Krapivka (koleus): home care

Coleus, or, in a popular way, nettle is an interesting and very beautiful houseplant. It is valued for its colorful, spectacular leaves. In this case, their colors can be any. Usually this is a combination of red with purple, white with green or burgundy with yellow.

At many it is possible to see on a window sill this tropical African plant - koleus. Care at home after him is simple. Krapivka is considered a plant unpretentious and hardy. However, when growing, you need to observe some simple rules. First, the koleus do not like too much light. Therefore, it should be lightly shaded. And secondly, with the desired abundant watering, he can not stand the stagnation of water. Drainage is mandatory.

The soil of almost any composition is perfect for such an indiscriminate plant as a colosseum. Care at home, however, involves feeding. Of course, nettle will feel fine without them. But in order for the bush to be as effective as possible, it is better to at least occasionally feed it with potash fertilizers.

Plant this plant can be both using cuttings, and seeds. In the first case, you can take a cut twig together with the leaves. It must be put in water. Two weeks later, roots are formed on it. After that the nettle is transferred to a small pot. Thus, it is possible to grow a completely repeating feature of the parent plant koleus. Care at home after this is carried out as usual.

Unusual flowers of nettle should be removed immediately after appearance. They greatly weaken the plant. Leave them only for obtaining seeds. They, as well as cuttings, can be used to grow wheels. To do this, put them directly on top of the soil mixture and cover with a film. At the same time each original wheel will differ in its original color. Care at home for nettle suggests, of course, the presence of some knowledge of its possible diseases.

In the event that the plants turn yellow and fall off the lower leaves, it should be moved closer to the window. If the stem withers and foliage flies, on the contrary, this may mean excess of light and insufficiently moistened air. In this case, the bush is removed from the window and placed next to it with a container of water or wet peat.

Recently, breeders of different countries have produced quite a few varieties of this interesting houseplant. Those magnificent beautiful bushes, which are grown by many housewives in the apartments - this is usually koleus hybrid. Leaves in it often have an oval shape, slightly incised along the edges. To the touch they are pleasantly velvety. The drawing is distinguished by many patterns and shades. Occasionally there are also monophonic - red, yellow or bright green leaves.

Quite often two more varieties are grown at home - the Rainbow and the Black Dragon. The latter features corrugated leaves of very bright purple color with fringe along the edges. The name of the variety Rainbow speaks for itself. The leaves of this species of koleus are distinguished by an unusual variety.

Coleus, planting and care for which special difficulty does not differ, is an unusually attractive houseplant. His spectacular, colorful or very bright monochrome leaves will decorate absolutely any room.