Codiaum, or croton, is an attractive shrub that lovers of home plants often use to decorate their homes. And all thanks to the unpretentious nature and decorative appearance of a tropical guest. As a rule, those who start this flower fall in love with it so much that they begin to reproduce codiaum at home. You will learn how this event is held from our material.
Features of appearance
Codiaum (home care is not difficult) is one of the most beautiful indoor plants. With proper care, it can reach a height of 1 m. The leaves are quite large; in an adult healthy plant, the lower leaves can also reach one meter in diameter.
The advantage of codiaum is its leaves, which have a very bizarre shape and bright color. The main feature of all plants of the milkweed family, including croton, is the presence of milky sap, which is found in the leaves and stems. For a person, it can be poisonous, but it helps the plant itself to heal wounds if the flower is damaged.
The leaves of the codiaum are very bright, the shape and size are different, depending on the location of a particular leaf. The main shade in adult plants is not green, but bright yellow, orange, red, burgundy. And only small areas of leaves are colored light green or darker green. The plant begins to dazzle with age: the bright green leaves turn yellow and become covered with spots of other bright colors. As for the structure, it is tough and leathery.
The shape of the leaves of the same plant can vary significantly. They can be narrow or wide, twisted or ribbon-like, long or short, carved.
The codiaum is variegated, home care for which is quite simple, despite the number of requirements, it is characterized by dense foliage. For its correct formation, that is, for symmetry and harmony, the plant requires careful self-care, namely, periodic turns to the light source, proper feeding and timely watering.
Growing cuttings in water
This method of breeding codiaum gives good results, and at the same time saves you the need to equip a greenhouse. But this method has its own nuances, for example, you will have to constantly keep the water warm. If possible, then, of course, it is better to choose this breeding method.
As in the previous method, choose strong twigs with several buds and leaves for cuttings. The length of the branches should reach 10-15 cm. After cutting, rinse the workpieces, and let them dry for a couple of hours so that all the milky juice flows out.
Dilute any growth stimulant in water, and heat this composition to a temperature of 25-30 degrees. Place the cuttings in the resulting liquid. Keep the water warm to help the plants grow roots. And top up with new fluid periodically. Keep the flowers in a well-lit place, but be careful not to be exposed to sunlight.
As a rule, rooting takes 1-2 months. When the roots are 2 to 3 cm long, transplant the young specimens into individual pots.In the future, provide them with the same care as for adult plants.
Variety of varieties
Before you buy codiaum, home care for which may differ depending on the variety, you need to determine for yourself what kind of decorative effect you want to get in the end. Some varieties are quite large and not suitable for a small apartment. These include Peter's codiaum (caring for him at home will not be a burden), Excellence, Norma. These varieties are valued for the traffic light type of leaf color, which does not fade even when the light level of the room changes.
Medium-sized codiaums, such as Gold Sun, are more demanding on conditions of detention. Only with complete comfort are they able to acquire the characteristic leaf sizes and shapes of the species. However, the choice of paints, in contrast to their tall counterparts, is much higher here.
Truly royal is the white codiaum (croton), care for which at home should be especially careful, since this variety is not only rare, but also quite capricious. Plants with creamy, off-white leaves include Ebirneum and Andrew. At home, subject to all the rules of care, the creamy green leaves of young plants eventually turn almost black or white with green dots, which is rare for them.
We are waiting for germination
Maintain the temperature in the greenhouse between + 25 ... + 27 ° C. Moreover, it is advisable to equip the bottom heating, or at least keep the container directly on the battery.
Do not forget about watering, but keep in mind that it is not recommended to spray the seeds with water, and it is better to moisten the soil by immersion. To do this, place the greenhouse in a basin of warm water, and keep it there until the substrate is saturated with moisture through the drainage hole. And after the event, do not forget to drain excess water from the sump. And also remove condensation that appears on the shelter.
Under such conditions, the first shoots will appear in a month. As soon as this happens, move the greenhouse to a brighter place, and gradually accustom the flowers to normal conditions. To do this, remove the shelter first for an hour, then for two, etc.
