home

Croton flower: home care. Varieties of indoor flower codiaum with photos, care and reproduction at home

Deciduous perennial with an attractive appearance. It is characterized by the presence of a branched aerial part. At home, the height of the plant is often three meters. In the conditions of indoor floriculture, the size does not exceed one and a half meters. Differs in dense, erect stems and many lateral processes with petiolate leaves.

The leaves are varied in shape. The leaves may be lanceolate, oval or three-toed, with smooth or slightly wavy edges and a pronounced relief pattern along the veins. Leaf plates are dark green, with stains of yellow, white or pink coloration. At the flowering stage, flowers form from the leaf axils, collected in medium-sized paniculate inflorescences.

Features of caring for croton (video)

Popular types and varieties of croton

The plant sap of an ornamental culture is poisonous, so you need to work with the culture very carefully. In the conditions of indoor floriculture, only the most decorative and absolutely unpretentious varieties decorative perennial.

Croton angustifolia

C.angustifolium - a popular variety of Codiaum variegatum, characterized by long and rather narrow leaves of green coloration, with strokes and specks of yellowish-golden coloration.

Photo gallery

C.echinocarpus is an American variety related to the dragon croton, which is very popular with amateur flower growers. The plant is widely used in the production of varnishes.

Croton dragon

C. draco is an American tropical variety which is characterized by the release of an air-cured red resin. Widely used in the manufacture of varnishes.

C. variegatum - evergreen shrub plant a little over one and a half meters high, with branched, bare shoots and elongated-lanceolate, elliptical-lanceolate foliage.

Croton Excelent

C.excellent is easily recognizable by its very decorative foliage. Leaves look like oak leaves. Young foliage at the top of the plant has a yellowish-green color, and at the base - burgundy color.

C. Retra - a variety with a branching stem, on which are rather large, leathery-type leaves. The leaf plate is characterized by a green background with pronounced yellow veins, edges and dots.

Croton Mrs Aiston

C. Mrs. Iseton is a variety that has wide leaves of a rounded shape. On young foliage there is a characteristic cream staining pattern. Over time, the color becomes more intense.

S.Zanzibar - distinctive feature species is the formation of strongly narrowed foliage with a fairly compacted base. On a bright green leaf surface, there are stripes of yellow, orange and burgundy coloring.

Croton mix

"Mix" is a cut of several varieties of the croton plant planted in one flower pot, without specifying the variety.

Croton Gold sun

C.Gold Sun is a variety popular with domestic amateur flower growers, with very characteristic large leaves oval in shape and light green in color with yellowish spots of different sizes.

Toxicity and beneficial properties of croton

Croton belongs to the category of poisonous plants. The aerial part contains a fairly high percentage of toxic components, which, when in contact with the skin, can provoke a pronounced burning sensation and severe inflammatory processes. The ingestion of poisonous plant juice into the digestive tract causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. It is for this reason that the plant is not recommended for growing in homes where there are small children or animals.

Despite the toxicity, the perennial has a number of useful properties. It is able to have a positive effect on the emotional state and improves performance very well, so growing such indoor flower recommended to anyone who can not organize themselves on their own.

Croton care at home

Decorative perennial is difficult to classify as very common, due to some difficulties in growing and the need to provide culture proper care at all stages of growth and development.

How to propagate croton cuttings (video)

Croton transplant after purchase

Immediately after the acquisition, it is recommended to give the plant a couple of weeks to adapt to new growing conditions, after which it must be transplanted without fail. Such a need to transplant an indoor flower after purchase is often due to the sale of plants in transport soil. The transport soil has a composition unsuitable for the full development of the plant. It is in the absence of transplantation that the leaves on the plant first turn yellow, and then massively fall off.

For transplanting, you will need to prepare a fairly wide, but not too high flower pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Brick battle or expanded clay can be used as drainage. The transplanting process should be carried out by means of a transshipment method, which will reduce the risk of destruction of the earthen coma. Free space between earthy clod and the walls of the flower pot must be filled with a nutritious soil substrate, after which watering is carried out with warm and settled water.

