If you want to bring a tropical piece of Polonesia or Malaysia into your home, pay attention to an evergreen shrub called Codiaum. The plant reaches a height of 50 cm to 70 cm. If you like Codiaum and are ready to provide it with proper care at home, learn the basic rules for caring for this beautiful plant.

General information

This houseplant is rich in a variety of varieties. It will look especially beautiful in the house Kodiaum Petra (see photo), Mammy, Mix, Excelent or Varigatum. Plants with red, dark purple, yellow leaves in pink spots look spectacular. small size.

It is extremely difficult to achieve flowering at home. This phenomenon is very, very rare. However, if it does happen, then only in summer period. By itself, the flower is not very effective. He captivates the grower with an unthinkable variety of deciduous coloring. That is why the conversation is worth it so that in the end you enjoy the Codiaum of unprecedented beauty.

Features of care

Such self-persuasion is already the first mistake. Therefore, in order to remove yourself from subsequent wrong steps, remember:

• the flower does not tolerate drafts;
• the plant needs a certain moisture;
• leaves should be washed frequently, and also moistened while removing dust from them with a damp sponge;
• during the vegetative period, the plant urgently requires top dressing for growth and normal development;
• overdrying the earth is strictly prohibited, because it simply kills the flower.

Now let's talk about the factors that guarantee successful care behind a plant at home, so that it looks like it came off a photo of a glossy magazine:

• lighting - bright, diffused, protection from direct rays is necessary;
• the temperature is high, because the flower is tropical (not lower than 18C);
• air humidity - high, increased. Spraying - every day. Washing the leaves - 2-3 times for 7 days;
• watering in the phase of active vegetation - plentiful, in the cold season - moderate;
• reproduction - in the spring with the help of stem cuttings;
• transplant - if necessary in the spring.

After studying the photo, a summary of the main conditions that will provide the plant with the required care at home, you can proceed to a more detailed presentation of each of the factors.

Lighting

Codiaum prefers diffused light and does not tolerate direct sunlight. The most favorable places for its location will be the eastern and western window sills (see photo). In relation to the south side, the plant will have to be shaded from the sun. Unwanted is north side. If you hold the flower on this side, then the color of its leaves will be less bright. This is especially noticeable in variegated species. In any case, care should include providing the plant with plenty of daylight, excluding direct sunlight. IN winter period place Croton in the most illuminated place, as shown in the video.

Temperature regime

Care in this part should also be provided. We understand that in different
seasons and conditions change, however, they must comply with the limits from +18 C (minimum) to +22 C (which can rise higher, but within reasonable limits). In any case, a heat-loving plant always feels great in warmth, even proximity to heating radiators creates excellent conditions for it to grow. Note that soil temperature is just as important as ambient air temperature. Try to monitor the humidity of the same air and soil necessary for the plant. Since Kodium Motley, like any other type of flower, suffers from drafts, do not try to take it out on warm days to “breathe fresh air” on the balcony. It will be enough to ventilate the room in which Croton grows.

Watering

The flower also needs regular abundant watering, excluding the winter period. Always keep the soil moist at this time. Croton Motley requires watering with soft settled water from the grower. Dried out will serve as a signal upper layer.
It is better to water the plant with warm water, while avoiding its stagnation in the flower pot tray. To eliminate acidification of the soil, try to plant your Codiaums exclusively in cramped containers.

This is done so that the roots quickly fill the entire space, as well as absorb the moisture supplied to them faster and more productively. Overdrying of the soil substrate is strictly prohibited. Kodiaum also needs daily spraying with settled water, followed by wiping the leaves and secondary irrigation of the crown. Washing the leaves should be done at least 2 - 3 days for one week. Every month, the plant requires abundant watering in the shower.

Eat also another way: the container is placed on expanded clay or peat and lowered into the water on a special stand ( see photo).

soil fertilization

Croton is fed, both organic and mineral fertilizers. Florists do this throughout the year, but observing a certain frequency: spring-autumn - once for seven days, and winter - once every thirty days.

Croton transplant

Every year, the Codiaum requires a transplant. However, this condition is observed when the plant is young. If your flower has a sufficient number of years, a transplant is necessary no more than once every two to three years.
. It is also allowed to transship the plant, namely the addition of a new fertile soil to the old substrate.

In order for the transplant to be completed successfully for a flower, it is necessary to provide him with a pot a few bigger size than it was before. At home, the codiaum prefers slightly acidic soil, in which the pH is not more than 5.5 and with the obligatory presence of humus.

Such a substrate is prepared by mixing equal parts of soddy, leafy soil, sand, peat and humus. Professional flower growers add charcoal to this substrate, and also make drainage at the bottom of the flower pot. In this case, Codiaum can also be grown hydroponically.

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This plant is one of the favorite among flower growers.
a luxurious, exotic specimen decorates the room and pleases with its variegated colors, a harmonious combination of yellow, red, purple, pink and greenish leaves. It has several names - Croton, Mammy, Excelent - all are representatives of the same species. Meet, in the photo, the flowers of the Codiaum Petra at home. What conditions does the flower like? Is it difficult to grow it? This will be discussed further in the article on this page "Popular about health."

Features of home care for Codiaum Petra

This flower is really very impressive. It is characterized by a yellow-green color with red veins. But at the same time, despite the dense and thick leaves, he is very capricious and picky. He is afraid of drafts, watering cold water, bright sun and dry air. Therefore, care for him should be careful and very attentive.

Be sure to wipe the foliage often with a damp cloth. Florists also have their own secret: add a few drops of vodka or beer to a glass of cool water. If the crown is treated with this solution, then the leaves will shine and have a glossy surface. In addition, you need regular spraying, bathing in the shower (close the soil before this with polyethylene).

Watering a plant is a very sensitive issue. At the slightest drying, it instantly fades, dropping leaf after leaf. It is rarely possible to restore it. In summer, you can even moisten the soil a little every day, in winter - depending on how the soil in the pot dries up. Use only water that has been settled for 2-3 days, do not allow liquid to accumulate in the pan.

At home, Kodiaum Petra prefers bright lighting, but you can not place the plant in direct sunlight. The best place is the eastern windows, southeast, where the sun only in the morning illuminates the plant with not yet scorching rays. On the northern or western window sills, the Codiaum dies from a lack of light, before which it loses its decorative color.

IN winter time the flower needs a temperature of at least +19 degrees. Nevertheless, its tropical origin affects. In summer, it will tolerate the heat well, but subject to frequent spraying.

It is strictly forbidden to take it out to the balcony. Even the slightest breath of breeze can destroy luxurious leaves.

Top dressing of the plant is carried out throughout the spring and summer - once a week. In winter - once a month. Suitable mineral or organic fertilizers, which can be found in the gardening store. You can use fertilizers with nitrogen, since the plant is unlikely to bloom. It releases buds extremely rarely, these are yellowish or white leaves on a long shoot. Such an ovary greatly weakens the plant, so it is better to carefully cut it.

If you start growing Codiaum from a young age, then you need to do an early pinching - when it reaches a height of 10-12 cm. And regular pruning is needed to form a beautiful and dense crown. No need to be afraid of this procedure, the plant after a few weeks with new force will release many new leaves.

Pictured is Codiaum Petra

Plant transplant

Having brought this beauty from the store, you need to give the plant a place in a separate pot, without leaving it in the shipping container. It is good to clean the roots from the previous substrate, choose a pot 2-3 centimeters wider than the girth of the roots.

