Colorful leaves with an interesting pattern and at the same time low-maintenance: the coleus is one of those pot flowers that thrives even on people without the proverbial green thumb. It does have flowers, but they are rather inconspicuous. The special feature is the foliage, which shines in bright colors. We give you valuable tips on caring for, cutting and growing this houseplant.
What should you consider when using coleus as a houseplant?
Coleus as a houseplant impresses with its colorful foliage and easy-care attitude. It needs a bright location, regular watering with lime-free water and fertilizer every two weeks. Propagated by cuttings or sowing.
Location
In order for coleus to develop its full colors, the plant needs the brightest possible place on the windowsill. However, you should not leave the leaves, which burn easily, permanently exposed to the sun.
Watering and fertilizing
In the summer months, coleus needs a lot of moisture. Therefore, water regularly with lime-free water. These houseplants also feel extremely comfortable in hydroculture. Here the maintenance effort is minimized to a minimum, as you have to water much less frequently.
Fertilization is carried out every two weeks with a commercially available liquid fertilizer (€14.00 on Amazon).
pruning
You can cut out old and bare shoots all year round. If the plant gets too big, it can tolerate a complete pruning well.
Propagation
After about two years, coleus sometimes starts to grow sparsely and no longer looks so beautiful. However, you don't have to do without the colorful room decorations, because the plants can be easily propagated using cuttings:
- Cut off ten centimeter long shoots.
- Place in a glass filled with water.
- Roots form after just a short time.
- Now you can plant the plants in soil and care for them as usual.
Sowing coleus
You can get appropriate seeds from specialist retailers. You can sow this directly in pots, preferably in spring:
- Fill small pots with potting soil and sprinkle seeds.
- Do not cover this with substrate, as coleus is a light germinator.
- Place the cultivation pots in a place where the temperature does not fall below 22 degrees and water regularly.
- If the plants are about five centimeters tall, they are isolated.
Tip
So that the coleus grows nicely bushy, you should cut off the fresh shoot tips. The flowers are also removed, otherwise the plant will no longer produce new leaves.
