Do coleus live year-round in Florida?

Coleus is a durable and easy to grow plant, standing up to Florida’s year-round warm temperatures, so you don’t have to be a gardening rock star to have it thrive. Even black thumb gardeners should be successful growing coleus.

How long does a coleus plant live?

one year
While the lifespan of an average coleus plant is one year, you can prolong its life by pruning. Watch out for any small flower buds and prune it before the flower buds bloom. This is because once the plant starts producing flowers and seeds it will soon die.

Does coleus grow well in Florida?

Coleus is a heat-tolerant, durable annual that has very few disease or insect problems. These plants, which are native to Malaysia and parts of Asia, can really thrive in your Florida landscape during the summer while providing you with interesting foliage.

Do coleus plants live all year long?

In a frost-free area, coleus normally lives for several years. In USDA zones 10 through 11, the winter is mild enough to plant coleus in the ground. Coleus appreciates moist soil that drains well. Keep it out of intense sun, as it easily scalds.

Will coleus live indoors?

Although coleus is typically grown outdoors as an annual, its vibrant leaves provide many months of enjoyment indoors if growing conditions are just right. In fact, coleus plants respond well to potted environments.

Can coleus come back every year?

Outside USDA zones 9 through 11, coleus is a beautiful spring-through-fall annual. As a tropical plant, coleus can’t bear a chill and will blacken and die once the weather dips much below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Will coleus survive in Zone 8?

Conditions: Coleus are tender tropicals that are generally grown as annuals because they are hardy only in USDA Hardiness Zone 11.

Does coleus survive winter?

During the winter, coleus will lose its color. The plant that you brought indoors will lose some leaves and get straggly. This time of year the plant is entering its dormant stage and as tempting as it is, do not pinch it back. The goal at this point is to keep it alive by watering and monitoring for insects.

Will coleus come back after a freeze?

In cases of severe freezing damage, this may be right down to the base of the plant. Though it’s important to remember that the coleus is a tender tropical that isn’t always meant to be permanent, it’s possible that the plant will grow once again from the surviving base when spring arrives.

Is coleus a sun or shade plant?

Coleus thrive in cool, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Consistent moisture is good, but soggy conditions cause root disease. Watering should complement available sun. Some modern coleus varieties handle full sun, but most still flourish with at least dappled shade and direct sun limited to morning hours.

How do you keep coleus from getting leggy?

Is a coleus an annual or perennial?

Coleus is technically a tender perennial and not cold hardy in much of the country, so many gardeners simply grow it as an annual. But even in wintry climes, you can keep favorite plants going by taking cuttings in early fall to propagate indoors.

How big can a coleus get?

Coleus comes in three forms: upright, rounded and trailing. They range in height from 6 inches to 3.5 feet and grow 1 to 3 feet wide.

Should I let my coleus flower?

Some gardeners leave the small flowers, but it’s best to pinch them off to direct more energy into stem and foliage growth. Coleus left to flower may lose vigor as the plant puts energy into seed production.

Is coleus Hardy?

Although a tender perennial, it is usually grown outside in the UK as a half hardy annual. It can also be grown all-year-round as an indoor houseplant.

How long does it take coleus to mature?

12-21 days
Coleus can benefit with bottom heat. Seedlings emerge in 12-21 days. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night.

Where does coleus grow best?

Plant coleus in a sunny or partly shaded spot, in moist but well-drained soil. Coleus are low growing, so they look best at the front of a border, combined with other bedding plants, or in pot on a patio. If you’re growing coleus as a house plant, grow it in a bright spot that gets a little direct sun.

How do you save coleus for next year?

The basic idea for overwintering coleus is to cut pieces off your coleus plant, root them, plant them in pots and keep them growing in a sunny window through winter until it’s time to plant them outside in spring.

How do you keep coleus over the winter?

Given adequate light, coleus overwinters easily indoors. Dig up healthy plants in the fall, just before cold weather hits. Make sure you get as much of the root system as possible. Pot your plants in suitable containers with well-draining soil and water them thoroughly.

Does coleus multiply?

Learning to propagate coleus is a great way to multiply your favorite varieties every year. Rather than spend money on lots of them, cuttings from just a few can fill your garden and containers with all the foliage you love the most.

Is coleus toxic to dogs?

Coleus is poisonous to dogs, and while the plant is not likely to be fatal if eaten, it can cause a reaction and illness. The leaves of Coleus contain diterpene coleonol and coleon O, which are toxic to dogs. Pets that ingest Coleus foliage may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.