Phlowers – Coleus Sprouts/Leaves of Many Colors

On March 21, 2020April 11, 2020 By TimelessladyIn Plants10 Comments

This is a leaf from one of my favorite indoor coleus. Have I mentioned that in late summer, I choose a few favorites, take cuttings, and then grow the rooted coleus all winter? This gives me many pots of colorful plants and a good head start on summer color. The one above is a favorite. The leaf is large enough to cover my palm. The colors are a great mix, Kelly green, lemon yellow with touches of chartreuse green, and purest pink. I enjoy the textured growth of this leaf, and also the fringed edges. The leaf has a slight downward curve, giving it a graceful swoop as it grows from a strong stem.

Twelve months ago, the large coleus looked much the same as this year’s sprouts. Perhaps a few of them are offspring of this particular plant. The sprouts are just beginning to color and even display different shapes and sizes. I see one in the front that shows promise of interesting texture and color. I planted these coleus using my small seed technique. They are well-spaced, giving each one plenty of room to grow and giving the soil adequate airflow to combat damping-off disease.

The good news is these sprouts are only beginning to develop. They will become prettier, fringed, and deeper textured with each passing day. In about six weeks they will ready to plant into their final pots to wow the borders of the yard with their colors.

2020 Coleus Seeds available for purchase at The Flower Ark Etsy Shop.

Planting – Repost/Sowing Small Seeds

On March 9, 2017 By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness17 Comments

I repost this technique for sowing smaller garden seeds each year. There is little waste or thinning out with this method. The sprouts do not develop damping-off disease. My only change from previous years is sowing in the bottoms of gallon milk cartons. I easily made four holes in the bottom of each with a paring knife thrust through the bottom first, then a large pair of scissors inserted in the cut and twisted…Voila, a perfect drainage hole.

These seedlings only have one to two pairs of true leaves and already the colors and leaf shapes are unique. As they grow the colors will develop even further; I have high hopes for the best crop of coleus ever. Updates will follow throughout the growing season.

Here is the technique I use to plant coleus and other small seeds:
This method of planting might seem tedious, but I have tried many ways of sowing tiny seeds and feel this is the very best. I wish I could remember where I first heard of the process so I could give the proper source credit for the idea.

I sow small seeds sparingly using the sharpened point of a pencil. I dip the pencil point into water and touch it to one seed. The dampness grabs hold of the seed. I then touch the seed to the wet seed starter mix in the flat, and the seed adheres to the wet soil. I repeat this process between sixty and seventy times per flat.

I use wire garbage bag ties, marked in segments with magic marker, to guide me in the placement of the seeds.

After I sow a row of seeds I remove the wire guide so I don’t double sow a row.

The next step is a gentle, all-over spray of water to seal the seeds to the wet soil.

I then cover the flat with the lid. It is gratifying to see it instantly steam up with warmth and humidity.

I have good luck with the sprouting by placing the planted flat of coleus seed on top of my refrigerator or near, but not on, a heating vent.

This method works well for all small seeds.

Plant – Primrose Part I/Care and Sowing Seed

On March 4, 2014 By TimelessladyIn Plants2 Comments

Last week I was thrilled to find this gorgeous primrose on sale at my local supermarket. The beautiful flowers rival those I see planted in my favorite conservatory at Longwood Gardens. This is the season of primrose and other cold hardy seasonal plants.

You can find an informative article on how to grow primroses here: Dave’s Garden – Primroses

I have three packets of primrose (primula) seeds I purchased last year from Swallowtail Garden Seeds. A link to their online seed catalog can be found here: Swallowtail Garden Seeds

Two of the varieties I purchased will grow indoors or out, one type with flowers held atop a three foot stem is better suited to grow outdoors. All need cool temperatures and moist soil to thrive. My past experience with primrose plants has shown them to be akin to pansies and other cold weather annuals and perennials, they die back when temperatures become too warm.

Here is a terrific article on how to grow primrose from seed: Growing Primrose From Seed

Because the primrose seed are very small, and hard to sow evenly by broadcasting on top of the seed starting medium, I will use my method of sowing small seeds to avoid the possibility of fungal diseases taking hold of the small seedlings. Here is a link to a post on how to sow small seeds: Sowing Small Seeds

Plantings – Sowing Small Seeds

On December 8, 2013December 8, 2013 By TimelessladyIn Planting4 Comments

This method of planting small seeds might seem tedious, but I have tried many ways of sowing tiny seeds and feel this is the very best. So…here is a re-blogging of my small seed sowing method. I wish I could remember where I first heard of the process so I could give the proper source credit for the idea.

I have collected seeds from my coleus plants for well over ten years. Each year I plant the offspring of the previous year, the seedlings grow, are cross-pollinated by the bees, and new seeds are harvested in the late Autumn. I start my coleus very early, the seeds are small, quick to sprout, but slow to grow. I don’t sow them thickly into the flats. Seedlings sown too close together tend to get damp-off disease.

I found these great lidded containers made by Solo this year. They are the perfect coleus incubator/flat.

I sow the seeds sparingly using the sharpened point of a pencil. I dip the pencil point into water and touch it to one seed. The dampness grabs hold of the seed. I then touch the seed to the wet seed starter mix in the flat, and the seed adheres to the wet soil. I repeat this process between sixty and seventy times per flat.

I use wire garbage bag ties, marked in segments with magic marker, to guide me in the placement of the seeds.

After I sow a row of seeds I remove the wire guide so I don’t double sow a row.

The next step is a gentle, all-over spray of water to seal the seeds to the wet soil.

I then cover the flat with the lid. It is gratifying to see it instantly steam up with warmth and humidity.

I have good luck with the sprouting by placing the planted flat of coleus seed on top of my refrigerator or near, but not on, a heating vent. I’ll update the progress as the seeds sprout and grow.

Planting – Sowing Seeds Part III/Small Seeds

On March 7, 2013March 3, 2013 By TimelessladyIn Planting3 Comments

My coleus seedlings are sprouting. To guard against damping off diseases I keep the seeds spaced apart. I have found in the past that crowding seedlings invites disease.

Coleus seeds, among many others, are smaller than the head of a pin. Sowing them in neat rows can be a daunting task. To accomplish this with as little frustration as possible I use water and a pencil.