Miracle shrub, croton, codiaeum variegatum – care

The croton (Codiaeum variegatum) occurs naturally in southern Asia, Indonesia and other Pacific islands, where it grows in open forests as a shrub up to 3 meters tall with leathery, glossy leaves. In cultivation, the ornamental foliage plant rarely grows over 90 cm high. There are only a few species of Codiaeum, but there are many varieties with different leaf shapes, sizes and colors. Foliage can appear long and narrow, lanceolate or sword-shaped, broad or oval, and even young leaves can be a different color than aging foliage.

location

The brighter and sunnier the Codiaeum variegatum is, the more intense the leaf markings will be. At least two to three hours of direct sunlight are necessary for good coloring of the leaves. Therefore, the shrub is best placed as sunny as possible. Only on a south-facing window does a little shade have to be provided during midday in summer, for example by pulling out a curtain. If the miracle shrub is too shady, much of the beauty of the plant is lost, because the leaves lose their color and turn green again. Older plants tend to drop leaves if they are too dark. A well-grown croton keeps all of its leaves down to the ground. The trick: permanently reliable heat! So don’t be afraid to

• Light requirements: sunny to very light semi-shade
• in summer no direct light at noon
• direct sun all day in winter
• the lighter, the more beautifully colored the leaves are
• preferably indirect light
• Soil: humic, well drained
• does not tolerate strong temperature fluctuations
• reacts somewhat sensitively to drafts
• Temperatures: normal room temperature (20 to 25 degrees)
• high humidity (around 70%)

floor

A croton requires soil that is drained and rich in organic components. Substrates with a slightly acidic pH between about 5.5 and 6 are ideal. Anyone who places their miracle shrub outside on the balcony or terrace in summer should protect the soil from excessive evaporation with a little mulch.

• fumes
• water permeable
• Compost based potting soil
• mixed with sand, expanded clay or pumice gravel

watering and fertilizing

During the active growth phase (from around April to October), Codiaeum variegatum should be watered abundantly so that the substrate remains slightly moist. However, never allow the pretty shrub to stand in water. It is always watered directly on the root ball, because the plant does not tolerate water on the leaves or longer periods of drought.

During the main growth phase between April and August, the miracle shrub is grateful for an occasional supply of nutrients. Liquid fertilizers for green plants, universal liquid fertilizers or long-term fertilizer sticks that can be stuck into the ground are suitable. If the croton is repotted annually in high-quality potting soil or the substrate is regularly replaced, no additional fertilizer is necessary.

repot

It is best to pot your magnificent leaf shrub every year in a pot that is one size larger than the previous one. Once the last reasonable pot size has been reached (e.g. about 20 cm in diameter for the windowsill), a large part of the substrate is simply exchanged every year.

• Time: spring
• Pull the root ball out of the pot
• shake off old substrate carefully
• remove top substrate layer (about 5 cm)
• be careful not to damage roots
• Cut off rotten or dead roots
• use in fresh substrate
• water lightly

leaf care

Periodically clean the leaves if there is a layer of dust on them. This works best with a damp cloth. The miracle shrub can also be sprayed off in the shower. To do this, however, the pot should be placed in a plastic bag and closed tightly towards the trunk so that the soil is not washed out. To increase the humidity, the shrub can be sprayed daily with distilled water or rainwater.

toxicity

The milky sap of the miracle shrub can cause skin irritation. If the skin has come into contact with the juice, it should be washed off immediately with plenty of water. Sensitive people are advised to wear gloves when handling. Avoid eye contact. Children and pets should be prevented from eating parts of the plant.

To cut

Croton normally branches quite well on its own and becomes bushy without any intervention on the part of the home gardener. If the plant likes the location and care, it can become a bit sprawling. Overall, however, the magnificent leaf shrub grows rather slowly. If it is not possible to move the miracle shrub when it has outgrown the windowsill, it can be cut back as far as necessary. Plants that are a bit bare from below sprout well after a radical cut. However, this requires high temperatures and humid air.

• Time: early spring
• before new growth is noticeable
• Interfaces always over an outward facing eye
• cut with a sterile knife
• wear gloves if possible (juice is poisonous)
• if the cut is bleeding profusely, charcoal powder can stop the flow of milk

After a radical pruning, the plant should be placed in a very warm place, but not exposed to direct sunlight at first. Repeated spraying with rainwater or distilled water promotes new growth.

multiply

Croton does not grow well from seed, and the plants cultivated from it are sometimes unstable. However, the miracle shrub can easily be propagated by cuttings. It is best to use side shoots that are naturally smaller and less leafy than others. However, a little patience is required when propagating cuttings, because sometimes it takes months for roots to develop.

• Time: spring (January to March)
• Length of shoot: at least 10 cm, preferably 15 cm
• the cutting should have at least two pairs of leaves and a growing tip
• Dip interfaces in carbon powder
• alternatively press onto a piece of kitchen roll or wash under running water
• let dry overnight (at room temperature)
• Substrate: moist potting soil or peat moss with coarse sand
• Insert the cutting about two to three centimeters deep
• Protect from evaporation with plastic bag
• set up bright (without direct sun)
• Temperature: at least 25 degrees
• it takes at least four to six weeks until the first roots develop

As soon as the cutting shows the first signs of growth, which is the case after about four months, the plant can be treated like a full-grown wonder shrub.

hibernate

Plants that have been outdoors over the summer must definitely be brought back into the greenhouse or indoors in late summer. Even just a single night of temperatures below 8 degrees will cause the croton to shed much of its leaves.

The miracle shrub does not really hibernate in winter when the light conditions are no longer quite as optimal. The plant keeps its leaves all year round, but its metabolism is no longer quite as high due to the lower incidence of light. That’s why she appreciates it when she’s given a little rest. From October, the amount of irrigation water is slowly reduced a little. Temperatures around 15 to 20 degrees are ideal. The fertilizing is completely stopped.

To protect against dry damage or lice infestation when the humidity is too low (dry heating air), you can place the cachepot on a bowl filled with stones and water. The high humidity generated locally offers the plant optimal conditions for overwintering. Alternatively, the Croton can also be placed in a cooler bedroom or guest room, as long as the temperature does not fall below 13 degrees and the room is very bright.

Recommended Varieties

As a rule, the cultivated forms of Cadiaeum variegatum available in garden centers belong to the pictum variety, which has a very wide spectrum of shapes and colors.

• ‘Bravo’: large, oak leaf-shaped leaves with golden yellow and pink veins, dark green background
• ‘Bruxellense’: Vigorously growing plant with broad, lanceolate bronze or red leaves, veins are yellow
• ‘Gloriosum superbum’: broad, slightly wavy leaves, near the top they narrow the leaves to a pointed lobe, green with yellow veins
• ‘Spiral’: narrow, colorful leaves in green, yellow and red in indefinable combinations, twisted like a corkscrew
• var. appendiculatum: oddity, the variegated or green leaves are broken in the middle and held together only by the midrib (act like two separate leaves standing one behind the other)
• var. angustifolium: elliptical, glossy leaves of bright green with yellow spots

diseases and pests

As a rule, miracle shrubs do not have serious problems with insects or diseases. However, if the heating air is dry, they are susceptible to sucking insects.

• Loss of leaves: too cool, too wet or too dry
• Spider mites or mealybugs: wash the underside of the leaf and dab with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol
• Leaves turn green: too little light
• brown leaf tips: humidity too low
• Root rot: too much irrigation water, too small pot or poorly draining substrate

Conclusion
In the room or greenhouse, the unusual plant sets beautiful accents with its colorful leaves. Provided the miracle shrub has enough warmth, high humidity and a little care, it will give its owner many years of great pleasure. The most important aspects of care are sufficiently high humidity in the winter months and a lot of indirect sunlight.