Varieties of indoor flower codiaum with photos, care and propagation at home. Codiaum: proper plant care

Codiaeum - evergreen leafy flower who pleases the eye with his large leaves unusual coloring. It has many types, and each of them has an individual color and shape. In the article you will find useful information necessary for successfully maintaining Codiaum at home.

The most common name is Kodium, "Joseph's Cloak". Its name is often confused with representatives of a completely different type of flower - Croton, which is completely incorrect.
The plant has leaves different shapes- it depends on its type:

• flat
• spirally twisted
• wide
• narrow
• similar to ribbons
• smooth
• asymmetrical

The only type of Codiaum that can be grown at home is called Codiaum variegated.

In comfortable conditions and with proper care it grows up to 3 meters in height. Leaves are often asymmetrical, with veins yellow color. Breeders started from this species, creating many hybrids:

• Petra
• Norma
• Excellent
• GoldFinger and others.

Variegated codiaeum (Codiaeum variegatum)

Codiaeum variegata or Codiaeum variegata.
At home it grows in height from 60 cm to 1.5 meters.
It has a red-yellow color and varied leaf shapes.

Home care

The first thing that needs to be said is the temperature regime. If previously it was not possible to grow Codiaum in conditions low temperatures(and our climate and temperature regime in comparison with India are exactly like this), now this is possible.

Temperatures above 20 degrees are considered comfortable for a flower. A good place for its location is the west or east of the room.

Remember that the flower loves high humidity and warm air- after all, it was brought to us from India. Therefore, do not place it outdoors or on a balcony. Drafts are destructive for him.

In winter, it is better to keep the flower near the radiator - to maintain the same temperature in the soil of the flower and in the air around it. But since the indoor air is dry in winter, it is important to ensure sufficient humidification during this period - spray the flower with water from a spray bottle every day, or use a humidifier.

Also important for Codieum is constant sunlight- if there is not enough light, then very soon it will become an ordinary green color.

Important! When exposed to direct sunlight, Codiaum gets burned. The light should be diffused.

In order for the leaves (crown) of the flower to have the same thickness, you need to periodically turn it with different sides towards the light.

Soil and watering

Several conditions must be met:

1. The soil for the flower should be loose, slightly acidic and nutritious. Such soil can be purchased in a store - you just need to check with the seller for which flower.
2. The pot for planting should be cramped so that the rhizome of the flower takes up most of the soil. Codium grows easier in crowded spaces.
3. Also, the flower pot must have good drainage.
4. The flower requires constant watering. As soon as the surface of the soil has dried, it is time to water again.
5. Water for irrigation should stand for at least a day. Use raw water- it is forbidden.

Once a month you need to give Codiaum a warm shower. In this case, the soil must be covered with a film so as not to flood the flower.
And also regularly wipe the leaves from dust with a damp towel or sponge.

Diseases

For the successful growth of a flower, quite a lot of conditions for its maintenance must be observed. What happens if they are not fulfilled?

• At insufficient humidity air - the tips of the leaves begin to dry out
• At insufficient watering and overdrying of the soil, Codiaum begins to lose leaves
• At excessive watering and poor soil drainage, the leaves will begin to droop with their tips down

Codiaeum Excellent

The leaves of this Codiaum are shaped like oak leaves. As they age, they change color from yellow-green to red-orange.

Important! The juice of the plant can cause an allergic reaction on the skin - redness and rash. Therefore, wash your hands well after handling the plant.

Fertilizer and replanting

In the first few years, Codiaum actively grows its root system. Therefore, they need a transplant every year, preferably in the spring. Adult plants are transplanted when the pot becomes too small for them.

When you buy a flower, it is located in the so-called “transport substrate” - that is, in soil that is suitable only for the temporary existence of the flower. When landing Coideum on permanent place you need to carefully clean the roots from this substrate.

Replanting a flower is quite simple - place the flower in a new pot along with old soil (without damaging the root system), and fill the gaps with new soil.

Also, when replanting, you need to fill the new pot with drainage to about one quarter. Drainage can be made by mixing charcoal, expanded clay and clay shards. It is useful because it prevents moisture from remaining in the roots for too long and thereby prevents root rot.

From late spring to early autumn, Codiaum grows very quickly. Feeding during this period is needed once every 2 weeks. In the cold season (from November to April), you can feed the plant once a month.

For this, complex mineral fertilizers (preferably liquid) are used. Before fertilizing, the soil needs to be watered.

Bloom

With proper care at home, Codiaum can begin to bloom. But this takes away a lot of his vitality, and the flowers do not look attractive. Therefore, they can be cut off immediately.

Codiaum, or croton, is a variegated evergreen shrub that lately has become quite a popular home ornamental plant. Its homeland is Polynesia, Australia. It is also common in Malaysia and the islands Pacific Ocean. There are about 17 different species in this genus. Of these, only one - codiaum variegated and its varieties - is used for growing at home.

Appearance Features

Codiaum (it is 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, those of an adult healthy plant lower leaves can also reach one meter in diameter.

The advantage of codiaum is its leaves, which have a very bizarre shape and bright color. Main feature All plants of the Euphorbia family, including croton, retain the presence of milky juice, which is found in the leaves and stems. It can be poisonous to humans, but it helps the plant itself to heal wounds if the flower is damaged.

