Bright, colorful flowers on the windowsill of the house not only attract attention, but also decorate the interior, bring their own accents to it. Lovers of ornamental plants will be interested in growing codiaum. Despite some features of home care, he takes root well indoors, decorating it with his elegant look.
Most often, we grow motley codiaeum (codiaeum variegatum), or simply variegatum, as well as varieties of this species. The homeland of the plant is considered to be the tropical part of Asia. There it is in vivo grows in the form of a tree up to 4 meters, having large dense leaves of 30 centimeters. Their shades depend on the variety.
Sometimes we hear that the flower is called differently - croton. Do not confuse them. They are similar to each other, as they belong to the same family of spurges, but the croton is not so attractive. The codiaum has a property characteristic only of it - a change in the shape and shades of foliage, depending on the conditions of its maintenance.
Codiaeum variegatum is divided into varieties, they differ in the shape of the leaves:
Varigatum is the basis of many varieties of codiaum, among which the following are quite well known:
When buying a plant in flower shops, you can often find the name codium mix. This is not a cultivar name. Just under one common name many flower varieties are imported in batches. Therefore, only a specialist can accurately determine which variety it is.
When buying a plant in a store, you should know how to properly care for it at home. If you do it right, then codiaeum variegatum will become the decoration of the room.
Previously, he was considered very capricious, but now there is a variety of varieties for which care at home will not be too difficult. Important to remember following rules plant content:
The flower propagates by shoots that remain after pruning. They begin to root from the middle of winter. On the shoot there should be several leaves and one kidney. After that, the cut of the cutting is washed from the milky juice and treated with phytohormone powder. It is planted in a pot and covered with a jar to create greenhouse conditions. Rooting takes place within two months. Then the plant is gradually adapted to the conditions of the room.
A flower with a strong bare trunk can be propagated air layers. For this purpose, the trunk is tilted to the soil and fixed in this position, lightly sprinkled with earth. After the part takes root, carefully separate it from the plant and plant it on its own in a container.
Growing a plant at home, you not only get decorative flower, but also become the owner of a good air purifier in your room. To be proud of your pet, you need to properly care for him. Since poor care immediately affects the plant. Its leaves fade, change color, may fall off.
Foreword
The exotic flora of the tropics with an abundance of shapes and colors captures every grower. Fortunately, we can grow a piece of rainforest at home - the codiaum flower (codium, croton) has incredibly colorful foliage and various forms, however, to provide the right care behind this plant is not so easy.
Codium (croton) in its native habitat grows in humid warm conditions, with plenty of sunlight and water. This evergreen shrub is native to Southeast Asia. Under natural conditions, the plant reaches 3-4 meters in height and belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It has a reputation for being picky, although it does well indoors with proper care.
Given the variety of species, more than fifteen, with the desire and perseverance, you can find a codiaum flower that fits perfectly into any interior. The main requirement is proper care for him. Some subspecies require very intense light, while others require medium light.
When buying a flower you like in a store, be prepared for surprises - despite all your efforts and care, the codium (codium) can shed all the foliage in a few days. This is a normal reaction. The thing is that Croton reacts in this way to movement and a new environment. Be careful, continue to care for him and in short term it will grow new leaves.
The main requirement is uniform maintenance of air temperature from 20 °С to 25 °С at different times of the year.
Please note that the plant does not tolerate drafts. The flower requires a lot of sunlight, so place it in windows facing southwest or southeast. IN winter time it is better to move it closer to the batteries central heating without forgetting the humidity. Spray it daily, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every two or three days. Give him a shower at least once a month.
If upper layer soil becomes dry, it is necessary to water the plant soft and be sure warm water. To prevent root rot, remove any remaining water from the flower tray. The more drainage the better. The soil should consist of earth with turf, perhaps adding sphagnum and a small part of the sand. In the warm season, the plant needs to be fed 2-3 times a month, in autumn and winter - no more than once.
Young plants are transplanted annually for the first three years. If the plant grows significantly, then it must be transferred to a larger pot, adding a new layer. fertile soil. Carry out this process only when the roots themselves crawl out of flower pot. The codiaum adheres to the rule - in tight quarters, but not offended.