Soil and planting pot for indoor plants

The active growth processes of an indoor flower directly depend on the state of the roots, so the choice landing capacity you need to be very careful. A fairly wide, but not very deep flower pot will be ideal. Also very important to remember that the flowerpot should be very stable, with high-quality drainage holes.

For cultivation, it is recommended to use loose and well-drained soil with very high level breathability and average acidity at the level of 6.1-6.5 pH. To prepare a planting substrate on your own, you need to mix one part of soddy soil, a couple of parts of leafy soil and one part of sifted sand of medium fraction.

Before proceeding with planting, the soil must be disinfected at high temperature or spilled with a solution based on potassium permanganate.

Humidity, lighting and temperature

The heat-loving indoor perennial feels very comfortable at indoor temperatures of 20-25 ° C. An increase to 26°C or more or a decrease to 16°C or below, as well as drafts, are often the main cause of illness. IN summer period the aerial part must be protected from direct sunlight that causes burns. Great for growing east or west windows. In winter, it is best to place a flower pot with a plant on a sunny windowsill.

Insufficient lighting also negatively affects the indicators of decorativeness of the flower. In this case, the foliage quickly loses its bright color, and the variegated forms get the usual green color of the foliage. The plant needs a fairly high humidity of 70-80%. Periodically spray the plant and remove accumulated dust.

Very high efficiency is shown by spraying with warm and well-settled water with the addition of a small amount growth stimulants represented by "Zircon", "Epin-extroy" or "Immunophytophyte".

How often to water a flower

Watering a tropical decorative perennial should be year-round, using soft and sufficiently settled water at room temperature for this purpose. All irrigation measures are required to be performed only as the top layer of the soil substrate in the flower pot dries out.

It is extremely important to avoid stagnant water not only at the root system, but also directly in the pan, under the flower pot.

How long and under what conditions does croton bloom

However, in the conditions of indoor floriculture, such a perennial is highly valued and is often grown not for flowers at all. In the process of rare flowering of croton, a so-called flower-bearing arrow is formed from the leaf axils with rather small and completely nondescript whitish or light yellow flowers.

Since such flowers do not have special beauty and decorative appeal, and the plant itself is able to spend a significant part of its strength and nutritional components on flowering and formation seed material, experienced growers- amateurs consider it necessary to remove the flower arrow immediately after formation.

pruning codiaum

It is very important to cut the decorative indoor perennial correctly and in a timely manner with a clean and sharp knife or scissors. It is very important to regularly remove all damaged and shrunken foliage. To form the crown, all unnecessary shoots are removed, and the tops are pinched, which causes branching. Among other things, with proper care and regular feeding, a tropical crop blooms regularly.

But, need to remember that the resulting flowers have a characteristic white or yellow coloration, small size and inconspicuous appearance, therefore, do not represent any decorative value. Flowers and the formation of seed material takes a lot of strength and nutrition, greatly reducing the external attractiveness of the flower. It is for this reason that experts and experienced amateur flower growers recommend pruning flower stalks in a timely manner.

Croton diseases and methods of their treatment

Codiaums are poisonous, so a rare pest risks settling on it. However, spider mites, mealybugs and thrips occasionally occur and should be treated as folk remedies, and highly efficient chemicals.

It is also very important to remember that accumulations of dust can close the pores on sheet plates ah, which greatly complicates the process of air exchange and photosynthesis, therefore it is very important to remove dust in a timely manner with a soft cloth dipped in warm and settled water.

Difficulties in growing

As a rule, all the problems associated with the cultivation of ornamental crops are provoked by errors in the care process.

Why does the croton shed its leaves

Drying and falling of foliage can be a natural process, but the massive loss of leaves is most often associated with the appearance of pests, severe drying of the soil substrate, rotting of the root system due to waterlogging, dry air, sudden temperature changes and drafts. If the perennial has dropped foliage, then first of all you need to adjust the irrigation regime.

What to do if the tips of the leaves dry at the codium

The tips of the leaves most often dry out with insufficient watering or the negative impact of too dry indoor air. Important to remember, that you can not have a flower pot with a plant near heating appliances or in direct sunlight.

