Surely you are not the first or the last to end looking for how to revive a coleus because this one does not have the usual look and you notice that you are dying. It is something common, sometimes we not only have to be attentive to the needs of the plants but also to those signs that can warn us that something is not going well.
In the case of coleus, the fall of the leaves, the one that has them brown, withered, etc. it is something very visual that makes us worry. We are not going to tell you that you are going to be able to save it one hundred percent, but at least you can try some things. Do you want to know what?
Coleus characteristics
Coleus, also called chintz by some, is one of the cheapest and most common plants in gardens and indoors. Their little care and the color of its velvety leaveshow big they are, etc. makes it very special.
These leaves have a toothed shape (although there are also lanceolate, smooth, heart-shaped, oval …) with some brushstrokes between red, green, orange, black … which generates many striking contrasts.
They do not exceed 50 cm in height in a pot, although in the garden and in an ideal environment, they can reach or exceed one meter in height. They are perennial, although from time to time they may lose some leaves (to renew themselves).
It has a quadrangular stem and its flowers are like a spike, small and of variable colors. You can find yourself from blue to white, purple … but these do not stand out (the leaves are more striking).
Basic care of a coleus
Before talking about how to revive a coleus, it is important that you know what the basic care of the coleus is, because that way you will know what the problem has been that may have caused it to die.
In this case, the basic care that you should take into account are:
Lighting
It needs a lot of light, both direct and indirect. It is recommended that it be protected during the peak hours, especially in summer, because the leaves can easily burn.
Inside the house it is better to locate it to the south, and in a very illuminated room, while, outside, bet on a place in semi-shade or if the climate is cold or temperate, in direct sun.
Temperature
Ideally, you should have between 20 and 25 degrees, but it supports both high and low temperatures (up to 12-13 degrees).
It does not like cold currents at all, and you have to protect it from frost or very low temperatures if you want it to survive.
Note that, in autumn, it is normal for it to lose the low leaves and the stems to be bare. In spring you should get those leaves back, but this makes it more difficult for you to endure the winter (that’s why many prefer to renew the plant instead of caring for it).
Irrigation
The watering of the colea is abundant from spring to summer and scarce in winter. In all these months you have to keep the soil slightly damp, which is why humidity is also important.
How to revive a coleus
Now, after talking about the main things about caring for a coleus, here are the main problems you can face and their solutions. As we say, we cannot make sure that you will always relive it, but at least you will have a better chance of achieving it.
Coleus with yellow leaves
If what you are looking for is to revive a coleus that has yellow leaves and that suddenly wilt and fall off, then you should know that this is due to a lack of water and / or humidity.
The solution you can try is water by immersion for 10 minutes and let it drain so that all the soil is moistened. You should not water again until it dries, but it is convenient that the leaves are pulverized, or place the pot on top of stones and these in a container that you can fill with water to have a humidity effect.
Revive a coleus with discolored leaves
Have you noticed that your coleus has the whitest leaves, with very soft, discolored colors? It is a clear symptom that it lacks light. So if you move it around, you can get it to change its appearance.
White spots on the underside of the leaves
It is common when we talk about a plague, in this case the cottony mealybug. To solve it, because it may be the cause that your coleus is dying, you have to remove them (use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol and wipe all the leaves, stems, etc.) or else wash the plant with soap and water.
Afterwards, you can use insecticides focused on the mealybugs, both the adult specimens and the larvae. This way you will finish them off completely.
Coleus with excess water
You may find that you have gone too far with the watering, and the plant instead of thanking it, is basically drowning. What causes it to become weak, the leaves to fall, to become withered. The problem is that when we see it like this we tend to water it more.
The solution in this case goes through remove the plant from the pot and remove as much soil as possible from it. It is so wet that it is damaging the roots so it is better to remove it and put it in another pot, or the same one, but with new and dry soil.
If you see that it has dead or soft roots, it is best to cut them, and the same with the dead leaves (even if you leave it bare). All that remains is to wait and see if he reacts.
Dried coleus
Despite the fact that it is a perennial plant, in certain climates it is more considered as an annual, because it cannot withstand low temperatures and ends up losing its leaves and not being able to maintain its shape.
Therefore, you may find a dry coleus, whose leaves have withered and the stem is regular. If that happens, the best thing is prune and protect it, as well as water it from time to time, to see if it will sprout again in spring.
You have to be patient because it will not be something overnight, but if you continue to take care of it, it could be the case that it revives (especially if it begins to have new shoots or they appeared after pruning).
Do you have doubts about how to revive a coleus? A situation that we have not contemplated? Tell us and we will try to help you.
