FLOWERS ON COLEUS

It is, acutally, quite hard to get a pic of their true colours. Great pic!

Thanks David, I've not had much practice at shooting plants etc. but have learnt by trial and error since I joned GOY. Haven't bought a coleus in years and forgot how pretty they were.

Aren't you supposed to remove the flowers? I'm growing them this year outside too to fill hole in my borders. I used to have some as house plants years ago and was told to remove them. Do you leave them on outside?:-)

I have done this year Bornagain, but now you mention it I think I have a vague memory of someone saying the same thing years ago. Hope it doesn't spoil them. I will remove if they show signs of a problem I think.

You remove the flowers and new shoots, if you want to encourage bushier growth, which is what most folks would do. Coleus are great plants for propagating from cuttings (about 4" long, from non-flowering shoots, lower leaves removed). But, it is nice, now and again, to see the flowers.
So, now would be a great time to take cuttings from your outdoor plants, pot up in multi-purpose compost round the edge of a plantpot, or in rows in a covered propagator with lid, or seal pots in a poly bag, and start lots of freebie plants for indoors, or next summer outdoors in shade or semi-shade.

Can I dig some up from my garden to bring in for the winter as I've some lovely ones getting quite large now? I think I was told the flowers do something to the leaves, erm maybe alter brightness of colour?? :-)

Will have to try a bit of propogating then David, and see how I go. Bornagain I think David will help with that one.

Yoohoooooo David:-)

lol.....

Here! Never had success with bringing indoors from out - it's usually done in the reverse! Best to take cuttings now from the ones in the garden, Ba!! Never heard of the flowers affecting the foliage colour ( but that's just me). It;s just that removing developing flowerheads then concentrates the plan'ts energy on other things, like "branching out" to make new flowers (for natural reproduction, of course0.
So, if EVERYONE removed the flowers, we'd never get seed to grow more, or the many lovely hybrids which can't be grown true from seed would we? :-)))

:

Wise words David!

Thank you O Wise One:-) Do the cuttings root in water? I have a vague memory of this from when I was into house plants years ago. If so I'll start now. I have some in a large container, would they be ok next year if taken into the garage (some light) or porch?:-)