Reasons for the lack of flowering

The main reason for the lack of flowering can be violations in the temperature regime and the level of humidity in the growing room, and are also associated with improper irrigation and top dressing. It is the competent and timely application of fertilizers that is of primary importance and allows you to stimulate the formation of a flower arrow. The first feeding is carried out in the early spring period, when the plant comes out of the dormant stage and especially needs nutrients.

A plant that is responsive to feeding requires application complex fertilizers a couple of times a month. Very good result gives top dressing special formulations intended for cultivation of decorative and deciduous plants. Experienced flower growers use a standard 2% solution based on mineral fertilizers for feeding.

Important to remember that it is possible to avoid burn damage to the root system of an ornamental crop only if the houseplant is watered abundantly before feeding.

The magical properties of croton (video)

It is important to note that croton is popular not only in our country. Foreign flower growers have such a perennial ornamental plant is also in high demand, due to the ability of such an indoor flower to protect the peace of the hearth, and protect the house from negative energy.

The croton houseplant is a very elegant bush of exotic origin, which is distinguished by unique leathery leaves with the most unique shape (there are specimens with asymmetric, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, entire, three-lobed and other forms). On young shoots, lush leaves are formed, represented by light yellow-green hues, which soon become more saturated, leaving in a green and burgundy palette. For this reason, the kraton flower in a short time turns into a brightly dressed up autumn forest, turning room interior into a real greenhouse.

All varieties and hybrid varieties of the plant are characterized by pronounced leaf venation. As for flowering, it does not cause much enthusiasm among flower growers, because. inflorescences look drooping and axillary with inconspicuous cream flowers.

Croton: how to care at home

The home plant croton is characterized by a certain whimsicality to the conditions of detention. In addition, such an exotic creature can bring its owners a lot of unexpected surprises. Therefore, before studying the question: “croton plant: home care”, be sure to pay attention to the following points:

Croton care at home

Take care of the plant at home quite difficult. A beginner florist can witness poor growth and inferior development of the flower, which is due to many reasons.

Croton is known to needs enhanced lighting, however, taking baths based on direct ultraviolet rays often has a detrimental effect on the growth of young shoots. Such procedures can be carried out only in the morning or before sunset. Given this feature, in the summer it is better to place a pot with an exotic creature on the north window. In winter, it is necessary to take it out into an open space with bright diffused light. The comfortable temperature range varies between 20-22 degrees Celsius in summer, and not lower than 16 degrees in winter.

As for watering, then this procedure must be performed carefully, otherwise too much moisture will cause water stagnation and the formation of various fungal microorganisms or rot. Watering is carried out in such a way that the earthen ball always remains slightly moist. Water temperature for irrigation should not be too low. Also, the liquid must be filtered or defended. Comfortable humidity levels are extremely important, so the grower should regularly spray or wipe the leaves with a damp washcloth. In the summer, a warm shower is recommended. However, it is important to be careful not to let water get into the container with the plant.

As a fertilizer for growing croton at home, complex mineral preparations are used. The procedure is performed from April to November, twice a month. IN winter time a one-time drink is sufficient. In order for the crown to be beautiful and lush, it is important to regularly cut the shoots of an adult flower, and pinch a young plant that has reached 15 centimeters in height. The second pruning is carried out upon reaching 20 centimeters. After pruning adult flowers, the cut is treated with a composition based on sulfuric or charcoal powder. New flower stalks or flower buds are pruned, because. they greatly exhaust the croton and at the same time have no decorative value.

Features of transplantation at home. winter care

Caring for a croton plant at home includes the obligatory transplantation of young shoots. In the case of young specimens, this procedure is carried out twice a year, with adults - once every two years. In the latter case, it is necessary to constantly increase the diameter of the growing container by 2 centimeters. If the diameter of the pot reaches 25 centimeters, further transplant cannot be performed, but it will be necessary to remove the top layer of soil from the tank to replace it with a new substrate. The optimal composition of the soil consists of:

sod land;
peat land;
leaf land;
river sand;

The consistency should be equal.

When re-planting, it is advisable not to disturb the earthen ball, but simply transfer it from the old container to the new one.

