Croton plants (Codiaeum Variegatum) are well known for their vividly colourful foliage. As beautiful as they are, they require great care and attention throughout their growth. Existing in hundreds of colour combinations and leaf forms, Croton plants thrive most favourably in tropical surroundings.
Plantation and Maintenance Tips
- Modes of plantation
Croton can be both indoor as well as outdoor plants, depending on the climate of your region. Tropical countries are the most favourable for open-air growth. However, it is ideal to plant croton saplings in a pot if your area experiences infrequent sea breezes. Maintaining proper humidity levels and availability of diffused sunlight indoors is another important factor in getting the best colours.
- Care
The best way to take care of the croton plant is to provide dappled sunlight while giving it steady warmth. Moist ground for breeding is a prime requirement for the colourful blooming of this plant. Moreover, mist your plant daily to avoid infection and pests. Keeping the plant properly moisturised during summer is essential, or it might lose its chromatic leaves. They can be brought out in the open if temperature and sunlight are adequate for their ideal growth.
- Soil
Croton grows best in loose, well-draining soil. A sturdy pot and placement near the brightest window of the home ensure that it attains maximum height, depending on the variety you have planted.
- Repotting
Croton plants eventually outgrow the container they are sown in and need to be repotted after some time. They require repotting yearly in their initial 4 to 5 years of growth, but this should be done with extreme caution. Repotting early might make them lose their leaves. Matured plants only require repotting once every 2 or 3 years to refresh the soil.
Variety of Croton plants
They are mostly classified based on their leaf type and foliage colour. The most common indoor crotons are
- Petra Croton
They are recognised by their oval green leaves with bright yellow, orange, and red smouldering.
- Zanzibar Croton
Often sold by your local plant nursery as a decorative plant, they have long, thin leaves in combinations of green, red, yellow, and orange.
- Laurence’s Rainbow Croton
They have thin leaves of one colour spreading over a long stem of another colour.
- Gold Dust Croton
Most glittering from all varieties, Gold Dust Croton has dark green leaves with yellow colour splattered over.
- Oakleaf Croton
Attributed as Croton Excellence, they have lobed leaves similar to oak. The bright yellow marked leaves turn red as the croton ages bringing out a different shade in its mature ages.
How to get it to bloom
When planted outdoors under favourable conditions, Croton plant buds with star-shaped flowers. They rarely flower indoors, but a suitable indoor environment can help spur flower production. They can bud at any time of the year if provided with adequate light, moist but not soggy soil, and tropical temperatures ranging from around 70 to 80 Fahrenheit.
General Complications with Croton plant
- Dreary Leaf Coloration
The vibrant colours of the leaves is determined by the amount of light provided to the plant. But at times, the summers can be beyond their fragility. In case of scorching heat, fans or air ventilation can restore the health of the leaves.
- Curling leaves
The leaves tend to roll when they get large. This may indicate regulating the amount of fertilisers, making it grow too quickly. Lack of light can also be solved by relocating the plant to a corner with ample light.
- Shedding of leaves
Crotons shed their leaves at any inclination towards coldness, especially below 50 Fahrenheit. Insects such as mites and mealybugs can also make leaves fall. In such cases, you need to clean off leaves with insecticide soap or horticultural oil.
Conclusion
Croton plants are one of the most versatile and appealing specimens of flowers. However, they also demand intense care and effort. Therefore, it becomes extremely important to groom it timely and ensure it gets conditions suitable for its growth. Along with moist soil and adequate dappled light, the plant must have a suitable temperature of 70 to 80 Fahrenheit around it. With proper nourishment, Croton plants bloom to be the highlight of the place.
