Finger Paint, also known as Flame Nettle or Painted Nettle, is an ornamental member of the Mint family native to tropical Asia and northern Australia. This Coleus has an upright habit of 24-36" tall and 18-24" wide. Finger Paint's variegated red, purple, green, and yellow foliage is evergreen in zone 10-11 or a low-maintenance summer annual for mixed containers or hanging baskets. Finger Paint flourishes in full or partial shade with minimal water, bringing striking texture and color to the tropical or modern landscape.
Finger Paint Selling Tips
Sell Finger Paint to customers looking for unique foliage to add to a mixed container, landscape border, or houseplant collection. Customers will love the attractive contrast and texture Coleus's variegated red, purple, yellow, and green serrated foliage offers. This plant is low-maintenance, requiring little more than regular water and full to partial shade to flourish until cold temperatures set in. While Coleus is evergreen in zone 10-11, it can overwinter indoors or grow as a houseplant in bright indirect light. This variety has a tall, upright habit well-suited for large containers and borders. Create an inviting modern landscape border or mixed patio container by pairing this plant with Begonia, Calibrachoa, Fuchsia, Impatiens, Ipomoea, and Lantana. Plant alongside Color Clouds Valentine for striking color contrast.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 20-24" apart in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
2. Water regularly, not allowing the soil to completely dry out.
3. Pinch off any flowers that appear to encourage all the plant's energy to go into the prized foliage.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Finger Paint, plant one rooted plug per 4-inch container or three per 10-inch container. Use a well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-7.0, EC of 1.0-2.0, temperatures of 65-72 daytime and 62 nighttime, and light feed (100-150 ppm N). Maintain light intensity at 1,500-3,000 fc for best foliage color. This plant doesn't require pinching or PGRs. You may see aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies, and this plant can be prone to botrytis and root rot.
Flowering
This plant is grown for its foliage. Pinch off any small flowers that appear in summer.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
You may see aphids, mealybugs, thrips, and whiteflies.
Disease
Finger Paint can be prone to botrytis and root rot during short days or wet, humid conditions. Prevent these fungal infections by watering at the base of each plant in the morning, providing good airflow in your greenhouse, and keeping containers spaced to allow sunlight to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label’s instructions.
Planting Finger Paint Liners
Plant one rooted liner per 4- or 6-inch container or three per 10-inch container. Use a well-drained soil in partial shade and completely bury the ellepot in the center or evenly spaced in your container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Coleus Finger Paint Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 3-5 Weeks |
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| 10 Inch crop time | 6-10 Weeks |
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| Color | Red, Purple, Green, Yellow |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 10-11 Inches |
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| Light | Full Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 59 |
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| Perennial Zone | 10-11 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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