Repotting guide

When & how to repot Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon')

Also called Black Dragon Coleus, Dark Coleus.

More about plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

About Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon'

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' · also called Black Dragon Coleus, Dark Coleus · flowering

'Black Dragon' is a compact coleus prized for deeply ruffled, near-black burgundy foliage rather than its small blue flower spikes. Grown as a tender annual in beds or containers, it thrives in part shade with rich moist soil and pinches into a dense mound. Strong colour develops in bright, filtered light through the warm season.

Mature size: Typically 30-45 cm tall and 30-40 cm wide.

How to tell plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon', watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Mounding, well-branched tender perennial grown as an annual; pinch growing tips regularly to keep it bushy and remove flower spikes to direct energy into foliage..

What size pot to step plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' up to

Pot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Pot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive loam or quality potting mix at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' wants rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive loam or quality potting mix. Fertile, humus-rich soil with good drainage suits it best. In containers use a peat-free multipurpose compost; amend garden beds with organic matter to hold moisture without becoming soggy. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'. Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive loam or quality potting mix so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' need?

When is the best time of year to repot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'?

Can you put plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.