Decorative leafy plants are popular among flower growers. They are actively cultivated in household plots and on the windowsills of urban apartments. There are many varieties of such crops, some of them are more capricious, while others need only minimal care. The attractive codiaum flower is more of the former than the latter. In order for this plant to please the eye, it is necessary to provide it with suitable conditions cultivation. So, the topic of our conversation today will be the growth of codiaum mix flowers at home.
Codiaum is popular among flower growers due to the especially luxurious coloring of its leaves. This flower came to us from the tropical territories of Oceania, as well as South-East Asia. Under the name codiaum mix may be hiding various varieties such a plant, they are simply imported under one common name. Only a specialist can accurately determine the variety of such a pet. In order for the care of the codiaum mix to give its positive results, let's talk about what requirements the plant makes to the conditions of detention.
Features of growing codiaum in a home flower garden
Locations
Such indoor plant very light-loving. But at the same time, it absolutely does not like direct sunlight. That is why readers of "Popular about Health" should grow it on the windowsills of the eastern and western windows. Bright sunlight can cause the leaves to lose their decorative effect. Bright veins and spots on them can become dull and faded, and bright green coloring- brown. When growing codiaum on the southern windows, it is imperative to shade it by sticking parchment paper or special foil on the glass, and tulle can also be used for this purpose.
Temperature requirements
growing in room conditions codiaum mix is quite capricious in terms of temperature environment. A significant decrease in temperature indicators in the cold can destroy the plant. So you should take care that in winter the flower is in a room with a temperature of at least sixteen degrees. In summer, the thermometer should not rise above twenty-five degrees. It is necessary to protect the codiaum from drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Do not take out a pot with a plant on Fresh air.
Optimal watering
As for optimal watering, the codiaum is also not simple in this matter. This is a moisture-loving plant, which at the same time does not tolerate excessive moisture at all. It is necessary to organize watering in such a way that the soil does not dry out, and is not excessively damp. Extremely important role plays the organization of very good drainage.
Watering should be carried out exclusively with water at room temperature, well settled and soft. In winter, it is worth carrying out such a procedure a little less often, and in summer - more often.
Optimal Humidity environment
Since the codium comes from the tropics, it needs high humidity. Such a pet needs regular and frequent spraying.
With dry air, which is usually observed in apartments during the heating season, the codiaum can simply shed its leaves. Also, the plant can be attacked by weevils or spider mites. In such conditions, the care of the plant should include the purchase of an air humidifier or install a tray constantly filled with wet expanded clay.
Transfer
Codiaum has a fairly active growth rate. The root system of such a pet is actively increasing in size, especially at the stage of active vegetation - in spring and summer. Therefore, the owners of this plant sometimes have to transplant several times per season - two or even three. Codiaum is not transplanted in the truest sense of the word. It is transferred to a new container and the remaining space is covered with a new soil mixture. In this case, it is necessary to act with extreme caution so as not to violate the integrity of the earthen coma and, accordingly, the root system.
Best Choice for the cultivation of codiaum there will be a universal soil intended for decorative and deciduous crops. It is best to use a permeable and light soil. As we said above, when transplanting, you can not do without the organization of excellent drainage.
The soil mixture can be made on your own, using leafy and soddy soil, old compost, peat, and sand. In addition, a certain amount of charcoal must be added to the resulting mass.
Possible pests
With high dryness of the air, the codiaum can be attacked by spider mites, scale insects or weevils. To eliminate pests, it is necessary to spray a pet using special acaricidal agents, represented by fitoverm, actellik, neoron, etc. They must be used in accordance with the instructions. You can destroy the scale insect manually by washing the leaves of the plant with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water.
When growing codiaum, it must be borne in mind that all parts of such a plant are poisonous. Therefore, you need to place the flower pot away from children and pets. And when transplanting it, it is necessary to protect your hands with gloves.
Looking closely at the photo of the codiaum mix, it becomes clear that this is a very attractive plant that can be grown in an ordinary city apartment, providing it with optimal living conditions and proper care.
Codium - caring for a plant is extremely simple. The plant belongs to the family of euphorbia evergreen shrubs, whose homeland is Malaysia and East India, where they number more than 18 thousand copies. The leaves of the plant are leathery, various in size and shape, the color is bright shiny (they look like fake ones). The color of the leaves is most often yellow-green, but there are red and orange streaks.
