Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) Cutting Propagation Methods: How to Sow Coleus Seeds

Coleus is a foliage ornamental plant, its leaves are generally a mix of red and green, and some varieties have different forms, very beautiful. Coleus is currently very popular among consumers, and many people want to grow it. However, before planting, you need to understand its cultivation techniques.

Coleus Cutting Propagation Methods

1. Timing. Coleus propagation methods include sowing and cutting, among which cutting propagation is the simplest. It can be done throughout the year, except in winter when low temperatures slow rooting; spring and summer have suitable temperatures, making them the best seasons for cutting.

2. Branches. Coleus is a perennial herbaceous plant, but in homes it is mostly grown as an annual. It is very suitable for propagation by tip cuttings. Select stem sections with a terminal bud, 3 to 5 nodes, and a length of 5 to 10 cm as cuttings. After cutting the cuttings, trim some of the leaves to avoid excessive leaf loss of water causing cutting failure. Usually all the leaves on the lower part of the branch should be cut off, and keeping just a few leaves on the upper part is enough.

3. Method. Coleus grows quickly, and healthy branches can be directly inserted as single cuttings into flower pots with a diameter of 7.5 cm. After successful cutting, they can be maintained directly in the pot. If there is more space at home and the environment is suitable, they can be cut in a larger planter.

How to Sow Coleus Seeds

1. Coleus can be sown by the pot-sowing method in all four seasons. First, it is generally done in warm March. You can mix decomposed humus soil and plain sandy soil thoroughly, then put it into a seedling pot.

2. Then place the seedling pot containing fine sandy soil into water to soak and moisten it thoroughly, then sow according to the method for sowing small seeds, cover with a thin layer of soil, and then cover with a glass plate or plastic film.

3. During this period, keep the pot soil moist and water reasonably. After a period of time, it will take root, sprout, and grow into seedlings, after which you can divide and transplant the seedlings.

How to Water Coleus

1. During the period when the plant grows quickly, replenish water in time and do not let the surrounding environment become too dry. Generally, in spring and autumn, when the pot soil turns white and the weight of the clay pot noticeably becomes lighter, you can add sufficient water. But do not add too much, otherwise the plant will grow too tall.

2. In summer, because the leaves of this plant are relatively large, evaporation is also high, so you must water enough. Otherwise, the plant will wilt. But when watering during this period, first place the plant in a shady place to lower the temperature of the clay pot before watering (this is done so the roots will not be damaged by temperature differences), and water thoroughly. In winter, you must strictly control the amount and frequency of watering, and you can choose to water once every two to three days.

How to Fertilize Coleus

1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer. When planting coleus, people usually choose soil mixed with 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts garden soil, and 1 part rice husk ash. Many people neglect applying base fertilizer. In most potted plants bought directly from the market, the seller has already prepared the soil and applied the base fertilizer. So after bringing them home, you can directly maintain them. But if you repot them yourself, be sure to add some organic fertilizer and bone meal to the pot soil as base fertilizer. In addition, an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer can be added to the pot soil to promote bright leaf color.

2. Fertilization method. Timely topdressing. Coleus likes fertilizer, so apply topdressing in time during maintenance. During the peak growing season, apply a compound fertilizer once a month. In addition, when fertilizing, the proportion of phosphate fertilizer can be appropriately increased. At the same time, coleus should also avoid excessive nitrogen application, otherwise the leaves will be dull. After each pinching, apply cake fertilizer water or human manure and urine once. After the beginning of autumn, the temperature is suitable and growth accelerates, so apply light fertilizer frequently, and if necessary, add 0.1% urea for foliar spraying. Thin liquid fertilizer can be applied as topdressing 3 times throughout the year.

3. Avoid sudden increases and decreases. Coleus likes fertilizer, but it should not be fertilized too much. If watering and fertilizing are excessive, it is easy to cause the plant to grow excessively, with thin and weak leaves, longer branches, overly long internodes, and relatively sparse leaves, greatly reducing ornamental value.

The most common method for coleus is cutting propagation, and its method is also very simple: first choose a suitable time, then carry out propagation. If you want coleus to grow well, fertilizer and water are of course indispensable. Timely watering and fertilizing can make it grow better.