Water young plants regularly with warm water from a spray bottle. And when 2-3 true, not cotyledonous leaves appear on them, transplant them into individual pots.
Lighting selection
The development and spectacular appearance of Croton completely depend on the correct choice of the level and quality of lighting. It is better not to rely on the fact that there is enough daylight from the window, but to provide access to artificial light. For this, LED lamps of a warm spectrum with a power of 10 W or fluorescent lamps with a power of about 30 W are ideal. Such lighting will allow absolutely any variety of codiaum to bloom, since it allows you to artificially increase daylight hours.
If there is no such possibility of additional lighting, and the plant will be located on the windowsill, then it is better to choose those varieties that are not too demanding to fulfill this condition. These are large-sized representatives. There is no need to worry that they will not fit there, their growth can be artificially restrained with clothespins, forming the crown you need.
In the cold season, it is better to put the pots on the southern windows, and only on a stand and as far as possible from the glass, otherwise there is a risk of simply freezing the plant. For the rest of the year, east or west windows are well suited.
Illumination should be maximum. With constant spraying, the plant can spend all day in the sun.
Growing from seeds
This method of breeding codiaum is not easy, but it is suitable if there are no cuttings of the variety that you want to grow.But get ready that the seed method will take a lot of your time.
Croton seeds should be sown in the middle of winter, at which time the plants take root better. To make the senses appear faster, be sure to prepare the seed. To do this, place it in water with a temperature of 60 degrees for 30 minutes, and then soak it in a growth stimulant solution for 24 hours.
Use a multipurpose mixture to germinate seeds. Before sowing, warm it up to 22 degrees, then evenly distribute the seeds, and sprinkle them with a layer of soil 0.5-1 cm thick. Cover the planting with foil or glass.
Landing rules
After you have bought a codiaum Excellence for yourself (home care for it is practically no different from other types) or any other, it must be transplanted into a new prepared pot without fail. Moreover, it is desirable to replace the soil completely. A slightly acidic mixture is suitable for this, which includes the following components:
- peat;
- compost;
- coarse river sand, in which you first need to add a small amount of charcoal.
These components must be taken in equal quantities. The pot, however, should not be taken too large, otherwise there is a risk of waterlogging the soil, which means that the roots may rot. For a quarter of its volume, it must be filled with large expanded clay, and only then with soil.
After planting the plant in new soil, it should be thoroughly watered, and then ensure high humidity.
The optimal time when you can transplant codiaum varigatum (even a beginner will master home care) is spring, since during this period this process can be combined with the vegetation of the plant. However, here there is another positive point of the presence of additional artificial lighting, since in this case the transplant can be carried out at any time of the year.
Very important: only a healthy plant can be transplanted. If the appearance makes you doubt this, it is better to postpone the procedure for at least 3 weeks. However, if it gets worse over time, it is impossible to delay with the transplant, and the plant must be resuscitated immediately.
Further, this procedure should be carried out every spring for 4 years, and then only as needed.
Growing a flower from a cutting
This is the simplest method of breeding codiaum (croton), and it can be carried out at any time of the year. But it is still advisable to start this event in late winter - early spring. At this time, the plant begins an active growing season, which has a beneficial effect on the survival rate of new specimens. In addition, at this time there is already enough light, and you do not have to arrange additional lighting for the plants with a phytolamp. And in winter, for example, this event is indispensable.
To propagate codiaum, choose strong branches from the main or side stem, and cut them into cuttings 8-15 cm long.Immediately after that, remove the lower leaves, and rinse the blanks under running water to wash off the milky juice. Then, sprinkle the cuts with crushed charcoal and let the cuttings dry for two hours.
Next, roll up the top leaves with a tube and fix them with thread, and then plant the cuttings in containers or pots filled with a mixture of sand and peat. Be sure to disinfect the substrate before planting to kill pathogens and pests in the soil.
