Everything You Need to Know About Coleus — Care, Propagation & More
Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Mayana — from seed to table.
What Can You Eat?
Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.
Leaves used primarily as traditional medicine, not food. However, some communities use young leaves in soups. Leaf extract is used in herbal remedies. The vibrant colored leaves make it a popular ornamental.
Mayana is one of the most common folk medicine plants in the Philippines. Heated leaves are applied as poultice for headache, bruises, and insect bites. Every Filipino family garden seems to have at least one mayana plant — valued for both its healing properties and ornamental purple-red foliage.
Germination Guide
From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.
Planting Instructions
Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.
Propagation Methods
Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.
Care Guide
Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.
Partial shade to bright indirect light (intense sun fades leaf color)
Regular; keep soil moist but not waterlogged
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during growing season
22-32°C
High; loves Philippine humidity
Pinch growing tips regularly for bushy growth; remove flowers to maintain foliage.
Harvest Guide
Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.
Pick healthy mature leaves as needed. For medicinal use, gently heat leaf over flame until wilted.
Use fresh for poultice. Dry leaves for tea in shade for 2-3 days.
Common Problems & Solutions
Spot issues early and fix them fast.
Leggy growth
Cause: Insufficient light or lack of pinching
Solution: Provide brighter light; pinch tips every 2 weeks.
Mealy bugs
Cause: Hidden in leaf joints
Solution: Spray neem oil; wipe with alcohol-dipped cotton.
Root rot
Cause: Overwatering or poor drainage
Solution: Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Color fading
Cause: Too much direct sun or poor nutrition
Solution: Move to partial shade; feed regularly.
Perfect Plant Partners
Plants that grow well together.