Attention! Often Codiaeum (Codiaeum) mistakenly called Croton (Croton), although this different plants from the same family - Euphorbiaceae.
Plants are easily bred at home on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, a greenhouse, the main thing is to remember. that codiaum does not like bright light. From bright light, the plant will have to be protected by providing diffused light and moist air. A positive factor will be spraying the leaves with water from a spray bottle, room temperature.
But, only its juice, which is inside, is poisonous, so you can safely iron it. This plant is not for a child's room, for obvious reasons. Be sure to keep it away from pets, especially overly curious ones! If your pet is still full, be sure to show it to the veterinarian.
The leaves are leathery, varied in shape: asymmetrical, lobed, three-lobed, oblong-lanceolate, broadly ovate, obtuse or pointed, entire, notched, twisted, constricted. The color of the leaves is - yellow-green, green, red-brown with yellow, red, orange veins. Young leaves are painted in lighter tones, which are gradually replaced by dark ones and acquire a red-burgundy hue, so one plant is painted in several colors at the same time.
Blooms inconspicuous yellowish white small flowers collected in axillary racemes.
Important! Often Codiaeum (Codiaeum) is mistakenly called Croton, although these are different plants from the same family - Euphorbia. Codiaum - more ornamental plant, used for growing at home, winter gardens etc., and Croton is wild plant, used as a spice, in the manufacture of varnishes, in medicine, and even in some alcoholic beverages.
Codiaeum motley (Codiaeum pictum). The homeland of the plant is East India, the Sunda and Moluccas, the jungles of Malaysia. Evergreens, shrubs 1.5-2.5 m tall or tall, 3-6 m tall, branched trees with bare branches and shoots. In room conditions, the size of the plant is much smaller. (I have it already 1 meter).
The plant is dioecious. Male and female flowers differ from each other in structure and are collected in racemose inflorescences. Women's do not have petals, men's - with a corolla and a cup
For the first time in the West, codiaum motley became known in the first half of the 19th century.
There are many different forms and varieties.
Lighting. Codiaums prefer bright diffused light, they need protection from direct sunlight. Places near the eastern and western windows are best suited for growing, at the southern windows it is necessary to provide shading, at the northern window the codiaums may not have enough light.
With a lack of light, the variegated leaves lose their wonderful color. Variegated codiaums need more light than green-leaved ones, but they also need protection from direct sunlight. In winter, provide the most light location.
Temperature. Plants require a fairly high and uniform temperature (20-22°C in summer and not lower than 18°C in winter). In the room, it is better to keep them in the warmest place - near the radiator (the air and soil temperatures should be almost the same throughout the year). At the same time, with a warm content, it is extremely important to provide the plant with high humidity. The codiaum must be kept away from drafts, so it is better not to take it out to the balcony or garden.
Watering. Codiaums are watered all year round regularly and plentifully, with soft, tepid, settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries up. Water stagnation in the pan must be avoided. To prevent acidification of the soil in a pot, small and cramped dishes are used so that the roots quickly master the earthen clod, but it must be watered regularly, preventing the earthen clod from drying out.
Fertilizer. Throughout the year, codiaums should be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers (from spring to autumn - once a week, in winter - once a month with a weak solution).
Growing features. To form a beautiful crown, codiaums need proper and regular pruning. Pinching recommended young plant. The first is done when the plant reaches a height of 10-15 cm, then as the shoot grows every 20 cm, to the outer bud.
Transfer.
Codiaums are transplanted in the spring, young ones annually, large overgrown specimens are transplanted or transshipped every 2-3 years, adding a fertile substrate to a larger pot. The substrate is rich in humus, slightly acidic (pH about 5.5). The mixture for planting can be made up of soddy, leafy, humus soil, peat and sand in equal proportions with the addition of pieces of charcoal. Required good drainage.
The plant is suitable for hydroponic cultivation.
reproduction. Codiaums are propagated by seeds and cuttings. seed propagation rarely used, mainly in hybridization work. Plants are easily propagated by cuttings, and this method is widespread.