At the bottom of the tank there should be a drainage layer of expanded clay, pour a layer of soil on top of it. For Kodiaum Petra, a universal substrate is suitable, with neutral acidity and with the addition of humus. In order not to buy a store composition, you can make it yourself. Mix in equal proportions the earth sheet and sod, peat and sand, add a little humus. Uncrushed charcoal, in large pieces, should be present in the soil.

Plant transplantation is carried out no more than 1 time per year. You need to look at the roots: as soon as they wrapped around an earthen lump, immediately pick up a larger pot.

How to propagate Codiaum Petra

Naturally, I want to propagate such beauty and have several independent plants at once. There are two ways to do this: seed or cuttings.
January, February or March, you can find a suitable cutting with a semi-lignified trunk. Carefully cut off this part with a few leaves, rinse with warm water and roll well in crushed charcoal. The cutting is immediately placed in a substrate of peat soil and sand. Place the entire pot in a plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions. Every day, remove the film for 10-15 minutes to ensure the flow fresh air. Cuttings must be sprayed.

At right action after one and a half to two months, the cutting will take root, it can be sent to a separate pot.

Growing problems

It is a pity to look at a fading favorite plant. But sometimes it happens due to the following problems:

The leaves lose their bright color, whitish spots and plaque appear on them - this is a sign of an attack spider mite who loves Petra's codiaum very much. You should increase the humidity of the air and treat the plant with insecticides.

The leaves are covered with brown plaques, gradually fall off. This is a sign of a scab. Processing required soapy water with the addition of a few drops of kerosene (wipe the leaves with a sponge). You can apply Aktellik - 1 ml of solution per liter of water, spray the entire crown.

Proper care is the key to lush growth and decorative coloring all year round.

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Appearance Features

Codiaum (easy to care for at home) is one of the most beautiful house plants. With proper care, it can reach a height of 1 m. Its leaves are quite large, in an adult healthy plant lower leaves can also reach one meter in diameter.

The advantage of the codiaum is its leaves, which have a very bizarre shape and bright color. Main Feature of all plants of the milkweed family, including croton, there remains the presence of milky juice, which is found in leaves and stems. For a person, it can be poisonous, but the plant itself helps 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 the leaves are painted in light green or darker green. The plant begins to variegate with age: bright green leaves turn yellow and become covered with spots of others. 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 codiaeum is variegated, home care for which is quite simple, despite the number of requirements, is characterized by dense foliage. For its correct formation, that is, for symmetry and harmony, the plant requires careful personal care, namely periodic turns to the light source, proper feeding and timely watering.

Variety of varieties

Before you buy a 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 (care at home will not be a burden), Excelent, 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 the conditions of detention. Only with complete comfort are they able to acquire the size and shape of leaves characteristic of the species. However, the choice of colors, unlike tall counterparts, is much higher here.

Truly royal is the white codiaum (croton), home care for which should be especially thorough, since this variety is not only rare, but also rather capricious. Plants with creamy, almost white leaves include Ebirneum and Andrew. At home, subject to all the rules of care, the creamy green leaves of young plants eventually become almost black or white with green dots, which is rare for them.

General rules for care

Before you start a codiaum at home, which is easy to care for at home, you need to choose the right place for the pot. This plant is demanding both for watering and for proper lighting, temperature and even permutations. However, if you carefully study all the requirements, there will be no problems with leaving. Need attention to such a plant as codiaum. Home care - transplanting, watering, feeding - should be timely and to the right extent.

Choice of lighting

development and spectacular appearance crotons are completely dependent 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. Ideal for this LED bulbs warm spectrum with a power of 10 W or fluorescent lamps with a power of about 30 W. 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 representatives. You don’t need to worry that they won’t fit there, their growth can be artificially restrained with clothespins, forming the crown you need.

In the cold season, it is better to put 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, windows located on the east or west are well suited.

Illumination should be maximum. Under the condition of constant spraying, the plant can spend the whole day in the sun.

Landing Rules

After you have bought Excelent codiaum for yourself (at 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;
• large river sand, in which you first need to add a small amount of charcoal.

These components must be taken in equal quantities. The pot should not be taken too large, otherwise there is a risk of waterlogging the soil, which means that the roots may rot. A quarter of its volume must be filled with large expanded clay, and only then with soil.

After planting the plant in a new soil, it should be carefully watered, and then provide high humidity.

The optimal time when you can transplant codiaum varigatum (even a beginner can handle home care) is spring, since during this period you can combine this process with the vegetation of the plant. However, here there is another positive aspect of the presence of additional artificial lighting, since in this case transplantation 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 it, it is better to postpone the procedure for at least 3 weeks. However, if over time it has become even worse, it is impossible to wait with a transplant, and the plant must be immediately resuscitated.

Optimum temperature

Codiaum, home care (photos of representatives can be seen in the article) for which everyone can do it, does not like drafts. In winter, the temperature must be maintained at a level not lower than 18 degrees, in the warm season - at least 20 degrees, but not higher than 26. The codiaum needs a stable temperature 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 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 one, which is filled with expanded clay or peat with water.

Irrigation Features

IN summer time watering the codiaeum, home care (photos show the attractive appearance of plants that have received the necessary attention), which should be comprehensive, should be plentiful. However, this does not mean that the water should be in the pan. From there it is better to drain it in order to avoid rotting of the roots. In the cold season, watering should be moderate, but care must be taken to ensure that the earth does not dry out.

Water for irrigation should not be taken from the tap. It should be settled and at room temperature.

In summer, the frequency of watering is about 3 times a week, in winter this can be done less often, about once every 5 days.

Feeding codiaum

It is best to fertilize in the spring, in the middle of the pore. You can use mineral fertilizers in liquid form for this, which are diluted in full accordance with the instructions. The frequency of the procedure is once every two weeks. In autumn and winter, when there is sufficient light, for example, if you use an additional artificial lighting, it will be enough to fertilize once a month. Clay soil mixture should be used as soil.

Breeding methods

The method by which the Gold Sun codiaum propagates, the care at home for which requires care from the owner, and its other subspecies, is called grafting. To do this, apical cuttings are taken, which are planted in wet peat in spring, after which greenhouse conditions are provided. For example, a pot with a shoot is covered with a film and placed on a battery. Phytohormones can be used to speed up the rooting process.

Reproduction using seeds is used extremely rarely, since the efficiency of this method is low.

Disease prevention

Like other ornamental plants, it has a tendency to be affected by some diseases and pests. These are:

• red spider mite (especially if there was a certain stressful situation or the plant is under constant stress);
• scab.

When the first signs of infection of the plant are found, the codiaum (care at home for it should provide conditions identical to tropical ones) must be treated with a complex insecticide. Scale insects, which are neutralized 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.

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Description

In reality, Croton and Codiaum are different types plants, the first of which includes about 1200 species, and the second only 17.

Representatives of the Croton species are common in tropical regions all continents. The range of Codiaum is many times smaller: Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and the western islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Fortunately, representatives of both species grow in fairly similar natural conditions - care errors made due to confusion of names are likely to be frivolous.

However, why take the risk? When caring for Peter's codiaum, it should be borne in mind that the plant is actually is not a croton, although it shares common features with it.

Peter's codiaum is a fairly large plant. Sometimes stem height reaches 4 meters. Large smooth leaves are arranged alternately on straight branches, but very densely on all sides.

The shape of the leaves on the same plant can be oval or round with or without a sharp tip. Color is usually the same various: the surface of the leaf itself can be dark green, and the veins of a scarlet hue and many other variations.

Exactly variety of many shades on the same plant became the reason for the appearance of the name Codiaum motley. Also, flower growers are very popular with such types of Codiaum as: Excelent, Tamara.

