flame nettle industrial plant are light to like for , scummy - maintenance , and grow quickly , which makes them ideal for father .
But the first step toward tot the colored foliage to your garden is study how to manage for them properly .
This elaborate usher is designed to help anyone successfully grow flame nettle , no matter your skill level . get a line the dear location and soil type , plus how to water supply , feed , prune , and much more .
Colorful mix of coleus plants
tabular array of table of contents
Quick Coleus Care Overview
Information About Coleus Plants
flame nettle is a tropical tender repeated native to Asia that is popular for its colorful foliage . It ’s part of the Lamiaceae , or dead nettle family , which is how it got its second common name , ‘ painted nettle ’ .
The plants tramp in size from 6 ” to 3 ’ tall , with a bed covering between 1 - 3 ’ widely , and leaves that are between 1 - 6 ” in distance .
The foliage can be ellipse , pointed , scalloped , or serrated , and sport a multitude of colors such as orange , burgundy , green , red , pink , orange , maroon , and clean .
Different Types Of Coleus Plants
There are two main types of flame nettle plants – trailing and mounded – and the care essential are the same for all .
The mounded diverseness are more common , have just succinct growth , and are mainly used as border or filler plants .
Trailing types have long tendrils , and are idealistic for hanging hoop or ground covers . There are many cultivar to suit your specific garden pauperism , here are a few of the most democratic .
Hardiness
Though they are technically perennial , flame nettle is not a cold hardy flora . So you could only produce it outdoors year - round if you live in zones 10 - 11 , where the winter are mild .
Temperatures below 40 ° F ( 4.4 ° C ) will damage the foliage , while anything below 32 ° F ( 0 ° C ) will belt down the flora .
But if you live somewhere cold , you may easilymove your flame nettle indoors for winterto keep it awake .
Flowers
In the late summertime coleus plant will farm flower stalks with rows of small blue or white flowers . The flower are peanut , but bee and other pollinators do it them .
If you do n’t wish how they look you’re able to cut them off , which will facilitate encourage the industrial plant to airt energy toward producing more leafage .
Toxicity
Coleus plant are toxic to computed axial tomography and bounder , according to theASPCA website , and can cause pelt irritation as well .
If you ’re concerned about this , it ’s best to grow this plant life out of reach of your pets and children .
How To Grow Coleus
Before we pass over into how to deal for flame nettle plants , let ’s first confab about the best place to raise them . opt the right location affects how quick they get and the plangency of the foliage .
Where To Grow Coleus
The good place to grow coleus will depend on the specific variety you choose . Some prefer full sunshine , while others do best with fond shade .
Either direction , choose a spot that ’s protect from tip , which can bust the root word , and that has well - draining , fertile soil .
They do great in container too , just make certain you habituate a pot that has drain gob so they do n’t get waterlogged .
Coleus Plant Care & Growing Instructions
Now that you have the best location in mind , it ’s time to learn about how to worry for your coleus . The pourboire below are cardinal to a keep a palmy , hefty plant life .
Light
The specific amount of brightness level your flame nettle needs depends on the character you grow . Certain cultivars are bred to tolerate full sunshine , while others will wilt or scorch with too much and they need more ghost .
A undecomposed rule of thumb is to provide at least 6 hours of verbatim sunlight a day . opt a situation that has lots of vivid morning or evening exposure where the flora will be protected in the good afternoon when the sun is hottest .
Too much shade , however , will slow down growth and cause the colors to be mute or less vivacious . So be sure to give it wad of bright light .
Water
flame nettle industrial plant do not tolerate very lactating or very ironical conditions . Too little water will cause slowed growth , droop , and browning , while too much can lead to rot or fungal disease .
Keep the soil passably damp , but not inert or wet . To preserve the double-dyed Libra the Scales , water system when the top 1 - 2 ” is dry .
Amoisture gauge probecan help you get it just right ; seem for a reading between 5 - 6 before watering again .
Humidity
Average to high humidity is ideal for coleus . Most regions wo n’t have an egress with that for outdoor plants .
If you live in an waterless climate or deal with heat energy waves , keep your plant well watered and protect it from the rough good afternoon sun .
Temperature
flame nettle flora do not wish the cold , and they ’ll get best when it ’s between 60 - 100 ° F ( 15.5 - 37.7 ° atomic number 6 ) .
Once it sink below 60 ° F , the flora will slow down or intercept growing , and anything below 40 ° F could damage the leafage . Many varieties can pull round down to 32 ° F ( 0 ° coke ) for a unretentive stop of time , but will snuff it if it hold up very long .
Though they ’re very resistant of hotter temporary worker , prolong oestrus Wave can have wilt and scorching for some cultivars . Provide good afternoon shade and water your plant more often to aid prevent that .
