COLOR YOUR GARDEN with Mayanas

Are you in a hurry to achieve colorful hues in your garden but cannot wait for flowers to bloom? Planting Mayanas is the way to go.

Coleus plants more commonly known as Mayana come in different varieties and colors. 

With half a day of direct sunlight, half a day of shade and daily watering just enough to keep the soil moist at all times, they will survive beautifully and give you a festive-looking garden in a short period of time. 

Propagating Mayanas from Stem Cuttings

Mayana plants are very easy to grow from cuttings. Here are some of my tried and tested strategies which have always proven to be effective. 

💗 Source of Cuttings  

Get your cuttings from a mature Mayana plant. Look for the topmost stem of the main branch and cut it below a node to at least 6 inches in length.

A node is the part of a stem where new leaves, branches or aerial roots start to grow. 

The Mayana stems are soft and watery so you will need to check if your targeted cutting is strong enough but not necessarily woody to stand erect when planted on the soil.

Remove the lower leaves that may touch the soil and may rot when watered. 

💗 What Soil to Use 

In a 4 x 4 inches rooting pot, put a mixture of loam soil, cocopeat and rice husk for better drainage and aeration. 

Bury the end of the stem in the soil up to about 2 inches deep.

💗 How and When to Water  

Using a mixture of 1 liter of water and 8 drops of liquid growth hormone, wet the soil gently until water starts to flow at the bottom. 

To secure the pots from unnecessary movement that may dislodge the newly planted stem, put them in disposable plastic food containers that you normally would throw away after use.

Place the pot under the shade with bright light. 

To avoid rotting, do not water until the soil show signs of dryness when you touch it with your fingers. 

Use the same mixture to water the pot after 5-7 days.

Mature Mayana plants need regular watering especially when the weather is hot or humid, but may also rot when overwatered. Feel the soil with your fingers and check the condition of the leaves if watering is needed.

During the rainy months, moving the Mayana plants under a roofed side of the house with sufficient light exposure will shield them from the weight of heavy rains and protect the stems and leaves from breaking.

💗 Sunlight Requirements 

When the newly planted stem has become stable, move the pot to a brighter area with indirect sunlight. 

Then move it to an area with morning sun until the plant is able to acclimate to direct sunlight including afternoon sun.

 

The colors of Mayana plants are promoted by direct sunlight. In my experience, the best location for Mayana to grow beautifully with vivid colors is an area in your garden with half  a day of direct morning or afternoon sun and half a day of shade. A full sun whole day will cause the Mayana to wither and eventually die.

The Mayana plant is not recommended for indoor planting, unless you have special lighting installations that will provide the same amount of simulated sunlight it needs for the bright colors to appear.

💗 Where to Plant 

Transfer the Mayana to a bigger pot to allow more space for the roots to spread and let it grow taller. 

A pot of 6 x 8 inches can accommodate two stems of the Mayana to grow up to two feet. Beyond that, there will be root crowding, the stems will start drooping and may need bamboo sticks to support the branches. 

If you want to grow your Mayana into a taller shrub, use a bigger pot or plant it on the ground where you can also grow it in patches of similar colors or tree-like appearance.  

The advantage of growing Mayanas in pots is flexibility. You can move them to safer grounds during inclement weather, or when the sun becomes unbearable, or anytime you wish to rearrange your garden.

💗 Trimming and Maintenance 

If you want your Mayana to grow more branches from the bottom or control it from growing upwards, pinch the pair of baby leaves at the topmost end of the main stems. 

Once it has achieved your desired height, trim the topmost stem to promote growth sideways and plant the cut stems again to start a baby Mayana plant. 

Like any other plant, the Mayana loves regular tender loving care and attention. Remove dry leaves to allow more leaves to grow.

When the Mayana starts to show its tiny violet flowers, it is a sign that its plant life will soon end. Cut the flowers to allow the plant to grow further. Mayanas do not live long but they are very easy to grow.

The Mayana is a plant that hardly needs any fertilizer once stable. Adding compost on top of the soil every now and then will help support its continuous healthy growth. Horse manure will definitely boost its growth much faster. 

Colors give life to a dull day. Plant Mayanas in your garden to cheer yourself up and create a happy, colorful atmosphere for the family. 

Why not Mayana for a gift to your special someone this month of Hearts?

You may email me at greencraftivist@gmail.com for any questions or inquiries.

Apple Bleza-Morales

About the Author:
Apple (or Maybelle in the corporate setting) is an HR Professional who is passionately immersed in home and community gardening as well as related arts and crafts. She completed post baccalaureate studies in Human Resources and Organization Development at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and holds a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations from the University of the Philippines with focus in Human Resources Development. 

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