Coleus Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Pink Chaos' (v)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Not blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Coleus 'Pink Chaos' is a vibrant and striking foliage plant, known for its flamboyant leaf coloration and patterns. The leaves are a blend of lively pink and purple hues, often mixed with splashes of cream or green, creating a chaotic yet harmonious visual effect that easily catches the eye. The leaf structure is complex, with a combination of ruffled and serrated edges. The overall appearance of Coleus 'Pink Chaos' makes it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a dramatic splash of color to their gardens or indoor potted plant collections. With its bright and variable leaf colors, it stands out from more typical green foliage plants, bringing life and decorative appeal wherever it's placed.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Coleus, Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle
- Common names
  Coleus blumei, Coleus scutellarioides, Coleus hybridus, Plectranthus scutellarioides.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The common name of Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Pink Chaos' is Coleus. Coleus is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no significant symptoms of poisoning associated with the plant because it is not considered poisonous when touched or ingested in small quantities. However, consuming large amounts of the plant could possibly cause gastrointestinal discomfort or irritation.
- To pets
  Coleus, the common name for Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Pink Chaos', is mildly toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. If ingested, it can cause gastrointestinal upset including symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and possibly drooling. It's important to keep an eye on your pet and consult with a veterinarian if you suspect they have ingested a significant amount of the plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Mixed
- Height
  2 feet (0.61 meters)
- Spread
  2 feet (0.61 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  Tropics

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vibrant colors and textures to gardens and indoor spaces.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care, making it suitable for busy or novice gardeners.
- Versatility: Can be used in various landscape designs, including borders, containers, and as ground cover.
- Heat Tolerance: Thrives in warm climates and can tolerate high temperatures.
- Shade Tolerance: Grows well in shaded areas where other plants might struggle.
- Fast Growth: Quickly fills in space, providing swift gratification in landscape design.
- Propagation Ease: Can be easily propagated from cuttings, making it cost-effective to expand a collection.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Craft Projects: Coleus 'Pink Chaos' leaves can be pressed and included in homemade paper or bookmarks for a burst of natural color and unique patterns.
- Fabric Dyeing: The vibrant pigments in the leaves can be used as a natural dye for textiles, offering shades of pink and purple.
- Photography: The striking appearance of the foliage makes it a popular subject for botanical photographers looking to capture detailed leaf patterns and colors.
- Color Inspiration: Artists and designers can use the plant as a color reference for paintings, interior design, or fashion due to its vibrant coloration.
- Educational Tool: Biology teachers can use this plant to explain leaf variegation, chlorophyll absence, and genetics related to plant pigmentation.
- Seasonal Decoration: During fall, the foliage of 'Pink Chaos' can be incorporated into arrangements or wreaths as a non-traditional, colorful addition.
- Culinary Presentation: Although not traditionally eaten, non-toxic varieties can be used as a garnish for culinary presentation to add a splash of color to dishes.
- Aquarium Decoration: When grown emersed, certain aquatic hobbyists use coleus varieties such as 'Pink Chaos' to add color to the water-adjacent areas of their tanks.
- Garden Art: Leaves can be cast in concrete or resin to create decorative garden stepping stones or ornaments.
- Mood Enhancement: The bright and cheerful colors of the coleus 'Pink Chaos' can be used in horticultural therapy settings to improve mood and stimulate senses.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Coleus plant is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Coleus plant is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Vibrancy: Solenostemon scutellarioides, commonly known as Coleus, with its 'Pink Chaos' variety, is often associated with a vibrant spirit due to its vivid and chaotic pink patterns.
- Uniqueness: The 'Pink Chaos' is celebrated for its unique and unpredictable pattern, symbolizing individuality and the beauty of being different.
- Change: The ability of the Coleus to change its color intensity depending on light exposure makes it a symbol for adaptability and transformation.
- Creativity: With its strikingly bold colors and patterns, Coleus 'Pink Chaos' can represent imagination and the courage to stand out in a crowd, encouraging creative expression.
- Balance: The 'Pink Chaos' variety, like other Coleus plants, can symbolize balance as it blends both the intensity of its hues with the harmony of its leaf patterns.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Coleus 'Pink Chaos' should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, ensuring water reaches the entire root zone. In average room conditions, this may mean watering once every week or two, using enough water until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot, indicating the soil is saturated. Avoid letting the plant sit in water, which can promote root rot. During active growth in spring and summer, you might find the need to water more frequently, possibly increasing to once a week or more, depending on environmental conditions. Always adjust watering frequency based on temperature, light levels, and humidity, reducing the amount in winter when the plant is not actively growing.
Light
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate some direct morning sun. A spot near an east- or north-facing window is ideal, providing the gentle light that encourages vibrant leaf color without the risk of scorch. Too much direct afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, while too little light may fade the foliage's vivid colors. Maintaining the right light levels is key to preserving the decorative qualities of this plant.
Temperature
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' prefers warm conditions with temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant will suffer if exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and could experience stress or damage. Ideally, keep Coleus 'Pink Chaos' in a controlled environment away from drafts and sudden temperature changes to ensure steady growth and vibrant leaf coloration.
Pruning
Prune Coleus 'Pink Chaos' to maintain its shape or encourage bushier growth, cutting back any leggy stems as needed. You can pinch off the growing tips regularly during the growing season to stimulate branching. The best time to prune heavily is in spring, just before new growth begins. Dead or damaged leaves should be removed as soon as they are noticed to keep the plant looking its best.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A mix of two parts peat moss, one part perlite, and one part potting soil is ideal for pot cultivation, offering a balance of aeration and moisture retention.
Repotting
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' should be repotted every year or when it outgrows its container, which can happen quickly due to its fast growth rate. Spring is the best time for repotting to minimize stress on the plant.
Humidity & Misting
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' prefers high humidity levels, ideally between 60-75%. These tropical plants can thrive in less humid conditions but benefit from regular misting or a pebble tray to maintain the appropriate humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Coleus 'Pink Chaos' in bright, indirect light.
- Outdoor
  Grow Coleus 'Pink Chaos' in partial shade to full shade.
- Hardiness zone
  10-11 USDA
Life cycle
Coleus 'Pink Chaos' typically begins its life cycle when seeds are sown in warm, moist soil, usually in early spring. Germination occurs within a week or two, provided the soil is consistently warm and not allowed to dry out. The seedlings grow rapidly, developing distinctive, colorful foliage as true leaves mature. When the plants reach sufficient size, they can be pinched back to encourage bushier growth and more vibrant leaf coloration. Throughout the growing season, coleus 'Pink Chaos' thrives in partial shade, requiring regular watering and fertilization to maintain health and color vibrancy. Before the first frost, plants can be propagated through cuttings to overwinter indoors, or if left outside, they will complete their life cycle and die with the onset of cold weather.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagating Coleus 'Pink Chaos' is through stem cuttings. This process is best performed in the spring or early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. A healthy stem without flowers should be selected and cut using a clean, sharp pair of shears. The cutting should be about 4 to 6 inches long (about 10 to 15 centimeters). Remove the lower leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water or a moist potting mix, ensuring that at least one or two nodes are submerged where the leaves were removed. In water, roots will typically start to appear within a week or two. Once a good root system has developed, the new coleus plant can be transplanted into a pot with fresh potting soil.