Photo

croton petra

Care

For a long time it was believed that the codiaum is too thermophilic to grow it outside its natural range.

This plant capricious enough and home care for him requires certain knowledge and skills.

Temperature

The plant is very demanding in terms of temperature regime.

The temperature must not only exceed + 17 degrees, but also be constant.

The child of the tropics reacts to the slightest draft dropping leaves.

Watering

During the period of active growth, that is, in spring and summer, the plant needs water regularly and plentifully. The soil should never dry out completely, otherwise its inhabitant simply will not survive.

However, bays for the plant too very dangerous as they can lead to root rot. Sticking to the golden mean is quite difficult, so it is very important having good drainage which makes the task much easier.

The soil

Kodiya Petra needs nutrient-rich soil rich in organic matter. Peat and complex fertilizer will serve as an excellent start. Good drainage is very important for a plant - it should be at least a quarter of the total substrate.

Light mode

Since the codium is of tropical origin, throughout the year it needs good lighting.

Bright sunlight is good for him even during dormancy.

But, of course, not direct, but scattered, and the plant must always be shaded from the midday sun.

IN room conditions Croton Petra rarely reaches its maximum size.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to call it small, and there is not always a window sill on which it could fit.

But this is not scary - if you place the plant at a distance of a meter from the window, it will have enough sunlight. Best fit east and west windows.

In winter, the codiaum needs to be rearranged to the most illuminated place in the room. If you can buy a special lamp - great. However, you need to take care that in a new place there were no temperature fluctuations- the plant does not tolerate them.

It is very important to provide Croton Petra throughout the year decent lighting. Otherwise, the leaves lose their beautiful color and just turn green.

Air humidity

Croton Petra always needs high humidity.

During the period of active growth, the leaves need to be regularly spray with warm water.

In winter, our apartments become especially dry due to heating appliances and you need to humidify the air even more often.

At the same time, do not forget about the dormant period - before each spraying g the rune must be covered with a film.

fertilizers

Fertilize the plant in spring and summer once every 2-3 weeks after watering or with it. In winter, the frequency of feeding is reduced. up to once every 6-8 weeks. Very important nitrogen fertilizer for the plant.

Transfer

IN ideal conditions Petra's garden croton grows up to 4 meters. Therefore, a young plant must be transplanted annually into a larger pot (3 cm more in diameter). It is recommended to leave an earthen ball so as not to damage the roots.

An adult croton is transplanted no more than 3 times a year.

reproduction

Codiaum Petra breed well seeds, leaves and cuttings.

How to do it with cuttings:

• Cut a lignified cutting 15 cm long;
• Dip in warm water with coal to wash off the milky juice;
• Dry the cutting;
• Tie the leaves on the handle into tubes to reduce the evaporation of moisture;
• Plant in a cutting in the ground (peat, moss and sand);
• Cover with foil;
• Ventilate and moisten the greenhouse with the cuttings daily.

propagated by seeds and leaves in the same way. As soon as the roots appear, the young plant is transplanted into permanent place residence.

Bloom

Unlike leaves, the flowers of Croton Petra not particularly beautiful. They are small and inconspicuous.

Lifespan

Codiaum Petra is a perennial plant.

Pests and diseases

Preventing pest infestations is very simple. It is only necessary to carefully inspect the plant during each watering and spraying.

If remove insects promptly, their population will never become large enough for the plant to feel it.

Moreover, pests are usually afraid of codiaum because of its poisonous juice.

If somehow pests have captured the plant, it will help washing with soapy water and fungicide treatment.

Frequent feeding and watering (no bays) excludes the occurrence of diseases.

Peter's codiaum can hardly be called a very capricious plant, nevertheless, attention must be paid to it.

If you follow the basic rules for caring for this variety of garden croton, it will delight with its variegated foliage for many years.

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Codium, or croton, is an attractive houseplant that stands out for its very bright, beautiful leaf color. The flower looks quite decorative. Blooms very rarely, especially at home. Its inflorescences are rather inconspicuous and do not constitute any original attraction.

Among flower growers, croton is widely known, at present it can be bought at any flower shop. There is only one minus: even if a favorable atmosphere is created for such a flower as codiaum, home care can cause a lot of trouble. Croton is very, very capricious. Growing it is quite problematic, but if you manage to create the right conditions, this flower will be so bright and beautiful that it will be impossible to take your eyes off.

Let's look at some of the main features of growing croton.

What does the codiaum require from its owner? Caring for this plant at home is not an easy task. First of all, he needs to provide a fairly abundant humidity, as in the tropics.

Location

The plant must be on sunny side. Diffused bright lighting is a must for him. The codiaum flower, the care of which does not provide enough light, very quickly loses its bright color of the leaves. It is important to remember that exposure to direct sunlight can cause burns.

Temperature and Humidity

Croton does not tolerate drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. At low levels, the leaves of the plant instantly turn brown and curl. Therefore, the flower cannot be taken out onto the street or loggia, even in summer.

Humidity should be given special attention, it should be high enough. In summer, the plant should be sprayed daily, but even this may not be enough. It is advisable to place the flower in a tray with wet pebbles. And if the apartment has an aquarium or terrarium, then for Croton best place habitation is simply impossible to imagine.

Watering should be done carefully. From an excessive amount of water, even such a moisture-loving flower as a codiaum can die. Home care involves the optimal ratio of air humidity and the frequency of watering the plant. In the hot summer months, it should be “watered” often, but avoiding waterlogging. Croton does not have a particularly developed root system, so with an excess of water, its roots can quickly rot.

It is also unacceptable to allow overdrying of the earth in a flower pot. Let me remind you that croton is a very capricious flower, it can react quite sharply to any adverse conditions. For example, they forgot to water, they dried the soil in a pot - the plant will instantly shed its foliage, and it will be very slow to dress in a new outfit.

transplant, reproduction

Codiaum, home care for which is a rather troublesome business, also requires an annual transplant, especially for young plants. It should be transplanted as carefully as possible, trying not only not to damage, but even once again not to touch the fragile roots due to the capriciousness of the flower. Therefore, croton is moved mainly by transshipment of an earthen clod into a pot of larger diameter.

The plant can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings. But the first method is quite complicated in itself, because croton, which grows in the most favorable conditions for it, blooms very rarely. Therefore, cuttings are used for propagation.

The most important thing for their rooting is the temperature, which should be about 24 degrees. For best effect it is desirable to treat cuts of twigs with root formation stimulants.

In order to grow a chic bright bush, very careful care is needed. Peter's codiaum, for example, is very common among amateur flower growers, even despite all the difficulties in growing it.

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Basic care

In order to grow excellent specimens, you need to create optimal conditions for it, in which each item has its own weighty value.

Temperature, humidity

At different times of the year, it is desirable to maintain the same temperature regime. Croton is a plant that loves warmth. The optimum temperature in spring and summer is between 20 and 22 degrees. In winter, a decrease in temperature is permissible, not lower than +16.
The key to success is maintaining the same soil temperature and indoor microclimate. Oddly enough, but the flower feels great near the heaters, provided that a certain humidity is observed.

The percentage of moisture in the room is not less than 70 percent. Spray the plant once a day, and every month a warm shower is recommended. In a hot season, to maintain moisture in the soil, it is recommended to pour water into the pan and cover it with moss or pebbles.

Watering

Codiaum home care includes watering, which is carried out with filtered or settled warm water. Watering should be plentiful and constant. After the first watering, they wait until the topsoil absorbs it. Then water again.