Optimum temperature
Codiaum, which everyone can take care of at home, does not like drafts. In winter, the temperature must be kept at a level not lower than 18 degrees, in the warm season - at least 20 degrees, but not higher than 26. For the codiaum, a stable temperature is required, at which it will develop better. In addition, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, for which it is necessary to maintain high air humidity.To do this, the plant should not only be watered, but also sprayed and wiped with a damp cloth regularly. There is another way to maintain constant humidity: put a flower pot in another, larger volume, which is filled with expanded clay or peat with water.
How to care for cuttings
After planting, spray the soil with warm water from a spray bottle and cover the plants with plastic wrap or glass. Cut plastic bottles can be used if desired. Place an impromptu greenhouse in a lighted place where the direct rays of the sun do not fall. For the cuttings to take root, keep the temperature in the room within + 19 ... + 22 ° C. Ventilate the greenhouse daily and wipe off condensation. And also do not forget to periodically spray the planting with warm water from a spray bottle, preventing the soil from drying out.
When the twigs take root and begin to release new leaves, transplant them into individual pots. In doing so, try not to damage the delicate roots of the flowers. To avoid this, transplant should be carried out by the transshipment method.
Watering features
In the summer, watering the codiaum, for which home care should be comprehensive, should be abundant. However, this does not mean that the water must be in the sump. From there it is better to drain it in order to avoid root rot. In the cold season, watering should be moderate, but care must be taken to ensure that the ground does not dry out.
Water for irrigation must not be taken from the tap. It should be kept at room temperature.
In summer, the frequency of watering is about 3 times a week, in winter it can be done less often, about once every 5 days.
Bloom
The codiaum or home traffic light has earned the fame of a magnificent plant for the beauty of its leaves, which cannot be said about its flowers. Small, slightly pink flowers are collected in a brush and do not represent a decorative spectacle, and the mother plant takes a lot of strength, so the flowers should be removed.
They are of no ornamental value, and only experienced botanists who select new hybrid plant species are able to collect seeds for propagation.
Domestic crotons grow no more than 1 meter in height, more often 50-70 cm and differ in the shape and color of the leaves. The most popular in indoor floriculture are: Petra, Excelent, Zanzibar, Mrs. Aiston, Tamara, Mammy. Croton laxative and cascar are suitable for greenhouses.
Breeding methods
The method by which the Gold Sun codiaum propagates, the care for which at home requires care from the owner, and its other subspecies, is called grafting. For this, apical cuttings are taken, which are planted in moist peat in spring, after which the conditions of the greenhouse are provided. For example, a pot with a scion is covered with foil and placed on a battery. To speed up the rooting process, phytohormones can be used.
Reproduction using seeds is used extremely rarely, since the effectiveness of this method is low.
Signs and superstitions
Codiaum protects the hearth, it is the leader among houseplants, absorbing negative energy.
- The flower has a positive effect on any emotional outbursts of people. If it is depression, Croton directs energy flows to increase self-esteem and give inner strength to a person. Outbursts of aggression and excessive activity are attracted by the wide, leathery leaves.
For people who are determined to change their lives, Croton will become an irreplaceable assistant in this difficult matter. According to Feng Shui, this flower creates a comfortable atmosphere, filling the space with purified energy. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, plants should not be too close to the bed.
- Croton blooms rarely and this is considered a bad sign.Perhaps the flower senses the approach of danger in the form of a release of negative energy and warns the owners about this. It is better to cut off the appeared inflorescences immediately: this will prolong the life of the plant, and it is better for warned people to be vigilant in business.
If you decide to buy croton, then you need to do it in the spring. The environment comes to life, the air temperature rises, daylight hours increase and the flower will have enough time to adapt to a new place.
Disease prevention
Like other ornamental plants, it tends to be attacked by certain diseases and pests. These are:
- red spider mite (especially if there was a certain stressful situation or the plant is under constant stress);
- shield.
When the first signs of plant infection are detected, codiaum (home care for it should provide conditions identical to tropical ones) must be treated with an insecticide of complex action. The scabbards that have been rendered harmless by the drug can be removed with a damp cloth. If these measures did not lead to the desired result, the procedure should be repeated.
