Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 32

GEORGIA Gardens

By Lynn Coulter

Colorful coleus
Brighten up your garden in sun or shade

BALL FLORAPLANT

How to grow coleus
Despite coleus's low-maintenance reputation, it pays off to take a little
extra care when planting them in Georgia clay.
" Like the saying, 'Dig a 10-dollar hole for a 10-cent plant,' dig a
hole that's big enough so you don't have to shoehorn the coleus in it, "
Armitage says.
In South or coastal Georgia, where the soil has less clay but there's
more heat and humidity, coleus need extra water.
Sand doesn't hold as much
moisture as other soils, so it's
helpful to mix compost into
your planting site. After planting, keep your plants evenly
moist, but avoid letting them
dry out, which can cause the
leaves to drop.
Coleus thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in the
garden or large containers.
Native to tropical and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia and Malaysia, the
plants are not winter-hardy
in Georgia. Because they're
usually inexpensive, Armitage
advises gardeners not to try to
preserve
them.
'Spiced Curry'

32

Georgia Magazine

April 2021

PANAMERICAN SEED

I

t's time for coleus to come out of the shadows-literally. Traditionally planted to add color in shady garden spots, coleus have changed
dramatically in the last 10 years, thanks to new varieties bred to grow
well in full sun.
" The sun-loving kind were first developed here in Georgia, " says Allan
Armitage, a seasoned gardener, speaker, author and professor emeritus
of horticulture at the University of Georgia in Athens. " Most of them will
take full sun and tolerate partial shade, but 'tolerate' is the most important
word. They perform well in half-shade but won't be as vigorous or pretty, I
think, in deep shade. "
With these new varieties, gardeners have all their bases covered in
terms of light requirements. And what's not to love about a plant that will
grow practically anywhere and sports foliage in colors such as butter yellow
and shocking magenta and in shapes as diverse as simple ovals and frilly
triangles?

'Kong Rose'

" Don't bother overwintering them, unless your
plant is something special from Grandma, " he says.
If that's the case, dig it up to bring inside or take
cuttings.
Cuttings are also an easy way to share coleus.
Make the cuttings 4 to 6 inches long, taking them
from stems with two or three nodes (where the
leaves come out). Remove the lower leaves of the
cuttings and place them in a glass of water. Keep the
cuttings in a warm spot with bright, indirect light
until roots form in three to four weeks. Then pot up
your new plants in potting soil and move them into
the garden when the weather is reliably warm.
Armitage says you also can root multiple cuttings by placing them in a large container of loose
soil. Water them well and cover the container with a
plastic bag. They should root in one to three weeks.
Keep the container in a warm spot out of direct light
and remove the plastic after roots form.
When you plant coleus in the garden, pinch off
the growing tips when they're about 6 inches tall to
keep the plants from getting leggy, Armitage says.
New branches will soon emerge, making the plant



Georgia Magazine - May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2021

Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 4
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Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover3
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