More coleus varieties

Any thoughts on these please? Variety and size if anyone knows. These are also from Asda like the 'campfire' that was helpfully identified for me (thanks again for that), but also with the 'mixed colour' labels.

I know the second one is a bit more chomped so maybe not so easy to identify, sorry!

 

I used to grow a batch of Coleus called Wizard Mixed which had two colours similar to yours, I grew them for floral decorating in 3lt pots and by august had 2ft of growth.

 

Here are a few of my newer babies that I have just brought in from the garden now that the temps. are dipping. Grew these from seed this year and have more that I have moved into the greenhouse for the time being.

 

Takes me back growing Coleus. Often called, Flame Nettle. Seeds germinate quite quickly, but then can at times take a while to really get going. As most folk find out, a packet of seeds will provide you with perhaps more plants than you need. Select the most appealing and speed up the growing process by taking cuttings. Cut just beneath a leaf joint. A rooting gell/powder can be used, but not really necessary. The cuttings will quickly root even in water. The flowers are nothing to write home about, so usually these are removed. It is an idea to save a few seeds as this may be an avenue to even more colourful plants.

 

Interesting thread, as previously we have just discarded our garden ones at the end of the season.

While we could not keep them in the house, what greenhouse temps do they need to survive the winter ? (we have a small heated orchid section and frost free greenhouse)

Also as some of them are a bit big and leggy, can we now take cutting from them ? water rooted ?

Ah, Mike has just answered the cutting point

 

Yes mine have had their flower spikes removed recently.

I will eventually bring mine inside the house and keep them near a window, minimum temps of 15C normally works OK. Our greenhouse is unheated, but well insulated in winter but I still prefer to keep them in the house. I dig them up from the borders and thoroughly wash their roots before potting them up in fresh compost.( This stops unwanted bugs being brought into the house)

Cuttings are easy peasy.

 

Hi Ricky 101. Coleus along wih many other plants belong to the Labitae genus, including the common stinging nettle and smooth nettle, the Ajuga and many more. Easily recognised by their squared stems. As far as I am aware, the majoriy are perennial. Yes Coleus, like many other plants can suddenly become leggy, especially toward the end of their growing/flowering season. Now if you wish to keep them, you can let them gradually die down and or you can cut them hard back. Perhaps a point to consider. Especially for perennials that include most bulbs. The natural process of the plant, 'dying back'. Here it's not simply the stems and flowers are now dying and death human or botanically is the end. In the plantworld, plants known as half hardy or annuals and biennials meaning bi..annual bi being two, annual being singular etc.
So our perennial plant has given it's best and now needs to rest. This process means the sap etc returns to the root base, or bulb. IMO to intervene and cut down, is depriving the plant from recovering all that is it's. So let plants die back in their own way. Storage. Rootstocks can be kept potted and stowed away in the corner, however, keep an eye on them, keep the compost from totally drying out and when new growth appears, bring them bach to the growing area.