Pest diseases (control measures)
This plant is rarely affected by pests, thanks to the poisonous juice. But inappropriate conditions of detention can greatly weaken the codiaum, make it a prey for parasites.
Spider mite
A red, small mite settles on the lower part of the leaves and envelops them with a thin white spider web... White specks appear on the top of the leaves, then large light spots - and the leaf dies off.
On the codiaum, a tick can start if the leaves are rarely washed, and the air around is too dry.
What to do:
- Wash the leaves, especially on the underside with a weak tobacco solution with added soap. After a "soapy bath" after 2-3 hours, the leaves should be rinsed with warm water.
- Should spray codiaum with insecticide... Akarin, Fitoverm, Vermitek will do.
Shield
These sucking parasites occupy the stems of the plant and sit motionless, covered with a waxy shield, and their tiny larvae creep everywhere.
Where they suck the juice, white spots appear on the leaves.
What to do: you need a shield clean with a damp cloth or an old toothbrush, and wipe the codiaum leaves with a swab dipped in vegetable oil - the larvae will suffocate under the oil film.
If the lesion is large, an insecticide is needed. Suitable: Aktara, Biotlin, Apploud, Bankol.
Kodium Varigatum Mix
A separate variety - Varigatum Mix... It is believed that this is a flower that is imported as part of a batch of plants, moreover, different varieties of this variety. The exact description cannot be found out. To determine more accurately the variety, you need to consult a specialist.
Oval-leaved codium
There are many varieties. They may not be as common among flower growers, but their decorative properties are no worse than those of the most popular varieties. The most interesting are the following
- Moluccan... The leaves are pointed at the ends, have a wide ovoid shape. In length - up to 20 cm. In addition, there are plants of this type that have a different leaf shape. They have it spatulate-lanceolate. In length, such a sheet is usually up to 30 cm, in width - no more than 4 cm. Minus is considered a separate subspecies, which is very common in Fiji and Java. This culture is small in size. Usually the width is no more than 2 cm, and the length is a maximum of 12 cm.
- Genuinna... For this variety, it is characteristic that the leaves have a lanceolate wide shape, which begins to taper towards the tip. Typically, the leaves have a pattern of golden or silvery hue. Sometimes it gets a reddish tint. In this group, several subspecies are distinguished, which differ in the shape of the leaves and their sizes. For example, if the variety has a lanceolate foliage, then it becomes dull at the ends, and it is 4 times longer in length than in width.In narrow-leaved varieties, the tops are pointed, and the length is 9 times greater than the width.
- Oval-leaved... This variety has oblong-oval foliage. It is flat and has rounded ends. There are bright yellow lines along the veins.
- Disgusting... The leaves are in the shape of a wide oval, and the edges turn to the outside.
- Tortoiseshell... Has an unusual leaf shape. The base is cordate and the apex is sharp. The color is very bright and variegated. Along the vein, which is located in the center, there are spots and stripes of a golden hue.
- Curly... This variety is distinguished by its decorative effect, which is even better expressed than that of other known varieties. This is due to the fact that the leaves are narrow but long. They twist in a spiral. They can have a mesh pattern of golden stripes and spots of various shades.
In addition, other unusual croton species are known.
Problems
Any mistake of care, first of all, is reflected in the condition of the leaves, which begin to dry out and fall off.
Periodic loss of codiaum leaves should not be a concern, especially if the number of new leaves exceeds the number of fallen leaves.
With active leaf fall and bare stems, you need to pay attention to one of the possible mistakes:
- The earthen lump is overdried;
- The soil is wet and does not have time to dry out a little between waterings;
- Draft;
- Temperature difference;
- Air is too dry.
Codiaeum (Croton, Codiaeum)
Codiaum (Codiaeum) - this is the name of perennial trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants of the Euphorbiaceae family. In total, this family has from fourteen to seventeen different species. These plants are common in Malaysia, East India and on some islands of the Malay archipelago (Moluccas, Lesser Sunda, Greater Sunda). Codiaum varieties have been popular as decorative crops for their especially beautiful leaves since the 1860s, when their very first specimens were brought to Europe.
