Cody's motley is another name for this plant, which has a beautiful, lush crown. It grows in the form of a tree, but the interest is caused by leaves. Depending on the type of croton, they can be pointed to the top or blunt, broad-banded or ribbon-like, leathery, emarginate, dissected brightly streaked veins, etc. But the main thing is not the form, but their color. On one cyneemia, colorful, green, maroon, golden leaves are found. Most often at the top of the crown, they are light with golden veins, the leaves get darker, to the burgundy, shades closer to the bottom. Another feature of the croton is that at a young age the color of the crown is mostly yellow or different shades of green, and in the adult leaves begin to color in pink and red. This implies that the leaves of the plant grow older (and they do not fall off), the darker they become. That's what makes Croton interesting, hence the riot of colors.
Care of the plant
When purchasing a croton, be prepared for the fact that it will have to be taken care of. Simply put, this houseplant is not for the lazy. A good condition of the coding is largely dependent on the lighting. Therefore, in the first place, you need to provide it with enough light. Otherwise, the leaves of this plant will lose their brightness. It is advisable that the croton be illuminated 12-14 hours a day. And if in the summer there are no problems with it, then in the winter the day is short and usually cloudy, additional artificial lighting, for example, a fluorescent lamp, will be required. And in no case can not put the croton under direct sunlight, for him it can be disastrous.
We will have to strictly follow the temperature, it should not fall below + 18 ° С. But at the same time, it should be remembered that this plant can not be placed near the heating devices and even on the windowsill. Otherwise, dry croton leaves may begin to fall off, and this is very bad, because New in their place will never grow again. In this case, not always saves the plant and spraying. Moreover, protect it from drafts and sudden temperature changes.
The croton does not tolerate the soil in which it grows. It prefers a light, fairly acidic substrate with reliable drainage. Usually a mixture of old compost, peat and large river sand is used in proportions of 1: 1.5: 1. In the soil of an especially large plant (above half a meter), another 0.5 parts of heavy garden land is added to increase its mechanical stability.
Like most plants, Croton needs transplants. It is desirable to implement this in the spring, in March - April. A young codiom is transplanted every year, an adult - every 2-3 years, but a weakened plant is better not to touch at all, tk. in the end, it can pick up different diseases or even die. For the transplant use a mixture of 2 parts of leaf land, 1 part sod, 1 part of river sand and pieces of charcoal. In the process of transplantation, it is very important not to destroy the earth lump with the root system, but gently transfer it to a new substrate.
Much attention should be paid to watering the croton. The plant likes moist soil, so the soil in the pot should never dry out. But excessive waterlogging can lead to decay of roots and disease of the trunk. The most optimal option is a regular and abundant watering, as the upper layer of the soil dries up. Combine this with the weekly washing of the leaves and frequent spraying. And also once a month the plant does not interfere with the shower. Just remember, the water should not be cold and high in lime, the coda does not like it. But he likes moist air, at least 70-80%. Therefore, in addition to water procedures, it is possible to build a stand for it, which will be immersed in water and peat for permanent evaporation.
And finally, on the most contentious issue: how to properly feed the colorful codaemia? Some argue that the flower should be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers throughout the year. Only from spring to autumn it is done 1 time a week, and in winter - 1 time per month, and then a weak solution. Others say that it is better to refrain from all fertilizers altogether. Argumenting this by the fact that adding them can lead to active growth of the apex and rejection of the leaves of the lower part of the plant. And as a consequence, loss of form and beauty croton. Also, some fertilizers, especially those with a nitrogen content, impair the brightness of its color. But advise to use microelements, which, with moderate use, will not bring the croton of harm. In any case, choosing one way or another for feeding, carefully look at the reaction of the plant, this will help find the most favorable option for him.
Choose a plant correctly
Choosing a cunea motley as a gift to an inveterate amateur florist or buying for yourself, remember, it should be done correctly. First of all, pay attention to the leaves of the plant, so that they are not dried up, down, or even slightly tied. Then pay attention to the color of the leaves: the young well-groomed tree they are bright green with thick yellow veins. And finally, be sure to look at the trunk, if there are dents on it from the fallen leaves. The presence of these indicates that the plant is kept in unfavorable conditions for it.
First aid for croton disease
Incorrect conditions of maintenance or care immediately affect the condition of any plant. And with such a drive as a croton in general you need to be on the alert. So:
1. If the croton grows new leaves, but the color does not change, most likely the plant does not have enough light;
2. Almost the whole stem lost leaves, only the top remained untouched, so this houseplant was struck by a spider mite. Most often this pest causes such consequences. If the reason is not in it, take a closer look, the plant may not like the temperature or the watering regime. Loss of leaves for many crotones turns around and the first winter. The plant does not have time to adapt to a new place, especially if it stands on a windowsill, on which there is a possibility of hypothermia of the roots and there are drafts;
H. If the codaum is generally unhealthy, carefully touch its trunk, beginning with the root collar itself. There is nothing suspicious, so just change the conditions of the plant and constantly watch it. Leaves that have lost their visual appearance, delete. Worse, if soft spots are probed on the trunk. In this case, it is necessary to separate a part of the plant above the diseased site. Do it carefully, with a pruner or with a sharp knife. If the wood on the cut is dark, then it is removed by thin successive incisions to the healthy part. After this procedure, the lower part of the cuttings is immersed in very warm water for 15 minutes, and the leaves are removed, leaving only the uppermost ones, and rooted in a mixture of peat and river sand (1: 1), while creating greenhouse conditions. Thus, the new croton will be "given life";
4. Particular attention should be paid to the pests of the coding. Most often the plant affects the scutes. From them, the leaves lose color, dry and fall off. Another croton enemy is the spider mite, which forms white spots on the surface of the leaves, which leads to their premature fall.
As you can see, the cultivation of a house croton plant, of which you are already familiar, about the care and illnesses, is not easy and troublesome. But in return you will get a riot of colors in the house or apartment all year round. Well, and if this is not enough, know that this plant also blooms, although its flowers are small, but also pretty.