Cuttings are mainly taken in January-April, but cuttings are practically possible throughout the year. The top of the shoots, as well as semi-lignified pieces of the shoot, are cut off into cuttings.
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The motley codiaum is unpretentious, but requires constant care, attention and care, which it more than compensates for with its bright beauty and unique charm.
Grow codiaum in bright rooms, protecting it from direct sunlight. This culture is thermophilic, so in winter it is not recommended to allow the air temperature to drop below + 16ºС. In summer, the codiaum requires moderate watering, without drying out the top layer of the substrate; watering is reduced by winter.
The codiaum is propagated by apical cuttings, air layering, seeds.
Cuttings 9-10 cm long (preferably with one bud and two leaves) are cut from well-ripened lignified shoots. The upper cut is made at a right angle and sprinkled with finely chopped charcoal. The codiaeum cuttings are placed for some time in warm water with the addition of charcoal to wash out the milky juice secreted by the plant. Then they are dried, and to improve rooting lower part treated with growth stimulants - phytohormones. To reduce the evaporation of moisture, the leaves are tied with a tube. Cuttings of motley codiaum can be planted in flower pots or put in cups with water, but it is better to germinate them in a mini-greenhouse in which you need to maintain optimum temperature soil 30C, air 25C.
In a small (up to 12 cm in diameter) pot, 2-3 codiaum cuttings can be placed. To do this, recesses are made in the substrate with an ordinary pencil, into which the prepared cuttings are inserted. The soil at the base is slightly compacted with the same pencil. As a soil, a mixture of peat or sphagnum with fine sand. The substrate is constantly kept moist. pots cover plastic bags or glass jars and set in a warm place, for example, a window sill, which is heated by a heating device.
Codiaum cuttings planted in pots or greenhouses must be sprayed daily. Rooted cuttings after a month and a half can be transplanted into individual containers.
Reproduction by air layering is carried out when the trunk and branches of the codiaum are very bare. Summer is the best time for this procedure. On a lignified stem, 15 cm from the top, a circular incision 1 cm wide is made. At this point, own roots will begin to form at the layer of the codiaum. The cut must be treated with a rooting stimulator (heteroauxin, root) and wrapped with wet peat or sphagnum, with polyethylene on top. Keep the substrate moist for 1 or 1.5 months until the roots appear. When the roots reach 5 cm, the layers are cut off and transplanted into an individual container, covering at first with a bag or jar.
Flower growers rarely use seed propagation, since it is difficult to carry out at room conditions, although it is realistic. To do this, the seeds of the codiaum are soaked in phytohormones and sown in a mini-greenhouse, without embedding it in the substrate, just lightly pressing it with your hand. To maintain the necessary moisture, the seeds are covered with a film or glass. The first shoots of codiaum appear in a month.
Problems and solutions
The decorative qualities of the leaves may deteriorate if the plant does not have enough light. To solve the problem, you need to put the codiaum closer to the light source or install fluorescent or sodium sources of additional lighting.
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A shrub with its appearance can signal that something is going wrong in caring for it. It changes the color of the leaves, lowers the leaves down or drops them. The plant loves light, heat, high humidity and languishes from drafts. It is important to adjust watering when growing codiaum. It is best to water when it begins to slightly lower the leaves.
To form a beautiful crown, the codiaum is regularly cut off, and young specimens are pinched. Plants are transplanted in the spring: young - annually, and overgrown - every 3 years.
If the codiaum is bought in a store, it is transplanted from the transport substrate. The roots are carefully but thoroughly cleaned of the substrate. A new pot is selected so that it is slightly larger than the volume of the roots. A good layer of drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot.
Usually codiaums are planted in light, well-permeable soil, consisting of universal soil with the addition of perlite, vermiculite and charcoal in pieces.
Codiaums are fed with mineral fertilizers and organic matter in all seasons, except winter, once a week, and in winter - with a weak solution evenly three times during the winter.
Throughout the year as the top layer dries soil mixture the flower is periodically and abundantly watered with settled lukewarm water, preferably soft.
With poor lighting, the unique color of the leaves turns green, losing its variegation. Water should not remain in the pan. In order to prevent soil oxidation, the plant is planted in a cramped pot so that the roots quickly master the entire soil.
