Expert: C.L. Fornari - 5/24/2007

Question
QUESTION: I bought some coleus and planted them in btw bushes.  How do I care for them?  Do they like shade or sun, how much water, etc.  Also, how do I make them bushy.  I am new at this so I need you to be exact please.  Thanks

ANSWER: Jackie,
The first thing to do is to pinch the very top growth - the tiny leaves at the very top of the plant.  Do this now, just by pinching these tiny leaves off with your fingernails.  This helps them to be bushy.  As the plants grow, if they start to form flowers, pinch them off with your fingers as they form.  This will keep them full and bushy.

Coleus like shade or part sun - not hot mid-day sun, but any other conditions are fine.  IF you haven't fertilized them yet you can use either of the following two methods (not both) 1. Scatter some time-release fertilizer around them now - something like Osmocote Indoor/Outdoor or Miricle Grow Shake and Feed.  Also scatter some organic fertilizer around them at the same time - something like Plant Tone or Flower Tone.  This combination will feed them for the entire summer.  OR 2. Feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks - Miricle Grow, Peters, Bayer, etc. - mix according to directions and apply AFTER THE PLANTS HAVE BEEN WATERED.  Never fertilize a thirsty plant.

Water deeply less often - how often depends on your temperatures and how much sun the plants are in and if you've mulched the bed.  In general, if the soil is dry, but BEFORE the plants wilt, water deeply with a sprinkler (don't hand water - you get bored before the plants get a DEEP soaking.) Leave the sprinkler on for about and hour.  Then wait to water again until the soil is dry.  If you have good soil, and the plants aren't in a very hot sunny place, you might be able to water once a week in all but the hottest weather.  In the hotter weather twice a week.  The idea is to water deeply so that the plants grow deep root systems and can go longer between waterings.

all the best,
C.L.
www.gardenlady.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your answer.  I live in MS so it is very hot and humid.  The coleus are in full sun.  Sometimes they look a little wilted.  I didn't know if that was from too much water or too little.

Answer
Coleus will tolerate a good amount of sun, but if they wilt toward the end of a hot day, it's probably because they are losing water from their leaves faster than their roots and stems can take it up and replace it.  If the plant is wilted earlier in the day, say in the morning, it could be too wet and the leaves wilt because the roots are rotting and can't take up the necessary water.

Water them DEEPLY for a long time with a sprinkler, and then let them alone until the soil is starting to look dry.  If they wilt toward the end of the afternoon, but perk up again at night, don't worry about them - they are just losing too much water in the heat for the plant to keep up with.  

Let me know if I can explain further!

In the future, you might want to plant coleus where they will get morning sun but afternoon shade.  Plant heat-loving annuals such as Verbena, geraniums, zinna's or portulaca in hot sun.

all the best,
C.L.