Croton is dangerous for excess water that stagnates at the bottom of the pot. Experts recommend planting a flower in a cramped container in which the root system will quickly entangle the earthen ball. An auxiliary element will be the presence of a good drainage system at the bottom of the pot.

Lighting

With its insufficiency, the leaves grow dull, losing their bright bright color, and deform, taking an elongated shape. The whole aesthetic appearance is lost, for which it is valued.
For him, direct ultraviolet is also harmful. Yellow spots (burns) begin to appear on the leaves. Caring for a codyumum implies an abundance of bright, but not concentrated light. For him, localization is optimal from the east or west side. If there is a lack of light, alternative light sources can be used.

top dressing

Plant nutrition consists of organic fertilizers. In the warm season, croton is fertilized once a week, in the cold season - once a month. True, some flower growers advise to reduce winter feeding to a minimum, and in case of plant disease, completely exclude it.

Topping

It is necessary so that the plant does not stretch in height, but takes decorative form. The first time it is pinched from above when the height of the flower reaches 15 centimeters. Further, when the plant grows another 20 centimeters. Now you need to pinch not only the tops, but also the lateral processes. The resulting cuttings are used for propagation.

Plant transplant

How to transplant codiaum? Given the rapidly growing root system, young plants are transplanted twice a year, and slightly older flowers once every two years. At the same time, each time the containers are chosen with a larger diameter of 2 centimeters than the previous one. The last transplant should be carried out when the diameter of the pot reaches 25 centimeters.

Further, annually it is necessary to remove the obsolete topsoil and add a new one in its place. Codiaum transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment of the plant along with the earthen clod that has entangled it. The container intended for transplantation is filled a quarter with drainage. Untimely transplantation will lead to slow growth and development of croton.

For the “cloak of Joseph”, a ready-made universal substrate for decorative hardwoods is suitable. The soil should be light, well pass moisture and air. At the same time, it should be slightly acidic and nutritious.

The composition of the soil includes crushed charcoal, coarse sand, peat, humus. All components are taken in equal proportions. The bottom of the pot without fail, covers the drainage.

Croton breeding

Reproduction of codiaum is carried out in several main ways.

1. Cuttings.

This method is convenient because the plant can be propagated in this way all year round. Use a cutting from the top or take a stiff piece of the stem. Its length is approximately 10 centimeters.
A cut of the cutting, the stem is washed to get rid of the milk juice and lightly sprinkled with ground charcoal. Before planting in the soil, it is recommended to process the base of the stem special composition to stimulate root growth.
The soil for cuttings should consist of an equal amount of peat and sand. Stems can also be rooted in a container with water, followed by planting in the ground. The optimum temperature for reproduction is 24 degrees. All care consists of constantly moistening the soil and spraying the tops of future plants.
The formation of the root system takes an average of one and a half months, after which the plants are planted in separate pots. This can be seen because the leaves have taken on their former elasticity.

1. Croton can also be propagated using a leaf.

The selected leaf for some time must be lowered into a glass of water so that all the juice stacks. Then, as in the cutting method, the bases of the selected leaf are treated with crushed coal.
Further, the leaf is planted in the composition of sand and peat, taken in equal quantities. Cover with a film or glass, creating a greenhouse effect. Leaves need to be constantly aired, and the soil moistened. After the appearance of the first shoots, which indicates the rooting of the leaf, a kind of seedlings are planted in separate pots.

The seed method is used to breed new plant hybrids.

Precautionary measures

Croton juice is poisonous. When ingested, it causes diarrhea and vomiting. May cause dermatitis on contact with skin. Therefore, all work is carried out with gloves and with great care. After caring for the plant, regardless of the actions taken, hands must be washed with water.
In addition, the plant is not recommended to be installed in the children's room.

Diseases and pests

Like any living organism, croton is susceptible to diseases and pests. Codiaum leaves dry? If the leaves dry in the lower part, then this is not a reason to worry. This is a natural renewal process in a plant.
Reduced air humidity is noticeable by the drying of the tips of the leaves. The brownish and dried edges of the leaves will tell you that the plant is freezing. And the lack of moisture in the soil will completely lead to the death and fall of the leaves. A flower can get sick from a draft, sudden and frequent changes in temperature and humidity.

For more information, read Pests of indoor plants and methods of dealing with them.

The plant is susceptible to pests: thyroid glands, mealybugs, spider mites, nematodes. But most often it is ticks that attack him. Their appearance is due to insufficient and not quite proper care. This suggests that there was no watering in a timely manner, and the plant was not “bathed” and washed with a damp cloth.
The affected leaves are treated with a soapy solution with the addition of tobacco. Leave the treated leaves for an hour and a half, and then carefully wipe, trying to prevent the solution from getting into the soil. At running form diseases resulting from the attack of pests, the flower is treated with insecticides.

plant varieties

The codiaum blooms extremely rarely, and then in the summer. In decorative terms, croton is not so remarkable, since the flowers are small, inconspicuous, uniting into racemose-shaped inflorescences. Blooming codiaum wastes a lot of energy and nutrients, therefore it is recommended at the first appearances to remove the flowers.

Codiaum species. There are more than ten of them. Depending on the variety, the plant may have a monophonic or variegated leaf color.

1. Variegated codiaeum (codiaeum variegatum) is the most popular species, from which many other subspecies have been bred by breeding.
2. Codiaeum painted (codiaeum pictum), can take on one color or another, depending on the conditions. It grows naturally in India and Pakistan.

Thanks to such a feature as color change, several new varieties were bred:

• Petra's codiaum is a plant with a straight trunk and rather large leaves of a wide variety of shapes. At the same time, the color of the leaves is rich green with a neat yellow rim around the edges;
• Codiaum Excelent got its name due to its unusual color. At the base, the leaves have a maroon color, and at the top they take on a green and yellow tint;
• Noteworthy is the Black Prince. Its leaves acquire a black-green hue with bright yellow, red and even orange spots as they grow older.
• A plant in the form of a low-growing tree with maroon, less often pink leaves- Mrs Aiston. Even less common is this variety with golden leaves with black blotches.

Perhaps some flower growers consider this flower rather capricious, because it is very sensitive to external factors. And if many houseplants they can easily spend the summer in the garden, the croton does not tolerate drafts. In order for the plants to receive oxygen, in the summer it is taken out to open area(balcony, veranda) only in the morning or evening hours in the absence of wind.

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Main varieties

There are a fairly large number of varieties of codiaum. Motley codiaum is considered very popular. In the literature on floriculture, such a culture is known as croton. This name refers to only one variety. This is due to the fact that in 1762 K. Liney, in the course of his research, attributed the new plant to the genus Croton, since the plant is very similar in appearance to its representatives. In fact, the scientist was mistaken, but the name "croton" stuck. And the naturalist Rumfis called such a culture a codium. hallmark is that croton can change its shape and shade of leaves depending on the conditions in which it is located.

Codiaum variegatum- this is one of the varieties of codium. In another way, the variety is known as codium decorated. China and Pakistan are considered homeland. In the wild, it can grow up to 3 m. There are several forms that differ in the structure of foliage. The most common are the following:

1. Adnexal. It has leaves in the form of plates, which consist of two parts and a thin bridge.
2. vane. The leaves have a three-lobed shape, dissected shallowly. The central lobe is longer and pointed than the lateral ones. The size of the leaf plates is no more than 22 cm in length. Color can be both monotonous and variegated. The foliage usually has multi-colored stripes and blotches.
3. flat-leaved. Differs in large (30 cm in length) oval leaves of a simple type. They are slightly wavy.