Indoors, only one species can be grown - the Codiaeum variegatum shrub, which reaches three meters in height and has leaves decorated with yellow veins. Over the past century and a half, he has become a real "patriarch" of a huge clan of hybrids, which now cannot be clearly sorted out. Most of them have English names. For example: "Gold Finger" - stands for "Golden Finger"; "Norma" - translated as "Exemplary" and has green leaves with yellow spots in red veins; "Gold King" is the "Gold King"; "Excellent" means "Magnificent"; "Gold Star" in translation sounds like "Gold Star"; "Vulcan" is the "Volcano" with green leaves with a red border; "Gold Sun" is a gentle "Golden Sun".
The leaves have a wide variety of shapes, often asymmetrical. Plates are found flat or spirally twisted, wide or narrow, finger- or ribbon-like, evenly or very intricately carved. The most popular decoratively are young plants up to three years old, which most often have bright light green, green or yellowish shades. Gradually, as they grow, more yellow tones appear in their color, then red and purple with pink stripes and spots. In much smaller quantities, orange, white, brown and even black paints are present in their colors.
For those who are going to grow Codiaum for the first time, the following points will be interesting:
· We know him as Codium, Codeum, "Cloak of Joseph" and ... Croton. By the way, the latter name is found more often than others, although it refers to another, much more numerous genus of this family, which is much more widespread.
· Codiaum blooms regularly if it is properly looked after and fed on time. True, it is better to pick off the flowers immediately, since they are rather nondescript and small, and they take a lot of strength from the plant.
· It grows quickly, and very quickly. Sometimes it turns out in jerks: 2-4 leaves grew and the plant froze for a while.
· Codiaum cannot be kept outdoors in summer (veranda, balcony, garden), as it needs a stagnant atmosphere (humid and warm).
· The plant helps a person to calm down, helps to relieve nervous tension and a sense of self-confidence. It helps to make a choice and even warns teenagers against falling into bad companies.
· You need to be careful and careful: the juice that appears when the trunk or leaf is mechanically damaged is considered poisonous and can cause irritation. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after any work with Codiaum.
How to successfully grow Codiaum (Croton)
It is necessary that the plant stands in a very bright place, however, without direct sunlight. If there is a shortage of light, Codiaeum can become shallow, grow very slowly, lose all its variegation and brightness, become completely boring and monotonous in color. In summer, a western or eastern window is perfect, in winter it is better to choose a western or southern window, but if there are none, you will have to illuminate it with an electric lamp. To ensure uniform crown density, the plant must be periodically turned to the light source in different directions.
In summer and spring, Codiaum needs abundant and regular watering, and with a lack of moisture, the leaves will fall together. Do not let the soil dry out deeper than two centimeters, but at the same time, do not let the water stagnate in the pan. In autumn and winter, watering should be significantly less. It is best to take water that is soft and warm, at room temperature, since a colder plant can shed all the leaves at once.
Codiaum is very picky about the humidity of the surrounding air, it benefits from daily spraying, weekly wet wiping of leaves and a wide bowl of water next to the pot. It would be good to put a pot with a flower in a pallet with any moistened filler, for example, with pebbles or expanded clay. To stimulate the growth of new leaves, it is good to add 1-2 drops of Zircon to a glass of water for irrigation and spraying.
The most favorable temperature for keeping varies within the following ranges: in summer - 20-22 ° C, in winter - 18-20 ° C. Croton does not like drafts and sudden changes in temperature - from them the leaves can crack or fall off. The roots of the plant do not like the cold, so in winter the pots on cold windowsills must be protected from below with a heat-insulating pad, which can be used as a thick wooden plank or foam tile.
In spring and summer, during active growth, Croton needs to be fed every week with a complex mineral fertilizer for decorative leafy plants or a special fertilizer for variegated forms. With the onset of cold weather, the frequency of feeding should be reduced to once a month, and it should be carried out immediately after watering, and not before it.
