‘Coleus Spitfire’ is a popular ornamental plant, cherished for its vibrant foliage and ease of growth. Its captivating colors add visual interest to gardens, appealing to both experienced and new plant enthusiasts.
Understanding Coleus Spitfire
‘Coleus Spitfire’ is known for its intense leaf coloration, featuring fiery reds, coppery-bronze, and oranges, often with bright pink centers and lime-green tips or margins. Its narrow, serrated leaves contribute to its distinct look. This cultivar typically has a compact, mounding, and bushy growth habit, reaching 10 to 24 inches tall and spreading 14 to 20 inches wide. Its vivid display lives up to its name.
Growing Conditions and Care
‘Coleus Spitfire’ thrives in conditions that enhance its vibrant foliage. It grows well in partial to full shade, adapting to full sun if consistently watered. However, its most intense colors often appear in partial shade or with morning sun, protected from harsh afternoon sun. Well-draining, rich soil with ample organic matter and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is preferred.
Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to prevent root issues, allowing the top inch to dry slightly between waterings. These plants prefer warm temperatures, ideally 70°F to 100°F (21°C to 38°C), and will not tolerate frost. If humidity is low, especially indoors, placing pots on a tray of damp pebbles can help. During the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks, or a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of the season.
Pruning and Maintenance
Regular pruning helps maintain a fuller, bushier plant. Pinching back growing tips, especially when the plant is around 6 inches tall, promotes lateral branching and prevents leggy growth. This can be done by pinching the stem above a set of leaves or with small pruning shears. Consistent pinching ensures a dense, attractive plant.
‘Coleus Spitfire’ produces small blue or purple flower stalks. These flowers are not ornamental and can detract from the foliage, so remove them as they appear. Pinching off flower spikes redirects the plant’s energy from seed production back into foliage growth, maintaining leaf vibrancy and extending the plant’s display. This also prevents the plant from becoming leggy and declining prematurely.
Propagation
Propagating ‘Coleus Spitfire’ is commonly done through stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem 4 to 6 inches long from the parent plant. Make a clean cut just below a leaf node, where leaves emerge. Remove leaves from the lower half of the cutting, ensuring none will be submerged if rooting in water, as this can lead to rot.
Cuttings can be rooted in water or directly in soil. For water rooting, place cuttings in a glass of water, ensuring nodes are submerged but leaves remain above the waterline. Place the glass in a bright location out of direct sunlight, changing the water every few days to prevent bacterial growth. Roots typically develop within two to four weeks. Once roots are 1 to 2 inches long, transfer cuttings to a well-draining potting mix.
For direct soil rooting, insert the leafless portion into moist, well-draining potting mix, optionally dipping the end in rooting hormone first. Keep the soil consistently moist; new growth indicates successful rooting.