Croton

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Short Description:

Croton features

Croton, Codiaeum Variegatum, is a gorgeous houseplant with woody stems and lance shape, leathery, thick leaves.

From the family of Euphorbiaceae (spurge), the bushy plant characterizes amazing variegation which is seen in diverse striking patterns.

The beautiful leaves of the evergreen plant are mostly in dark green with bright veins and edges, adding an extraordinary texture to your home décor. Wonderfully colored foliage in shades of pink, orange, yellow, purple and green attracts the eyes of visitors at first sight.    

In natural habitats, the shrub grows up to 2 m high. At home it usually grows up to 60 cm.

Origin

Croton comes from the tropical rainforests in southeast Asia, basically in India and Indonesia, and Oceania. It is native to areas in Malaysia and the southwestern Pacific.

Lighting

Croton needs light to grow. So, make sure to place your pot where there is ample light, either natural or artificial. Southern, eastern, and western windows serve as the best locations for a healthy growth. In insufficient light conditions the plant’s leaves lose their color. Bright, indirect, filtered light is ideal.   

Watering

Thoroughly and regularly water the plant, especially during hot seasons. Excessive or inadequate water will threaten the plant’s health. However, if you don’t know about exact time for watering, go for slight dryness rather than overwatering. You need to water the plant when the top inches of the soil dry out. Almost one inch of water is required each week. Nonetheless, in summer, keep the soil moist but not slushy. Instead, decrease watering in winter (once every two weeks sounds good).

You can check out the soil with your index finger to see if the top soil is moist. If it’s entirely dry, you should water.

Humidity

As a tropical plant, Croton does love plentiful humidity. Placing the pot in a well-lighted kitchen or bathroom benefits the ideal growth of the plant. To make sure that the house has a good amount of humidity, you can use humidifiers or humidity tray to keep the humidity at 40% to 80%. Also, you can splash the leaves with filtered water and wipe them using a moist cloth.

The optimal temperature ranges from 18 ° to 27 ° Celsius; in an environment with less than 12° the plant will be damaged.

Also, winds, cold drafts and low humidity will hurt the leaves, resulting in the death of the plant.

Soil

Croton requires rich, moist, well-drained soil to grow vigorously.

In spring and summer, when the plant is vibrant and flourishing, apply fertilizers to enhance the quality of the soil. Once or twice in this period works out best.

For cold seasons you do not need to fertilize at all.

The most appropriate soil for Croton is a mixture of leaf soil, soft washed sand, garden soil and some compost. Fertilizers such as NPK, 6-3-18 or 8-2-10 will help this plant grow better.

The acidic-soil lover appreciates soil pH between 4.5 and 6.5.

Brief overview:

Botanical name: Codiadeum variegatum

Family: Euphorbiaceae (spurge)

Plant’s classification: Ornamental houseplant

Requirements: Bright indirect, light, high humidity, ample water, partially acidic soil