Updated at: 02-06-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

How do you go about gathering coleus seeds? Coleus plants are a favorite among gardeners because they may be grown indoors or out, in planters or containers, and they will thrive.

A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Collect Coleus Seeds

Inexperienced gardeners will appreciate how easy it is to start with seeds and how quickly they can grow. Even though Coleus seeds are so small, they’re easy to harvest and preserve. In this manner:

Step #1: Collect the seeds from the healthiest coleus plant

Tie a string to the plant to help you determine which one is the healthiest. The flowers on the spikes begin to wilt in the fall, so be sure to keep an eye on them. Keep a piece of the plant’s thread handy to help you remember which plants are the strongest.

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Step #2: Harvest the seeds at the right time

When the petals fall from the blooms and the seed pods become brown, it’s time to collect the seeds.

Step #3: Clip the dried seed pods using sharp and clean gardening shears or scissors

To avoid injuring the roots, avoid pulling or pinching the pods. Make sure that the pods are well protected after cutting by wrapping them in a paper towel and placing them in an envelope.

Step #4: Store the paper sack properly

Dry and chill the paper bag before storing it. At least once a day, shake the bag to ensure that the seeds don’t become clumpy and cling together.

Step #5: Dry the seeds

A minimum of two weeks is required for the seeds to thoroughly dry out. You can tell if your seeds are dry by pressing on them with your fingernail after two weeks. They’re ready to go if the seed fractures or breaks. Give them a little extra time to dry if they don’t seem to be getting any drier.

Step #6: Place the dried seeds on a shallow dish

Make a shallow plate by taking out the seeds from the paper bag and placing them there. Using tweezers, remove any leaves or other dirt.

Step #7: Place the seeds in a paper envelope.

Don’t forget to identify your dried seeds with the date and the type of seeds you used when you place them in a paper envelope. Seeds should not be stored in a plastic container, as this might lead to the formation of mold.

Step #8: Store the seeds until spring.

Until spring planting, keep the seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place

How to Plant Coleus Seeds

Planting your seeds the next spring is the next stage after they’ve been harvested. Seeds can be sown in the ground or in containers. Coleus seeds should be lightly sprinkling over a wet potting soil mix.

Mixing the seeds with sand helps to ensure a uniform distribution of the seedlings. Creating a space between the seeds will allow them to sprout and flourish.

Cover the seedling with soil, then plastic, after you’ve placed them in the ground. Temperature and indirect sunshine are essential for their well-being.

Within two weeks, if all goes according to plan, you should begin to see seedlings emerge. By then, you should have the plastic off.

Individual containers can be used for seedlings when two sets of genuine leaves have formed.

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How to Take Care of Your Coleus Plants

There is no requirement for you to be a horticulturist to effectively grow coleus seeds. You should remember that newly planted seeds need a lot of moisture in the soil to thrive.

Watering container plants more frequently may be necessary. If you want to give your plants a boost, use a half-strength liquid fertilizer in the spring and summer while they are actively growing.

In the summer, Coleus plants typically produce spiking flowers. Remove the blossoms if desired, then pinch the young stems of the plant to encourage the development of new leaves.

Another thing to keep in mind is how you’ll survive the cold months. Coleus plants are susceptible to frost damage since they are fragile annuals. Plants that need to be brought indoors for the winter need to be either potted or dug up.

One or two healthy coleus plants should be tied with a colorful ribbon or yarn. In fall, the string will help you remember which plants are the strongest.

You can collect seeds when the blooms’ petals have fallen and the remaining seed pods are ripe and brown.

Use scissors or garden shears to remove the seed pod. Put the pods in a paper bag and seal it up.

Sack should be kept cool and dry. To prevent the seeds from clinging to one another, shake the sack daily. Shaking the bag also aids in the drying process by ensuring a uniform distribution of moisture.

Ensure that the seeds are totally dry before storing them. To determine if a seed is dry, insert your fingertip into it. A seed that is too dry will split or crack. After two weeks, if the seeds still aren’t dry, check back. Incompletely dried seeds are more likely to decay.

Pick out the leaves and other plant debris with tweezers after you’ve dumped the contents of the bag into a shallow dish or tray.

Envelope the seeds with newspaper. On the envelope, write the date and type of seeds. To avoid mold growth, never store seeds in plastic.

The envelope should be kept in a cold, dry, and dark place for the duration of winter.

Why Should You Grow Coleus Plants Inside a Hobby Greenhouse?

Coleus plants can be grown in a hobby greenhouse for a variety of reasons. Listed below are a few of these benefits:

Protection from pests and diseases

Your plants’ leaves could be eaten by a variety of insects and animals including aphids, snails, rats, and squirrels, among others. If they’re exposed to your garden, they’re at risk of contracting nearby diseases. Place your coleus plants in a greenhouse to prevent their growth being stunted or killed by pests and illnesses.

Start plant growth early

Any time you want to start planting, you can do so in your greenhouse. Rather than waiting for spring, you can easily regulate the temperature in your home year round. Heating and cooling systems allow you to tailor the temperature to your plants’ individual requirements.

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Protection from bad weather

Coleus, as well as other plants, can be severely harmed or even killed by weather conditions such as ice, snow, heavy rain, and high winds. You can keep your coleus plants out of harms way by keeping them in a greenhouse.

Final Thoughts on How to Collect Coleus Seeds

Coleus seeds need to be collected in order to produce these beautiful plants. It’s easy to collect and preserve coleus seeds in time for spring planting if you follow the instructions above.