Should coleus be cut back in the fall?
When the weather begins to drop, especially at night, cutting back the coleus flowers will help the plant conserve a lot of energy and food. You do not have to worry about hurting the plant too much if you cut it back too far. Coleus is a very hardy plant and can handle the cutting.
Does coleus do well in the fall?
Your coleus will last well into the fall months if you give it soil that feeds it instead of limiting it. Basic potting soil mixed with some organic matter like eggshells or compost is ideal. You might also want to add a balanced fertilizer that you have purchased from your local nursery or garden center.
How do you winterize coleus?
The basic idea for overwintering coleus is to cut pieces off your coleus plant, root them, plant them in pots and keep them growing in a sunny window through winter until it’s time to plant them outside in spring.
Should coleus be cut back in winter?
During the winter, coleus will lose its color. The plant that you brought indoors will lose some leaves and get straggly. This time of year the plant is entering its dormant stage and as tempting as it is, do not pinch it back. The goal at this point is to keep it alive by watering and monitoring for insects.
What do you do with coleus in the winter?
Coleus should be kept rather dry over the winter to avoid rotting their roots. Remember, these are tropical plants that prefer sun and heat. They don’t take kindly to cold, wet soil, so water only when the pot seems fairly light and the soil surface is completely dry. (You’ll get the hang of it with a little practice.)
Does coleus come back year after year?
Coleus is a perennial, a tropical shrub, that is not hardy except in warm, frost-free zones. Cannas are reliably hardy in the ground outside from around Zone 7 and upward (warmer.) Here in the Chicagoland area, zone 5, Coleus is grown as an annual.
Can coleus plants be overwintered?
To overwinter coleus, cut 3- to 4-inch tip cuttings from healthy plants. Coleus is very frost-sensitive, so bring the plants inside if cold nights threaten. By mid-May, the plants should be ready for your garden or containers. Cuttings may also be taken from a large, healthy plant in late spring.
When should I bring my coleus inside for the winter?
In spring, gradually introduce the plants to outdoor conditions. Coleus is very frost-sensitive, so bring the plants inside if cold nights threaten. By mid-May, the plants should be ready for your garden or containers.
How cold can coleus tolerate?
Generally speaking, coleus plants are too tender to survive temperatures at the literal freezing point, which is, of course, 32 degrees. Ideally, the coleus likes it nice and hot – temperatures up to 95 degrees, according to the National Garden Bureau – but it can survive temps in the 60s, 50s and even 40s.
How do I make my coleus bushy?
You can make coleus bushy by routinely pinching the stems and leaves from the plant. Over time, the main stem or trunk of your coleus will become strong and support a larger, fuller plant. Regular feeding with a diluted liquid fertilizer can also promote growth.
Do Coleus like sun or shade?
They like warm soils with decent drainage. They are not happy in overly dry conditions. Coleus will grow in full sun to medium shade, but their colors are most vivid in full sun.
Can you grow Coleus in the winter indoors?
Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer. Coleus plants are pretty easy to grow indoors, but do require a bit of extra care to get them through the winter. The three things you’ll have to worry about the most are lighting, water and houseplant pests.
Can I overwinter Coleus?
Wintering a Coleus Plant. Overwintering coleus plants is actually quite easy. They can be dug up and overwintered indoors, or you can take cuttings from your healthy plants to make additional stock for next season’s garden.
When to plant Coleus outdoors?
In USDA zones 10 through 13, coleus can be planted outdoors year-round. When growing coleus as an annual in zone 9 or below, plant outside in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. They can be started indoors from seed, planting eight to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area.