| Many of us have done vegetable gardening at | | | | one must be a little more selective, at least in |
| some time in our lives and some have carried this | | | | choosing the type of growing media in which our |
| pastime hobby indoors. One plant which can | | | | new botanical jewels will spend their maturing lives. |
| spread beauty throughout ones home or | | | | First, one can easily find soil that will grow our |
| apartment is the Coleus, the most popular, known | | | | new cuttings and keep them in their healthiest |
| as Coleus Hybridus (painted nettle). A much more | | | | state throughout their adult lives and produce the |
| vibrant Coleus plant, simply called "Rainbow Mixed | | | | brightest of color variations in their ever changing |
| Colors" on the seed package is unbeatable in color | | | | leaf patterns. The soil should contain the greatest |
| variations. Easy to keep alive through even | | | | amount of organic material as possible along with |
| lenghty unattendance and very simple propagation | | | | self contained nutrients within the organic growing |
| techniques, it can bring much joy to the plant | | | | material. We should select a growing pot which |
| enthusiast.Because of the high level of | | | | would accommodate a progressive growing stage, |
| regeneration of the Coleus plant, you could easily | | | | so we could probably begin with a 4" wide pot, |
| propagate a single nursery bought plant or one | | | | since this is usually the size that would hold our |
| started from seed into several totally new plants. | | | | cuttings which are by now well rooted. Each |
| It's simple ! Once the plant has blossomed to a | | | | individual plant should have ample room to remain |
| beautiful foliage, cuttings can then be taken. Begin | | | | in this size pot for about 2 months. When the |
| cutting near the bottom. Trim each to about 6" in | | | | Coleus has outgrown its original pot, it's time to |
| length, then trimming 4 to 6 of the lower leaves. | | | | move it to the 8" pot size. This should last for the |
| Place cuttings in a jar or glass, about 1/3 filled with | | | | rest of its natural life...but now the process can be |
| simple tap water. Several plant cuttings can be | | | | started all over again and you will have a house |
| placed in the same jar, but the water level will | | | | full of the beautiful Coleus plant.Author: Lucien |
| have to be monitored more closely. The Coleus | | | | Beauley |
| gets pretty thirsty and could drain your plants | | | | Writer of human interest and science based |
| water supply in a very short time. Store in a | | | | articles. |
| low-level lighted area for several days, or until | | | | Web author of: |
| roots are produced at the base of the cuttings. | | | | Conservation.html |
| Wait until new roots have produced at least half a | | | | This site shows how we can conserve the |
| dozen and the longest have reached about 1". | | | | energy we have and also sources of renewable |
| Now they are ready to be transposed into a | | | | energy. |
| more permanent growing media.At this juncture, | | | | |