Variety variegatum has become the basis for many other varieties, including hybrid ones.

It was also created on the basis of the previous described variety. This is a plant with straight branching trunks and large leathery leaves. They are located on the stem in turn. The shape is oval, with points and lobed. The color is usually contrasting. For example, the background is dark green and the border is yellow. There are also specks and veins that stand out in color.

Codium Excellence is another popular variety. It differs in that the leaves have a lobed shape. They are very similar to those of oak. The color is very bright. Codiaum Excelent has leaves of a green-yellow hue at the top of the stem, and at the bottom they are a combination of red and yellow flowers.

Codiaum Mammy is also an interesting variety. The foliage of such a plant is narrow and smaller than that of other varieties. Slightly wavy and curls along the central vein. The color of the plant is very bright, unusual and beautiful. One bush can have leaves different shades: red with pinkish, green, yellow with red lines.

Codiaum Sunny Star — interesting variety, which differs in that its foliage is predominantly yellow, but the tops of the leaves are greenish. They have a lanceolate oval shape with pointed ends. Usually young leaves are greenish, but have yellowish blotches. Then the color changes.

Another variety - Mrs. Aiston. The flower is distinguished by wide and flat leaves of a rounded shape. They are not long. While the foliage is young, it has a cream-colored pattern, but then it develops spots of pink, red and yellow. There are several varieties of this variety:

1. Red with dark, almost black dots.
2. Yellow- leaves are yellow.
3. Disraeli. The leaves are usually lobed. Above they are green with yellowish spots and lines, and below they are usually brown or brownish;
4. Black Prince. Leaf shape is flat, oval. It is distinguished by an unusual black-green color, but there are also spots of orange, yellow and red on the sheets.

In addition, there are other interesting varieties

Codium 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, and different varieties of this variety. Exact description won't be able to find out. To determine a more accurate variety, you need to consult a specialist.

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

1. Moluccan. The leaves are pointed at the ends, have an egg-shaped wide shape. In length - up to 20 cm. In addition, there are plants of this type that have a different leaf shape. She is spatulate-lanceolate. Such a leaf is usually up to 30 cm long and no more than 4 cm wide. 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.
2. Genuine. This variety is characterized by the fact that the leaves have a lanceolate wide shape, which begins to narrow towards the tip. Usually the leaves have a pattern of golden or silver hue. Sometimes acquires a reddish tint. In this group, several subspecies are distinguished, which differ in the shape of the leaves and their size. For example, if a variety has a lanceolate foliage shape, then it becomes dull at the ends, and it is 4 times longer than it is wide. In narrow-leaved varieties, the tops are pointed, and the length is 9 times greater than the width.
3. oval-leaved. This variety has oblong-oval foliage. It is flat and has rounded ends. Along the veins are bright yellow lines.
4. Otvorechnolistnaya. The leaves have the shape of a wide oval, and the edges turn to the outside.
5. tortoiseshell. It has an unusual leaf shape. The base is heart-shaped and the apex is acute. 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.
6. Curly. This variety is distinguished by its decorative effect, which is even better than other well-known varieties. This is due to the fact that the leaves are narrow, but long. They twist in a spiral. May have a mesh pattern of golden stripes and spots of various shades.

In addition, other known unusual varieties croton.

plant care

Codium under certain conditions begins to change its appearance. In order for a flower to always please the eye, certain requirements must be observed. This will extend the life of such a culture up to 10 years.

First of all, you need to think about lighting. The color of the flower depends on this factor. The plant is photophilous, so it will feel good on the windowsill on the east or west side. South side also suitable, even if there is a slight shadow. Insufficient lighting is immediately reflected on the leaves. They hang, become inelastic.

More important factors are humidity and temperature. The plant in autumn and spring requires a temperature of up to about +25 ° C. In winter, it should drop to +18 ... +19 ° С. If the flower does not have enough heat, then the foliage begins to lengthen, but at the same time it becomes thinner. The flower requires high humidity. If the indicator is low, then it is required to spray the shrub with water twice a day, in addition, it is recommended to bathe it in the shower once a month. In this case, during the procedure, it is necessary to cover the soil with a plastic bag. You can increase the humidity by other methods, for example, put expanded clay in a pan under a pot and water it periodically.

As for the soil, the soil that is used for growing palms and ficuses is suitable for codium. If you prepare the substrate yourself, then you need to mix peat, sand, turf and leafy soil in equal parts. The root system of the flower is very powerful, so you need to choose a pot that is small in diameter, but quite deep. Material any will do e.g. ceramics, plastics.

As for watering, in spring and summer, the meek should be watered up to about 4 times a week. In this case, use only settled water at room temperature. You can also water with melt or rain water. In winter, watering is carried out as needed: when the upper layer of the substrate dries out to a depth of 2 cm.

Definitely need additional nutrition. It is recommended to fertilize the substrate from mid-spring. The procedure should be repeated until the onset of autumn. Experts advise using complex-type fertilizers, as they contain all the necessary trace elements for such a flower. Fertilizer is supposed to be applied once every 2 weeks. You can also use ready-made mixtures for variegated crops.

A mandatory procedure is cropping. It depends on how beautiful and cool the crown looks. Pinching also affects. When the stem grows up to 15 cm in length, it is necessary to make the first pinching. Then pruning will be carried out after the stem has grown to a height of 20 cm. All cuts must be treated with activated charcoal. Be sure to remove dry branches and leaves at any time of the year.

reproduction

Codiaum, which can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively, is considered a beautiful plant that is suitable for growing in the house. You can propagate such a flower using cuttings. Such a procedure is allowed to be carried out at any time of the year, but it is best to do this in the spring, when new shoots do not yet appear. It is necessary to cut the top at a right angle. The length of the handle is approximately 10 cm. The cut point must be wiped with a napkin. The stalk must be held under running water to remove the juice that stands out. Then place the stalk in a glass where charcoal was previously poured. Wait until the sap flow stops. Then dry the branch for a couple of hours. It is allowed to leave only 1 whole leaf on the handle, which must be rolled up in the form of a tube to retain moisture. Rooting can be carried out both in water and in the substrate. It is recommended to treat the cut site with a drug that stimulates root growth. If rooted in water, then the liquid should be approximately + 25 ... + 30 ° С. If the indicator is lower, then this will provoke decay of the shoot. Usually the roots appear within a couple of weeks.

Another simple method is air layering. In the summer, when the stem is exposed, it is necessary to remove the top layer 1 cm wide at a distance of 15 cm from the top. Treat the cut with preparations that are intended to stimulate growth. Then wrap this place with sphagnum and a plastic bag. Be sure to water the substrate periodically. After 1.5 months, the roots will be visible. As soon as they are more than 5 cm long, the layering must be cut and transplanted.

Another way is to use seeds with annual maturation. Pre-seeding material must be disinfected in hot water, and then kept for an additional day in warm water. Then the seeds should be placed in the substrate and sprinkled.

Conclusion

Codium, or as some call this plant, croton, is a very beautiful flower that can be grown at home. Many varieties of this plant are known. It will always please the eye unusual view. But for this it is necessary to strictly follow the rules for the care and maintenance of such a flower.

