Florida gardeners desiring to lend a bam of constant color to their garden can not go wrong growing coleus ( Coleus x hybridus ) . The robustly colored foliage hold its eye - capture good looks even through the land ’s hot summer and good of all , there ’s over 200 miscellanea from which to prefer .
Coleus is a long-lived and easy to raise plant , stand up to Florida ’s year - stave warm temperatures , so you do n’t have to be a garden rock champion to have it thrive . Even fateful pollex gardeners should be successful growing flame nettle . With so many stunning selection , do n’t be surprised if you end up embellish your landscape with several variety instead of just one .
Continue reading because we ’ve taken the enigma out of growing coleus in Florida and give you all the tips and form suggestions to have this flamboyantly colored looker flourish .
Coleus Growing Tips
Flowering plants are n’t the only unity that impart pops of color to the garden . With its prized colorfully patterned and velvet - like foliage in hues of green , burgundy , orangish , pink , purple , bronze and red , as well as take issue leaf form , flame nettle is jump to make a dramatic statement wherever it ’s acquire in the landscape .
Coleus does make insignificant violet or naughty flowers , but they ’re nothing compare to the multicolored foliage . to boot , it ’s advocate to remove any blush to promote the growth of additional leave . With coleus , it is all about the leaf .
All type of coleus require the same ethnical conditions for good outgrowth , irrespective of where you lodge in in the commonwealth and whether they have an unsloped or trailing habit . However , the amount of preferred light depends on the specific cultivar you are growing , so take the plant tag list the flame nettle ’ druthers before found in a lasting location .
Specifics for good growth and continued care include:
Soil : Coleus grow in a variety of acidic Florida ground , including sand , loam and clay supply they debilitate well . If you are growing your coleus in container , use a plenteous , well - debilitate potting mix . soil that stay soggy and do n’t drain well can make trouble with decomposition .
Moisture : To keep your flame nettle plants from wilt , specially during hot and dry Florida summer , water regularly . bet on local atmospheric condition experimental condition , you may have to give landscape painting and potted flora a drink of water daily .
Fertilizing : Coleus plants are n’t heavy feeders and in reality , too much plant food can burn plant , make problems with root buncombe and blind the foliage color . Use a tedious - release blend to flow coleus in the landscape , applying in saltation . Additionally , you could fertilise potted coleus using a half - strength solution of a houseplant blend applied every four to six weeks .
Pruning : To retain lush leaf , prune off the flame nettle prime as they appear using sterilize pruning tools . you’re able to also prune off leggy stems to kick upstairs extra forking , create a fuller works . Containers : Always use containers that have bottom drainage to preclude root rot .
Best Varieties of Coleus for Florida?
Florida nurseryman have choices in a large variety of coleus cultivars that will thrive in their landscape painting . In fact , you could usually find a wide variety of types at your local garden snapper protrude in spring . If you ’d rather develop seeds than transplants , you’re able to purchase them from a host of different online plant seller that will also produce well in landscapes throughout the nation .
to boot , there are multitudes of unlike flame nettle cultivars develop over the years by theUniversity of Florida ’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with all thriving throughout the state . you may find many of these cultivar market through Costa Farms , Proven Winners and BallFloraPlant .
Some flame nettle cultivars that grow well in all portions of Florida include :
gimmick ‘ n ’ spin ™ :A unique coleus due to its sharply lobed , multi - colored leave in hue of yellow , bolshy , orangish , dark and clean William Green . mold like a baseball swing flower , the leaves have a twisting appearance . The coleus can grow up to 4 feet improbable and wide of the mark , preferring partial sunshine .
Trusty Rusty ™ :Thriving in both sun and shade , Trusty Rusty coleus makes an eye - catching addition to gardens with its coppery leaves boldly trace in yellow . Plants average around 18 in tall with an good drug abuse .
Mainstreet Wall Street ™ :Mainstreet Wall Street flame nettle makes a bold statement in the garden with its full-bodied increase and richly colourise reddish - Orange River foliage . Plants expand in partial Lord’s Day to shade and have an vertical habit growing around 18 inches tall .
Wasabi ™ : With its comfort of growth and thick habit , Wasabi add a blast of chartreuse color wherever used in the landscape painting . This hardy coleus grow 18 column inch to 30 inches magniloquent and fly high in partial sun , as well as full Sunday if given adequate water system .
Flame Thrower Chipotle ™ :Thriving in full sun or shade , Flame Thrower Chipotle flame nettle is an tending grabber in the landscape with its multi - bleached foliation in colors of chartreuse , violet and dark burgundy . Plants average around 24 inches tall .
Best Time to Plant Coleus in Florida?
The best metre to engraft heat - have it away coleus into the landscape or in container depend on where you reside in Florida . Northern Florida and parcel of Central Florida that regularly get frosts or freezes should wait until the weather warms in spring before planting frost - raw coleus .
Those residing in southerly regions of the DoS where frosty and freezing temperature are n’t a job can constitute yr - round . Coleus is aboriginal to tropical regions with systematically warm temperatures and can not tolerate Robert Frost or freeze .
However , if you endure in a cooler sphere of the United States Department of State and grow your coleus in containers , you’re able to impart the plant indoors to a hopeful location before Old Man Winter pays a sojourn .
How Long Does Coleus Live in Florida?
Most variety of flame nettle are classified as bid evergreen plant perennials , however , because the plant life is so inexpensive , most gardener treat them as yearly and replace with new each season .
If you endure in an area with systematically affectionate temperature without threats of frosts or freeze , you’re able to expect your flame nettle plants to thrive for several seasons . to boot , you may grow them inside container and bring them indoors for protection during winter , and bring them back outside when temperature quick in outpouring .
Does Coleus like Sun or Shade?
All varieties of flame nettle grow well in partial wraith . However , there are quite a few pick developed to thrive in cheery conditions . Always check the flora tag to see the particular miscellany ’s preferent light conditions and if it can tolerate growing in full Dominicus .
If unsure , mistake on the side of caution and embed the flame nettle in a part fishy area of the landscape . flame nettle growing in too much sun will normally suffer washed out leaf colors and daily wilting , regardless of the amount of piss pay . If this happens , you could transplant the coleus into a fishy emplacement .
Common Landscape Uses for Coleus?
Coleus has multiple uses in the landscape where you desire a blast of vivacious color and interesting texture . Plants influence well used along borders , planted in mixed beds , used as vibrantly dyed specimens , shade gardens or adding vibrant colouring material to an entranceway . For extra appeal , plant several different biased varieties together .
They can also invigorate up a porch or patio area with their racy color grow in container . Trailing type also work well used in hanging baskets . Coleus also grows well indoors , render the industrial plant gets passable light .
With their hardy nature , ease of growth , endless choice of rich multihued leaf and power to grow in all domain of Florida , summate flame nettle to your landscape will definitely bring center - grab attention wherever used . Who need flower when the colourful coleus leaf has so much to offer the garden ?
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