How to Grow Coleus From Seeds
Growing Coleus from seeds is as simple as growing a bunch of radishes. The seed itself is just a bit larger than a petunia seed. The seeds can actually be planted at any time of the year where you can provide a warm environment for them. When started inside if you begin your seeds in February you will have them ready to plant outside around May. Coleus seeds are very fine thus they will require well-drained soil in containers which can be protected from scorching sun and heavy rain. For your growing medium I recommend using one that you would grow African violets in. You want it light and rich but not over-fertilized. If using any sort of topsoil be sure to sift it through a screen wire several times until it is very fine.
Plant your coleus in pots that are three to four inches deep with plenty of drainage. The containers should be well filled giving the new plants plenty of room to grow. When planting, wet the soil slightly and sprinkle the seed thinly on top, sifting over them with enough soil to hide the seed. Do not cover the seed but rather give the soil a gentle firming with your palm than set the pot in warm water allowing the moisture to come up from the bottom so as not to disturb the seeds. When you see water on the top of the soil it is time to remove the pot from the water and wrap some plastic on top of the container to create a mini-greenhouse and place it in partial shade, but warm spot to await germination. Keep in mind that Coleus will not propagate if the soil is dried out or if the surrounding temperature is below 60 degrees. Seeds should normally germinate by the fifth day.
As your new seedlings begin to sprout you will immediately recognize them. Now give them plenty of direct sunlight if it is not too hot but remember never let the soil dry out. Coleus' have very shallow roots and will easily die. If you notice over crowding in the pot then it is time to transplant your seedlings which is surprisingly simple to do. Merely place them in individual pots or plant them as a group several inches apart. Your plants should never be crowded and they can be transplanted at any age. Always protect them from the harsh sunlight, high winds and heavy rains. As they start to grow you will notice a vast assortment of different designs and colors which makes growing coleus from seedlings especially intriguing.
Many people like to pinch the buds of these plants to encourage additional growth but believe me when a coleus plant begins blooming there is no stopping it. That inevitable bud sprouting will take place and continue as long as the temperatures are warm and favorable. Once your plants are mature allow some to go to seed so you have a fresh supply for the following spring. The coleus flowers appear rather quickly with its large range of colors which continues to grow all throughout the season. Crosses created between coleus are one of the factors which make this such a fascinating plant. You never know what your new plant will look like.
When obtaining next years supply of seeds keep in mind that they tend to scatter rather easily and it is important to remove the pods as soon as they turn a yellow shade. After the seeds have dried rub then between your hands and blow on them lightly to remove the chaff. Defective plants which have unsatisfactory leaf shapes or color should be destroyed and not allowed to bloom or go to seed. You want to keep the healthiest and showiest of your collection for future growth. This means eliminating those with dull color or pale shades, and those which appear to be spindly. My wife's Coleus are just starting to bloom and heading for seeds at this time.
Your final Coleus plants should reveal colors ranging from a velvet looking purple-black, with slightly green edges to white and green combinations. You may obtain some with shades of brown, red and pink or various combined of green, yellow, or cream. You will be surprised at the wide array of colorful leaves these plants have.
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