While the plant is still young, it must be replanted every year, then every 2-3 years. A new pot (plastic or ceramic) should be only 2-3 centimeters larger than the old one, since Codiaum does not like very large pots. A pot up to a quarter of its height must be filled with drainage, consisting of a mixture of charcoal, clay shards and expanded clay to prevent moisture stagnation and root decay. In order not to damage the roots, the transplant must be carried out with careful transshipment, without destroying the old earthen coma. Fresh substrate should be neutral (pH = 6.0-7.0) or weak (pH = 5.0-6.0) acidity. The optimal composition of the substrate for young Croton is sand plus sod and leafy (deciduous humus) soil in a ratio of 1: 2: 1, and for adult plants, the amount of sod land is increased. You can try adding bone meal and peat soil.
Codiaeum is best propagated by apical cuttings 10-15 centimeters long. In late spring or early summer, cut off the stalk with a sharp knife, rinse off the juice with warm water, tie the leaves around the trunk with a loose tube and plant it in a mixture of peat, sphagnum and sand. Cover with foil on top, that is, make a mini greenhouse. Every day, this greenhouse must be ventilated, and the cutting should be sprayed with water. If everything is done correctly, it should take root in about a month. To speed up the process, the cutting can be dipped into the Kornevin growth biostimulator before being placed in the greenhouse and slightly heated from below.
There is another breeding option - by seeds. They need to be soaked in Kornevin for several hours, and then planted in a similar mini-greenhouse. The sprouts will appear in 3-4 weeks. Seeds should be planted in January-February.
The third way of reproduction is with the help of air layers. It is necessary to choose a flexible branch, expose it and, bending to the ground, sprinkle and fix it. When the branch takes root, it can be cut off and transplanted into another pot.
Croton absolutely painlessly tolerates pruning of branches and shoots, aimed at shaping the appearance of the bush.
Difficulties encountered
Young leaves are less brightly colored than old ones and this is quite normal.
With an overabundance of light or a lack of it, as well as with a lack of trace elements, the leaves may become not so variegated, "burn out".
If dry brown spots appear on the leaves, these are signs of sunburn.
If the tips of the leaves become dark and begin to dry, you need to look for the reason in the following things: a small amount of irrigation water, low relative humidity, or low air temperature. Due to excessive dryness of the air or insufficient watering, the lower leaves can completely fall off, and a very low temperature can lead to rotting of the roots, because moisture from the substrate in this case evaporates slowly (an overflow effect occurs). Excessive coolness can also change the color of the leaves, their edges can turn brown, and the overall growth of Croton can be inhibited.
The lower leaves can fall off due to a completely natural manifestation of old age.
If the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry, you need to spray several times a day (this is especially true in the winter season, when the heating is on), but before that, check if the soil is too waterlogged, if it has lost its permeability, if it is too small pot.
When the leaves begin to crack, there may be several reasons: irregular watering, overfeeding with nitrogen, sudden changes in temperature, or too dry air.
If a purple bloom forms on the undersides of the leaves, which appears even after washing off, and the leaves begin to fall off, this is most likely a sign of a fungal disease. Water the soil and treat the plant 3-4 times at intervals of ten days with fugnicides.
Among the insect pests that often settle on Codiaum are the following:
· Fungus gnats (small flying midges). The danger to the root system is not they themselves, but their larvae, but it is necessary to poison simultaneously both in the ground and in the air.
· Mealybugs resembling white beetles with many "legs" on oval bodies.
· Red spider mites. Signs of their presence are as follows: the presence of a thin cobweb on the bottom of the leaves, loss of color and dullness of the leaves.
· Shields. Black-brown waxy plaques appear on different parts of the plant.
As you probably already understood, there are enough worries with Croton, but he will give a good mood to those who intend to fill their every day with bright and variegated colors.
Next article about the kumquat plant
How to propagate codiaum at home
Propagation by cuttings can be done almost all year round. To do this, it is better to cut off the apical stalk or a woody 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 stimulant and planted in the ground.
Rooting soil consists of coarse sand or sand in equal proportion to peat soil. Caring for cuttings consists in periodically spraying the plants and moistening the soil. The temperature for fast rooting is needed within 24 degrees. Cuttings can also be rooted in water.
