Imagine a plant that can light up your garden with foliage that looks straight out of a painting. That’s the Kong Coleus for you!
Let’s explore more and unleash the beauty within it!
Appearance and Etymology
Scientifically known as Solenostemon scutellarioides, this is a genus of perennial herbs and shrubs.
It is primarily known for its beautiful and large foliage, which comes in many colors, such as red, purple, and pink. The border and the edges around it are usually lime green.
The leaves are also relatively huge, growing up to 8 inches. They have a unique texture, and this combination adds interest to shade garden beds and makes the landscape pop out.
Characteristics of The King Kong Coleus
With great plants comes great responsibility. With these ideal conditions, these plants can live up to five years.
Here’s how you can get the best out of this plant:
Soil
Kong Coleus prefers soil that is rich in organic matter.
To improve the fertility and drainage, you could use compost or manure to aid the process.
Light & Shade
These plants thrive in bright light and can tolerate direct sunlight. However, prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to burn.
Ideally, it would help if you gave it a balance between shade and light. It should be looked after in a location where it receives partial shade.
Additionally, It is a premium shade alternative that you can use instead of regular containers. You could also grow them on the containers itself.
Watering
You have to make sure to only let it be moist and not drench it.
Water the large leaves and let the excess water drain out. For most cases, this is enough once a week but it all depends on it’s condition!
Fertilizer
Just like any other plant, this one too is boosted by fertilizer.
Follow the label and give it a right amount every two weeks in its growing season.
Deadheading
This process refers to removing spent flowers to encourage the re-blooming of new ones.
By deadheading, the Kong Coleus would look tidier, and now it can direct more of its energy into growing foliage.
Arranging The Kong Coleus
One popular method that can be implemented here is propagation.
In short, propagation refers to extracting individual flowers from clumps and planting them in empty areas of your field.
The King Coleus produces upright flowers that give way to seed pods, which ensures this process later on.
You’re a Kong® Coleus Expert!
That’s all, folks! You now know the general information about this majestic creation.
This article may even tempt you to grow your own Kong Coleus. By making regular maintenance a habit, you can surely achieve this goal!