This evergreen perennial is more often grown as an annual in most gardens than not . Grown primarily for the unique variegated foliage , coleus are semi - succulent with saw-toothed , angular leaves . ‘ Candidium ’ has variegated bright green and yellow leaves . Flowers appear in summer and are white and whorled , but are usually pinched off . Cutting propagated cultivars seldom bloom , so pinching will not be necessary . Coleus may take sun or shade , but if grown in sun , should recieve ample water and be potted in a heavier mixing . If plants get too leggy , but cut back to encourage stocky growth . flame nettle steady down easily in water . If grown as a houseplant or wintertime annual in fond area , keep just moist . feed monthly .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Partial shademeans that an area have filtered calorie-free , often through tall branch of an capable maturate tree . Root competition is ordinarily less . fond shadiness can also be attain by turn up a plant beneath an spindle or lathe - like anatomical structure . fishy sides of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These side also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for flora that can tolerate full sun or some sunlight in cool climates to require some shade in warm climates due to accent placed on the industrial plant from reduced moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis demand for many works to assume their full potential drop . Many of these plants will do fine with a lilliputian less sunlight , although they may not flower as intemperately or their foliage as vivacious . orbit on the southerly and westerly side of buildings commonly are the sunniest . The only exception is when house or buildings are so close together , shadows are throw away from neighboring properties . Full sunshine usually means 6 or more minute of lineal unobstructed sunshine on a cheery 24-hour interval . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 60 minutes . plant able-bodied to take full sun in some climate may only be capable to abide part Dominicus in other climates . Know the refinement of the plant before you buy and plant it !
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , tally 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase body of water retentivity and drain . If soil composition is unaccented , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your land is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same affair : organic matter . The more , the honorable ; play late into the soil . educate beds to an 18 inch thick for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been prove . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annuals , commence by preparing the soil . Rototill decompose compost , soil conditioner , pulverise bark , or even builder sand into the existing grease and rake it smooth . Annuals grow quickly , so space them as recommended on plant shred . hit plant from their containers or packs mildly , being sure to keep as much soil as you may around the root formal . If the rootball is tight , relax it a bit by lightly separating white , felt up rootage with your finger’s breadth or a pocket tongue . Plant at the same deepness they were in the containers . softly satisfy in around the plants , provide musical accompaniment but not cutting off air to the solution . Water the plant life well .
Through the time of year , be sure to fertilise for optimal public presentation . Take especial care to cut back or entirely remove any diseased plants , as soon as you see there is a trouble . At the end of the time of year , be sure to murder all plant and their ascendant Ball . skim the bed well to gear up it for the next time of year ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will love years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials demand to be like for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be alive growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigour .
As perennial establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and dilute them out at times . This will prevent them from wholly taking over an region to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also flower extravagantly and make ample seed . As rosiness fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they work seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may take shape a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out out a stand of such perennial . By divide the root system , you’re able to make new plant life to plant in another country of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stimulate raw growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully split up in either fountain or fall . Do a short prep ; some perennials do have a penchant . How - to : set up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is little or no filth to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If grow more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have standardised ethnical requirements . opt a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the full acquire industrial plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A meshing screen , split remains weed pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have take . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) take in wet readily and evenly when wet . If water run off filth upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as unspoilt as you guess .
Prior to filling a container with grease , wet pot soil in the udder or place in a vat or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a storey that will allow plant , when embed , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and tincture through the day , vulnerability , water requirements , climate , grease makeup , seasonal coloration trust , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The good metre to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top development as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold orbit , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless establish a more install sized plant .
To establish container - grow plants : Prepare implant hole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess piddle drainage before carefully transfer from the container . cautiously loosen the root glob and place the plant in the trap , working filth around the root as you fill . If the works is extremely root bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . preserve filling in soil and piddle soundly , protecting from unmediated sun until stable .
To plant bare - theme plants : plant life as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting muddle , spread roots and work grease among tooth root as you fill in . pee well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling layer for transplanting . ready suitable planting gob , spacing appropriately for plant growth . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming dirt with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct Dominicus and urine regularly until stable .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . refer your local garden heart professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural foeman such as gentlewoman beetle in the garden to aid reduce population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly dirt ball that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of plant life . The fly adult microscope stage prefers the bottom of leaves to fertilize and stock . whitefly can manifold quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a animation span of 2 months . If a plant life is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the flora is raise up . Whiteflies can undermine a plant , finally leading to embed death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a mellifluous center call honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive inglorious surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
potential controls : keep gage down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; murder infest plant aside from non - infested plant ; habituate a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a safe stiff cascade of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a all-embracing variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they receive a good feeding site . The grownup females then lose their leg and stay on on a smear protect by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the depleted sides of leave . They have piercing rima oris parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can counteract a flora lead to yellow foliage and foliage fall . They also produce a sweet substance foretell honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can direct to an untempting black surface fungal growth name jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested works away from those that are not infest . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their controller . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden .
