Multicolor Carpet Coleus F1 Seeds

Multicolor Carpet Coleus F1 is a select strain of Coleus scutellarioides (also sold as Coleus blumei or Plectranthus scutellarioides), the tropical foliage plant of the mint family prized for its leaves rather than its flowers. This F1 mix carpets beds, borders and containers with overlapping leaves splashed in deep reds, pinks, greens and creams, giving a living mosaic that stays colourful from spring right through autumn in part shade or dappled light.

Planting

Start seed indoors about 8 weeks before planting out, ideally late winter (January to February) in Egypt. Surface-sow on moist medium and cover only very lightly with vermiculite, as the seeds need light to germinate. Keep at around 21-24 C; seedlings emerge in 10-20 days, then grow them on cooler at 18-21 C. Transplant outdoors only after frost danger passes and soil warms above roughly 16 C, spacing plants about 30 cm apart for good airflow.

Fertilizing

Apply a balanced granular fertilizer at planting, then feed monthly through the growing season to push lush foliage. An all-purpose soluble feed such as 24-8-16 or 17-4-17 works well. Avoid high-phosphorus bloom formulas, which make plants leggy.

Care

Keep root balls moist for the first 7-10 days, then water when the top 2.5 cm of soil dries; containers may need daily watering. Use a drip line to keep foliage dry and avoid downy mildew, stem and root rot. Grow in part or afternoon shade in Upper Egypt. Pinch the top 5 cm above a node at 15 cm tall for bushiness, and remove flower spikes to keep plants vigorous. Watch for mealybugs, aphids and whiteflies.