46 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
THE CoLEeus 
On account of its beautifully colored foliage the coleus 
is valuable as either a decorative or a bedding plant. It 
will thrive in any schoolroom or home window. Since 
it cannot stand an excessively low temperature, it should 
be moved away from the window on cold nights; it 
must not be subjected to drafts. The foliage should be 
frequently washed with a sprinkler to remove dust, but 
the plant must not be set out in cold rains when it is 
accustomed to being indoors. The plants may be propa- 
gated by stem cuttings at any time of the year. Those 
started in September may be used for potting during 
the winter. Plants for bedding should be started in 
December or January. Small ones may be placed in 
pots with other plants, with excellent effect if the colors 
are selected carefully. 
In preparing the slips, cut back the leaves liberally. 
Soft end slips must be avoided. A slip three inches in 
length, with the upper cut near a bud, will prove most 
successful. Prepare the soil as for geraniums and plant 
the slips one inch apart and one and one-half inches 
deep. The soil must be kept moist. Protect them from 
the sun for eight or ten days, when they may be given 
a sunny place. If the plants are to be propagated at 
home, they will thrive best in a sunny kitchen window; 
the air in that room contains more moisture than that 
of other rooms. 
