How to trim coleus

When to mow coleus

There are three time periods that are most suitable for pruning coleus. The first is the seedling growth period, when the young plant grows to 10 cm. The second time is when a large number of sprouts sprout during the growth period. The third time is after the flowering period, when there are dead leaves, the diseased leaves need to be cut off in time.

How to trim the leaves of coleus

During the coleus seedling period, it is necessary to do a good job of pinching the top to break the apical dominance and promote the germination of more side branches. It is also necessary to cut off the dense and weak branches to increase ventilation and light transmission. After flowering, remove the remaining flowers and unopened buds. It is also necessary to prune the flower branches and retain the strong branches.

Coleus pruning and shaping

1. Topping: Topping is also called pinching, which is one of the main means to control the height of coleus and the sprouting of side branches. When the plant grows 4-6 leaves in the seedling stage, it should be pinched several times to remove the growth point at the top, which can promote the growth of side branches.

2. Thinning: During the vigorous growth period of coleus, its growth rate is relatively fast. If the branches and leaves are too lush, it will not only affect the appearance, but also cause some leaves to lack light. Appropriate thinning is required. Cutting off some weak branches can reduce the density and avoid nutrient waste.

3. Leaf picking: When leaves turn yellow or wither, you may also encounter this problem when planting coleus. If you find that the leaves are turning yellow, you should pick them off as soon as possible. Do not wait until they fall off naturally, because the yellow leaves are likely to become the target of pests. Picking and burning them can prevent the spread of diseases and pests.

4. Pruning after flowering: After the coleus blooms, the flower branches should be cut off, retaining the strong branches with 2-3 nodes, and all other redundant branches should be cut off to promote the growth of new branches and leaves and maintain the vitality of the coleus.

Tips for pruning coleus

Keep the healthy branches and prune the branches that are not growing well. If the branches and leaves are very dense, they need to be pruned away to concentrate the nutrients in the remaining branches and leaves, which can promote good growth of the plant.

Generally, coleus seedlings should be topped 1-3 times to make the plants fuller. If they need to be cultivated into a tree-like shape, pinching is not necessary. Mature plants should be thinned out to reduce nutrient consumption.

Precautions for pruning coleus

1. After pruning coleus, it should be placed in a bright place for maintenance. If it is in spring, it can be maintained in the sun. Do not place it in a dark place, because pruning is for the growth of new branches. Lack of light will cause new branches to grow slowly, and the effect of pruning cannot be maximized.

2. After pruning, you need to water appropriately, but not too much. Just keep the soil moist. Do not spray water on the leaves to avoid water stains on the cut ends.