Coleus Flowering ... will it die now?

[SkyKero]

I just bought this coleus that is flowering -- it just looked so interesting.

It has 2 branch-outs (kind of like a 2 prong fork) one that has flowers and the other does not.

Will the plant survive if I cut off the top flowering thing on the one side? I have been reading that they will die because of the flowers (I guess they will seed -- and I can use for next year) .. but it is really a nice looking plant and there is plenty of heat left in the year.

Will the other side live if I pinch off the flowers on that side when they try to grow -- should I cut the non-flower off the main stem and plant that?

Thanks for any help you can give me.


Silvia

[Kisal]

Yes, the plant will die if you allow it to set seed. If you remove the flower, the plant will continue to grow. Just out of curiosity, is it in a container, or in the ground? If it's in a container, you can probably bring it indoors at the end of summer. They make nice houseplants.

[SkyKero]

Right now it is an very small container -- I was planning on putting it in the ground... but I may have just changed my mind -- I will cut the flowers of so it can live .. and plant it in a bigger pot ...

... it is a really pretty purple color. -- (my favorite color )

Thanks for the help.

Silvia

[Kisal]

Coleus are very attractive plants. I used to have several, each one different from the others. I had my office at work full of them. This is a plant that is easy to root from cuttings, so as you pinch yours back to make it grow full and bushy, stick the parts you remove into a pot of moist soil. Soon you'll be giving them away as gifts.

[SkyKero]

Great! ... that sound good to me...

All my plants have grown so much - I am having to give some away so that they all have room

Thanks for the help