il croton (Codiaeum variegatum) hija pjanta li tappartjeni għall-familja ta' Euphorbiaceae. It is a shrub native to the Pacific islands (Ceylon), as well as southern India and Malaysia. It is cultivated in the West as an ornamental, thanks to the beauty of its variegated foliage. In our latitudes it is grown indoors, as it is rather sensitive to low temperatures. However, it requires particular cultural care to live for a long time, which is why it is considered one of the most difficult indoor plants.
In this article we see the botanical characteristics of the croton plant and the organic cultivation techniques to grow healthy, lush and long-lasting specimens.
Botanical sheet of the Codiaeum variegatum
The croton is a shrubby plant, with numerous erect stems that in the areas of origin can reach a few meters in height.
In apartment cultivation it usually does not exceed one meter, while cultivated in greenhouses it can even reach 3 m.
The leaves are alternated on the stems, simple and glabrous, of a particularly leathery consistency, with evident ribs. The shape is usually oval, while the color is very variable.
The background is generally bright green, especially in young leaves, with the surface irregularly mottled with colors ranging from greenish to red, orange, yellow, bluish-purple, brown and even blackish (in older leaves ). The spots of color are more pronounced along the ribs.
All these colors come together in the same plant, giving the croton a certain ornamental value.
The monoecious flowers are gathered in spikes, small and insignificant, usually they are eliminated to concentrate all the strength of the plant on the leaves.
Variety of croton
Variety petra
There are several cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum marketed in our country.
The most common is the variety Codiaeum variegatum pictumwhich develops robust and tall stems with a columnar bearing.
The variety is also interesting Codiaeum variegatum Sunny Star, as it is more resistant to cold than the type species. Finally we point out the variety Codiaeum variegatum petrawith a more compact shape, wider leaves with shades of red or yellow that vary in intensity depending on the light received.
How to grow croton
The croton plant is delicate as it is sensitive to low temperatures as well as to thermal changes. The best cultivation environment for croton would be that of a heated greenhouse, where temperatures and humidity can be kept constant and where the vegetative development is greater. However, it is also able to adapt to the home environment, the important thing is that temperatures never drop below 15-16 ° C. The ideal temperature range during growth is between 18 and 25 ° C. Ambient humidity is also important, considering that in nature the plant grows in tropical forest patches, therefore in very humid habitats.
For the plant, temperature changes are very harmful, for example between day and night in a certain environment.
Cold drafts and proximity to heating sources in winter and air conditioners in summer should also be avoided.
Exposure to light
Pjanti ta Codiaeum variegatum grown indoors require a very bright environment. The lack of light in fact determines the loss of the brilliance of the leaves which will tend to show more opaque colors.
It is possible that the plant is reached by the direct rays of the sun, but not in summer, when with the direct sun it could easily burn.
From these indications it is clear that the croton needs a bright room, with temperatures and humidity as constant and high as possible.
Substrate and repotting
The croton needs a rich and above all well-draining soil. We recommend that you use a mix (like this one)consisting of peat and perlit ready to use or peat with the addition of sand.
Repotting should be done immediately, at the time ofpurchase of the plant in the nursery and, subsequently, once a year, when the root system of the plant has occupied all the space available in the container. It is advisable to carry out gradual repotting, using containers with a slightly larger diameter than the starting one. The best time to repot croton plants is between late winter and early spring.
irrigazzjoni
The watering of the croton must be regular, especially in the summer season. The lack of water in fact causes a rapid yellowing and fall of the leaves. The plants must also be given water every day, the important thing is to ensure good drainage with the substrate and eliminate excess water that drains into the saucer. This is true of the summer, where temperatures and therefore the evaporation of water are greater at home. In the other seasons, give water less frequently, when the first centimeters of the substrate are dry.
An excess of irrigation is recognized by the sagging of the leaves and stems or, worse, by the root rot that causes the plant to die in a short time.
Leaf wetness
In addition to irrigating the substrate, croton plants, in spring-summer, like periodic water vaporization on the foliage. This technique helps to increase the ambient humidity. Rainwater or demineralised water should be used to vaporize the leaves without damaging them.
The absence of humidity and the stay in an environment that is too dry also causes the leaves to fall.
Fertilizzazzjoni
The croton has a rather fast growth that must be supported with fertilizations.
In spring-summer, once every 15 days, give some liquid fertilizer mixed with the irrigation water. Of the good fertilizers for green plants can be found here.
Multiplikazzjoni
Croton plants can easily be multiplied with teknika tal-qtugħ.
The best time to take the cutting is in mid-spring, taking portions of young apical branches of about 10-15 cm. The basal leaves will be removed from the branch and the apical ones halved. For the engraftment of the cutting it is recommended to use small jars filled with a mix of soil and perlite.
The cutting should be kept in a warm and protected place, with the soil to always be kept well moist and with frequent water vaporization.
Another feasible reproduction technique on the croton is the saffialways in spring, to be done at the base of medium-sized stems.
In the following spring, certain of taking root, the cuttings or croton layering can be transplanted into a larger pot.
Żbir
If the croton plants develop an excessively disordered crown or have parts of the same dry, you can intervene with pruning.
The best time for these operations is the end of winter, always using gloves and disinfecting scissors with alcohol, before and after use.
Parassiti
Among the crop pests that attack croton plants we point out: the afidi in spring, the brimba ħamra in summer, the cottony cochineal all the year.
To eliminate these plant parasites with natural remedies, it is advisable to read the dedicated insights.
Croton toxicity risks
il Codiaeum variegatumbħall-biċċa l-kbira EuphorbiaceaeBħal ispurge tas-siġarcontains, in the leaves and in the stem, the resulting white latex toxic by contact. This latex contains caustic and irritating tetracyclic diterpenes such as phorbol and ingenol esters (5-deos-singenol).
Latex has a caustic and inflammatory action on the skin, can cause dermatitis, burns and even blistering. Therefore, when handling a croton plant you must be careful to use protective gloves.
In case of contact with latex, the affected parts must be washed immediately under abundant running water. In case of accidental ingestion there may be the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), in which case it is advisable to consult a doctor.
The croton in the language of flowers
Croton does not have an entirely positive meaning in the language of flowers. When we give a croton plant to a wife, girlfriend or friend, we are telling her that she is capricious. The clear reference is to the leaves of the plant, which are extremely twining and variegated.
Ibda Thread ġdid