Knowing how to overwinter coleus is extremely important if you want to admire its beauty it all-year-round. As you very well know, coleus is known for its show-stopping colours.
With a wide range of hues for its foliage, this tropical plant is ideal for bringing life to your UK garden. However, when the temperature goes below 50 degrees F, its colours become dull and eventually withers.
Unless your coleus is prepared to bring on the cold weather or frost, they would, for sure, not last long. Knowing how to overwinter coleus is essential because once they survive the chill, you can be confident to enjoy its magnificence for an extended time.
How To Make Sure Your Coleus Survives Winter
Like how easy it is to plant and propagate coleus, overwintering it is just as simple. You only need to make sure that you can maintain the ideal temperature for it. Temperature maintenance means that you would have to move the plant to an area to control the warmth.
The best place to control the temperature is indoors. For this reason, before the first frost, move your containers with coleus inside. But before doing this, make sure that there are no bugs and that the leaves are dust-free.
You would have to start digging up the plants in autumn, or else it would be too late when the weather gets too cold. Get the entire root system, and although not necessary, trimming the top half can help reduce shock.
Use well-draining soil and place them in pots appropriate for their size. Before completely transporting them inside, let them adjust to the change in the environment for about a week first.
There must be enough light in your chosen area as this is vital for every plant’s growth. That can either come from a sunny window or under an artificial lamp. Make sure to hydrate them just enough for their needs and to check for pests and diseases.
Remember To Take Cuttings Before Transplanting
Aside from keeping your coleus safe from the harsh weather, one can use cuttings to increase your stock of cultivars. Likewise, start taking them in late autumn for more chances of survival.
Cut about three to four inches of the tip of your healthy coleus plants. Then, remove the leaves at the bottom and insert about 12 of the ones you have cut into a 6-inch pot. Depending on the container’s size, one can adjust the ratio.
Choose peat moss, potting soil, and even sand, which UK experts recommend for coleus cuttings. You can also dip the plant’s ends in rooting hormone, although they can still survive even without such.
You can then move them indoors under ideal conditions. After a week or so, roots will already form, and you can start moving them in individual pots. Start transplanting them in larger containers after around six weeks.
Top Reasons WhypolytunnelGardening Is Beneficial For You And Your Plants
Did you know that you’d be doing yourself and your plants a big favour if you decide to give polytunnel gardening a try? Although acquiring a mini polytunnel or a hobby polytunnel may require you to invest in high-quality materials, you’ll get the best bang for your buck. The rewards are worth every penny you’ll spend.
To prove this point, check out the best reasons why polytunnel gardening makes a lot of sense.
You can control the growing environment of your plants
What could be better than being able to control the conditions of your plants’ growing environment? Since polytunnel is an enclosed structure, you’ll be able to manipulate the temperature, ventilation, and humidity that would suit the needs of your precious plants.
You’ll have many plant options
Since you’ll have free rein over your plants’ growing environment, you’ll have countless opportunities to grow plants that aren’t native to your area. If you’ve always wanted to grow exotic tropical plants since time immemorial, this is your chance!
You’ll keep your plants protected from bad weather
Yourpolytunnelcan provides your plants with a layer of protection that shields them from the elements. In other words, there’s no need for you to make emergency preparations in the event of a thunderstorm or a blizzard.
It keeps the pests and critters away
Destructive insects and animals are every gardener’s bane. While this is true for traditional outdoor gardening enthusiasts, this isn’t so for those who are into polytunnel gardening. Plants grown in an enclosed structure have extra protection from the constant threat of pests and critters.
You can grow your food
There’s nothing better than being able to grow your food. Besides saving money on groceries, you can also be sure that you and your family are reaping a harvest of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are not expose to harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Final Thoughts on How to Overwinter Coleus
Be aware that it is natural for coleus to lose their usual burst of colours during winter. Some of the leaves might even wither and autumn.
So, it is just dormant, not dead, as long as you know how to overwinter coleus. Then, new leaves will eventually sprout by the time spring comes. Perhaps by then, you might even decide to grow them in your very own UK greenhouse.