Intro
The Croton is a striking houseplant and a real high-flyer in the plant world. The name Croton is the old Latin name for the plant and nowadays they are called Codiaeum. However, the name Croton is still the most commonly used. The Croton, with leaves in almost all colors of the rainbow, certainly needs some love and attention, but you get a fantastic houseplant in return!
Location
The Croton does well in lots of light. This beautiful colorful plant prefers to stand on a window on the north, east, or west. The Croton needs at least 5 hours of sunshine a day. If you place the plant near a south-facing window, place it +- 2 to 3 meters from the window, otherwise the plant will get too much direct sunlight. If this houseplant is lighter, the leaves will be more colorful. If the leaves are dark, give more light.
Spraying
Spray the Croton regularly to remove dust from the leaves and prevent pests. Preferably once a week. If you heat the room, even 2 times is recommended. Spraying also promotes the quality and ornamental value of the houseplant.
Substrate
If the pot is provided (or you provide it yourself) with a substrate and a water meter, watering is easy. Upon arrival there is little water in it, fill the pot slowly with water (sometimes wait a while) and you will see that the meter will rise automatically. All you have to do is keep an eye on this meter. If you go on holiday you can fill the pot almost half full (you can see this on the meter which then rises a bit above its maximum) and you can safely leave for 3 weeks. It is also not bad if the plants do not get water too much and too fast. The substrate absorbs the water, so when the water meter is at the bottom, the substrate is still moist, but there is no water left at the bottom of the pot. The plant still has enough space for 4 summer days.
Leaf damage
If a Croton is at the ideal spot for light intensity, the leaves will be more colorful. If the leaves of the marvelous shrub become dark, it is better to place the croton near a window. If the Codiaeum gets dark edges, the cause is often too much water. If the leaves fall constantly, the plant probably has too much water or too little light.
Watering
Because it is a tropical plant it is important to always keep the soil slightly moist. You can let the plant dry up a little before watering again, and make sure that the roots do not remain in the water because of the root rot that then occurs.
Origin
The origin of Croton comes from Asian countries such as India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The Croton still grows there in the wild. The Croton comes from the Crotoneae family. In the Netherlands known as the Wolf Milk family. Many species are mainly distinguished by the different colors and shapes of the leaf.
Diseases
When the plants are thicker and full, check the leaves and stems from time to time to see if there are no pests there. Common diseases are Spider mites and mealy bugs. Wool lice can be caused by draughts on the plant. Spider mites through dry air (think of a convector pit. Use a biological “or if desired” a chemical pesticide to treat the plants.
The Croton is a versatile plant that occurs in many variations.