Hi Diamond,

Well, I've never started coleus from seed. However, unless it's very different than most other plants, I would question the idea of growing the seedlings near a 'very warm' stove. Most seeds germinate well when the soil temperature is about 78 degrees F. But after germination do best when the air temperature is somewhere between about 62 and 70 degrees F.

Keeping the temperature low will cause the seedlings to grow slower and produce good sturdy plants. When the air temperature is a little too warm, the seedlings often tend to grow too fast. If that happens, it will be hard to provide enough light to balance that rapid growth and the result will be weak and leggy seedlings.

Just something for you to think about :-)

Art

This post was edited by art33 on Mon, Nov 11, 13 at 17:33

Thanks, Art, I had considered that the heat might be a problem. I have raised a lot of plants down there over the years, and my only issue has really been with fungus killing my seedlings early on. I plan on using a fungicide this year, and withhold water until absolutely necessary. I use a fan for air circulation, hoping that will help with disease. Not much I can do about the heat. Perhaps keeping the lights very close to the plants and using adequate fertilize will help with the plants being weak and leggy. Any suggestions?

Hi again Diamond,

Okay, somehow from your original post I got the impression that your set-up in the basement was something new to you. However, since you've raised a lot of plants down there in the past, you must be doing it right and the plants must be happy. Apparently, the temperature is not a problem. You know what they say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" :-)

Have fun and best of luck with the coleus seeds.

Art

I have grown lots of coleus from seed and find that they like it a bit cooler than others to germinate. The only issues I have had with them is when I had them on my germination mats. When they had extra heat I had less germination and more issues with damping off.

Good luck, they are addicting.....

SCG

Second the cooler temp for germination and growing the coleus (did them this year and last). I have also grown impatiens, and they will do well even if you don't give them a lot of light. I've always started them 10 weeks before frost and they are plenty big by the time I set them out. Mine are always more sun tolerant than store bought ones, since I usually put them on a sunny windowsill as soon as they get their first set of true leaves. The early spring sun is weak enough that it naturally hardens them without any extra effort. Just watch the watering; they like a little bit of drying out between waterings.

Thanks for the info. If they need cooler temps to germinate I could put them in another part of the basement. What is average length of time for them to germinate? Also, I saved some seeds from some really fancy coleus I had purchased this spring, I am certain the were hybrids, what are my chances of getting plants that look like the parent plants? Fell in love with these coleus this summer, they outperformed everything else I grew!