The plant requires a relatively uniform temperature all year round. +20 °C - +22 °C - in summer and 18 °C - +22 °C - in winter. The temperature of the air and soil mixture should be the same. The flower does not like large temperature drops and drafts. If the soil temperature is too low, the roots may rot.
The cut cuttings are washed off from the milky juice, immersed for two hours in warm water. Then they are planted in a small container filled with a mixture of peat, sand and chopped sphagnum, and - under a film or in a greenhouse. Air and spray the seedling twice a day. A month later, roots appear. It is best to propagate by cuttings 5-10 cm long. The leaves are tied into a tube to reduce the evaporation of moisture.
The plant is also propagated by sowing seeds and rooting air layering. The best time for rooting codiaum is the end of winter - spring.
When propagated by layering, the stem without leaves is tilted to the soil layer and sprinkled on it. When the stem takes root, it is cut off from the mother plant and placed in another pot.
The main reason for the appearance of mites on the leaves is dry air.
Methods of struggle: increase the humidity in the room, clean the leaves from pests with a tobacco-soap solution, followed by rinsing with warm water and sprayed with Fitoverm, Actellik, Fufan, Derris.
Also, the plant is damaged by aphids, worms, weevils and thrips.
The milky sap of the plant is poisonous, so gloves should be worn when working with it. At the end of work, wash your hands with soap and water.
Due to the toxicity of the juice, the plant must be removed away from babies and pets. You can sprinkle the surface of the soil in a pot with ground black pepper, cats will beware of approaching it.
With low air humidity, the codiaum is attacked by pests and diseases - the leaves lose their color, turn yellow, dry, and fall off.
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The leaves of the codiaum are fleshy with veins. Leaf shape different types there is a variety: an oblong oval, lobed with a pointed or blunt tip, and an asymmetrical shape.
The shade of the leaves can also be different, it can be green with yellow veins along the leaf, light olive, rich chocolate with yellowish accents, and also an orange tint. Young plants have foliage light shade, and over time it becomes more dark shades. Basically, each plant has two leaf colors. Flowering occurs in unsightly yellowish with a white tint inflorescences.
The codiaum plant is often confused and called croton due to the similarity of the leaves. But these are completely different plants, well, similar to one of the Euphorbia family. The codiaum flower is grown as home plant. And croton is more used as a spicy plant in medicine, as well as in the manufacture of lacquer products.
Codium motley or variegated as a synonym. Under natural conditions, this species can reach over two meters in height, and some up to six meters. Such high views, more like trees, with bare stems about 70 cm.
This plant is dioecious. Female and male features in inflorescences have a difference. The females do not have petals, while the males have a corolla and calyx.
The leaves of this species are elongated and with spiral tips. Inflorescences have a light shade. But in indoor cultivation, this variety refuses to bloom. The height of the plant is about 150 cm. The leaves are sinewy with a light green tint and white veins. There are also yellow blotches or scarlet.
Lighting for the plant requires bright, but diffused, when exposed to direct sunlight, burns appear on it. It is better to place indoors on the east or west side of the room. On the north side of the codiaum, there may not be enough lighting, for this it is necessary to provide the plant with an additional source of lighting, a daylight incandescent lamp.
With insufficient lighting, the plant begins to stretch and loses its colorful saturated shades, because of which it is very valuable and attractive.
The plant is difficult to tolerate drafts, and does not need airing in the summer on the balcony and in the garden.
Soil moisture plant requires constant and plentiful. Stagnation of moisture and soil oxidation lead to the death of the root system. Watering should be done with settled, soft water, at room temperature.
The air humidity in the room where the codiaum is contained must be at least 70%. The plant needs daily spraying from the sprayer. Once in 30, a warm shower is useful for the plant, as well as periodic wiping of dust from the leaves with a damp cloth. For additional moisture, it is better to pour water into the pan and cover it with pebbles or moss, this is necessary on hot summer days.
The plant always needs top dressing. The plant should be fed in the summer every seven days, and in cold period once every 30 days, half the dose of fertilizer indicated in the instructions. Mineral and organic supplements are suitable for top dressing.
Transplantation is needed for young plants every year in spring time. Adult overgrown individuals must be transplanted as the container is filled with the root system. During transplantation, the plant is transferred to another container along with the main soil, and the gaps are filled with new soil.
