Combo Chef: Glorious Coleus

Walter Andersen Nurseries in Poway, Calif., puts coleus ‘ Defiance’ in the spotlight with some worthy supporting actors: Ipomoea batatas ‘Margarita,’ Muehlenbeckia complexa (wire vine), New Guinea impatiens ‘Sonic Red’ and Phormium tenax ‘Tom Thumb.’

Grow ‘ Defiance’ in a well-aerated medium with a pH of 5.5-6.3. Keep day temperatures around 75°F-85°F and 55°F-65°F at night. Maintain a relative humidity below 70 percent and provide good air circulation. Foliage color is more intense at 1,500-3,000 footcandles. Pinch soon after transplanting once plants have established.

For ‘Margarita,’ maintain a pH of 6.0-6.5 and feed with 200-300 parts per million of nitrogen. Maintain moderate to high light levels. In low light conditions, avoid wet growing medium and moisture on the foliage. Water requirements are moderate to moist. Keep temperatures between 70°F-75°F.

Muehlenbeckia complexa requires a well-drained peat/perlite mix with a pH of 6.0-6.5. It grows best in moderate to high light levels of 3,500-8,000 footcandles. It can be grown outdoors in full or part sun. Lower temperatures improve foliage color and frost hardiness. Fertilize weekly and increase potassium during the final weeks of production to enhance the foliage color.

Grow ‘Sonic Red’ in a porous medium with coarse peat and 30 percent perlite. Maintain a pH of 6.0-6.2. Keep the medium slightly moist until roots are established, then keep moist as plants become older. For the first three weeks, feed with 50-100 ppm nitrogen, then increase to 150 ppm. After five weeks, keep day temperatures at 75°F-80°F and 65°F-68°F at night if tall plants are preferred. For compact plants, run temperatures at 68°F-70°F day and 65°F-68°F at night.

Keep Phormium temperatures between 70°F-90°F during the day and 60°F-65°F at night. Water well and allow the medium to dry between watering. Use a coarse, well-drained mix with a pH of 6.0-6.4. Phormium is a low to moderate feeder and requires high light.

Recipe by Walter Andersen Nurseries: Walter Andersen Nurseries, (858) 513-4900; www.walterandersen.com.

Production

‘ Defiance’ coleus: Well-aerated media with pH of 5.5-6.3; 1,500-3,000 footcandles; day temperatures 75°F-85°F and night 55°F-65°F.

Ipomoea ‘Margarita’: Feed with 200-300 ppm of nitrogen; pH of 6.0-6.5; temperatures between 70°F-75°F.

M. complexa: well-drained peat/perlite mix with pH of 6.0-6.5; 3,500 to 8,000 footcandles; can be grown outdoors.

‘Sonic Red’ New Guinea impatiens: Porous media with a pH of 6.0-6.2; feed with 150 ppm nitrogen after three weeks; keep medium of established plants moist.

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Phormium ‘Tom Thumb’: Coarse, well-drained medium with a pH of 6.0-6.4; high light; low to moderate feeder.

- Kelli Rodda