The leaves of codiaum are very bright, the shape and size are different, depending on the location of the particular leaf. The main shade of adult plants is not green, but bright yellow, orange, red, burgundy. And only small areas leaves are colored light green or darker green. The plant begins to variegate with age: the bright green leaves turn yellow and become covered with spots of other 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-shaped, long or short, carved.

Codiaeum variegata, which is quite easy to care for at home, despite the number of requirements, is characterized by dense foliage. For its correct formation, that is, for symmetry and harmony, the plant requires careful self-care, namely periodic turns to the light source, proper feeding and timely watering.

Variety of varieties

Before purchasing codiaum, care for which at home may differ depending on the variety, you need to determine for yourself what decorative effect you want to achieve in the end. Some varieties are quite large and are not suitable for small apartment. These include Peter's codiaum (caring for it at home will not be a burden), Excelent, Norma. These varieties are valued for their traffic light type of leaf color, which does not fade even when the light level of the room changes.

Medium-sized codiaums, for example Gold Sun, are more demanding in terms of living conditions. Only when complete comfort they are able to acquire the size and shape of leaves characteristic of the species. However, the choice of colors, unlike their tall counterparts, is much higher here.

Truly royal is the white codiaum (croton), care for which at home should be especially careful, since this variety is not only rare, but also quite capricious. Plants with creamy, almost white leaves include Ebyrneum and Andrew. At home, if all care rules are followed, the creamy-green leaves of young plants eventually become almost black or white with green dots, which is rare for them.

General care rules

Before you have a codiaum at home, which is easy to care for at home, you need to choose the right place to place the pot. This plant is demanding both in terms of watering and proper lighting, temperature and even permutations. However, if you carefully study all the requirements, there will be no problems with care. A plant like codiaum needs attention. Care at home - replanting, watering, fertilizing - must be timely and to the required extent.

Lighting selection

The development and spectacular appearance of croton completely depend on the correct choice of the level and quality of lighting. It's better not to rely on what's enough and daylight from the window, but provide access artificial light. Warm spectrum LED lamps with a power of 10 W or fluorescent lamps with a power of about 30 W are ideal for this. Such lighting will make it possible to bring absolutely any variety of codiaum to flowering, 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 the large-growing representatives. There is no need to worry that they will not fit there; their growth can be artificially restrained with the help of clothespins, forming the crown you need.

In the cold season, it is better to place pots on southern windows, and only on a stand and as far away from the glass as possible, otherwise there is a risk of simply freezing the plant. During the rest of the year, windows located on the east or west will work well.

Illumination should be maximum. Provided that the plant is constantly sprayed, it can spend the whole day in the sun.

Landing rules

After you have bought Codium Excelent for yourself (caring for it at home is practically no different from other types) or any other, it must be transplanted into a new prepared pot. Moreover, it is advisable to completely replace the soil. A slightly acidic mixture containing the following components is suitable for this:

• peat;
• compost;
• coarse river sand, to which you first need to add a small amount of charcoal.

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

After planting the plant in new soil, it should be watered thoroughly, and then high humidity should be provided.

The optimal time to replant codiaum varigatum (even a beginner can handle care at home) is spring, since during this period this process can be combined with the growing season of the plant. However, here there is another positive aspect of the presence of additional artificial lighting, since in this case the transplant can be carried out at any time of the year.

Very important: only healthy plants can be replanted. If your appearance makes you doubt this, it is better to postpone the procedure for at least 3 weeks. However, if it gets worse over time, you cannot delay replanting, and the plant must be immediately revived.

Optimal temperature

Codiaum, care at home (photos of representatives can be seen in the article) that anyone can do, 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. Codiaum requires a stable temperature at which it will develop better. In addition, the soil must not be allowed to dry out; to achieve this, high air humidity must be maintained. 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: place a pot with a flower in another, larger one, which is filled with expanded clay or peat with water.

Features of watering

IN summer time watering codiaum, care at home (photos show the attractive appearance of plants that have received the necessary attention), which should be comprehensive, should be done abundantly. However, this does not mean that the water must be in the pan. It is better to drain it from there 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 soil 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 frequently, about once every 5 days.

Feeding codiaum

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

Reproduction methods

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

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

Disease Prevention

Like other ornamental plants, it is prone to being affected by certain diseases and pests. These are:

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

When the first signs of plant infection are detected, the codiaum (care for it at home should provide conditions identical to tropical ones) must be treated with a complex-action insecticide. Scale insects that are neutralized by the drug can be removed with a damp cloth. If these measures do not lead to the desired result, the procedure should be repeated.

You can have a piece of the tropics in your apartment, having evergreen shrub codiaum or croton.

Indoor flower codiaum - types and photos

The genus of the Euphorbiaceae family includes 17 species. In indoor culture, the popular species is Codiaum variegated. Codiaum flower with photo:

Disraeli

The leaves have a lanceolate shape. Upper part The bush is green, the lower one is burgundy. Disraeli Codiaeum Champagne splashes

The leaves of the plant are narrow and long. The green background of the leaves is decorated with yellow spots.
Codiaum Champagne splashes Tamara

The leaves are large, dark green with light edges.
Codiaum Tamara Nervia

The crown of the variety has a multi-colored color: pink, yellow, green.
Codiaum Nervia Zanzibar

A flower with long leaves up to 40 cm. It has a yellow-green and pink color with a beautiful bend.
Codeum Zanzibar Mrs Eyeston

Wide leaves, rounded in shape. Young specimens are cream-colored; older specimens become multi-colored.
Mrs. Iceton's Codeium Gold Sun

The crown color is green-yellow. Adult specimens have the shape of a tree.
Codeium Gold San

Caring for the codiaum plant at home (varieties)

Lighting

The decorative colors of codiaum or croton depend on the lighting. The flower is sun-loving and feels great not only on the western and eastern windowsill, but also on the southern one, with slight shading. The lack of light is reflected in its crown: the leaves sag and lose their elasticity.

