outdoors
PLANTINGS
Coleuses
are out to conquer
the world.
..
or so it seems, considering
the groundswell of new varieties and their
growing fan base. Valued for its coloured
leaves, coleuses come in vibrant leaf hues such
as green, orange, and red—in fact, these are just
some of the shades on the coleus colour wheel.
Interestingly, while some of them sport green,
anaemic leaves in winter, as the temperature rises
and the moisture in the soil changes by March, the
leaves acquire a certain redness.
For best results, keep coleuses in shaded areas,
and shield them from cold winds and frost. Also,
while they don’t need direct sun, they do need
sunlight. A good idea is to keep the pots under the
shade of a tree. If you want to keep them indoors,
position them near a window. In winter, water them
once every two-three days, but in summer they need
to be watered regularly. Currently in bloom, so to
speak, coleuses will continue to look their best till
May. However, come March and coleuses will start
becoming spindly. Cut off the tall branches, dip them
in plant hormone and stick them in a pot of sand.
Keep them in the shade and water regularly. You will
have a new generation of plants ready by June.
H E IG H T
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N O D IR E C T SUN B U T
N EED S L IG H T
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T H A T C A N B E K E P T I N
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T H E V E R A N D A H A N D
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P L A N T E D IN S P R IN G
O R S U M M E R
W A TER
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FEBRUARY 2011 BETTER HOMES ANDGARDENS
