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booyah053

What plant is this?

11 years ago

Just purchased this mixed basket at local greenhouse. I was intrigued bc I didn't know what the burgundy/pinkish vine is. Can anyone help me?


Comments (7)

  • 11 years ago

    That's a coleus hybrid, Plectranthus scutellaroides.

  • 11 years ago

    Still on coffee #1 but already sure that will be the most surprising thing I hear all day.

    Although I'm a HUGE fan of companion plantings, these 3 are not great partners.
    Coleus: shade, moist
    Aptenia: tons of sun, a little less water
    Ivy: not picky about light or moisture, but prone to spider mites. Grows too fast and in every direction to be a good companion to these smaller, more delicate plants (and likely to cause them to get spider mites too.) The hanging basket would be the best option though. You can guide the ivy up the support arms, and over the side away from the other plants, trim if needed.

    They can each be long-lived plants, though the ivy is best suited to being outside all year. The Coleus & Aptenia would need to come inside to escape the cold of winter.

    All 3 propagate easily from cuttings. If you want to separate them but are nervous about it, getting cuttings going first would be a good insurance plan.


  • 11 years ago

    I've grown several different kinds of coleus in full sun. They have been the ones with darker leaves. Some get sun from early morning until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Just depends on which ones you get. One thing though, they don't like to dry out, whether in the garden or in pots. They are always a 'must have' in my pots & gardens.

    Kat z5 se Wi


  • 11 years ago

    will it be going outside.. or staying indoors??? .. that is where tiffs issue come to light ...

    where do you put the thing.. in sun that one plant needs or in shade the other prefers ...

    ken


  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Your other plant is a variegated ice plant. (Aptenia cordifolia). I happen to be growing one as a houseplant. It puts up pretty crimson flowers time to time. I grow it directly under fluorescent tubes.

    Coleus are pretty good about telling you if they are getting enough light. The colors fade and turn more green if it isn't as happy and needs more. My experience growing them as houseplants is they like to take over whatever space you give them. They will quickly outgrow their container and need pruning/ resetting. This may just be something I'm making up but I notice they make pretty good companion plants for quite a few houseplants. If I have trouble getting some cuttings to root, I'll sometimes put a coleus cutting in the pot. I'm guessing because they are pretty good indicators for watering needs/ light. (they quickly wilt if not happy with their water) and absorb excess pretty well if root bound.

  • 11 years ago

    Latitude is a huge factor in regard to sun intensity. As far north as WI, it would be less of a concern for the traditional mostly-shade Coleus.

    That said, there are some Coleus developed for their ability to be out in the sun all day. Usually they have 'sun' in the cultivar name. I got one called 'Florida Sun Jade' and it was spectacular, in shade or sun!

    When in doubt, take cuttings & experiment. Morning-only sun is usually safe if one doesn't want to mess with experiments.