Why will I love it?
The Codiaeum variegatum var. pictum is colourful and flamboyant. Its foliage is decorated with a bold, batik-like design of yellows, greens, reds and almost black. For me, it’s an instant mood-lifter, as it reminds me of summers spent in my granny’s garden in St Lucia.
Light or shade?
Bright, indirect light.
Where should I put it?
On a cute plant stand in indirect sunlight.
How do I keep it alive?
Getting the light levels right is your main concern as your croton can be pretty fussy: too much direct sunlight will bleach the leaf colours, while not enough will dull them. Also, it likes a warm, humid environment, so mist the leaves often, keep the room at a minimum temperature of 15C, and avoid exposure to draughts. The croton prefers moist soil during the growing season, from spring to autumn, so water little and often using tepid water. During winter, reduce the frequency to allow the top inch of soil to dry out in between waterings.
Did you know …
Crotons belong to the Euphorbiaceae family, which means all parts of the plant are toxic when ingested by pets and humans.
