Recently i added a coleus abbey road to the patio, and truthfully, the colors are even more vibrant than the photos suggested. If you're anything like myself, you probably invest way too very much time wandering the aisles of your nearby nursery looking for that one plant that'll actually survive summer time while looking magnificent. Well, this specific variety is the total game-changer intended for anyone who desires high-impact foliage with out having to child a plant twenty-four-seven.
It's part of the "Main Street" series, which is pretty famous among landscapers for being reliable. But there's something about the Abbey Road variety that simply stands out. It's got these profoundly serrated leaves with a rich, velvety burgundy center that bleeds into a bright, almost neon lime green edge. The particular contrast is really sharp it almost looks painted on.
Why This Variety Hits Different
Most of the particular time, whenever we believe about garden color, we're thinking regarding flowers. But plants are fickle. These people bloom for a week, they perish back, and you're left having a number of green stalks. That's where coleus abbey road really shines. You will get that punch of color from the moment you flower it until the first frost hits in the fall.
It's a foliage-first plant, meaning the particular leaves are the main event. While this does produce little spikes of blue or purple plants occasionally, most home gardeners (myself included) actually pinch those off. Why? Since the vegetable puts so much energy into those small flowers that this results in can start to appear a bit tired. By snapping the particular flower buds away, you're telling the plant to keep concentrating on those beautiful, multicolored leaves.
Finding the Ideal Spot
1 of the greatest misconceptions about coleus is they all need deep shade. While that used in order to be true with regard to older varieties, the newer breeds such as coleus abbey road are a much more versatile. I've discovered that mine does best in the spot that gets a little bit of morning sun but stays tinted during the brutal mid-day heat.
In the event that you place it in total, deep shade, the colors could easily get a little muddy. The lime natural won't pop as much, and the burgundy can appear a bit dull. Upon the flip side, if you blast it with direct sunlight the whole day in the hot climate, the particular leaves might scorch or the colors could wash out. It's all about discovering that "goldilocks" zone. In case you see the edges from the results in turning crispy and brown, it's possibly getting an excessive amount of sun. If it's searching "leggy" (meaning longer, skinny stems along with huge gaps in between leaves), it's possibly reaching to get more lighting.
Keeping This Happy and Hydrated
Let's talk about watering, as this is where people usually trip up. Coleus abbey road is a little bit of a drama queen when it's thirsty. If you forget to water this to get a day throughout a heatwave, you'll walk outside in order to find it completely slumped over, looking like it's given upward on life.
Don't anxiety! Usually, a good strong soak brings it right back to life within an hour or two. That will said, you don't want to create a habit of letting it wilt, as it stresses the particular plant out. The goal is to keep the soil regularly moist but not really soggy. If you're planting it in a pot, make sure there are drainage holes. Coleus dislikes "wet feet, " which is just a fancy way of saying they don't such as their roots sitting in stagnant drinking water.
I just stick my finger an inch straight into the soil. If it feels dry, We water. If it's still damp, I actually leave it only for another time. Simple as that.
Feeding and Maintenance
Considering that coleus abbey road is such a fast grower, it's going to get hungry. We usually toss within a bit of slow-release fertilizer whenever I first grow it within the spring. After that, a liquid fertilizer every single two or 3 weeks during the top growing season retains it looking rich.
One particular "pro tip" for keeping your herb looking full plus bushy rather as opposed to the way tall and spindly is to pinch this back. I realize, this feels wrong to slice off parts of a plant you're looking to grow, yet trust me on this particular. Every time a person pinch off the top set associated with leaves, the rose limbs out into two new stems. If you do this particular regularly, you'll end up with a dense, round pile of color rather than one tall, uncomfortable stalk.
Making More Plants for Free
The complete best part about coleus abbey road —and really any coleus—is how insanely easy these are to propagate. You can basically change one plant into a whole garden's worth by the end of summer without spending another dime.
Here's what I do: I snip away a stem regarding four to 6 inches long, making sure there are at least a couple of nodes (the spots where results in grow out). I pull off the bottom leaves so I'm left along with a bare stem and a few leaves at the very top. After that, I just stick that stem into a glass of drinking water on my kitchen area windowsill.
In about a 7 days, you'll see small white roots beginning to sprout. As soon as the roots are an inch or 2 long, you can pop it directly into some potting garden soil, and boom—you've obtained a brand fresh plant. It's a fun little science project, and it's a great way to save the particular plant for next year. Since coleus isn't frost-hardy, I usually take a few clippings at the end of September and keep them since houseplants within the wintertime. Then, when spring rolls around, I've got healthy plants ready to go back outside.
Companion Planting Ideas
Because the colors of coleus abbey road are so striking, it plays really well with others. I really like pairing it along with plants that have got solid colors in order to let the coleus become the star.
- Special Potato Vine: The brilliant "Marguerite" (lime green) variety looks incredible trailing within the aspect of a pot next to the burgundy tones associated with the Abbey Road.
- Impatiens: In case you're planting within a shady mattress, some white or even soft pink impatiens at the foundation from the coleus make a really traditional, clean look.
- Begonias: The waxy leaves of begonias provide a nice texture contrast to the velvety feel of the coleus.
Coping with the Occasional Pest
For the most part, coleus abbey road is incredibly tough, but it's not totally invincible. Mealybugs may sometimes be a good issue—they look like tiny little pieces of white natural cotton stuck within the nooks of the comes. If you discover them, you may usually just clean them off with a cotton swab dipped in massaging alcohol.
Slugs are the additional big one, specifically if you possess your plants in the ground. They adore those tender leaves. I usually just use some natural slug bait or even the old beer-in-a-shallow-dish trick when they start becoming a true problem. But honestly, if your herb is healthy and growing fast, a few small holes from a run-a-way bug won't even be noticeable.
Final Thoughts on This Garden Favorite
At the end of the time, gardening should be fun, not really a task. That's why I'm such an enthusiast of coleus abbey road . It provides a massive compensation for very small effort. It's striking, it's colorful, plus it's incredibly forgiving if you take place to forget about this for a day time or two.
Whether you've got a substantial backyard or just a tiny patio with a few pots, this plant is worth a try out. It brings the certain "vibe" that most other foliage plants just can't complement. Plus, being able to tell your close friends you have "Abbey Road" in your own garden is a pretty cool small conversation starter. Simply keep it watered, give it some light, and don't hesitate to give it a little haircut now and after that to keep it looking the best. Happy growing!