Temperature and humidity

Croton heat-loving plant. In spring and autumn, temperatures should be maintained up to 25 degrees C. In winter - 18. Due to lack of heat, the leaves become thinner and become very elongated.

The flower loves a humid environment; if it is not enough, you should spray the plant twice a day and bathe it once a month in the shower. During water procedures, cover the soil with cellophane. You can increase the humidity to 80% in another way: put expanded clay in a tray and moisten it.

Soil

Soil suitable for croton is suitable for ficus and palm trees. At self-training soil should be taken in equal parts sand, leaf and turf soil, peat.

Codiaum has a powerful root system. Therefore, you should choose a pot with a small diameter but deep. The material can be very different: plastic, ceramics.

Watering

In summer and spring period Croton is watered 3-4 times every seven days. Use settled and warm water. You can use the liquid after defrosting the refrigerator.

IN winter period Watering should be done as needed. When top layer dry to two cm deep.

Fertilizers

You should start feeding the plants from April to autumn. Use complex mineral products as fertilizers once every two weeks. Ready-made mixtures for variegated and decorative flowers are also suitable.

Trimming

A beautiful crown will depend on periodic pruning and pinching of the bush. As soon as the stem reaches 15 cm, the first pinching is carried out. Further pruning is carried out when the stem grows up to 20 cm. The sections are treated with activated carbon. Free the plant from dry, damaged leaves and shoots regardless of the time of year. This procedure will only increase decorativeness.

Codiaeum reproduces vegetatively and by seeds.

By cuttings:

• Any time of the year is suitable for propagation, but spring time is considered optimal (before the shoots appear);
• apical stalk cut at right angles, 10 cm long;
• wipe the cut area with a napkin;
• the cutting is sent under a warm running water to wash off the juice or place in a glass with charcoal until the juice flow stops;
• Next, dry the twig for 2 hours;
• leave one whole leaf on the cutting and roll it into a tube to retain moisture;
• You can root the cut twig in water or soil;
• before planting in the ground, treat the lower part with a growth stimulator;
• if water is used, then you need to monitor it temperature conditions, it should be within 23−30 degrees. according to C. A lower temperature will lead to rotting of the sprout, and a high temperature will lead to slower rooting and death;
• After 12-14 days, rooting will occur. This will be visible on the leaf, it will become elastic;
• a cutting rooted in water is transplanted into soil with the following components: sand, peat, humus, leaf and turf soil (in equal parts).

The cut tops of the codiaum have released roots Air layering:

• in summer the trunk becomes bare and then, at a distance of 15 cm from the top, remove the top layer of the stem, 1 cm wide, around the trunk;
• treat the cut area with any growth stimulant, wrap it in sphagnum and a plastic bag;
• constantly water the substrate;
• after 1.5 months the roots will appear, they will be visible through the bag;
• as soon as they reach a length of 5 cm, cut off the cuttings and replant them in the ground;
• there is another way to reproduce air layering when the lignified trunk is lowered into the ground, it is pinned and sprinkled with soil;
• Watering is carried out periodically;
• as soon as young leaves appear, this is a signal that rooting has occurred;
• the branch is separated from the mother bush and transplanted into another flowerpot.

Codiaum. Reproduction by air layering By seeds:

• for seed propagation, one-year-ripened seeds are used;
• disinfected with hot water;
• then put into warm water to swell for 24 hours;
• the seeds are treated with phytohormones and sent to soil at a temperature of 22 degrees. by C;
• it is covered with a small layer of earth on top;
• the appearance of two leaves is a signal for seedlings to dive;
• During cultivation, observe the temperature and watering regime, spray the plants and ventilate the room.

A flower brought from a store needs to be replanted. Since the soil is mainly used only for transportation and has few nutrients.

Algorithm of actions:

• codiaum is released from the pot;
• the roots are washed under running water without leaving old soil;
• the flowerpot is taken larger than the previous one by only 2 cm in diameter, since codiaum grows in cramped conditions;
• drainage is poured into the bottom of the flowerpot;
• then a layer of earth. If the soil is not purchased, but is prepared independently, it is calcined in the oven or under steam on the stove. This will protect the plant from diseases and pests;
• young specimens are replanted every spring. Since the plant is gaining a root system. Therefore, the capacity should be slightly larger than the previous one;
• transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method. The contents of the flowerpot are carefully pulled out and placed in another pot;
• soil is added to the sides of the pot;
• adult specimens (3 years or more) are replanted once every three years;
• The lifespan of codiaum with proper care is 10 years. For plants 6-10 years old, it will be sufficient to select the top layer, replacing it with a new one. The exception is the roots protruding from the flowerpot.

By following simple steps to care for croton: watering, pruning, fertilizing, you can extend its life up to 10 years. At the same time, its color will change every year and delight everyone.

For details on how to transplant codiaum and care for it at home, see this video:

Codiaum - caring for the plant is extremely simple. The plant belongs to the family of euphorbia evergreen shrubs, whose homeland is Malaysia and Eastern India, where there are more than 18 thousand specimens. The leaves of the plant are leathery, varied in size and shape, the color is bright and shiny (they look like they are not real). The color of the leaves is most often yellow-green, but there are red and orange veins.

