fertilize. Fertilizing dry plants will cause them to burn.

I also recommend avoiding fertilizing during the warmest portion of the day if at all possible. Also, avoid pouring diluted fertilizer on the plant’s leaves.