Now I have read many times that Coleus are usually better off without too much fertilizer but I would love to discuss the time to use fertilizer and types of fertilizer that are best suited for your homegrown coleus.




I love the plant and am constantly starting new cuttings and adding to my potted selection so I would love to hear about everyones views and exerience using fertilizers especially dealing with cuttings and when is too young to fertilize your plant to give it a growth spurt. Only Organic? Home mixes?

I don't use any fertilizers of any kind. Until a cutting has formed roots there is no point in attempting to feed them. It's the roots that takes up the nutrients.

Agreed .. without roots .. no point.. I use either spray and grow or slow release once they are heading outside

Shultz drops are my usual when seedlings are still indoors. After they move outside liquid Alaska fish fertilizer is good. And good old osmacote, I sprinkle it sparingly on containers midsummer when they seem to need a boost.

I started using Schultz because my mom always used it for her indoor plants.. always seemed healthy

thanks for the feedback- I mostly was asking how soon after you move them outside is too soon for addng fertilizer and do the plants always need it?

I don't fertilize any coleus at any time and they do very well here and have to be cut back in September or they'd totally block the path.

pirl, are your coleus (coleuses, colei - who cares?) in sun? I've got a few that live on the porch all year round, but haven't yet encountered many of the sun varieties.

It's coleus or coleuses for more than one.

Mine are all in full sun without any relief from it. I buy what I like and gradually introduce them to sun. After a few weeks they accept it and do a spectacular job of growing - almost too good.

Well, huh - must try this - would it work the other way in fall - retintroducing them to shade?

I've never tried it but you could take cuttings and try it with them. All the cuttings I take in September and October go to a warm, sunny bay window and thrive over winter.

Well, I am learning a lot here. Thanks everyone.

In fall in will root my cuttings in the shade
. So yeah I would say I do the reverse bringing them in

Thanks for the responses. I don't bring anything in, altho we did get under 35 degrees a couple times this winter. Everybody made it through that. Of course, around here 60 degrees is unbearably cold, as the one persian shield I tried told me in no uncertain terms so that's an annual. This forum makes me want to get way more involved with the coleus. Your pics are all so tantalizing. I wanna play, too!

This Coleus mixture I started from seed last Winter and eventually moved it to this outdoor pot which was in Full Sun. On really hot days I watered it twice a day and I used the Miracle Grow Spray bottle system which attached to a garden hose....being careful not to get it all over the leaves but in the base. I think the Feeding was what kept this Pot alive and Thrive as it did.
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Aaawww photo didn't show up

Arlene thanks for showing your pics I love your coleus garden!

Here in Texas the sun and weather are so much harsher it makes me almost want to move to New York! My Coleus definitely need a break from the heat and sun and therefore need more fertilizer is what I've come to expect

Any thoughts from the Southern growers?

LovetheseBuggers said:This Coleus mixture I started from seed last Winter and eventually moved it to this outdoor pot which was in Full Sun. On really hot days I watered it twice a day and I used the Miracle Grow Spray bottle system which attached to a garden hose....being careful not to get it all over the leaves but in the base. I think the Feeding was what kept this Pot alive and Thrive as it did.

There you go, the tag just needed to be closed.
Pretty!!!

Very pretty!!

Water crystals are a great help here in South for container gardening. i mix just a spoonfil or so into root area of containers when i pot up a new container. I do this especially for coleus and basil, i grow both of these. i think they are in the same family and both are water loving. coleus are not in full sun, they are on porch with morning sun and mostly shade afternoon. even when it gets into 90s I still can get away with once a day watering thanks to water crystals. a tiny bag is $7-$11 but it lasts me a few years since you don't need to use a lot.