Attention! Often Codiaeum mistakenly called Croton although this different plants from the same family - Euphorbiaceae.

Plants are easily grown at home on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, greenhouse, the main thing is to remember. that codiaum does not like bright light. The plant will have to be protected from bright light by providing diffused light and moist air. A positive factor would be spraying the leaves with water from a spray bottle at room temperature.

Codiaum is on the list of the most poisonous plants!

But only its juice, which is inside, is poisonous, so you can safely pet it. This plant is not for a child's room, for obvious reasons. Be sure to keep him away from pets, especially overly curious ones! If your pet is still full, be sure to show it to the veterinarian.

• Family: Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbiaceae).
• Homeland: tropics of Asia, Oceania.
• Flowering: rarely indoors, in summer.
• Height: average.
• Light: bright diffused. The plant is shaded from direct sun.
• Temperature: 20-22°C in summer and not lower than 18°C ​​in winter.
• Watering: all year round regularly and abundantly, with soft, lukewarm, settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries.
• Humidity: high. Regularly, if possible every day, the plant should be sprayed with soft, settled water (keeping an eye on the low lime content in the water), wiped with a damp cloth and frequently wash the leaves.
• Feeding: mineral and organic fertilizers(from spring to autumn - once a week, in winter - once a month).
• Pruning: formative throughout the year.
• Rest period: not expressed.
• Transplantation: in the spring, young ones annually, large overgrown specimens are replanted or transshipped every 2-3 years.
• Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.

The leaves are leathery, varied in shape: asymmetrical, lobed, trilobed, oblong-lanceolate, broadly ovate, obtuse or pointed, entire, notched, twisted, constricted. The color of the leaves can be yellow-green, green, red-brown with yellow, red, orange veins. Young leaves are painted in lighter colors, which gradually give way to dark ones and acquire a red-burgundy tint, so one plant is painted in several colors at the same time.
They bloom inconspicuous yellowish-white small flowers, collected in axillary racemes.

• Of all the types of codiaeum, only variegated codiaeum (Codiaeum variegatum) and its varieties are used for growing at home.
• Plants are valued for the beauty of their leaves.
• Codiaums are used to decorate compositions, create interiors, and create winter gardens.

Important! Codiaeum is often mistakenly called Croton, although these are different plants from the same family - Euphorbiaceae. Codeium – more ornamental plant, is used for growing at home, winter gardens, etc., and Croton is a wild plant used as a spice, in making varnishes, in medicine, and even in some alcoholic beverages.

Variegated codiaeum pictum. The plant's homeland is Eastern India, the Sunda and Moluccas Islands, and the jungles of Malaysia. Evergreens, shrubs 1.5-2.5 m tall or tall, 3-6 m tall, trees, branched, with bare branches and shoots. In indoor conditions, the size of the plant is much smaller. (I already have it 1 meter).

• The leaves are large, up to 30 cm, leathery, alternately arranged.
• The leaves have a variety of bright colors with prominent yellow, red or green veins: all shades of yellow and green, orange and red, sometimes even black.
• The plant is also characterized by a wide variety of shapes of leaf blades: linear, lanceolate, oval, lobed, guitar-shaped.
• The edges of the leaves can be spirally twisted, wavy, smooth, or constricted.
• Each plant resembles the riot of autumn colors of a deciduous forest, and it maintains its royal appearance all year round for many years.

The plant is dioecious. Men's and female flowers differ from each other in structure and are collected in racemose inflorescences. The female ones do not have petals, the male ones have a corolla and a calyx
For the first time in the West, codiaum variegum became known in the first half of the 19th century.
There are many different shapes and varieties available.

Codium care

Lighting. Codiaeums prefer bright, diffused light and require protection from direct sunlight. Places near eastern and western windows are best suited for growing; shading must be provided near southern windows; codiaums may not have enough light near the northern window.

With a lack of light, variegated leaves lose their wonderful color. Variegated codiaums need more light than green-leaved ones, but they also need protection from direct sunlight. In winter, provide the brightest possible location.

Temperature. Plants require a fairly high and uniform temperature (20-22°C in summer and not lower than 18°C ​​in winter). It is better to keep them in the room in the warmest place - near the radiator (the air and soil temperatures should be almost the same throughout the year). At the same time, when keeping it warm, it is extremely important to provide the plant with high air humidity. Codiaum must be kept away from drafts, so it is better not to take it out onto the balcony or into the garden.

Watering. Codiaums are watered all year round regularly and abundantly, with soft, lukewarm, settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries. It is necessary to avoid stagnation of water in the pan. To prevent acidification of the soil in the pot, use small and cramped dishes so that the roots quickly develop earthen lump, but you need to water it regularly, not allowing the earthen clod to dry out.

• The plant needs high air humidity, at least 70-80%.
• Regularly, if possible every day, the plant should be sprayed with soft, settled water (keeping an eye on the low lime content in the water), wiped with a damp cloth and frequently wash the leaves, once a month is useful warm shower.
• To protect against dry air, you can wrap the pot wet moss, or even better, place it on a stand immersed in a container with water and expanded clay or peat for constant evaporation.

Fertilizer. Throughout the year, codiaums should be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers (from spring to autumn - once a week, in winter - once a month with a weak solution).

