Coleus
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 Coleus leaves
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About 60 species, including: |
Coleus (Solenostemon) is a genus of perennial plants, native to tropical Africa and Asia. The name Coleus derives from an earlier classification under the scientific name Coleus, though the currently accepted classification is in the genus Solenostemon.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
Many cultivars of the southeast Asian species Solenostemon scutellarioides have been selected for their colorful variegated leaves, typically with sharp contrast between the colors; the leaves may be green, pink, yellow, maroon, and red (somewhat resembling the unrelated caladium). The plants grow well in moist well-drained soil, and typically grow 0.5-1 m tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 meters. Coleus are typically grown as ornamental plants, though they are sometimes consumed for their alleged psychoactive properties. They are heat-tolerant, though they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. In cultivation in temperate areas, they are often grown as annuals as they are not hardy and become leggy and unattractive with age. In bright hot areas, the colors of the plant will typically be more intense in shaded areas than in full sun, and the plants will require less water there. Coleus also make low-maintenance houseplants, and can often be propagated by clipping a length of stem just below the leaves and putting the stem in water to root. The plant's flowers grow on a stem above that stem's leaves, and tend to be purple and quite small in comparison to the leaves. The plant is not generally grown for its flowers.
[edit] Coleus propagation
There are 2 ways to propagate Coleus.
Seeds are inexpensive and easily obtainable. Sprouts can show color in as little as 2 weeks. If you purchase seeds, you get the added benefit of many color options. They should be sown in a layer of moistened potting soil in a shallow tray and covered with another thin layer of soil. Covering the tray with a pane of glass or sheet of plastic to retain moisture until the seeds have sprouted. Keep the tray in a warm (65-75 degree F.), well lit (but not full sun) place. When the seedlings are large enough to handle easily, they should be thinned out and transplanted into individual pots.
Cuttings (or Striking) of Coleus are extremely easy to start. You can create a clone of any Coleus you would like to grow by taking softwood stem cuttings at any time of the year. Use a sharp clean knife to cut the stem just below a leaf node. Remove the lowest leaves, dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and insert it into some fresh potting soil. The cuttings will wilt but, with soil that is just kept damp, they will return to full form in just a few days (about a week). Coleus are simple to propagate. You can just break a tip off and you will find it will also root quickly in a glass of room temperature tap water.
Any frost will cause them to die so make your cuttings before your 1st frost in the fall and plant in pots to retain for the following year. By removing the small flower spikes as they develop, and keeping the plant pinched back, the Coleus can be kept in a perennial state for several seasons. As soon as they set seed, they feel they have fulfilled their duty and soon die.