As for caring for croton in the winter, first you need to move the flower pot to the southern windowsill. Then you should reduce the intensity of watering, while maintaining the same humidity indicators. It is also important to carry out regular water procedures by spraying and wiping the leaves with a damp sponge. It is important that such events are held much less often than in the warm season. The use of a warm shower is prohibited right up to the summer. Should be used as a feed mineral complexes. Fertilizers are applied no more than once a month. In addition, some experts are of the opinion that the procedure is generally optional.

Croton - reproduction of a croton flower at home

In most cases, flower growers breed a croton plant seed way. If you want to breed a hybrid variety, preference is given to propagation using leaf or stem cuttings. It is important to understand that croton seeds are characterized by a rapid loss of germination. For this reason, it is better to sow freshly harvested seeds. One feature should also be taken into account: a long period of time may pass before the first shoots appear, while generative propagation does not allow preserving varietal characteristics of croton. When planting large seeds planting material it is better to warm up in water at a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and leave for a day to swell. After that, you can start sowing, deepening the seeds one centimeter into the ground.

The optimum temperature range for full germination is 22 degrees Celsius. Until the emergence of seedlings, the soil is regularly watered using the bottom irrigation method. If the seedlings give a third leaf, they should be planted in separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm or more. In this case, care becomes similar to caring for an adult flower.

If we are talking about vegetative propagation of croton, then here you need to root the apical 6-10 cm cutting. However, if you intend to cut several cuttings, the shoot is cut into several parts so that at least one internode with one healthy leaf remains on each segment. In a special way, lignified or semi-lignified cuttings take root quickly.

Before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to wash off the poisonous milky juice with water, after which the sections should dry slightly in the air for three hours. The leaves on the upper part of the apical cutting are shortened in half parallel to the veins, and the leaves from the lower part are removed. After that, the cuttings are transferred to the prepared container with warm water, which is warmed up to 23-30 degrees Celsius. This will prevent the cuttings from rotting. When the planting material gives two-centimeter roots, it must be placed in a special substrate for croton.

First of all, after disembarkation, you need to ensure high humidity soil around the cuttings using the spraying method. Finding out that the propagation was successful is quite simple: if the cuttings are accepted, the elasticity of the leaf will be restored;

What pests and diseases threaten croton. Dealing with dangers at home

Like many other representatives of tropical flora that are grown at home, the croton plant can be exposed to various diseases and pests. Among them:

Varieties of croton for home growing

There are several varieties of croton that can be grown at home. Among them, variegated croton is in great demand, which can change the color and shape of the leaves depending on the environmental impact. Due to this feature, the variety is often used for experiments and breeding of new hybrids. Among them:

Croton variegated variegatum;
Mrs Aiston;
Peter;
Black Prince;
Disraeli;
Excellence;

Depending on the specific variety, the features of the content can vary greatly. However, the basic rules of care, including watering, lighting, top dressing and propagation subtleties remain the same for all varieties. Given them, you can grow a truly beautiful and lush ornamental plant that will turn ordinary interior your home into a real work of greenhouse art. In this case, the room will become bright, stylish and irresistible.

Croton (lat. Croton), scientifically codiaeum (lat. Codiaeum), is also called "Joseph's cloak" in the common people. Belongs to the genus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Codiaum in Greek means "head", but the name croton, exact value which no one knows, the gardener liked more. Perhaps this name comes from a town in southern Italy, in which Pythagoras once founded his school, or maybe it means “bush” in translation from some dialect.

Wild crotons are common on the islands Pacific Ocean, in Northern Australia, India, South-East Asia. Various sources the number of species in the genus of Croton is from 17 to 1200. Croton variegated and its hybrids are grown in room culture. Croton is a beautiful decorative leafy houseplant that can be used to decorate any interior, besides it does not take up too much space. Some believe that Croton is the keeper of the hearth, protects the house from negative energy.

Description of croton, or codiaum

Croton is a bush. Its leathery leaves are varied in shape: asymmetric, oblong-lanceolate, pointed or with a blunt end, whole-cut, three-lobed, notched, broadly ovate, etc.