Features of cultivation. To form a beautiful crown, codiaums require proper and regular pruning. It is recommended to pinch the young plant. The first is done when the plant reaches a height of 10-15 cm, then, as the shoot grows, every 20 cm, on the outer bud.

Transfer. Codiaums are replanted in the spring, young ones annually, large overgrown specimens are replanted or transferred every 2-3 years, adding fertile substrate to a larger pot. The substrate is suitable rich in humus, slightly acidic (pH about 5.5). The planting mixture can be made up of turf, leaf, humus soil, peat and sand in equal proportions with the addition of pieces of charcoal. Good drainage is necessary.
The plant is suitable for hydroponic culture.

Reproduction. Codiaums are propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seed propagation is rarely used, mainly in hybridization work. Plants are easily propagated by cuttings, and this method is widespread.

Cuttings are taken mainly in January-April, but cuttings are practically possible throughout the year. The tops of the shoots, as well as semi-lignified pieces of the shoots, are cut off for cuttings.

• After cutting the cuttings, milky juice flows out, so before planting it is necessary to wash them in warm water The surface of fresh cuts is sprinkled with crushed coal.
• It is recommended to use the growth stimulator heteroauxin.
• Cuttings are planted in a distribution box or 1 copy in 7-centimeter pots.
• The substrate for planting cuttings is sand, but more often a mixture of sand and peat soil. Can be rooted in water. The temperature for cuttings needs to be at least 24C.

1. Caring for cuttings consists of spraying and maintaining substrate moisture.
2. Rooting occurs within 1-1.5 months.
3. After rooting, the cuttings are planted in 7-8 cm pots.
4. Composition of soil: leaf - 1 tsp, humus - 1 tsp, peat - 1 tsp, turf - 1 tsp, sand - 1 tsp.
5. After entwining the earth with roots, they are transferred into 10-11 cm pots. Precautions: The juice of the plant is poisonous and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and contact dermatitis. Care must be taken when performing any operation. Upon completion of work, you must wash your hands with soap.
   Possible difficulties

• - Due to lack or excess of light, leaves lose color.
• - Due to direct sunlight, burns appear on the leaves.
• - Due to dry air or soil, the tips of the leaves turn brown; if the temperature is too low, the edges of the leaves turn brown. For the same reasons, the lower leaves fall off.
• - Brown tips of leaves indicate a lack of moisture in the substrate and in the air, and if the edges are also painted this color leaf blade, it is necessary to increase the ambient temperature.
• - Large leaves easily absorb dust, and they should be wiped with a soft, damp sponge at least 2-3 times a decade.
• - With low air humidity, codiaum is easily attacked by pests and diseases.
  - At a temperature of 12°C, dulling of the surface of the leaves is observed, and with a long stay at 10-12°C, the leaves crumble.
• Young leaves are less brightly colored than older leaves. This is normal for the plant.

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Caring for codiaum variegated

Variegated codiaeum is unpretentious, but requires constant care, attention and care, which it more than compensates for with its bright beauty and unique charm.
Grow codiaum in bright rooms, protecting it from direct sunlight. This crop is thermophilic, so in winter it is not recommended to allow the air temperature to drop below +16ºС. In summer the codiaum requires moderate watering, without drying out the top layer of the substrate, watering is reduced by winter.

Codiaum propagation

Codiaum is propagated by apical cuttings, air layering, and seeds.

Propagation of variegated codiaum by cuttings

Cuttings 9-10 cm long (preferably with one bud and two leaves) are cut from well-ripened lignified shoots. The top cut is made at a right angle and sprinkled with finely ground charcoal. Codium cuttings are placed in warm water with the addition of charcoal for a while to wash out the milky sap secreted by the plant. Then they are dried, and to improve rooting, the lower part is treated with growth stimulants - phytohormones. To reduce moisture evaporation, the leaves are tied with a tube. Cuttings of variegated codiaum can be planted in flower pots or placed in cups of water, but it is better to germinate them in a mini-greenhouse, in which you need to maintain optimal temperature soil 30C, air 25C.

In a small (up to 12 cm in diameter) pot you can place 2-3 codiaum cuttings. To do this, make indentations in the substrate with an ordinary pencil into which prepared cuttings are inserted. The soil at the base is lightly compacted with the same pencil. A mixture of peat or sphagnum with fine sand is used as soil. The substrate is constantly kept moist. The pots are covered plastic bags or glass jars and install on warm place, for example, a window sill, which is heated by a heating device.

Codiaum cuttings planted in pots or greenhouses must be sprayed daily. After a month and a half, rooted cuttings can be transplanted into individual containers.

Reproduction of variegated codiaum by air layering

Reproduction by air layering is carried out when the trunk and branches of the codiaum are very bare. Summer is the best time to carry out this procedure. On the lignified stem, 15 cm from the top, make a circular incision 1 cm wide. At this point, the codiaum layer will begin to form own roots. The cut must be treated with a rooting stimulator (heteroauxin, root) and wrapped in damp peat or sphagnum, with polyethylene on top. Keep the substrate moist for 1 or 1.5 months until roots appear. When the roots reach 5 cm, the cuttings are cut off and transplanted into an individual container, initially covered with a bag or jar.

Propagation of variegated codiaum by seeds

Propagation by seeds is rarely used by flower growers, since it is difficult to carry out under indoor conditions, although it is possible. To do this, codiaum seeds are soaked in phytohormones and sown in a mini-greenhouse without embedding them in the substrate, simply pressing lightly with your hand. To maintain required humidity The seeds are covered with film or glass. The first shoots of codiaum appear in a month.