The root system of a plant appears in about 45 days. After rooting, the plants must be planted in separate containers.
The soil
At the flower shop, you can buy a neutral or alkaline substrate for deciduous plants, enriched with humus. But the best soil for codiaum flowers is a self-prepared mixture containing one part sand and two parts leafy soil.
It is undesirable to add peat, because it is moisture-consuming and leads to waterlogging of the earthen coma.
A good result is obtained by adding 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.
Codiaum excellence
Organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable for feeding croton. In winter, it is enough to apply top dressing monthly in the form of a weak solution, and during the growing season, feed it weekly.
Description
Croton is found naturally in the tropics of India and Southeast Asia. The second name for croton is codiaum, a native of the Euphorbia family. Translated from Greek, the word codeia means head. A bit incomprehensible, but nevertheless a fact.
It is distinguished by an oval, slightly elongated shape of leathery, dense leaves. Leaves of various shapes have a wide variety of shades.
Croton is also popularly called an indoor oak, it can have not only a variegated color of leaves, but also light green, yellow - very different hybrid varieties have been bred by breeders.
A characteristic feature of croton leaves is the ability to change the color of the foliage, but by no means due to the change of seasons, but everything depends on age-related changes. The codiaum blooms with completely nondescript, small flowers, it is better to remove them due to the lack of decorativeness, and Croton did not waste energy on their development.
The developed varieties of Croton differ in the shape of the leaf:
- the appendage is a green or variegated leaf, has a jumper, consists of two parts.
- lobed - the leaves have a three-lobed shape, the middle part is somewhat elongated, up to 20 centimeters, has stripes and spots.
- flat-leaved - large oval leaves have wavy edges.
Mammy codiaum variety
It has narrow and small leaf plates, their edge is smooth and wavy. The leaves are curved along the central vein. The color of croton can be completely different, even on one copy you can find leaves of both red and green with pink and yellow spots.
Codiaum Excellence
This croton has leaf plates in the form of large blades. The color of the leaves is green with streaks of yellow. The inner side of the leaf is red and has brownish streaks.
Croton Mrs. Aiston
Mrs. Aiston's Croton has rather wide leaf plates, but short. On younger plants, the foliage is soft cream in color.
As they get older, the leaves change color to pink or bright red with a lot of yellow blotches. In some specimens, leaves of a very dark, almost black color can be seen.
Codiaum Mix
This type of croton is distinguished by the presence of a mass of subspecies. It has pointed, long leaf plates that grow up to 20 centimeters. There are even varieties with 30 centimeter leaf plates.
Croton Sunny Star
Its leaf plates are green, and the tops themselves are yellow. The leaves are slightly pointed, lanceolate. Young leaves are bright green with yellow veins.
Codiaeum aucubolistic
It is very popular with indoor growers. The leaf plates are colored unevenly, with yellow-green tints. Leaves are medium in size, rather narrow.
Croton: description, reproduction and care, video:
Possible diseases and how to treat them
Disease is easier to prevent than to cure. The plant can get sick due to inadequate care. In this case, it is required to change the situation, that is, to provide assistance.
- If the foliage at its tips turns brown. The plant, thus, signals that it is watered little or little, the air is dry.
- If the foliage turns brown, this situation can provoke a drop in temperature. The plant also reacts to drafts.
- In low light, the brightness of the foliage is lost.
- If dry leaves appear at the bottom of the bush. So the bush is updated, new leaves appear, and the old dry ones must be removed.
- The appearance of yellowness on the tips indicates the use of hard water for irrigation.
- The slowed down crop growth provokes a deficiency of fertilizers.
- Diseases are caused by insect pests. In order to prevent their appearance, the bushes are sprayed with special protective solutions for prophylaxis on the bush.
Varieties
Motley
Genoa has elongated-rounded leaves, tapering to the ends. The center of the upper side of the leaf is decorated with a delicate golden-silver pattern. The leaves are also reddish.
