For versatility and color in your garden, plant assorted coleus in beds or borders. Coleus also makes an excellent container plant, thriving during summer sun in groups native to the tropics.
Cultivate lush and healthy coleus plants with some tips from gardening experts.
Want to grow beautiful, colorful Coleus? Keep reading to find out how!
Table of Contents
How to Make Coleus Bushy?
You can make coleus bushy by routinely pinching the stems and leaves from the plant. Over time, the main stem or trunk of your coleus will become strong and support a larger, fuller plant. Regular feeding with a diluted liquid fertilizer can also promote growth.
Coleus Care
Coleuses are easy to care for and not demanding plants at all, but if you want bushy coleus, there are some tips and tricks to know.
For this reason, coleus is a great plant for beginner gardeners or for those that don’t want to spend all their free time taking care of their plants.
It is important to make time to repot coleus periodically as coleus can outgrow their container regularly. Coleus grows fast so plan ahead with a bigger container than necessary.
For bushy coleus, keep the soil moist but not wet and provide plenty of light for your coleus but not direct sunlight as it may burn young or recently transplanted plants.
Consider the following care tips for a hardy and bushy coleus plant!
The Right Light
Coleus can thrive in full shade, but does best with indirect, filtered sunlight. If you want a bushier plant, make sure that it gets adequate light but not directly on the foliage as it could burn.
If the plant looks faded or lackluster, it could be a sign of too much sun. If your bushy coleus suddenly starts losing its leaves, it may be getting a draft.
Make sure the room temperature’s warm.
Good Quality Soil
You will get good results and bushy coleus if you plant in a pot that is slightly bigger than the plant needs and if you use a loose, airy potting mix.
It is imperative that the soil you use is well-draining, with nutrients that the plant needs to thrive. Dense, heavy soil can cause the roots to become overly wet, causing root rot.
Coleus prefers soil that is slightly acidic, too.
Water with Care
Coleus plants do not like to be dried out and are not considered to be drought tolerant. Keep your plant moist but not so wet that it can foster root rot.
In warm weather or hot conditions, water a couple of times daily to ensure your coleus gets what it needs to be lush and bushy.
Consider lining the container with plastic to retain moisture during summer temperatures if you keep the plant outside or in a warmer environment.
Some clay containers can absorb the water intended for the plants!
Feeding a Coleus
Want to see your coleus make leaps and strides in terms of growth? Add slow-release fertilizer regularly to the soil when you pot your coleus.
Regularly feed the coleus with a liquid, houseplant fertilizer every week when watering.
Remember that important nutrients can get washed away with regular watering and coleus is a frequently watered plant. Feed and often fertilize for thick, bushy coleus plants!
Plan to Prune
If you want bushy coleus, plan to prune your plant regularly. If you do not train the plant with pruning and trimming, it can become scraggly with long tendrils that are not lush or appealing to the eye.
Trim the tops to curb vertical growth and to inspire thicker foliage.
If the plant seems thin and not bushy, move it to a spot with more light.
Coleus Climate and Conditions
Remember that coleus likes it warm, but not direct sun to prevent the foliage from burning. If your coleus plant gets too cold, you may notice the leaves turning dark, even black.
Ideally, a coleus-like indoor climate hovers around 70-degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) with filtered, ambient lighting.
Since coleus is actually a tropical plant, keep the air humid and moist with a humidifier for optimal results!
Propagating a Coleus
Naturally, you will want to recreate your bushy coleus by planting more and propagating your prized plant.
Save trimmings when you prune the plant to propagate coleus plants later by placing these stems- after removing leaves- in a glass of water. Keep in a warm, sunny spot until roots appear.
Replace the water as necessary or when it turns brown. When the roots are developed, you can transplant them to a container of good quality soil in a sunny location.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Make Coleus Bushy
How can you start a Coleus plant?
Cut a five-inch piece of stem from a healthy coleus plant. Remove the leaves from the segment that will be placed under the soil. Keep moist to promote root growth.
Are Coleus plants easy to kill?
Coleuses are easy to grow and resilient to many conditions- and they make an excellent indoor plant. Coleus is easy to propagate, too.
What kind of soil does Coleus like best?
Coleus does not like to be dried out, and it isn’t drought tolerant. Furthermore, coleus does not do well sitting in wet soil so use a high-quality mix is well-draining, too. Make sure the soil’s not too dense but airy.
Conclusion
Want a colorful and easy-to-maintain landscape? Incorporate coleus in your beds, borders, and gardens.
Coleus is an eye-catching choice that thrives widely. Use these tips to make your coleus hardy and bushy.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.