I've grown some lovely coleus plants from seed but the leaves are enormous, much bigger than any I've seen in people's homes. I want them to be fairly short and bushy and I know that I must not let them flower. However, can anyone tell me if it is O.K. to pinch out the very top growth and remove some of the very large leaves? Will this make the side shoots grow more and give me the thick bushy look that I want? I'm v-e-r-y new to this, as you can probably tell. Emma
I pinch out the growing tips of coleus Emma and remove leaves that are too large. It doesn't seem to do the plant any harm and, usually, the plant does bush up more after doing this. Coleus come in so many delightful colour combinations that they have become a favourite plant of mine. Such a pity that here in Scotland they can only be grown as summer bedding plants or indoor plants. Good luck with yours. Do let us know how you get on with them won't you? WELCOME to gardenStew.m Why not introduce yourself to our members so that we can get to know you?
Coleus Thank you Eileen. It seems that I am, more or less, doing the right thing. I removed the extremely large leaves a few days ago. They were looking rather limp anyway. They now look much healthier but yesterday were covered in small white 'things' that looked like anaemic green-fly!!! I placed them outside overnight hoping that this would kill the insects but not the plants (rather risky in October I know) but I think it has worked. I'm going to re-pot them today in new compost just to be on the safe side. I hope they survive but if not I'll plant some more. I hope next time to get an assortment of colours. Even though the pack of seeds said 'mixed' colours all mine are exactly the same - so far. Thanks for your help. Emma.
I'm sorry to report that I've killed them all - except the one I gave away!! I'm guessing that I overwatered them. I was away for a week and gave them a lot of water before I left. They looked very limp when I got back so I gave them a lot more and they have simply expired. I have plenty of seed left and intend to try again but could anyone tell me how I should water them in future and how do you cope with the watering if you have to go away and there is no-one that can do it for you? Emma
In summer I put them outside and count on rain. In winter I use half-litre plastic bottles that I fill with water and put upside-down into the soil.
I love the coleus too! Our climate must be like yours, Droopy . . . as we must bring them in for winter. When my mother lived in Florida . . . they were outside plants. (I was amazed!) Emma . . . I, too, pinch, pinch, pinch . . . I am sorry your plants died. I do not have much luck with seeds . . . so I buy plants . . . (only after they go on the clearance shelf!) Then I nurse them back to health.
Thank you very much. I think it is too cold here at the moment to have put them outdoors. I was growing them all indoors, from the start, with the intention of giving some away and keeping one of each colour. Well that was the idea but that was thwarted from the start because ALL, except one, were identical. The odd one was plain green, all the others were red with green edges. Nothing like the variety shown on the packet. However, there are an awful lot of seeds in the packet so I might as well use the half I have left and give it another go. If that fails again I will buy a plant and perhaps take cuttings. I've done that once before, many years ago, and it was very successful. I ended up giving dozens away to a school fete and they were extremely popular. Only problem there though is that they will all be the same colour again because the cuttings will be clones of the original. What I really want is some variety so it's worth another try with the seeds. Emma
