The coleus plant is beautiful and mostly recognized for its colorfulness in the garden. Many gardeners love this plant because of the attractiveness and natural feelings they bring to the environment. You may likely stay longer in an environment filled with coleus plants, so they are widely grown across many regions. Although the system of growing this plant may vary based on season and other conditions; also, the name by which people call them may be different; still, their attractiveness remains the same. Having said all these, the coleus plant can face a growth challenge: either as whole growth or flowering.
The plant has varieties of leaves size and shapes. A non-growing coleus plant may be accessed by the leaf size and shape. If the leaf size is different from others in the garden, you may note that the plant is not growing. There are many ways to verify a coleus plant that is not growing. Most of these ways also depend on the properties of the plants. Coleus plants often grow in any mild conditions or areas, but they thrive better in optimized places. Notwithstanding, if you properly care for the plant, it probably performs better than you imagine. Although there could be some cases where the plant fails to grow, even when you try your best to grow the plant.
In the summer, Coleus plants grow outdoors in 10 through 11 hardiness. It also grows indoors if placed beside the window throughout.
Browse our Affiliate Products
4 Common Reasons why a Coleus Plant Won’t Grow and Flower
1. Plant in warm places
Coleus performs best in a warm environment; the plant cannot grow in the cold. Cold causes the plant to reduce in growth and completely shut down; avoid anything that reduces the optimal temperature by which the plant grows. If you grow Coleus indoors, you should set a standby thermometer that allows you to monitor the temperature so that it does not drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Although it is not easy to keep the temperature constant in the outdoor space, you may need to cover the plant over the night when it gets cold in the night. It is not easy to know when the temperature drops at night, this is why it is hard to grow a coleus plant outdoor.
2. Coleus plants do not grow during the reproduction stage
Coleus plants do not always grow when the plant reproduce. So, it is necessary to cut the white or blue flowers that sprout from the branches when they come out. Although these are the sign of reproduction, if you desire more growth and development in the leaves and other parts of the plants, you should consider removing the flowers sprout when they come out. However, if you want reproduction and more flowering in the plant, you may not bother about the growth. However, removing the spikes as they emerge encourages the plant to branch out and develop more leaves, lengthening its life.
3. Coleus tolerate drought, not constant wet
Coleus cannot thrive in a wet environment, so keep the plant warm when necessary. One of the ways to achieve this is by a drainage system. Ensure that the plant dries before you wet it. Control the wetting and give it enough time to dry up. You may consider changing the plant-soil to a better air circulating soil for better growth. This soil improves the drainage automatically.
4. Lack of care
You should create time for your plant. Although the plant does not require much to grow and develop better, you should not be far away from taking care of your Coleus. Prune your Coleus occasionally; if you notice your plant looks sparse, remove some of the old growth to improve the plant’s new development. Such pruning promotes branching out and new growth.
Since most people like to grow coleus plants in pots, this article may interest you. What is the perfect pot for my plants?
Coleus General Information and Care
- Common Names: Coleus, or flame nettle
- Scientific Name: Coleus scutellarioides
- Growth Cycle: (Tender Perennials) It takes 6-12 months to have a good-looking standard.
- Sun: prefer full morning sun and shade in the afternoon.
- Watering: is a thirsty plant and needs regular watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Adult Size: 6-36 in. tall and wide
- Planting Zones: Coleus is suitable for outdoor cultivation year-round in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11.
- Weather Hardiness: 10-11 (USDA); Also grown as an annual everywhere
- Propagation: by seed
- Toxicity: Toxic to animals
- Dormancy: Summer
- Soil: Rich, moist, loose soil, well-drained
- Bloom: Seasonal (Summer)
- Fertilization: Once a month
For more information on other types of perennial plants, check out our category: Perennial Category
Where Does a Coleus Plant Grow Best?
The coleus plant grows better indoors. The reason is that the plant does not grow well when placed in the cold, and there is a high chance of getting beaten by cold outside compared to indoors. So it is recommended to keep your plant under watch, especially for cold. There is a chance of receiving raindrops outside. The plant does not want much water; it requires wetting once fully dry. Placing the plant outside increases the chance of taking drops of humidity and rain, but when placed indoors, it does better since you can monitor these factors significantly.
Conclusion
Many things contribute to the outcome of your Coleus plant, how it goes and how well the reproductive parts develop. You can maintain the two-stage of the plant equally; that is, if you allow the plant to grow well before reproduction, you will have a well-grown Coleus that is reproducing. Otherwise, the reproduction stage may delay the growth in some cases.