The soil for the plant needs nutritious, loose and slightly acidic. Can be purchased prepared soil for indoor deciduous plants or prepare the soil yourself.
Propagation by cuttings can be done almost all year round. For this it is better to cut apical stalk or a stiffened piece of the stem about 10 cm long. On the cut, it is necessary to wash off the milk juice and process it with charcoal crushed into flour. Then the plants are treated with a root growth stimulator and planted in the ground.
The root system of the plant appears after about 45 days. After rooting, the plants must be planted in separate containers.
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There is an opinion that the plant is quite picky and the codiaum requires special care At home, this is not entirely true. Codiaum needs bright light, but at the same time diffused, it cannot stand direct exposure to sunlight - burns may appear on the leaves from them. The best place for the codiaum there will be a window facing east or west. The codiaum plant located on the north window may experience a lack of lighting in this case as well. the variegated color of the leaves is lost. Codiaums with variegated leaves require more light than green-leaved ones.
For codiaum, it is important that watering is regular and plentiful throughout the year. For irrigation, it is recommended to use soft settled water, water when the top layer of the substrate dries. Do not allow stagnant water to form in the pan. So that the soil in the pot does not turn sour, it must be small size, then the roots will completely occupy the earthen room. In this case, regular watering is required so that the earth ball does not dry out. Codiaum requires high humidity air (70-80%).
It is advisable to spray the plant daily with soft water and give it a bath in the shower at least once a month.
Top dressing of codiaum with fertilizers, both mineral and organic, should be carried out weekly from spring to autumn and monthly in winter, using a weak solution.
So that the plant does not stop growing and does not begin to lose leaves, a codiaum transplant is required in a larger diameter pot. To do this, carefully, so as not to damage the earthen ball, the plant is transferred to another pot. The best time to transplant codiaum is spring. Young plants need to be replanted annually, and large overgrown plants - every 2-3 years. For codiaum, a substrate enriched with humus, pH 5.5, is suitable. You can independently prepare a mixture for planting, for this you will need in equal parts; After buying a codiaum in a store, you need to transplant it from the transport substrate. It is important to thoroughly clean the roots from the substrate. The size of the new pot should be slightly larger than the volume of the roots. Be sure to put a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot.
It is advisable to add a few pieces of charcoal and be sure to have good drainage.
An unusually beautiful codiaum can be propagated in two ways:
Propagation by seeds is rarely used, the more popular method is propagation by cuttings. Cuttings are possible throughout the year, but the period of January-April is considered a more favorable time. Cut off the top of the shoots, often semi-lignified pieces of the shoot, into cuttings. In places where the cuttings are cut, milky juice is formed, so the cuttings must be washed in warm water before planting. Fresh cuts must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal powder. You can use a growth stimulator (heteroauxin).
Some safety measures are required: codiaum juice is poisonous, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. If the juice of the plant comes into contact with the skin, contact dermatitis may develop. Therefore, it is important to strictly observe caution when working with codiaum, and after completing any work with the plant, you must wash your hands thoroughly.
The reason for the appearance of the tick- too dry air. Necessary:
If the codiaum is affected by the scab, then brown plaques appear on the stems, leaves of the plant. First the leaves dry up, then fall off. Treatment:
Possible problems related to care and how to eliminate them:
At proper care codiaum pleases with colorful leaves all year round. The plant will be grateful for the conditions created and the care shown for it. And finally, watch the video about codiame-croton, in this video there is how general information and some secrets and features for caring for him at home.
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A beautiful decorative houseplant, codiaum is grown for its large, variegated leaves. Its flowers are inconspicuous, not attracting attention. But the leaves differ in a variety of shapes and colors. With insufficient lighting, their variegation is lost. In order for the codiaum flower, as in the photo, to look in all its glory, it needs a lot of sun and moisture.
This beautiful tropical plant is native to East India and the Pacific Islands. Out of 17 known species only one codiaum is suitable for indoor cultivation - motley codiaum. The color of the leaves of the flower varies depending on the growing conditions. This property of the plant allowed breeders to create new decorative varieties.
Codium, belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, has a second name - croton. Codiaeum (lat. Codiaeum), the name of the genus comes from the Greek. κώδεια (kodeia) - "head".