Problems and their solutions

Decorative qualities leaf damage may deteriorate if the plant does not receive enough light. To solve the problem, the codiaum needs to be placed closer to the light source or installed fluorescent or sodium sources of additional lighting.

• If the leaves on the plant turn yellow and fall off, this usually indicates the presence of spider mite on the bottom leaf plate.
• The plant must be sprayed twice with warm water and, if necessary, treated with insecticides.

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How to properly care?

Shrub with its own appearance may signal that something is going wrong in his care. It changes the color of the leaves, lowers the leaves or drops them. The plant loves light, warmth, high humidity and withers from drafts. It is important to regulate watering when growing codiaum. It is best to water when it begins to slightly droop its leaves.

• Since large leaves easily collect dust, they are wiped with a damp sponge 2-3 times a decade.
• Occasionally you can bathe the plant in the shower.
• During the cold season, it is necessary to ensure that the roots of the croton do not freeze.
• Otherwise, the roots may rot.

To form a beautiful crown, the codiaum is regularly pruned, and young specimens are pinched. Plants are replanted in the spring: young ones - annually, and overgrown ones - every 3 years.

Is a transplant necessary after purchase?

If the codiaum is purchased in a store, it is transplanted from the transport substrate. The roots are carefully but thoroughly cleaned from the substrate. The new pot is selected so that it is slightly larger than the volume of the roots. Place at the bottom of the pot good layer drainage.

Land and fertilizers

Typically, codiaums are planted in light, well-permeable soil, consisting of universal soil with the addition of perlite, vermiculite and charcoal in pieces.

Codiaeums are fed mineral fertilizers and organic matter in all seasons except winter, once a week, and in winter - with a weak solution evenly three times during the winter.

Watering and lighting

Throughout the year, as the top layer of the soil mixture dries, the flower is periodically and abundantly watered with settled lukewarm water, preferably soft.

• Light-loving plants love diffused light.
• In summer, they do best on windows facing west and east.
• On southern windows they are shaded from direct rays of daylight.
• On a north-facing window there is too little light for the flower.
• In winter, the plant should be placed in the brightest place.

When there is poor lighting, the unique color of the leaves turns green, losing their variegation. Water should not remain in the pan. In order to prevent soil oxidation, the plant is planted in a cramped pot so that the roots quickly absorb the entire soil.

Optimal temperature for growing

The plant requires relatively uniform temperatures all year round. +20 °C -+22 °C - in summer and 18 °C -+22 °C - in winter. The temperature of the air and soil mixture should be the same. The flower does not like large temperature changes and drafts. If the soil temperature is too low, the roots may rot.

Reproduction at home

The cut cuttings are washed off from the milky juice and immersed in warm water for two hours. Then they are planted in a small container filled with a mixture of peat, sand and cut sphagnum, and - under a film or in a greenhouse. Ventilate and spray the seedling twice a day. After a month, roots appear. It is best to propagate by cuttings 5-10 cm long. The leaves are tied into a tube to reduce moisture evaporation.

The plant is also propagated by sowing seeds and rooting air layering. The best time for rooting codiaum is the end of winter - spring.

How to plant correctly?

When propagated by layering, the stem without leaves is tilted towards the soil layer and sprinkled with it. Once the stem has taken root, it is cut from the mother plant and placed in another pot.

Diseases and features of their treatment

The main reason for the appearance of mites on leaves is dry air.

Control methods: increase the humidity in the room, clean the leaves of pests using a tobacco-soap solution, followed by rinsing with warm water and spray with Fitoverm, Aktellik, Fufan, Derris.

• When attacked by scale insects, brown plaques are visible on the stems and leaves.
• The leaves dry out and fall off.
• Methods of control: the leaves are wiped with a sponge soaked in a tobacco-kerosene-soap solution, washed off and then sprayed with Actellik solution (1-2 ml of insecticide per 1 liter of water).

The plant is also damaged by aphids, scale insects, weevils and thrips.

Some useful tips

The milky sap of the plant is poisonous, so you should wear gloves when working with it. Upon completion of work, you must wash your hands with soap.

Due to the toxicity of the sap, the plant should be removed away from children and pets. You can sprinkle the surface of the soil in the pot with black ground pepper; cats will be careful not to approach it.

Why do leaves dry out, turn yellow and fall off?

When air humidity is low, codiaum is attacked by pests and diseases - the leaves lose color, turn yellow, dry out, and fall off.

• Dry air and soil, drafts or poor watering lead to browning of the tips or edges of leaves and spots brown on them.
• Too much cool temperature or sudden changes in it provoke curling, loss of turgor, the appearance of brown edges on the leaves and the falling of the lower leaves. At a temperature of +12°C the leaves become dull, and with prolonged cold of +10°C - +12°C they fall off.
• When exposed to direct sunlight, burns appear on the leaves.
• In poor light, the leaves lose their variegated color.
• When there is an excess of lighting, bright direct sun, or in the heat, dry light spots appear on the leaves.

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General information

The leaves of codiaum are fleshy with veiny veins. Leaf shape different types There are different types: an oblong oval, a lobed one with a pointed tip or a blunt one, and an asymmetrical shape.

