Coleus (Painted Nettle)
Coleus, also called Painted Nettle, is a colourful plant that is known because of its striking leaves. The variegated Coleus is available in very many different beautiful colours and patterns. The Painted Nettle is available, among other things, in red, pink, green, blue and yellow. You can well say that this plant carries a rainbow of colours within it.
The Coleus is a plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is hereby family of, among other things, mint, basil and sage. Its origin lies in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. This beautiful painted nettle may perhaps look like a stinging nettle, but fortunately this plant does not sting. Grower of this product is Richplant.
Coleus care
The Painted Nettle is through its colourful appearance a real eye-catcher in your living room! And this colourful Painted Nettle is also still easy to care for. How? You read everything about it here! Already in short:
- Partial shade, no direct sunlight
- Keep moist, potting soil must not dry out
- In the growing season (May to October) give nutrition 2x per month
- In winter keep plant slightly drier
Painted Nettle care tips
Watering Coleus
Keep the soil of the Coleus always slightly moist. Make sure that in winter the leaves hang slightly limp before you water again.
Best location for the Painted Nettle
The Coleus was earlier known as an outdoor plant, but the richly coloured Painted Nettle is with its beautiful patterns just as beautiful indoors. This houseplant with colour likes a light location. The Coleus grows best in partial shade or in full sun in colder climates. Do not place the Painted Nettle in the draught, it does not like this.
Repotting Coleus
The best is to repot the Painted Nettle in early spring your plants. You do this to stimulate the growth of the plant. The new potting soil contains fresh nutrients and through this your plant will look stronger and more beautiful and will be able to grow.
Nutrition for the Coleus
For optimal growth you give the Coleus during the growing season, from May to October, plant nutrition 2x per month.
Is the Coleus toxic?
The Painted Nettle is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Pruning the Painted Nettle
Remove the dead leaves and flowers to promote the growth of the Coleus. For this, regularly cut off the top of the Painted Nettle to keep it nicely full and round. Use for this pruning shears or a sharp knife. When the plant after the winter no longer looks healthy, you can cut the stems to 6 cm above the ground. The plant will naturally start giving new shoots.
Does the Painted Nettle flower?
Painted nettles can start flowering between June and August. When you do not wish the flowers, you can easily remove these. Forming and letting a flower grow namely costs a plant a lot of energy. When you remove this, extra energy goes to the leaves.
External characteristics of the Coleus
Does your Painted Nettle not do it as you had expected? That can happen! Every plant has its own unique needs so the care is not always equally easy. The most frequently asked questions we have listed below for you:
Colour loss Coleus
When the Coleus gets too little light, the colours can become pale. Therefore, make sure of a location with more indirect light. It is also possible that it gets too little water or nutrition.
