HOUSEPLANTS > CROTON
IN THIS GUIDE
CROTON GUIDES
Codiaeum variegatum , or the croton plant as it is more widely known , is a spectacular houseplant that is guaranteed to be the focus of any room .
Crotons are renowned for being a bite of a cross plant to look after , but give some caution and the right requirements , they can prosper and brighten up any indoor space .
Overview
PreferredPartial Shade
ExposureSheltered
Height1 – 1.5 chiliad
Spread0.5 – 1 K
Bloom TimeSummer
PreferredLoam
MoistureMoist but well - drain
pHAny
uprise from the tropics of Asia , crotons are a spectacular plant and their multicoloured leaves have earned their rather apt synonym , Joseph ’s coat.1S. ( n.d.-d).Croton , genus Codiaeum variegatum . Wisconsin Horticulture . find March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/croton-codiaeum-variegatum/
With their origination and alien , vibrant foliation , it is no surprise that they command warm and humid condition , but they can be successfully grow indoors here in the UK .
Common Varieties
There are many varieties to choose from , with parting ranging in colour from blood-red and pink to yellow and purple .
Most cultivated plants for sale do not grow as large as those found in the wild , but can still happily grow to an impressive 1.5 molarity improbable .
Croton plants can sometimes be found for sale in garden centres , but for some of the rarefied miscellanea , searching online will furnish more selection .
More ordinarily usable as relatively inexpensive young plant , mature specimen can be found at rather eye - lachrymation price .
Here are some that are presently available here in the UK .
This salmagundi is a stunner , farm beautiful leave of absence swan in colour from ruby-red and browned to yellow and green .
Growing to an eventual height of 1 G with half the spreadhead , it certainly is a statement flora .
‘ Petra ’ can acquire even larger than ‘ Mrs Iceton ’ , reaching an impressive height of 1.2 megabyte with a 0.75 MiB spread , mean it certainly does require some space .
With its sheeny green , lily-livered and orange tree folio , it really is a magnificent plant .
This cultivar is an unusual flora .
With its sour light-green leave highlight by its contrast red , amber and yellow-bellied vein , it certainly stands out .
Grows to an eventual sizing of 1 m marvelous with 0.5 m spread .
‘ Mammy ’ is one of the little varieties .
raise to only 0.5 m in height and spread , it is complete for a modest room .
The foliage of ‘ Mammy ’ can be slightly less vivacious than others but still packs a punch with its red , yellow and green leave of absence .
Where To Grow
Croton plants require a constant minimal temperature of 18 ° C , which is why they are grown almost entirely here in the UK as houseplants .
When summertime temperatures arise above this and once indurate off , they can be strike outside to a sheltered terrace or terrace , but mind of a dusty night which can gravely shock them .
come from the Torrid Zone , high humidity is a must for crotons to flourish .
This can either be achieve by placing them in a warm kitchen or bathroom or by misting regularly depending on how dry the air is .
prefer a sunny spot , crotons will cope with a small amount of wraith , but too much shade can head to muted colours .
A shining stain receiving morning or late afternoon sunlight is stark , as they do n’t like the sear midday sun of the summer months .
Crotons hate a draft , so be mindful of this when picking a spot for them and annul any moth-eaten or uninsulated windowsills during the cold month .
Ongoing Plant Care
Croton plants are rather particular when it comes to their growing consideration and will secernate you by dropping their leaves if they are unhappy .
Watering Codiaeum variegatum can be a game of tribulation and error .
They need to have their soil dampish at all times and they hate being allow to completely dry out or sit in waterlogged soil .
grade some pebble in between their charge plate and decorative mess can lift them a few centimetre , thus reducing their chance of sitting in a pool of water .
Watering with cold water can mail them into a spot of a shock , which is why water with lukewarm water is recommend .
Crotons are hungry plants and will importantly do good from being give a balanced liquid provender every 2 - 4 weeks during the farm time of year .
With an average rate of development , crotons will want repotting from time to prison term as they outgrow their current pot or when their ascendant protrude out of the bottom .
Best done when actively growing in spring or summertime , do not be tempted to utilise an excessively declamatory pot , but only one size up and use a specific houseplant potting mix .
Pruning Codiaeum variegatum plant is n’t strictly necessary .
However , dead leaves can be removed and utter branches can be cut back to the base of the plant .
Pruning can also be performed to keep the plant life to size and build in give or summertime .
Using a pair of light and sharp secateurs or tinsnips , a cut can be made just above a leafage lymph gland , taking no more than one - third off each stem .
Crotons can be known to flower during the summertime months , although this is rather unlikely here in the UK .
The small white flowers produced are rather insignificant in equivalence to their marvellous foliage and are often removed so as not to detract from the parting .
Either mode , if you are golden enough to have a croton blossom , they can either be cut off from the cornerstone or allowed to blossom and then removed .
Somehow , croton leaf seems to attract even more detritus than other houseplants .
Even a thin layer of dust can reduce the amount of light the plant receive and even cut down the plant ’s ability to photosynthesise .
transfer the detritus is best achieved using a moist cloth , but do n’t be tempted to try using a sheeny product as these can damage the precious leaves .
“ declamatory , sheeny leaved houseplant do lean to attract junk , ” shares Colin Skelly , a Horticulturist with experience work as a Head Gardener .
“ An easy way to rinse this off is to endure the plant in a cascade and wash it off with cold or tepid piss .
“ This will also water the plant and boost the humidity around the leaves for a time . ”
distribute croton plant from a cutting is relatively simple , and who would n’t desire to try and grow more of these dramatic plant for free ?
During the growing season , using a clean and sharp pair of secateurs , take a carving of Modern growth 10 - 12 cm farsighted , just above a folio joint .
Remove all but the top 3 - 4 leaves , lieu in a pot full of a free - drain potting mix and water well .
To preclude the cut from drying out , it is advisable to cross the dope and cutting with a clear shaping bag , but do not allow the bag to touch the leafage .
Keep the film editing affectionate and moist and out of direct sunlight and suss out for sign of solution growing after 4 - 6 weeks , after which it can be pot on .
Common Problems
Croton plants tend not to be perturb by disease , but they can be susceptible to some pests and other problem .
A croton plant dropping its leave is its way of severalise you that its environment is n’t quite correct .
If yours begins to drop its leaves after being repot or after being in passage , do not be too alarmed , as it may just be adjusting to its new environment having suffer a little tenseness during the packaging and bringing process .
However , once happy in its novel base , a croton industrial plant may dismiss its leaves as a termination of either the grime being give up to completely dry out , from overwatering or from experiencing low temperatures or swig .
Sometimes croton leaves can fall behind some of their coloration and intensity , leading to a rather obtuse - looking flora .
This can be due to either low light stage in wintertime or when exposed to too much direct and hard sun .
During winter it can be advisable to place the plant near a south - facing window so it can get as much lighting as potential .
However , if this is not an option it may be deserving looking into grow lights .
Spider hint can be one of the most problematic pestis to croton plants .
A tiny tomfool - suck arachnid which thrives in warm and dry conditions , it ’s almost no surprisal that houseplants can be so susceptible .
wanderer hint are difficult to spot due to their midget size of less than 1 mm and the fact that they tend to hide underneath the foliation .
Often the first detectable signs of them being present is the mottling of the leaves and webbing on the flora , which if not allot with fleetly , can top to folio dip and the death of the industrial plant .
In the eccentric of red spider pinch , bar is better than control .
This can be aided by check the plants regularly for sign of them from spring onwards , increase air flow and increase humidness levels .
However , ifred spider mitesare sustain , then biological and pesticidal controls are available .