The shade of the leaves also varies: green with yellow veins along the leaf, light olive, rich chocolate with yellowish accents, as well as an orange tint. In young plants, the foliage has a light shade, and over time it turns into darker shades. Basically, each plant has two leaf colors. Flowering occurs in unsightly yellow inflorescences with a white tint.

The codium plant is often confused and called croton due to the similarity of the leaves. But these are completely different plants, well, they belong to the same family of Euphorbiaceae. The codiaum flower is grown as house plant. And croton is more used as spicy plant in medicine, as well as in the manufacture of varnish products.

Types and varieties

Codiaum variegated or variegated , as a synonym. Under natural conditions, this species can reach over two meters in height, and some up to six meters. Such tall views, more like trees, with bare stems about 70 cm.

• The leaf length is about 30 cm, arranged alternately.
• The leaves are variegated in color with bright sunny, scarlet or green veins.
• This species is characterized by a different shape of the leaf plate.
• It can be wide linear, oval oblong, like a blade and similar in shape to a guitar.
• The edging of the leaves can be in the form of a wave, twisted, or spiral.

The plant of this species is dioecious. The female and male traits of the inflorescences are different. Females do not have petals, while males have a corolla and a calyx.

• Codiaum "Petra" a species with even branched shoots and large sinewy leaves that grow alternately. The shade of the leaves is a contrasting dark olive, with a variegated yellow edging along the leaves and veins of this shade.
• Codeum "Excelent" this species has lobe-shaped leaves. The shade of the leaves on the surface is greenish with yellow veins along the leaf, and with inside red with brown streaks.
• Codiaum "Mammi" This variety has leaves that are narrowed and elongated with a slight curl, in a spiral shape. The shade of the leaves is very catchy, scarlet with pink and yellow veins in alternation with red.
• Codiaum "Sunny Star" In this species, the shade of the leaves is mostly sunny tones, but the top and edges of the leaves are olive in color. Young leaves have beige tones, and over time they turn into scarlet, sunny shades and pink splashes.
• Codeum "Mix" This is a variety that has many varieties. A species with sharp edges on the tops of leaves. The leaf length of this species is about 20 cm. There may be an extended linear length of such leaves of about 30 cm.
• Codium "Gold Sun" decorative appearance with yellow veins and base color green tint The height of the species is about 30 cm. It is demanding on lighting.
• Codiaum "Tamara" named after a girl from England with whom the emperor once fell in love. On his orders, gardeners developed a varietal type of flower and named it Tamara.

The leaves of this species are elongated and have spiral tips. The inflorescences have a light shade. But in indoor growing this variety refuses to bloom. The height of the plant is about 150 cm. The leaves are veiny with a light green tint and white veins. There are also yellow or scarlet inclusions.

Codiaum care at home

The plant requires bright, but diffuse lighting; when exposed to direct sunlight, burns appear on it. It is better to place it indoors on the east or west side of the room. On north side codiaum may not have enough lighting; for this it is necessary to provide the plant with an additional source of lighting, a fluorescent lamp.

With insufficient lighting, the plant begins to stretch and loses its variegated, rich shades, which makes it very valuable and attractive.

• The plant is quite thermophilic, so the air temperature in the room and in the ground should not fluctuate.
• In warm summer months, the temperature should be between 19-24 degrees.
• And in winter it is not lower than 18 degrees.
• IN heating season It is better to keep the plant near the radiator to avoid temperature changes.
• But for this it is necessary to ensure sufficient air humidification.

The plant does not tolerate drafts and does not need ventilation in the summer on the balcony and in the garden.

Watering and air humidity

The plant requires constant and abundant soil moisture. Stagnation of moisture and oxidation of the soil lead to the death of the root system. Watering must be done with settled, soft water at room temperature.

• To avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, it is better to plant codiaum in a cramped container.
• This is necessary so that the rhizome quickly fills the soil.
• Good drainage to the bottom of the container is also necessary.
• Watering should be done constantly, allowing only the surface of the soil to dry slightly.

The air humidity in the room where the codiaum is kept must be at least 70%. The plant requires daily spraying from a spray bottle. Once every 30 years, the plant benefits from a warm shower, as well as periodic wiping of dust from the leaves with a damp cloth. For additional moisture, it is better to pour water into the tray and cover it with pebbles or moss; this is necessary on hot summer days.

Fertilizer for codiaum

The plant always needs feeding. The plant should be fed once every seven days in the summer, and once every 30 days in the cold season with half the dose of fertilizer specified in the instructions. Mineral and organic additives are suitable for feeding.

• Codium should be trimmed to form a bush.
• This should be done for the first time after the plant reaches a height of about 15 cm. It is necessary to pinch the upper buds.
• The next pinching is done after the plant has grown another 20 centimeters.
• Accordingly, the apical buds are pinched from each shoot.

Codiaum transplant

Young plants need replanting every year in spring. Adult, overgrown individuals must be replanted as the container is filled with the root system. During transplantation, the plant is transferred to another container along with the main soil, and the gaps are filled with new soil.

Soil for codiaum

The plant needs nutritious, loose and slightly acidic soil. Can be purchased ready soil for indoor leafy plants or prepare the soil yourself.

How to propagate codiaum at home

Propagation by cuttings can be done almost all year round. To do this, it is better to cut off the apical cutting or a woody piece of the stem about 10 cm long. At the cut, it is necessary to wash off the milky juice and treat it with charcoal crushed into flour. Then the plants are treated with a root growth stimulator and planted in the ground.