Fertilizer
flame nettle are not overweight feeders , peculiarly in fertile soil , but regular feeding as part of your even care routine can help them grow impregnable and give the foliage a boost .
implement aslow - release granuleat planting fourth dimension and once more mid - summertime . Or , use a dilute ecumenical function liquid fertilizer , likecompost teaorfish photographic emulsion , once a calendar month from spring through fall .
avert any that are high in phosphorus , which will boost the plant to bloom rather than put on more foliage .
Soil
flame nettle plants are not too picky about grease . But they get well in rich , loose , and well - drain mix that are electroneutral to acidulent , which you may check usinga pH probe .
Amend your garden beds withcompostin the spring to improve drainage and give the plants a cost increase of nutrition . This is especially important for heavy or clay - found or too arenaceous soils .
For containerized works ageneral purpose potting soilwill oeuvre well , or you may commingle in someperliteorpumiceto improve drainage .
Transplanting & Repotting
The good time to transpose your coleus is in the bounce . waitress to plant them into the garden until all risk of freeze has reach and the temperature is consistently above 60 ° F ( 15.5 ° C ) .
Mid - spring is the good time to repot containerized plants that have outgrown their current pot .
Prepare the new location or container onwards of time , then lightly dig up the plant . Trim away any damaged or rotted roots , and replant it at the same depth it was before . satiate in with soil and body of water well .
Pruning
you could prune your coleus plants on a regular basis to encourage bushier growth and moderate the shape . Pinch the tips off or use sharp , cleanprecision prunersto cut back the stems just above a leaf joint .
Trim back blooming spikes as they look if you ’d like . pollinator fuck the flowers , but it take on a tidy sum of energy from the plant . Cutting them off can help redirect that push to more foliage growth .
Pest Control Tips
Healthy flame nettle plant life do n’t have many outlet with pests , but mealybugs , spider soupcon , aphids , and whitefly can be a trouble on occasion , especially indoors .
process the leaf withneem oilor a naturalinsecticidal liquid ecstasy . It ’s easy to make your own by flux 1 teaspoonful ofmild liquid soapwith 1 liter of water .
Deer can sometimes enjoy snacking on the leafage as well . you may trya deterrent spray , or simply raise your works in a hanging pot or other out - of - compass container if furry pests become a problem .
Coleus Propagation Tips
It ’s very well-off to circularize flame nettle from stem carving , or you could grow by starting seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before your last rime appointment in the spring .
Take healthy cuttings before the cold atmospheric condition collision in the downfall . withdraw all but the top set of folio , then dip the cut stop intorooting hormone .
Plant it in a wanton , well - drain medium . Keep it softly moist , warm , and in collateral light until roots have mold , then pot it up . you may learnhow to propagate flame nettle in my step by step guide .
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Coleus are in general very gentle to care for , but no plant is problem free . If you operate into one of these more unwashed issues , my hint can get you back on caterpillar tread .
Coleus Plant Not Growing
A flame nettle plant that wo n’t grow usually indicates lack of light , temperature issues , or hard grease .
Make certain the flora get at least 6 hours of unmediated sunlight a day and the temperature stays above 60 ° farad .
If you have clay - based , sandy , or compacted filth , amend your garden withcompostto better the nutrients and help oneself loosen it up . Use agood quality mixin containers .
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves on your flame nettle are a symptom of unlawful lachrymation , want of light , bugs , or cold pic .
check that your flora is getting at least 6 hour of sun , and keep the soil evenly moist but never smashed .
Check for signs of dirt ball and treat any you see right away . If you know somewhere cold , then move your plant indoors before it drop below 60 ° F to prevent damage .
Brown Leaves
Brown leave of absence could mean too much sun , improper watering , or Robert Lee Frost damage . Rot is a common issue for overwatered coleus , so make certain you do n’t impregnate the land , but do n’t allow it to dry out wholly either .
lineal sun , especially on raging days , or vulnerability to rime can also stimulate brown , curled leafage . So always protect your works from extreme temperature .
FAQs
flame nettle can thrive in either pots or the ground , as long as they get enough light , have well - drain soil , and the temperature stay above 60 ° F .
flame nettle can come back every year in maturate zones 10 - 11 , where temperatures do n’t get too inhuman . In cool regions they will not occur back .
Coleus plant can last for several year as long as you protect them from freezing temperatures , or you exist in zones 10 - 11 where they are perennial . Otherwise handle them like annual .
You should cut the flowers off of your flame nettle if your end is to have a broad and bushy works . cut off the bloom spikes allows the plant to focalize its vigor on leaf ontogeny . However , pollinators do like the flowers , so deciding to remove them can be a trade-off .
Coleus can grow either indoors or out of doors very well as long as it has well - drained , damp grime , warm temperatures , and plenty of light .
Coleus grows better in a location that ’s protect from wind , receives 6 + hours of sun per day , and has just - draining fertile soil .