Oval-leaved
In accordance with the name, it grows leaf plates rounded to the ends with bright golden-yellow spots along the top of the leaf and near the veins.
Painted
It is painted with bright yellow and red spots on a green background of elongated, pointed leaves.
Folded
This variety has wide, rounded leaves that are turned outward at the edges.
Tortoiseshell
The base of the leaf is widened; towards the end it lengthens, has a weakly expressed helicity. The general background of the leaves is green with an olive tint, the central vein is red, with a longitudinal golden-yellow stripe, and then golden spots are scattered. The same specimen can simultaneously grow completely yellow, orange or red leaves.
Three-bladed
Decorated with foliage with carved edges, vaguely similar to oak. This variety is characterized by golden veins, stripes and spots.
Wrapped
Indeed, it wraps its broad, pointed at the ends, leaves inward, towards the stem, so that the plant becomes spherical.
Forms
Narrow-leaved - Leaves are one centimeter wide, somewhat elongated to the top, 15-20 cm long; golden spots are scattered on their greenery.
Epididymis - the leaves, which are wide at first, taper, becoming, as it were, the second petiole for another smaller leaf. Form is education resembles a guitar. Such codiaums are both variegated and green.
Curly cultivar Spirale - leaves are long, narrow, spirally wrapped. They, on a green background, are decorated with spots, stripes, net patterns of warm yellow color.
Paddle - with wide large leaves having three distinct parts: the central one is much more than two lateral ones, separated by a noticeable notch. Yellow spots and splashes are scattered on a green background.
Such types of Codiaum as Tamara, Excelent, Petra are very popular in home cultivation.
Watering and humidity
The plant requires constant and abundant soil moisture. Stagnant moisture and soil acidification lead to the death of the root system. Watering must be done with settled, soft water, at room temperature.
To avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, it is better to plant the codiaum in a cramped container.This is necessary in order for the rhizome to fill the soil faster. Good drainage to the bottom of the container is also required. Watering should be done constantly, allowing only slightly to dry out the soil surface.
The air humidity in the room where the codiaum is contained must be at least 70%. The plant needs daily spraying from a spray bottle. Once every 30, the plant benefits from a warm shower, as well as occasional wiping of dust from the leaves with a damp cloth. For additional moisture, it is better to pour water into the pan and cover with pebbles or moss, this is necessary on hot summer days.
Caring for variegated codiaum
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.
Codiaum is grown in bright rooms, protecting it from direct sunlight. This culture is thermophilic, therefore, in winter, it is not recommended to allow the air temperature to drop below + 16 ° C. In summer, codiaeum requires moderate watering, without drying out the upper layer of the substrate; by winter, watering is reduced.
The codiaum is variegated.
Trim / Support / Garter
The easiest way to form a plant is during the year.
The codiaeum tends to grow a central stem, therefore, in order to get a compact spherical bush, it is worth periodically pinching the apical bud.
Single-barreled codiaums can be cut at a height of 15 cmto force them to branch.
Pruning of adult plants is carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation, or to obtain planting material.
During the spring pruning of an adult branched bush, dry and weak branches must be removed. Also, with a lack of light in winter, the shoots of the plant can stretch out. All stretched ugly branches are cut by 2/3. Strong and very long shoots should also be cut in half or 1/3.
A properly formed codiaum bush looks like a small lush tree. He does not need support and a garter.
General information
The leaves of the codiaeum are fleshy with sinewy veins. The shape of the leaf is different in different species: an oblong oval, lobed with a pointed tip or blunt, and an asymmetrical shape.
The shade of the leaves is also different, it can be green with yellow veins along the leaf, olive light, chocolate rich with yellowish accents, as well as an orange tint. In young plants, the foliage has a light shade, and over time it turns into darker shades. Basically, each plant has two leaf colors. Flowering occurs with unsightly yellow inflorescences with a white tint.
The codiaum plant is often confused and called croton because of the similarity of its leaves. But these are completely different plants, well, they resemble one of the Euphorbia family. The codiaum flower is grown as a house plant. And croton is more used as a spice plant in medicine, as well as in the manufacture of varnish products.