Codiaum motley (varigatum) Petra

The Codiaum Petra flower is considered a symbol of the hearth. They say it protects from the evil eye. In wildlife, it is distributed in tropical countries: Indonesia, India, Australia, the jungles of Malaysia. Shrubs grow up to 2.5, trees - up to 6 meters. At home, it is small, only 50-70 cm. The codiaum owes its name to the Greek language, which means “head” in translation. Indeed, it resembles a thick, as if disheveled, hat of hair. The leaves of the motley codiaum are leathery, large, up to 30 cm long, multi-colored. The veins on a greenish background are pronounced, they can be yellow, red, burgundy, which makes the flower bright and colorful, like a forest touched by early autumn wilt. The leaves of codiaum species can be sharp, like tongues, oval, spatula, simply elongated in length. Petra's codiaum blooms rarely, the appearance of the inflorescences is inconspicuous, small.

Belongs to the species codiaum, a family of milkweeds. The juice, like all milkweeds, is poisonous. Be careful.

Several varieties of codiaum are known: Wilma, Batik, Mammy, Gold, Excelent, Sunny Star. Codiaum (variegated) varigatum is commonly referred to as Petra's croton. Probably, they simplify because of the complex, difficult to pronounce name. Yes, it's hard to remember. From the point of view of biological science, this is wrong. Croton and variegated codiaum are completely different types of plants. Croton includes 1200 species, codiaum - only 17.

Confusion does not significantly affect the care and maintenance of plants, since the conditions of existence in nature in species are almost the same.

At first glance, it seems that a plant with such large, healthy leaves is unpretentious, but opinions are deceptive. Codiaum varigatum is capricious, requires careful care. It does not tolerate drafts, at the slightest breeze it immediately reacts to discomfort, dropping leaves. Peter's codiaum reacts poorly to dry air, dust, direct sunlight, and cold. Feed all year round with organic matter and complex fertilizers: in winter - once a month, in the off-season - once a week.

Watering. A tropical child loves warmth and moisture. It is advisable to spray the leaves with settled water at room temperature daily, wash them at least twice a week, send them to the shower once a month, and put them under running water.

Lighting. Prefers bright, diffused light, direct sunlight is harmful to him. It is better to put a flower near the windows on the east and west sides. In the northern ones, he simply does not have enough light, then the leaves will eventually lose their unusual color.

Temperature. Does not tolerate fluctuations. In summer it feels good at 20 - 24, in winter - not lower than 18 degrees of heat. In autumn and winter, it is better to put a flower pot next to the radiator.

Transplant and pruning . Needs an annual transplant. The pot is selected close, slightly wider than the previous one. The soil is prepared in advance. Sand, peat, humus, earth with a leaf, turf are mixed in equal proportions. The bottom is covered with drainage (pebbles, expanded clay, fragments of tiles, bricks). The roots are cleaned of old soil, put in a pot, covered with new soil and crushed on the sides. Be sure to water abundantly. In the spring, when the motley codiaum grows, the side shoots are partially removed. If there are no branches, pinch the top. Codiaeum pictum reproduces well by cuttings. For this, cut stems and tops are used.

Codiaum motley (varigatum) Peter can be bought in stores in St. Petersburg. Prices and characteristics are indicated in the catalog.

In reality, Croton and Codiaum are different types plants, the first of which includes about 1200 species, and the second only 17.

Representatives of the Croton species are common in tropical regions all continents. The range of Codiaum is many times smaller: Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and the western islands of the Pacific Ocean.

In the US and Europe, Kodium motley is called garden croton, which helps to avoid confusion.

For some reason, the motley codiaum has become just a croton.

Fortunately, representatives of both species grow in fairly similar natural conditions - care errors made due to confusion of names are likely to be frivolous.

However, why take the risk? When caring for Peter's codiaum, it should be borne in mind that the plant is actually is not a croton, although it shares common features with it.

Peter's codiaum is a fairly large plant. Sometimes stem height reaches 4 meters. Large smooth leaves are arranged alternately on straight branches, but very densely on all sides.

The shape of the leaves on the same plant can be oval or round with or without a sharp tip. Color is usually the same various: the surface of the leaf itself can be dark green, and the veins of a scarlet hue and many other variations.

Exactly variety of many shades on the same plant became the reason for the appearance of the name Codiaum motley. Also, flower growers are very popular with such types of Codiaum as:,.

Photo

croton petra

Care

For a long time it was believed that the codiaum is too thermophilic to grow it outside its natural range.

This plant capricious enough and home care for him requires certain knowledge and skills.

Temperature

The plant is very demanding in terms of temperature regime.

The temperature must not only exceed + 17 degrees, but also be constant.

The child of the tropics reacts to the slightest draft dropping leaves.

Watering

During the period of active growth, that is, in spring and summer, the plant needs water regularly and plentifully. The soil should never dry out completely, otherwise its inhabitant simply will not survive.

However, bays for the plant too very dangerous as they can lead to root rot. Sticking to the golden mean is quite difficult, so it is very important having good drainage which makes the task much easier.

Needed for irrigation soft and warm water. Cold water often causes leaf drop.

The soil

Kodiya Petra needs nutrient-rich soil rich in organic matter. Peat and complex fertilizer will serve as an excellent start. Good drainage is very important for a plant - it should be at least a quarter of the total substrate.

Light mode

Since the codium is of tropical origin, throughout the year it needs good lighting.

Bright sunlight is good for him even during dormancy.

But, of course, not direct, but scattered, and the plant must always be shaded from the midday sun.

In room conditions, Croton Petra rarely reaches its maximum size.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to call it small, and there is not always a window sill on which it could fit.

But this is not scary - if you place the plant at a distance of a meter from the window, it will have enough sunlight. Best fit east and west windows.

In winter, the codiaum needs to be rearranged to the most illuminated place in the room. If you can buy a special lamp - great. However, you need to take care that in a new place there were no temperature fluctuations- the plant does not tolerate them.

It is very important to provide Croton Petra throughout the year decent lighting. Otherwise, the leaves lose their beautiful color and just turn green.

It's not enough just to choose right place. Dust regularly on glass and leaves, as it is able to retain up to 50% of sunlight.

Air humidity

Croton Petra always needs high humidity.

During the period of active growth, the leaves need to be regularly spray with warm water.

In winter, it becomes especially dry in our apartments due to heating devices and it is necessary to humidify the air even more often.

At the same time, do not forget about the dormant period - before each spraying g the rune must be covered with a film.

fertilizers

Fertilize the plant in spring and summer once every 2-3 weeks after watering or with it. In winter, the frequency of feeding is reduced. up to once every 6-8 weeks. Very important nitrogen fertilizer for the plant.

Transfer

Under ideal conditions, garden croton Petra grows up to 4 meters. Therefore, a young plant must be transplanted annually into a larger pot (3 cm more in diameter). It is recommended to leave an earthen ball so as not to damage the roots.

An adult croton is transplanted no more than 3 times a year.

reproduction

Codiaum Petra breed well seeds, leaves and cuttings.

How to do it with cuttings:

• Cut a lignified cutting 15 cm long;
• Dip in warm water with coal to wash off the milky juice;
• Dry the cutting;
• Tie the leaves on the handle into tubes to reduce the evaporation of moisture;
• Plant in a cutting in the ground (peat, moss and sand);
• Cover with foil;
• Ventilate and moisten the greenhouse with the cuttings daily.

propagated by seeds and leaves in the same way. As soon as the roots appear, the young plant is transplanted to a permanent place of residence.

Bloom

Unlike leaves, the flowers of Croton Petra not particularly beautiful. They are small and inconspicuous.

Lifespan

Codiaum Petra is a perennial plant.

Pests and diseases

Preventing pest infestations is very simple. It is only necessary to carefully inspect the plant during each watering and spraying.

If remove insects promptly, their population will never become large enough for the plant to feel it.

