how long do coleus plants live for indoors

Timing. Many, however, thrive in pots under the right conditions. It will live for many years if you position it near a bright window, safely away from drafts and intense heat sources. You can also propagate them and keep them as houseplants for winter! Surprisingly, they are members of the huge When the weather begins to turn cold you will need to take some precautions to ensure a healthy coleus in the spring. Step 1 - Bring It Indoors Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. This insect will munch on more than 300 different plants in your garden and flower bed. Plan to sow them indoors, eight to 12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. By the time spring arrives and all danger of frost has passed, your cutting will be ready to plant in a container and enjoyed outdoors.Living in California, Michelle Ullman is a professional writer with particular expertise in home, garden and pet/nature topics.

Spread the seeds over the surface of the soil and cover them with a very thin layer of soil.

The leaves can even come in burgundy, green and yellow, like "Chocolate Drops. If you have a particularly beautiful specimen you want to enjoy year after year, take a cutting in fall. Though coleus does produce spikes of lavender flowers, you'll appreciate it most for the colorful leaves, which typically look like a rounded triangle with scalloped edges. Because seeds require light to germinate, sow them on the surface. They will grow in fertile, well-watered soil in either full sun or shade.

Keep in temperatures of 65°F to 75°F (24°C – 27°C) and protect from frost. Cover the tray with a piece of glass or a sheet of plastic to raise the humidity, and remove the cover as soon as the seeds germinate. The key is knowing how to identifty each type of insect's eggs before they hatch and take over.

Watch this video to learn how to pinch annuals and tropical perennials.

Once you've had the pleasure of growing coleus, you'll want to enjoy it year-round.If you live in the mildest winter areas of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, your coleus has a good chance of surviving the winter outdoors. Coleus seeds take 10 to 20 days to germinate and grow slowly at first. Toggle Navigation Guaranteed Satisfaction Free Shipping On Orders Over $40

Her work is published on many websites. With some of the most colorful foliage of any plant, coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) is a showstopper in a shady garden. Keep the plant pinched back to promote branching and a balanced shape. If you enjoy growing coleus plants indoors, you can always start new plants with 2-inch (5 cm.) Germination takes 10 - 12 days if kept at 72 degrees F. They are also simple to propagate from cuttings.

Other leaf shapes are frilly, skinny or deeply notched, depending on the cultivar. A coleus plant is hardy, able to survive in both a container indoors and in the soil outside. They're hungry and they're not picky eaters! Getting More Plants.

If you plan to start the seeds outdoors, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm.
Gardeners have been planting coleus as edging for years.

Water it regularly, but don't let it sit in water or soggy soil. There are about 60 species of coleus, all native to Asia and Malaysia. The tiny seeds are easily washed away, so plant them when you aren't expecting heavy rains. After they germinate you can clip individual seedlings out of the tray with scissors until they are far enough apart that you can later transplant them into individual pots without disturbing the roots of nearby plants. Acclimating indoor plants to the outdoors is best done in stages. "The latter variety is a creeper whose leaves cascade out of a container or pot. Coleus is also fun propagate; new plants grown from seed will be new creations.

But the coleus is just the sort of plant that you should take note of, because of how versatile it truly is.Coleus is exploding in popularity because there are now versions that not only tolerate sun, they adore it. Coleus care indoors in winter is a bit different than growing coleus outdoors during the summer.

Like coleus grown in the ground, container coleus require well-drained soil. Tips For Coleus Plant Care Indoors. The adult Japanese beetles are out. — Karen, in Essex Junction It's an old-fashioned-yet-versatile plant that has benefited from a facelift over the last decade.

Start by placing your coleus in bright shade on days when temperatures are above sixty degrees.
Tropical houseplants do well indoors because they prefer the same temperature range as we humans do. Splashed with patterns of red, pink, maroon, green and yellow colors in varying intensities, these plants brighten shady borders and make excellent container plants for decks and patios. Transplant the seedlings into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost has passed.Jackie Carroll has been a freelance writer since 1995. For best growth keep your plants in a room where temperatures are between 65°F-75ºF (24C°-27ºC) or even up to 85ºF, avoiding any sudden drops in temperature. They grow rapidly in the spring, but many people don't overwinter them, so they never bother repotting the plant.