Young leaves have a light yellow-green hue, and with age they become more saturated green and burgundy, so that the croton becomes like an elegant autumn tree. All varieties and varieties of the plant have a pronounced venation on the leaves.

How croton blooms

Croton - inconspicuous cream flowers, collected in an axillary drooping raceme inflorescence, flowering does not cause much enthusiasm.

Dangerous and effective

Home croton is considered one of the most capricious plants. Consider these care features:

All work with croton must be carried out strictly with gloves, because its juice is poisonous and causes contact dermatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
At home, Croton needs not only to spray the leaves, but to wipe them with a damp, soft cloth or sponge. In summer, it is recommended to bathe monthly under a warm shower.
The plant categorically does not tolerate drafts and watering with cold water.
At the beginning of the growing season, sometimes croton leaves can acquire the most bizarre forms. Most likely this is due to high ability to mutation. Thanks to this amazing variability, many varieties and hybrids of Croton are bred, which differ only in the shape of the leaves.
Peduncles and flower buds are recommended to be removed immediately, because they do not bring aesthetic pleasure and take a lot of energy from the plant.

How to care for croton at home

Lighting and temperature

Croton needs bright light. Under direct sunlight, you can put in the morning or pre-sunset hours. In the summer, put it on the north window, and in the winter, when the sun shines, but heats little - on the south. If possible, take the plant out in the summer for Fresh air under bright diffused light. The most comfortable air temperature in summer will be 20-22 ºC, and in winter - at least 16 ºC.

Watering

Croton is needed so that the soil is constantly wet, but moisture should not stagnate at the roots and create a risk of rotting. Water must be warm, it must be filtered or at least defended during the day. Humidity also has great importance. You need to regularly spray the plant, wipe it beautiful leaves with a damp sponge, once a month in the summer bathe under a warm shower, but the water should not flow into the pot.

top dressing

Complex mineral fertilizers for decorative deciduous. The soil must first be moistened and fertilized in dissolved form during the period April-November - twice a month, in winter - once a month.

Crown formation: pinching and pruning

To form a beautiful bush, young crotons are pinched, and older plants need to be cut. Pinch the plant as soon as it reaches 15 cm, and then every time the shoots reach 20 cm.

How to cut the croton peduncle, look at the video:

After adult plants, the cut points must be treated with charcoal or sulfur powder. Croton flowering will only take away his strength and affect his healthy appearance - it is also better to remove flower stalks and flower buds immediately.

Transfer

Young crotons should be transplanted twice a year (preferably in spring and autumn), and mature ones - once every two years, the pot should be increased each time by 2 cm in diameter from the previous one. When your croton grows to a pot with a diameter of 25 cm, it is no longer necessary to transplant it, but simply annually upper layer replace the substrate from the pot with a new one.

Select the soil of approximately the following composition: mix turf, peat, leaf soil in equal proportions and add a little sand. During transplantation, it is better not to disturb the earthen clod, but to transfer it to a new container. The drainage layer should take up about a quarter of the volume of the pot.

How to transplant croton after purchase, look at the video:

Winter care for croton

With the onset of the cold season, the croton must be rearranged from the northern window sill to the southern one.
Reduce watering, but keep the earth ball slightly moist.
Spraying, wiping the leaves should also be continued, but do it less often than in summer, and also postpone a warm shower until summer.
Some flower growers believe that it is not necessary to feed croton in winter, but most recommend making mineral fertilizers once a month.

Growing croton from seeds

Croton is often used to grow. Seeds lose their germination very quickly, so only freshly harvested seeds are recommended to be sown. Please note that the growing process will take a long time, plus the varietal characteristics of the plant will most likely not be preserved if the seeds are collected from a hybrid.

Codiaum seeds are very large, before planting they must be kept for about half an hour in water with a temperature of 60 ºC and left for a day to swell.
The seeding depth is 1 cm, it is better to plant immediately in separate cups, but it is also possible in a common container at a distance of 3-5 cm.
For seed germination, maintain an air temperature of 22 ºC and apply bottom watering until shoots appear.
Plants can be planted in separate cups with a diameter of 7 cm, when 3 leaves appear on them. Care further as an adult plant, and then transfer to permanent pots.