Moreover, pests are usually afraid of codiaum because of its poisonous juice.

If somehow pests have captured the plant, it will help washing with soapy water and fungicide treatment.

Frequent feeding and watering (no bays) excludes the occurrence of diseases.

Peter's codiaum can hardly be called a very capricious plant, nevertheless, attention must be paid to it.

If you follow the basic rules for caring for this variety of garden croton, it will delight with its variegated foliage for many years.

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Indoor plant codiaum, otherwise croton refers to evergreen herbaceous crops from the euphorbiaceae family.

Under natural conditions, this plant grows in Malaysia, it can also be seen in the eastern part of India.

In nature, there are 17 varieties of such crops, the height of individual specimens reaches 2.5 meters.

General information

The codiaum flower feels good when grown indoors. This the plant has many varieties, each of which has its own leaf color. The codiaum Mix looks especially beautiful on the windowsill. Shades of leaves in different varieties are different, leaf blades of crops can be yellow, dark purple and even red. Pink spots are clearly visible on individual leaves.

It is quite difficult to achieve inflorescences from a culture when caring for at home. Subject to all growing conditions, the flowering of codiaum occurs in the warm season, in summer.

Note! The inflorescences of the plant are small, almost invisible against the general background of foliage. Gardeners acquire this culture solely for the sake of decorative beautiful leaves.

Types and varieties of codiaum

Breeders are aware of 17 varieties of the described plant, but at home they are grown mainly variegated codiaum and its varieties. The classic species grows in the southeastern part of Asia in the tropical zone.

When developing in natural conditions, the plant has the appearance of a tree, its height reaches up to 4 meters. The leaves of the culture are leathery up to 30 centimeters in length, the color of the leaf blades depends on the characteristics of a particular plant. Next, let's take a look at the most popular varieties flower.

1. 1. Codiaum Mammy differs from other varieties in narrow and small leaf blades with wavy edges. The leaves are bent along the central vein. The color of greenery can be very diverse, on the same plant there are leaves of red and green color with pink patches and yellow veins.

1. 1. It has lobed green leaves with yellow veins. Inside the leaves are red with brown veins.

1. 1. Mrs Aiston's codiaum has broad but short leaves. The leaves of young cultures are cream-colored, with age they become pink or red with numerous yellow spots. Some crops also have dark, almost black or yellow leaves.

1. 1. has many subtypes. The leaves of this culture with sharp edges up to 20 centimeters in length. In some varieties, the size of the leaf blades reaches a 30 centimeter mark.

1. 1. Codiaum Sunny Star is different green leaves with yellowish tips. Leaf blades slightly pointed, lanceolate. Young leaves on this plant have a greenish color with yellow spots and the same veins.

1. 1. widely used in indoor floriculture. The leaves of this plant have an uneven color with yellow and green tones. Leaf blades are quite narrow.

1. 1. Codiaum Tamara It has pinnate leaves with a combination of white and green shades.

1. 1. Codiaum Zanzibar able to decorate any interior. This culture has narrow, long, lanceolate-shaped leaves with curves. Leaf blades in Zanzibar are purple, yellow and green. Many flower growers choose this particular codiaum; home care for it is quite simple. This culture is quite beautiful, but rarely blooms.

1. 1. differs from other varieties in aligned shoots with large veiny leaves of alternate arrangement. The leaf blades on this plant often contrast. At the same time, most vegetative organs have olive color with variegated yellow spots along the veins.

1. Codiaum Gold Sun - it's decorative indoor flower with beautiful variegated foliage. The variety needs sufficient lighting. Plant height does not exceed 30 centimeters.

Advice! According to the above description of species and varieties, you can choose a codiaum for growing at room conditions.

Caring for codiaum at home

As they say experienced growers, caring for codiaum is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. This shade plant will not cause trouble even to an inexperienced gardener. Next, we will deal with all the nuances of care in more detail.

Lighting

A flowerpot with this flower is recommended to be installed on windowsills facing the eastern or western part of the world. It is not recommended to place such a plant on the southern windows, because intensive solar lighting in this place can cause burns of its leaves.

Important! With a lack of sunlight, the leaves of the culture will lose their variegated color. The best lighting option is diffused light.

Temperature and humidity conditions

The temperature indicators in the room when growing croton in the summer should be stable, correspond to 20-25 degrees.

With the advent of winter, the temperature can be lowered to 18 degrees, but not lower.

Culture does not tolerate drafts, cold air sheds leaves, so keep the plant pot away from open windows and doors.

Despite the fact that croton is a leafy succulent, for normal development it needs humidity at the level of 70-75%. These indicators can be achieved by regular moisturizing plant leaves. In addition, the leaves need constantly wipe with a damp soft cloth or a napkin. To increase the level of humidity, a container with water and expanded clay or pebbles is placed next to the pot.

Watering

Indoor flower codiaum is watered as the topsoil dries out. The amount of irrigation fluid should be moderate, with excessive moisture, the culture will begin to shed its leaves.

To prevent stagnation of water at the bottom of the flowerpot, drainage from expanded clay is arranged. Watering the plant must be carried out with soft or pre-boiled water. You can also use pre-settled tap fluid.

This video talks about the milkweed family and how to care for plants of this family, in particular croton:

top dressing

During the growing season in spring autumn period the plant needs to get additional nutrients from the soil. Feeding is carried out at intervals of two weeks. To enrich the soil with useful substances, special water-soluble store fertilizers are used. The working solution is prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package.

Transfer

A few days after purchase, indoor plants must be transplanted into a new container.

During this procedure, you need to carefully clean the roots of the plant from the old nutrient substrate.

A new flowerpot is selected a few centimeters larger in diameter than the shipping container. Expanded clay drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot and special soil is poured on the basis of leafy, soddy and humus soil with the addition of sand and peat.

Note! Young crotons are transplanted annually in the spring. Old plants are moved to new larger containers as the root system grows, but at least once every 2-3 years.

reproduction

Get new plants with the help of cuttings possible throughout the year. To do this, the apical young or lignified shoot up to 10 centimeters in length is cut from the mother bush. Milky juice is removed from the cut site and the wound is treated with crushed charcoal. After that, the cut point is treated with a root-forming composition and placed in a nutrient substrate.

The soil for the codiaum should consist of peat and sand in equal volume parts. For the rapid formation of roots, containers with cuttings are placed in a warm room with a temperature of 22-24 degrees. Care of seedlings consists in periodic watering of the soil and spraying of plants.

More in a simple way obtaining new crops is considered leaf reproduction.

In this case, a large leaf is taken from the mother bush, the milky juice is collected from it and lowered into water, the cut point is rubbed with charcoal.

Next, the leaf is rooted in a moist nutrient substrate of peat and sand. The vegetative organ is placed under the film, periodically ventilated and moistened. After the seedling has several stems, it is moved to a separate flowerpot.

Diseases and pests, treatment, prevention

Codiaum, whose photo indicates decorative beautiful plants with variegated foliage rarely damaged by diseases and pests. This is mainly due to the fault of the gardener. For example, watering a crop with hard water can cause the tips of the leaves to turn yellow.

At the same time, direct sunlight causes burns on the leaves of the plant.

And a couple more nuances that you should pay attention to - when the temperature drops from the recommended indicators, the edges of the leaf plates turn brown, through the influence of dry air, the surface of the leaves turns brown.

Note! The slowdown in plant development can be associated with a nutrient deficiency in the soil. To restore the required amount of trace elements, carry out extraordinary feeding.

