Hey,

I bought 6 "Coleus" a few months ago and they were planted in the garden.

3 of them seem to be OK and are growing all though not into a bush they look rather scrawny and long but sure they'll get there.

The ones that are like stunted are the ones that seem to be have had a bad start and were eaten by slugs and snails before I noticed and put some Slug killer down.

Any ideas why they could be stunted and not growing, any thing that I can do to help them.

Thanks

awww shucks just read that these will probably die off in the winter unless "wintered" note to self! ask more questions when buying plants for the garden

(p.s you think this thread is posted in the correct place?)

I might suspect the soil isn't very fertile, and/or has a PH that's not what Coleus likes. "Too dry" probably isn't an issue where you are?

I too have trouble growing Coleus outdoors. Mine sat in a container all summer and hardly grew at all, and they were in good soil, getting afternoon sun. I think they didn't like the ups and downs in temperature - hot days and cool nights. The same variety in pots indoors (in the same soil, with the same amount of sun) grew like crazy and I had to keep pinching out the growing tips to stop them from becoming trees. Having said that, while I was on holiday in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I saw a wonderful outdoor planting of Coleus teamed with purple-leaved dahlias. Maybe certain varieties do outdoors better than others?

Hi DataStream,

" p.s you think this thread is posted in the correct place? "

There are a few holes in your coleus foliage, so they were probably made by some pest. But they are more cosmetic damage, and not the primary problem. Maybe ATP should have a UK forum. But in the absence of that, there is a Coleus forum.

Your photos reveal some sticks and stuff in your soil. Tiffany brought up your soil as an issue, and I tend to agree with that. But I am not an expert on Coleus. June mentioned that her Coleus did better in pots indoors, so you might try bringing your Coleus indoors in pots. You are right, your Coleus are not Winter hardy, and cold weather will kill them.

ZM