Marianne's Response

Potted coleus and bucket tomatoes

I planted four coleus in a large pot in ordinary garden soil which grows good grass. Two died, two are alive. What’s the proper care and feeding for potted coleus plants?

Second question: I plant tomatoes every year in 5 gallon buckets with new potting soil. This year I have lots of good leaves and very few blossoms. Help!

Posted by Daphne Williams on July 3, 2014

Marianne's Response

Your coleus prefer morning sun, afternoon shade, and potting soil that will drain well. Fertilize with a slow release plant food like Osmocote and keep the flower spikes picked off the plants to encourage more leaf growth. Your tomatoes sound like they may be getting too much nitrogen or too little sun. Do not use manure as a fertilizer for tomatoes as this is high in nitrogen. You can use manure to improve your soil but add a complete plant food like Osmocote that has phosphorous and potassium to encourage the tomatoes to grow flowers and fruit and not just foliage. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti