Its colourful, velvety-soft ornamental leaves make flowering a minor matter. The coleus inspires on the sunny balcony, as an opulent houseplant or trumps in summer borders. Making the right choice from the overwhelming diversity of varieties presents the gardener with a greater challenge than the uncomplicated cultivation. The following answers to frequently asked questions explain why this is the case.

The coleus is a distinctive beauty for home and garden

Plant stinging nettle correctly

Only plant colored nettles in the bed when the temperature is permanently above 12-14 degrees Celsius. The leafy beauties can be planted in the pot all year round, as long as the move to the balcony takes place in mid-May at the earliest. Please pay particular attention to the following aspects:

  • Thoroughly loosen the bed soil, weed it and enrich it with acidic leaf compost or standardized soil
  • In pots and balcony boxes, use peat soil with some broken pottery as drainage over the floor opening
  • Before untamping, place the root ball in lime-free water until no more air bubbles rise
  • Plant a young nettle no deeper than just below the first pair of leaves

After you've watered the tropical grace generously, we recommend a mulch layer of leaves or grass clippings.

care tips

The professional care of a colored nettle is primarily based on an abundant supply of water and nutrients. All other measures follow. How to do it right:

  • Water regularly and spray with soft water
  • Fertilize weekly from May to September with liquid fertilizer for ericaceous plants
  • Pinch off shoots that are too long to a maximum of 50 cm for bushy growth

If the mercury column falls below the 15-degree mark in autumn, put the colored nettles in the pot or window box. A pruning of one to two thirds is now an advantage. In the bright, warm winter quarters, water less and give diluted liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
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Which location is suitable?

The choice of location plays a key role in professional cultivation. In order for the tropical ornamental leaf plant to reach its floral zenith, these basic conditions are important:

  • Bright, sunny location without blazing sun at noon
  • Warm and sheltered, likes high humidity
  • Temperature minimum of 12-14 degrees Celsius
  • Nutrient-rich, fresh, moist soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH

Since Solenostemon do not tolerate cold, they move to the sunny balcony at the earliest in May or are planted in the bed.
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What soil does the plant need?

Choose a nutrient-rich bog bed soil as the pot substrate, as this has the required neutral to slightly acidic pH value. Alternatively, the use of standard soil based on compost is conceivable. The addition of lava granules (€13.99) or expanded clay (€19.73) ensures the desired permeability. Cultivated as an annual in the summer bed, enrich humus-rich, fresh, moist soil with acidic leaf compost or rhododendron soil so that the colored nettle develops splendidly.

When is flowering time?

From June to October, inconspicuous panicles of flowers rise above the magnificent foliage. Since these contribute little to the decorative appearance, experienced gardeners cut off the stems. Thanks to this foresight, you save a coleus the effort required to grow seed heads.

Cut the nettle correctly

A cut at the right time provides valuable services so that the vigorous colored nettle retains its compact habit and does not become sparse. How to do it:

  • Pinch the plant from time to time to encourage bushy growth
  • Cut off the inconspicuous flower panicles consistently
  • Shorten by one to two thirds before putting them into winter quarters

Continuous de-sharpening does not necessarily require the use of scissors. Grasp the shoot just above a leaf or leaf knot between your thumb and forefinger and snap it off.

Watering the stinging nettle

Water your coleus plentifully and regularly. The Asian beauty reacts angrily to dried substrate by shedding its leaves for a short time. This can be necessary every day in summer on the sunny balcony or the bright window sill. Ideally, use soft water so that the pH in the soil does not increase. Spoil the tropical foliage plant from time to time with a gentle spray of lime-free water in the early morning or in the evening.

Fertilize the colored nettle properly

The nutrient requirement of a colored nettle is at a high level. In pot culture, apply a liquid fertilizer for ericaceous plants weekly from May to September. Alternatively, apply a slow-release fertilizer in the form of sticks, cones or granules in April and July. If the Solenostemon overwinters on the warm windowsill, a dose of liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks is sufficient.

hibernate

If the temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius in autumn, put the colored nettle in the pot and window box. In the bright, warm winter quarters or on the sunny window sill, the ornamental leaf plants stay until next spring. Adjust the water supply to the reduced demand. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with diluted liquid fertilizer. In April, repot the hibernated leafy beauties into fresh substrate and gradually get them used to more sunshine and warmer temperatures.
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Multiply stinging nettle

Multiply a colored nettle easily with cuttings. To do this, cut off top cuttings with a length of 10-12 cm in late summer. The lower part is defoliated in order to place the cuttings in pots with poor substrate. A plastic hood creates a warm, humid microclimate that promotes rooting. Keep the soil constantly moist in a partially shaded, warm window seat. Nurture a vigorous young plant until next spring.
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Colored nettle in a pot

Use peat soil or standard soil as a substrate in the pot to meet the desire for a slightly acidic pH value. To prevent waterlogging later, place a potsherd over the bottom opening. In a sunny, warm location on the balcony or windowsill, water the coleus plentifully and regularly with soft water. Fertilize weekly from May to September with a low-lime liquid fertilizer. Pinch off shoots that are too long, because the plant takes on a sparse habit from a growth height of 40-50 cm. In winter, the tropical plant prefers a bright location with temperatures not below 15 degrees Celsius.

Is stinging nettle poisonous?

The colored nettle is assigned to the slightly poisonous plants. Since the cheerfully colored leaves could tempt curious children and pets to eat them, the ornamental foliage plant is not ideal for the family garden. Gardeners who are sensitive to essential oils should wear protective gloves when planting and tending.
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Beautiful varieties

The coleus was formerly known by its botanical name Coleus blumeii. In modern taxonomy, the ornamental leaf plant is listed as Solenostemon. Since this change was recent, you will see the plant sold under both names.

  • Goldmarie: A dream in velvety soft golden yellow with greenish ruffled leaf edges; Growth height 30-60 cm
  • Brilliancy: This Solenostemon hybrid stands out with crimson leaves with delicate yellow markings; Growth height 30-50 cm
  • Sunset: A premium strain with reddish leaves that adorn a golden yellow center; Growth height 30-50 cm
  • Black Dragon: A formidable beauty with purple-red foliage and dark, curving borders; Growth height 50 cm
  • Pink Rainbow: Gorgeous festival of colors with copper-red, green-edged leaves, veined with crimson; Growth height 40-60 cm

Category:

Indoor plants