Propagation of croton by cuttings

For vegetative propagation use apical cuttings 6-10 cm long. If you want to get several cuttings, you can open the shoot into pieces so that each segment contains one internode with one healthy leaf. Semi-lignified and lignified cuttings take root best of all.

The poisonous milky juice flowing from the sections should be washed off with water and the sections should be allowed to dry for three hours in the air. Then treat the cut with a root (growth stimulator) and place the cutting in water and heat it to a temperature of 23-30 ºC (so that the planting material does not rot).

Lighting should be bright and diffused. When roots about 2 cm long appear on the handle, transplant it into a substrate for codiaum (croton). During the first 15 days after transplanting, it is necessary to spray the plant frequently to create increased humidity. When the leaf restores elasticity, then the stalk has begun.

Diseases and pests of croton

Croton can be affected by pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, and nematodes. Most often, spider mites appear. This happens if you did not spray and did not wash the croton, watering was irregular. To overcome pests, you need to wipe the ground parts of the croton with a soapy or tobacco solution, which is washed off with water after an hour, avoiding it getting into the ground.

Why do croton dry and fall leaves

Croton lowered the leaves what to do

If the croton lowered its leaves, then it cannot "drink". This happens from hypothermia of the roots. The plant needs to be rearranged in a warm place, let the earthy coma dry a few cm deep, stop fertilizing, reduce watering, spray the leaves well and put a transparent bag on the plant.
Don't worry if the bottom leaves of the croton dry out - the underside of the stem is exposed naturally.
If only the tips of the leaves dry out, then the air humidity is low, you need to maintain a humidity of about 70% by regular spraying and rubbing the leaves with a damp sponge.
When the edges of the leaves dry and appear brown spots according to the sheet - it means that the croton is not warm enough.
Croton sheds leaves for a number of reasons: from chronic insufficient watering, low humidity, from sudden changes in temperature and drafts. You need to identify exactly your cause and eliminate it.

A plant in such a deplorable state needs emergency resuscitation: put a humidifier nearby, spray the leaves more often, make sure that the room is free of drafts and warm enough (20-22 ° C). Water for irrigation should be only warm, and the soil should be moisture-permeable. If the earth ball is too hardened, a transplant into a new one will be required. loose earth, will not fit garden soil with a high clay content. It is better to purchase a special soil for ficuses.

Overwatering is also fraught with dropping leaves. If you notice signs of stagnant water, you need to reduce the frequency of watering.

In order to prevent putrefactive diseases, treat the plant with phytosporin.

Signs and superstitions about Croton on video:

Types of croton with photos and names

In room conditions, variegated croton is grown, which, depending on the conditions of existence, can change the color and shape of the leaves. Thanks to this quality, it has become the basis for breeding new varieties, hybrids and varieties.

Croton motley or variegatum Codiaeum variegatum

IN natural conditions found in Pakistan and China, can reach a height of three meters. The short-leaved leaves are green-brown in color. This species has several forms that differ in the outlines of the leaves, which can be adnexal, lobed, flat-leaved, or decorated.

Mrs Aiston is big bush or tree, the leaves are maroon with bright pink spots, may be golden with almost black patches, and there is also a pink-yellow cultivar.

Petra - in natural environment reaches a height of about 4 meters. The leaves are oval, lobed or pointed, painted dark green, edging and veins of bright yellow.

Black Prince - the leaves are flat, broadly oval, black-green in color and covered with many spots of yellow, red, orange.

Disraeli - the shape of the leaves is lobed, top part the leaf is painted green with streaks and splashes of yellow, Bottom part has a brick-brown color.

Excellence - in shape, the leaves are similar to oak, the upper part is painted yellow-green, the lower one has a red-burgundy color.

Very interesting are such varieties of variegated croton as genuine, oval-leaved, tortoiseshell, mollusk, spiral, "minus". Absolutely any copy will become a noticeable decoration of your home.

Indoor plant codiaum, otherwise croton refers to evergreen herbaceous crops from the euphorbiaceae family.

Under natural conditions, this plant grows in Malaysia, it can also be seen in the eastern part of India.

