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  9. 4 Types of Croton Plant To Take Care At Home

4 Types of Croton Plant To Take Care At Home

4 Types of Croton Plant To Take Care At Home

If you’re a new plant mom you probably haven’t heard of a croton plant. By the end of this article, you will definitely learn a lot about croton plants and which type you would prefer to grow at home!

Croton Plant

Croton is a large flowering plant genus in the Euphorbiaceae spurge family. Georg Eberhard Rumphius was the first to characterize and introduce the plants of this genus to Europeans. The popular ones for this genus include rushfoil and croton, however, it also belongs to Codiaeum variegatum. Croton is a botanical classification of plants that comprises herbs, shrubs, and trees.

A shrub endemic to Southeast Asia, is a well-known member of this genus. It has a characteristic of a perennial with woody stems and roots and brightly colored leathery, smooth-edged oval or lance-shaped leaves. These hues are typically mixed in blotching and stripping arrangements, and the plant’s pigment can evolve over time. The plants have a deep crimson tint to them. As a result, they rely on some other species for food. Chlorophyll is present in them, however, it is obscured by deep red pigmentation.

The croton is a minimal houseplant with multicolored leaflets that are splotched with green, crimson, orange, and yellow smudges. This is how to keep croton in your garden or at home in good shape. It is usually pest and disease-free, though they are susceptible to common houseplant pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

Croton plants are available from over a thousand varieties. It has red, yellow, green, copper, orange, brown, pink, and ivory flowers that come in various of shapes and colors. The colors are evenly distributed across the entire leaf, resulting in a visually appealing plant. To grow, they require bright lighting and moist soil. Here are some of the more well-known varieties of these lovely plants.

Zanzibar Croton

Croton Zanzibar is a gorgeous Croton with brilliant green, yellow, red, and orange leaf that changes with the weather and lighting conditions. Zanzibar thrives in a shaded patio or indoor situation in mild frost-free areas, where it forms a lovely specimen in a showpiece pot. Plant in a semi-shaded, well-drained location in the garden, but it will withstand periods of full sun.

Zanzibar can reach a height of 3-4 feet. It has slender green, red, purple, orange, and yellow leaves and is an excellent contrast plant. It can even be used as a houseplant!

Petra Croton

Croton ‘Petra’ (Codiaeum variegatum ‘Petra’) is a herbaceous plant in southern Asia and the island of the western Pacific. In other climates, it can be cultivated in pots and maintained indoors throughout the wintertime, although this species of croton plant favors hot, humid conditions. This interesting variegated plant takes additional care to stay healthy in all climate zones. Petra Crotons are easy-to-grow indoor plants with bright, colorful leaflets in shades of green, red, orange, and yellow.

Gold Dust Crotons

Gold Dust Crotons, also known as Codiaeum variegatum is a subtropical, evergreen shrub native to Indonesia, Southeast Asia, as well as the Eastern Pacific Islands. It is well-known for its vibrant and lovely foliage. It gets its name from the fact that its green leaves appear to be sprinkled with gold. It is a slow-growing plant that thrives in groups. This variety of croton plant is difficult to keep nutritious indoors. It demands a high humid environment. It’s also important to provide plenty of light and moisture in the soil for plants to thrive. This plant reaches a height of around 3 feet, making it the perfect addition to every room!

Banana Croton

The Codiaeum variegatum ‘Banana’ is shorter than others in its genus, but no less lovely. Because of its unusually multicolored and structured leaf, it’s been dubbed the Banana Croton. The 4″ Banana Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) plant is a vibrant, humid houseplant that is becoming widely attractive. The Banana Croton can be found in the Pacific Islands, Malaysia, and Northern Australia. The vibrant colors of the foliage draw attraction to the plant, and it goes with any style of design. This type of croton is a perfect gift for a plantswoman.

Nice To Know

Croton’s vibrant, and at times shifting, leaves symbolize transformation. It’s the ideal gift for a college-bound child, a house move, or retirement.

Precautions

All parts of this plant are poisonous—especially the seeds—so it is not recommended to be near pets or children. Croton releases a milky sap once it is damaged, which can cause inflammation. Encounter with the juices or nectar of these plants, or a traumatic amputation inflicted by the thorns, can cause a skin rash or irritation. Minor symptoms such as rash, vomiting, or diarrhea may occur after ingestion.

Conclusion

Croton is a popular houseplant with vibrant, colorful foliage. The leaves are thick, leathery, lustrous, and are indeed very gorgeous. Most people love to grow a houseplant indoors or outdoors because it gives them a feeling of peace and keeps them away from stress. Indoor plants have indeed been proved to boost moods, promote creativity, relieve stress, and remove harmful emissions, allowing for a richer, happier you. Indoor plants don’t just look good—they can make us feel good, too. Caring for houseplants is a quiet, peaceful activity that can give us time and space to think, or distract us from the constant hustle and bustle of our work or social lives.

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