Easy Houseplants: Coleus

Allergy Index Scale: 1
Tender perennial
Shade, 6 inches - 3 feet

Coleus is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, and comes with a variety of colors, patterns and shapes of leaves. It is a good foliage plant for shady areas or an easy houseplant for sunny windows.

Coleus is easy to propagate, by rooting a cutting in water. Cut a piece of stem just below the leaves, and pinch off any leaves that would be underwater. Once roots are well formed, it's ready to plant. in a light, well-drained soil.  Do not plant outside until the temperature stays over 50 degrees.

Enjoying Spring

Spring is really here, though some days still have a chilly bite, and some nights still get down into the 30s, and I have to bring some of the seedlings back into the house. Every year I feel that my garden is better than ever before, as plants become better established, and I have had another year to adjust and change things.

So many of my spring bulbs seemed to do well this year, such as the dwarf iris to the left. They don't bloom long, but they're one of the first flowers of the year. I love to see their tiny flowers spreading slowly from year to year. I've enjoyed bringing some of the less common plants into the garden.