In nature, there are 17 varieties of such crops, the height of individual specimens reaches 2.5 meters.

General information

The codiaum flower feels good when grown indoors. This the plant has many varieties, each of which has its own leaf color. The codiaum Mix looks especially beautiful on the windowsill. Shades of leaves in different varieties are different, leaf blades of crops can be yellow, dark purple and even red. Pink spots are clearly visible on individual leaves.

It is quite difficult to achieve inflorescences from a culture when caring for at home. Subject to all growing conditions, the flowering of codiaum occurs in the warm season, in summer.

Note! The inflorescences of the plant are small, almost invisible against the general background of foliage. Gardeners acquire this culture solely for the sake of decorative beautiful leaves.

Types and varieties of codiaum

Breeders are aware of 17 varieties of the described plant, but at home they are grown mainly variegated codiaum and its varieties. classic look grows in the southeastern part of Asia in the tropical zone.

When developing in natural conditions, the plant has the appearance of a tree, its height reaches up to 4 meters. The leaves of the culture are leathery up to 30 centimeters in length, the color of the leaf blades depends on the characteristics of a particular plant. Next, we will get acquainted with the most popular flower varieties.

1. Codiaum Mammy differs from other varieties in narrow and small leaf blades with wavy edges. The leaves are bent along the central vein. The color of greenery can be very diverse, on one plant there are leaves of red and green color with pink patches and yellow streaks.

1. It has lobed green leaves with yellow veins. Inside the leaves are red with brown veins.

1. Mrs Aiston's codiaum has broad but short leaves. The leaves of young cultures are cream-colored, with age they become pink or red with numerous yellow spots. Some crops also have dark, almost black or yellow leaves.

1. has many subtypes. The leaves of this culture with sharp edges up to 20 centimeters in length. In some varieties, the size of the leaf blades reaches a 30 centimeter mark.

1. Codiaum Sunny Star distinguished by green leaves with yellowish tips. Leaf blades slightly pointed, lanceolate. Young leaves on this plant have a greenish color with yellow spots and the same veins.

1. widely used in indoor floriculture. The leaves of this plant have an uneven color with yellow and green tones. Leaf blades are quite narrow.

1. Codiaum Tamara It has pinnate leaves with a combination of white and green shades.

1. Codiaum Zanzibar able to decorate any interior. This culture has narrow long leaves lanceolate shape with curves. Leaf blades in Zanzibar are purple, yellow and green. Many flower growers choose this particular codiaum; home care for it is quite simple. This culture is quite beautiful, but rarely blooms.

1. differs from other varieties in aligned shoots with large veiny leaves of alternate arrangement. The leaf blades on this plant often contrast. At the same time, most vegetative organs have olive color with variegated yellow spots along the veins.

Codiaum Gold Sun - This is a decorative indoor flower with beautiful variegated foliage. The variety needs sufficient lighting. Plant height does not exceed 30 centimeters.

Advice! According to the above description of species and varieties, you can choose a codiaum for growing at room conditions.

Caring for codiaum at home

According to experienced flower growers, caring for a codiaum is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. This shade-tolerant plant will not cause trouble even for an inexperienced gardener. Next, we will deal with all the nuances of care in more detail.

Lighting

A flowerpot with this flower is recommended to be installed on windowsills facing the eastern or western part of the world. It is not recommended to place such a plant on the southern windows, because intensive solar lighting in this place can cause burns of its leaves.

Important! With a lack of sunlight, the leaves of the culture will lose their variegated color. The best option lighting is diffused light.

Temperature and humidity conditions

The temperature indicators in the room when growing croton in the summer should be stable, correspond to 20-25 degrees.

With the advent of winter, the temperature can be lowered to 18 degrees, but not lower.

Culture does not tolerate drafts, cold air sheds leaves, so keep the flowerpot with the plant away from open windows and doors.

Despite the fact that croton is a leafy succulent, for normal development it needs humidity at the level of 70-75%. Such indicators can be achieved by regularly moistening the leaves of the plant. In addition, the leaves need Wipe regularly with a damp soft cloth or paper towel. To increase the level of humidity, a container with water and expanded clay or pebbles is placed next to the pot.