How to: Plant and Care for Coleus plants

You probably know someone who has talked about their Coleus or Painted Nettles, or maybe you even have a couple of plants at home already? These beautiful houseplants are known by many names, and have risen in popularity in recent years. Coleus are relatively easy to take care of and look beautiful in most homes. A big plus is that it's very easy to take cuttings from an existing coleus plant, so you get several plants from one.
In this guide, we will address the questions you have about caladiums and share our tips to help you achieve a thriving Coleus cultivation. Most people choose to plant their Coleus using ready-made plants, but it's definitely possible to sow from seed as well. We will go through both methods here.

 

Here's how you sow Coleus from seed:

1. Prepare your pot or seed container with soil, preferably seed soil.
2. Moisten the soil lightly with a spray bottle or by gently using a watering can.
3. Sprinkle the seeds over the soil, lightly press them down with your palm, and cover lightly with soil. Don't cover too much, as the seeds need light to germinate.
4. Cover with plastic wrap or put the lid on if you're using a mini greenhouse to maintain high humidity.
5. Place your planting in a warm place, but avoid direct sunlight as this can damage the seeds. The seeds prefer a temperature of around 20-25 degrees Celsius.
6. Keep an eye on the cultivation and make sure to maintain high humidity, and spray with water when you feel the soil starting to dry out.

Now, all you have to do is wait for your seedlings to start popping up, and this can take a couple of weeks. Continuously monitor to ensure the soil stays moist and that the air in your home or the bubble you've created around your plants feels warm enough. It's also important to watch out for mold on the soil, and if it forms, the easiest way to remove it is with a toothpick. Once they start developing leaves, you can begin acclimating them to the room temperature you'll be keeping them in by removing the plastic.

When they start outgrowing their pot, it's time to repot, and here's how you do it:

1. Choose a pot with good drainage, preferably a pot with holes in the bottom and a saucer underneath.
2. Dig a hole deep enough for the entire plant's roots.
3. Place the plant in the hole and lightly press soil around the plant to cover the roots.
4. Water generously the first time until the soil is moist.
5. Place your pot in a warm, bright place without direct sunlight, as they like light but not sun.

What do I need to grow Coleus?

• Hand Tool Spade
• Watering Can Premium
• Scissors Lux
• Garden Markers

How do I take care of my Coleus after planting?

Planting Coleus was quite easy, and so is tending to them. Simply make sure to water regularly to keep the soil moist, and occasionally add some liquid fertilizer to provide them with extra nutrients. It's also important to remember that Coleus like to be in a bright place but not in direct sunlight. Otherwise, caladiums are very easy plants to take care of. Keep an extra eye out for pests, as they can really damage your caladiums. Also, trim away withered or brown leaves, as these can harm the plant or drain its nutrients.

Where should I place my Coleus?

The most common thing is to have coleus indoors, but you can actually have them outdoors too. Just remember that they shouldn't be in direct sunlight, as this can burn the leaves of the plants. The natural environment where you usually find coleus is shady or partly shady forest areas, so they simply aren't built to withstand sun rays. Therefore, it might be good to have your Coleus in a pot outdoors, you can easily move it to avoid direct sun for the plant.

How do I take cuttings from my Coleus, and what do I do with them after?

Coleus are plants that like to grow fast when taken care of well, so it can be good to take cuttings when they start growing too tall. A big plus with this is that you also get a new plant to take care of. To take cuttings from your caladiums, start by checking that the plant is doing well, otherwise the cuttings may die quickly. If it looks okay, take your scissors and cut about 5-10 cm directly from the mother plant. Make sure there are at least a couple of leaves on your cutting.
After this, you can remove the lower leaves from your cutting, and then place it in a new small pot with soil.
Then the process simply starts again, planting, watering, caretaking. If you want some variation among your different caladiums, you can exchange cuttings with a friend. That way, you'll get completely new varieties to take care of.

We at by Benson hope this guide has helped you with your Coleus plants. Good luck!