Growing coleus from seed.

Iris, fantastic pictures of your successful growing of coleus from seeds. They are so decorative or ornamental that every garden should have them. They can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. I will include them in my terrace garden.

Sharad

-- Bagwan-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein

Beautiful foliage! I planted some from seeds this year also, but not nearly as many as you did. They have done well for me. You have inspired me to seek out some of the truly different ones for next year.

-- jroot ....... Southern Ontario .......... grow zone 5A ...................."Gardening is an exercise in optimism." ....... . . Author Unknown

Okay, that’s going to be top on my seed purchase list for next year. Lovely, Iris43.

-- There's a box?

You’re right, Sharad, the coleus is easily propagated through cuttings if I was trying to save some through the winter. But since I go away during the winter for 4 weeks or more, I would need someone to ‘baby-sit’ the plants. This is why I find starting from seed works best for me. The seed is relatively inexpensive and so far my friends and relatives have been happy to relieve me of any excess seedlings I produce.

Jroot, I’d be interested in seeing pics of the coleus you are growing. Do you think you will try and save seed from them? I am going to try and catch the seed from some of my favorites from the New Brilliant Mix. There was such a lot of variety in that pkg of seed…...and some were different from the ones I grew last year.

Joel, while coleus is strickly an ordamental plant, I think you will enjoy growing it. I’ll be looking for them in your pictures next year. :)

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

Iris, the coleus I grew this year were nothing spectacular. It was interesting though, just to try. Next year …

-- jroot ....... Southern Ontario .......... grow zone 5A ...................."Gardening is an exercise in optimism." ....... . . Author Unknown

I understand, jroot. I know you have other priorities with the brugs, dahlias and geraniums.

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

Iris, here is a quick shot of my seedlings – taken tonight after work, and before company arrives.

Nothing special. Just nice shade plants under the tree and behind some miscanthus sinensis malepartus ornamental grass.

-- jroot ....... Southern Ontario .......... grow zone 5A ...................."Gardening is an exercise in optimism." ....... . . Author Unknown

Are coleus sun or shade loviing. How does it handle the heat?

-- There's a box?

Jroot, your coleus are beautiful! Are they from McKenzie’s ‘New Brilliant Mix’? I think your setting is perfect for them with the delicate-coloured impatiens in front and the long grasses behind. Very nice!

Joel, I find the new varieties of coleus are very tolerant of the sun, although they do still require some shade. They need to be kept well watered, but otherwise did well in the extreme heat we experienced this summer.

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

Perfect information. I hope it really work out. Nice explaination with pics also.

-- http://www.hellotrade.com/tenders/

Iris: I found your blog very informative. Each year, I buy a couple of Coleus as I love their bright colours. Jroot and Sharad have both said that they are easy to grow…I think that I will try starting them from cuttings and from seed. But just a few seeds as I do not want to have too many! Thank you for the info! I want to grow some red ones and start some of the bright green and white that I already have. So, thank you again.

Great post, Iris. I really like the bright variety of colors you can find in coleus leaves. They can really brighten up a shady area in the garden. If they were only perennials or would only reseed themselves right in my garden…. Instead I will just enjoy the photos that you and Jroot post.

-- "To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves." M. Gandhi

I love the way you have mixed all the different colors of the coleus together Iris.They look really great.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Very nice information!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Never time to do it right but always time to do it over....grrrrrrrrr!