Croton leaves are leathery. Their shape is different - lobed, three-lobed, broadly ovate, oblong-lanceolate. The leaves of even one flower sometimes differ in color. In young plants, they are light, but gradually their color becomes burgundy tones. The leaves are usually colored in several colors, but two shades predominate. The drawing of each sheet is different from the neighboring ones.
Important! Juice it beautiful plant poisonous, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis. When in contact with codiaum, take precautions. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap when you are done.
Despite external differences, all types of croton need the same care. If there is not enough light, the multi-color color of the leaves is lost and they become completely green. Light must be diffused. On the southern windows the flower overheats, optimal mode for him - on the windows of the east and west directions.
Tropical origin dictates the rules of care. Codiaum requires temperature balance, air humidity, and an abundance of light. Only subject to optimal conditions it will develop well and delight with the beauty of variegated leaves.
For good development The plant needs a certain temperature regime. In cold weather, the temperature is not lower than 18 ° C, and in summer the codiaum feels most comfortable at 20-22 ° C. In winter, it is desirable to place a flower pot closer to the battery, while providing sufficient air humidity. Drafts are detrimental to the plant, so even in warm weather it is advisable not to take flowers to the balcony.
A light-loving plant feels great in the sun, but in hot weather croton is shaded from direct rays. With a lack of light, its leaves lose their color and variegation. Codiaum prefers diffused morning and evening lighting, so place pots on windows facing west and east.
In a flower shop, you can buy a neutral or alkaline substrate for deciduous plants enriched with humus. But best soil for flowers, codiaum is a self-prepared mixture containing one part of sand and two parts of leafy ground.
It is undesirable to add peat, because it is moisture-intensive and leads to waterlogging of the earthen coma.
A good result is the addition of crushed charcoal to the soil, which is an antiseptic and at the same time does not allow the soil to cake. Do not forget that Croton just needs good drainage.
Organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable for fertilizing croton. In winter, it is enough to fertilize monthly in the form of a weak solution, and during the growing season, feed weekly.
It is necessary to water the whole year regularly, when the topsoil dries up. But you should not allow stagnation of water in the pan and excess root moisture. In the hot season, foliage requires daily spraying with a spray bottle. Water should be taken soft and settled.
The flowers of the codiaum are completely unattractive - pale yellow, and next to the colorful leaves they look unpresentable. It is better to remove them, so they will not interfere with the development of the plant. To form an attractive crown, do regular pruning. When the shoots have reached a height of 10-15 cm, the first pinch is performed. Further, as they grow by 20 cm, the next pruning is done.
In the store, flowers are sold in a special substrate. At home, transplant the croton into another container to replace the soil. Drainage and a small layer of earth (2-3 cm) are placed at the bottom. The plant must be watered well, then the root must be removed from the old pot along with a clod of earth and carefully transferred to a new pot. The voids on the sides are covered with earth. With this method of transplantation, the roots are not damaged and the flower develops well.
In the future, young plants are transplanted after two years, and large ones - after 3-4 years. A landmark signaling that it's time to transplant is the roots breaking through the drainage holes. Croton does not need a large pot. In diameter, it should only exceed 1-2 cm root system. auspicious time for transplanting is spring.
Problems that arise when growing croton and how to solve them
Croton is propagated both by seeds and cuttings. The first method is used very rarely, cuttings are much more popular. It is used throughout the year, but top scores receive in February-April. For cuttings, take the tops and part of the semi-lignified shoots. The juice formed on the cuts is washed off with water.
Next, fresh sections are sprinkled with charcoal powder. For better survival, various growth stimulants are used. Cuttings are planted in wet sand or placed in a container of water. The optimum temperature for cuttings is 24 °C.
The substrate must be kept moist and the cuttings require regular spraying.
After about 30-40 days, the cuttings will root, after which they are planted in containers of small diameter. When the lump of earth in the container is tightly braided with roots, transplant the codiaum into a pot, the diameter of which is a couple of centimeters larger.
It is believed that the codiaum flower is too capricious. But if he receives affection, warmth, diffused light, timely watering and spraying to create humidity in the air, it develops well and pleases with the colorful beauty of the leaves.
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