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For plant parents who are tired of growing houseplants in fifty different shades of green, coleus plants (Coleus scutellarioides) offer a much-needed break. With leaves displaying a variety of colors and patterns such as vivid red, royal purple, saffron yellow and more, these are the types of plants you decide to bring home immediately. beginners can grow this beautiful and reliable houseplant from seed,, but starting with 4- to 6-inch-long cuttings is more promising. Moreover, since they grow in less than three weeks, the waiting period is reduced.
The best part is, as long as you have a clean water container, you don’t have to waste your time deciding between potting mix and potting mix. Before you jump in, here’s a fun fact: When coleus was rare, Victorian plant lovers turned to this highly soil-less, water-based growing technique to decorate their homes with plants. To clear up any confusion about growing coleus without soil, House Digest spoke exclusively with Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of The Houseplant Guru. She said the following: “Take a clipping from a plant that is in good health. After soaking, remove any leaves that are below the surface.” But that’s just the beginning.
Read more: 10 Tips For Easily Repotting Your Favorite Plants
Keep Coleus Leaves Out Of The Water
Along with running @thehouseplantguru on Instagram, Steinkoff says, “Make sure the water level isn’t low, because they’ll rot and cause problems for the whole cutting.” This is the second part of her exclusive interaction with House Digest. This indicates that you should soak the cuttings longer to remove the least amount of leaves. If not, germs can grow and contaminate the cut stem. However, don’t lose hope if that happens; Our houseplant expert has a solution.
“If the bottom of your cutting starts to darken, you’ll need to remove the rotten part and re-cut it,” Steinkopf says. She also cautions, “Make sure a healthy portion of the stem is cut off before placing it in water.” This will help you reduce your business expenses. However, in the meantime, where do you put soilless containers? “Give it good bright light, but not full sun,” promoters say. Most coleus varieties need a heating pad if temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and they do best within 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Change Out Your Coleus Cuttings’ Water Regularly And Mix In Soluble Fertilizer
Additionally, growers need to be aware of certain mistakes that growers make to ensure effective growth and maintenance of their coleus plants. These flaws were identified by our expert, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf. First, returning to the earlier point of bacterial accumulation, she talks about how households fail to take advantage of the opportunity to replace old water with new water. Because of this, she says, “the water should be changed regularly.” She suggests changing the water every four to six days, or sooner if it fogs up.
But that is not enough. A plant also needs to be fed. This makes sense because the roots are still growing and there is no medium in the soil to absorb nutrients. In a House Digest exclusive, Steinkopf adds, “When the water is changed, it’s helpful to add a little fertilizer.” After about a week, your cutting will begin to grow new roots. If your coleus plant is to be submerged, this becomes even more important. The question remains, though: should we? Our resident houseplant expert is not too happy. I have found that growing coleus in water indefinitely is not the greatest idea. For over a year, I managed to keep it expanding.”
You’re curious why? Weak plants develop when water-planted roots aren’t tough enough. Undoubtedly underwhelming, but Steinkopf Suggest an alternative. “Move them into the soil when the roots are approximately 1 inch long.” Since coleus is a thirsty plant, most potting mix or garden soil will work as long as it holds water.