Signs and superstitions

Among the people, there are some signs and superstitions regarding the codiaum flower. According to psychics and traditional healers, this culture has tremendous energy, it drives away bad people and energy vampires from home, contributes to the accumulation of positive emotions, and brings order and order to the living space.

Codiaum helps indecisive people find themselves, improves the performance of the landlord, contributes to creative development, career advancement. Pessimists who grow the plant in question change their outlook on life and their personality. If a person did not believe in himself and his own abilities, then after some time from the moment of the flower, such people show rare talents and skills.

Croton will become perfect gift for creative people. The culture growing on the windowsill adds both prudence and sanity to all family members, regardless of their interests and field of activity. The energy of the codiaum protects residents from committing rash acts.

Choosing beautiful flower for your home or office, you need to heed the advice of flower growers with experience and purchase a plant with decorative foliage and a beautiful shape - Petra's Codiamum. It is not easy to take care of him, you have to learn a lot, but he is worth it. The flower plant is a world-class success thanks to its colorful leaves.

Codiaum Petra is the most famous variety from the extensive Euphorbia family. The people call it "Croton Petra", among flower growers they use it more than the official one.

Description

All representatives of the genus Codiaum are large tropical plants. Sometimes they are called: indoor oak, croton. There are few varieties in nature, the approximate number is 15, but on their basis a large number of wonderful hybrids and varieties have been created.

Especially tall plant maybe growing in a greenhouse where heating is done. Here its height reaches 3-4 meters. Our flower growers have adapted to grow croton Peter at home, knowing that caring for him is not very burdensome. With proper care and following all the rules of cultivation, ornamental plant sometimes grows up to a meter.

The stems of indoor shrubs are able to branch strongly. They are abundantly covered with large leathery leaves of oval and lobed shape, their color is from beautiful dark green to black. The leaves are decorative with a bright yellow edging and veins of exactly the same color. It is quite rare to see Codiaum at home. Flowers do not attract beauty, they are small, inconspicuous, collected in brushes.

At home, Codiaum motley, Codiaum Mammi, Codiaum Varigatum have taken root. They are in no way inferior to others beautiful views shrub native to the Tropics.

We take care of all the rules

Codiaum is a capricious plant; when grown at home, it will need constant, proper care.

A picky green resident needs to be planted in nutrient soil. An excellent start is the introduction of peat and complex fertilizer. Stagnation of water can destroy the root system and lead to the death of the plant.

An important condition for care is to wipe the dust on the leaves and on the window panes. She blocks the sun's rays.

Drafts should be avoided when choosing a location. It is quite possible to think that Codiaum, being tropical plant, will not be able to exist in our climate and air temperature. As it turned out, this is not at all the case.

The codiaum strongly feels the temperature regime, it reacts especially badly to its frequent jumps. For this reason, the following conditions must be created:

• In the cold months of the year - the thermometer shows + 17-19 degrees.
• In the warm months of the year - about 20 degrees (a little more).

At any time, the main thing is to adhere to constancy in the indicators of the thermometer. If the leaves begin to curl and acquire an unnatural dark brown color, then the guest from the tropics is cold. Pay attention to the temperature in the room. To prevent the foliage from being dropped, move the pot closer to the radiator.

Plant life depends on lighting

Croton Petra should be indoors throughout the year with good lighting, bright light will be needed even during the dormant period. If such a care condition is not met, the foliage will simply turn green, losing all its attractiveness. This does not mean that the plant should always be in direct sunlight. It is necessary to ensure that the light is diffused. The place where the plant pot is located should be protected from the heat of the midday sun.

When choosing where to put a pot with a plant, flower growers are worried, since Peter's croton is not a too small creation of nature, not every window sill will be able to fit. Nothing terrible will happen if you give him a place a meter from the window, there will not be enough light. The best choice is east and west windows.

Under natural conditions, the plant grew in places with a humid climate. Growing at home, it should be provided with abundant, but not excessive watering. It is necessary to take into account the fact that Kodiium does not react well to lime water. Water should be warm, separated, soft. Cold often causes foliage to drop.

In spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing, you need to water regularly and plentifully. Maintain the soil in a moderately moist state, watering only after the top layer has dried to a depth of 1 cm. It is advisable not to allow the soil to dry out, this leads to the death of a pet.

In winter, water less often. Overflow is a great danger to the plant; at low temperatures, it causes rotting of the root system. To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to use the presence of good drainage.

Being a tropical plant, Codiaum is overly picky about air humidity. Growing such a green friend in the house, it is difficult to maintain the humidity necessary for him (60-70%). Also, the plant should be sprayed daily, wipe the leaves regularly, sometimes it can be put under the shower.

Water for procedures should be warm (20-25 degrees). In winter heating batteries the air is very dry, which means that humidification should be carried out even more often. A flower pot can be placed on a pallet with wet pebbles, it is recommended to put a container of water next to it.

Croton Petra responds well to top dressing. In summer and spring, fertilizer should be applied twice a month; in winter, fertilizing is reduced and carried out no more than once a month.

Experienced flower growers recommend using organic fertilizers or alternating them with mineral fertilizers. The introduction of mineral dressings in high doses leads to the growth of ugly leaves. Nitrogen added in excess causes the loss of variegated color.

Probably every owner of the Codiaum sets a goal to grow beautiful bush with a uniformly leafy crown. This can be achieved by cutting. Start shaping in the spring. At young plant it will be enough to pinch the top, this procedure causes branching. In an old plant, the crown is formed by trimming the shoots and removing excess branches.

To prevent fungal diseases, the cut should be sprinkled with crushed coal. Cut branches are used for cuttings. Different varieties should be trimmed according to their characteristics. Petra's codiaum does not branch out much so that it grows beautiful lush bush, in one pot you can plant several pieces of future beauties.

If you create normal conditions during the growing process and proper care, Codiaum will be able to reach a considerable height. This will require an annual transplant into larger pots.

Adult tropical beauties do not require frequent relocation, such an action should be performed no more than 2-3 years later. If the roots are already rebelling from lack of space in the flowerpot, bulging to the surface, then in such a case their requirements must be urgently met and relocated to a more spacious container.

You can get additional plant bushes by the following propagation methods: seeds, leaves, cuttings. Cuttings are considered the most convenient. Here's how to do it:

• Prepare cuttings 15 cm long.
• Rinse with warm water with the addition of coal, washing away the remnants of the milky juice.
• Dry the stem a little.
• Planting material is planted in the prepared wet substrate.
• Cover with cling film on top.
• Air every day, moisturize as needed.

Reproduction by leaves is carried out in the same way. After germination, the seedling is placed in an individual pot for further growth.

Health

The existence of pests and various diseases to which Peter's Codiaum is exposed should not be left behind. Most often, the attack of the scale insects and spider mite. You can get rid of them by washing with soapy water, a more effective method is treatment with fungicides.

It is best to immediately block the path of pests. This is not difficult to do, you need to constantly carefully inspect the bush and remove harmful invaders in a timely manner. In addition, insects are afraid of the poisonous juice of the plant.

During the cultivation of croton, Petra has to face some problems:

• When the tips of the leaves turn brown, it means that the air in the room is dry and the soil is too dry.
• The dark brown color of the foliage is a consequence of the low temperature.
• Leaves fade - insufficient lighting.

If, while growing Peter's Codiaum at home, you pay attention to it, keep it according to all the rules, do constant care, he will be able to please his master with variegated foliage for more than one year. There is only one caveat! You need to be very careful and do not forget: the plant is poisonous, its milky juice can cause poisoning, skin burns, ulcers and other troubles. When working with him, do not forget about caution!