Coleus Canina: Tips for Buying and Growing This Unique Houseplant

With its brilliant red and green foliage, coleus canina offers a striking pop of color as a houseplant or in outdoor containers. This plant is also known as scaredy cat plant or piss-off plant due to its pungent odor. If you’re looking to add something unusual to your indoor plant collection, here is some background on coleus canina and tips for where to buy it and how to grow it successfully.

Overview of Coleus Canina Houseplant

Some quick facts about coleus canina

• Native to tropical and subtropical Africa
• Perennial in zones 10-11 but often grown as an annual
• Features pretty red and green variegated leaves
• Grows 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Does well indoors or outside in warm weather
• Gives off a strong odor of urine or skunk when touched

This plant is known for its unique reaction when brushed up against. The leaves release a foul smell as a defense against plant-eating animals. But when not disturbed, the plant has a pleasant, fruity fragrance.

Where to Buy Coleus Canina

Coleus canina can be a little tricky to find but here are some good options for finding plants or seeds

Buy Plants Online

• Etsy sellers – Many Etsy shops sell coleus canina plants shipped to your door Check seller ratings

• Online nurseries – Some specialty nurseries like Gabriella Plants or Glasshouse Works sell coleus canina online.

• Amazon – You may be able to find live coleus canina plants shipped from Amazon sellers. Carefully review ratings before purchasing.

Buy Seeds to Grow Your Own

• Etsy seed shops – Many Etsy sellers offer coleus canina seeds at affordable prices.

• Specialty seed sites – Check companies like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for seeds of this unique plant.

• Local garden centers – You may get lucky and find coleus canina seeds at a local nursery during the spring planting season.

When buying plants, inspect them closely and make sure they are pest and disease free. If buying seeds, choose fresh seeds from the current year’s crop.

How to Grow Coleus Canina

Coleus canina thrives when given the following care:

Light Requirements

• Does well in partial sun to medium shade

• Avoid full sun which can scorch leaves

• Needs 4-6 hours of sunlight daily

Watering and Humidity

• Prefers consistently moist soil. Avoid letting it dry out.

• Medium to high humidity. Mist leaves if air is dry.

• Loves humid bathrooms and kitchens!

Soil

• Rich, well-draining potting mix

• Amend with compost or worm castings

Temperature

• Thrives in average home temperatures of 60-80°F

• Does not tolerate frost or cold weather

Fertilizer

• Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks in spring through fall

• Reduce feeding in winter

Pot Size

• Should be kept in snug pots to control size

• Re-pot every 2-3 years in spring, moving up just 1 size

Caring for Coleus Canina Indoors

Caring for coleus canina as a houseplant involves providing the right cultural conditions described above, along with these tips:

• Pinch back leggy stems to encourage full, bushy growth

• Wipe leaves regularly with a damp cloth to keep dust free

• Propagate new plants from stem cuttings in spring and summer

• Watch for pests like mealybugs and aphids. Treat quickly before they spread.

• Rotate plant periodically to ensure even growth towards the light source.

When maintained properly, coleus canina makes an easy and unusual houseplant specimen. Just be cautious of the smelly leaves!

Growing Coleus Canina Outdoors

Coleus canina also grows nicely outdoors in warm weather. Follow these guidelines for outdoor success:

• Plant out after all danger of frost has passed, typically late spring.

• Choose a site with afternoon shade and well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.

• Space plants 12-18 inches apart in the garden or containers.

• Pinch plants back to promote bushiness.

• Water whenever the top 1-2 inches of soil become dry. Don’t let it completely dry out.

• Feed every 3-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

• Snip off spent flower spikes to encourage more foliage growth.

• Overwinter indoors or take cuttings to propagate new plants each spring.

With proper placement and care, coleus canina makes a striking accent plant that will release its noxious odor to deter nosy animals from your garden!

Common Problems With Coleus Canina

Coleus canina is relatively pest and disease resistant if provided good growing conditions. But here are a few potential problems to watch for:

• Root rot from overwatering – Allow soil to dry out between waterings.

• Powdery mildew – Improve air flow and reduce water on leaves.

• Aphids or mealybugs – Wipe off with damp cloth or use horticultural oil.

• Sunscald on leaves – Move to a shadier location.

• Leggy growth – Prune regularly and pinching back as needed.

• Lack of blooms outdoors – This plant is grown for its foliage. But you can snip off flower spikes to encourage leaf growth.

Enjoy This Unique Houseplant

With its brilliant red and green leaves that emit a pungent odor, coleus canina definitely makes a conversation piece both indoors and outside in warm climates. Just be sure to handle it gently to avoid getting a whiff of its smelly defense mechanism. Add this intriguing plant to your collection if you enjoy uncommon houseplants.