• The soil for rooting consists of coarse sand or sand in equal ratio with peat soil.
• Caring for cuttings involves periodically spraying the plants and moistening the soil.
• Temperature for rapid rooting is required within 24 degrees.
• You can also root cuttings in water.

The plant's root system appears in about 45 days. After rooting, the plants must be planted in separate containers.

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Features of caring for codiaum

There is an opinion that the plant is quite finicky and requires codiaum special care at home - this is not entirely true. Codiaum needs bright, but at the same time diffused light; it does not tolerate direct exposure to sunlight - it can cause burns on the leaves. The best place for the codiaum there will be a window facing east or west. A codiaum plant located on a north window may experience a lack of lighting in this case as well. the variegated color of the leaves is lost. Codiaeums with variegated leaves require more light compared to green-leaved ones.

• For wellness The plant needs the temperature to remain uniform: 20-22 degrees in summer and not fall below 18 in winter.
• It is advisable to place the plant closer to the radiator in winter.
• At the same time, it is important for the plant to maintain high air humidity.
• It is known that drafts are detrimental to codiaum, so it is advisable to protect the plant from them and not take it out even in good weather to the balcony.

For codiaum, it is important that watering be regular and plentiful throughout the year. For watering, it is recommended to use soft, settled water; water when the top layer of the substrate dries. Do not allow stagnation of water to form in the pan. To prevent the soil in the pot from turning sour, it must be small size, then the roots will completely occupy the earthen ball. In this case, regular watering is required so that the earthen ball does not dry out. Required for codiaum high humidity air (70-80%).

It is advisable to spray the plant with soft water daily and give it a shower at least once a month.

Feeding codiaum with fertilizers, both mineral and organic, should be done weekly from spring to autumn and monthly in winter, using a weak solution.

• Codiaum flowers are not at all as beautiful as the leaves: they are yellowish-white and inconspicuous.
• It is recommended to remove them so as not to take away the strength of the plant.
• So that the codiaum can form beautiful crown, you need to trim regularly and correctly.
• The first pinching of the plant is done in at a young age when its height reaches 10-15 cm, then, as it grows, the shoot is cut off after 20 cm.

Transplantation and propagation of codiaum

To prevent the plant from stopping its growth and losing leaves, it is necessary to transplant the codiaum into a pot. larger diameter. To do this, carefully, so as not to damage the earthen ball, the plant is transferred to another pot. The best time to transplant codiaum is spring. Young plants need to be replanted annually, and large overgrown ones - every 2-3 years. A substrate enriched with humus, pH 5.5, is suitable for codiaum. You can prepare a mixture for planting yourself, for this you will need equal parts; After purchasing codiaum in the store, you need to replant it from a shipping substrate. It is important to thoroughly clean the roots from the substrate. The size of the new pot should be slightly larger than the volume of the roots. Be sure to put a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot.

• leaf soil;
• turf land;
• humus soil;
• peat;
• sand.

It is advisable to add a few pieces of charcoal and be sure to have good drainage.

The unusually beautiful codiaum can be propagated in two ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings.

Propagation by seeds is rarely used; a more popular method is propagation by cuttings. Cuttings are possible throughout the year, but January-April is considered a more favorable time. The tops of the shoots, often semi-lignified pieces of the shoot, are cut into cuttings. A milky sap forms in the places where cuttings are cut, so it is necessary to wash the cuttings in warm water before planting. Fresh cuts must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal powder. You can use a growth stimulator (heteroauxin).

• The cuttings are planted in a substrate consisting of sand or a mixture of sand and peat soil.
• For cuttings, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 24 degrees.
• The cuttings must be sprayed and the substrate must be kept moist.
• The rooting process lasts 1-1.5 months.
• Rooted cuttings can be planted in pots with a diameter of 7-8 cm.
• When the clod of earth is entwined with roots, the plant requires transplanting into a pot of larger diameter.

Some safety precautions must be observed: codiaum juice is poisonous, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Contact dermatitis may develop if plant sap comes into contact with the skin. Therefore, it is important to strictly exercise caution when working with codiaum, and after finishing any work with the plant, you must wash your hands thoroughly.

Codium diseases, treatment and prevention

• over time, the leaves begin to fall off;
• if no measures are taken, the plant dies.

Cause of tick appearance- air is too dry. Necessary:

If codiaum is affected by scale insects, then brown plaques appear on the stems and leaves of the plant. First the leaves dry out and then fall off. Treatment:

• treating leaves with a tobacco-kerosene-soap solution (using a sponge);
• washing the leaves with warm water;
• treatment with Actellica solution (at the rate of 1 ml of the drug per 1 liter of water).

Possible problems care-related problems and ways to eliminate them:

• leaves begin to lose their beautiful coloring with insufficient or excessive lighting;
• burns form on the leaves if exposed to direct sunlight;
• low air humidity leads to browning of leaf tips;
• the edges of the leaves turn brown if the room temperature is too low;
• the lower leaves of the codiaum fall off if the room temperature drops;
• the tips of the leaves turn brown if the plant is not watered enough or the air in the room is very dry;
• the risk of pest damage increases if air humidity is low;
• codiaum leaves fade if the temperature drops to 12 degrees and begin to fall off, staying at this temperature for a long time.

With proper care, codiaum delights with colorful leaves all year round. The plant will be grateful for the conditions created and the care shown to it. And finally, watch the video about codiaum-croton, in this video there is how general information as well as some secrets and features for caring for it at home.

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