The Sunday Mail
Andrew Mangwarara
Crotons remind me of a boy named Joseph in the Bible, he was his father’s favourite child.
Joseph’s father made him a coat of many colours, much to the displeasure of his brothers.
I must say that the popularity and beauty of the codiaeum variegatum pictum can indeed cause some jealous in the plant community.
Commonly referred to as the garden croton, the tropical plant belongs to the euphorbiaceae. It is a native of Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Pacific Ocean Islands.
You may grow crotons in part shade or half sun but they will flourish better when they are fully exposed to the sun in a warm moist climate. Crotons are a gem in the landscaping industry, giving your garden colour throughout the year.
They must be planted on strategic places such as entrances or driveways.
They are a suitable shrub for most situations as they rarely exceed a metre in height in our climate. However, other species have been known to reach three metres.
Crotons grow slowly but they will reward the long wait through their pleasant colours. You can also limit their growth by growing them in pots.
To date, there are several hundred cultivars of crotons bred for their aesthetic characteristics. The leaf shapes also vary, the most interesting to me is the deeply lobed species.
The best way to propagate crotons is through air or ground layer. In air layering, you make a small incision below a bud and then cover that part of the stem with moss and wrap it with plastic.
ln ground layering, you simply cover a portion with soil. Once roots have formed in both methods, you can then cut the stem and plant it in a pot or sleeve.
One can also propagate the plants from stem cuttings although this will require the aid of a rooting hormone such as seradix. Even though its seed will germinate, the plants will not be identical to the parents. To obtain identical plants, propagate using cuttings or layering.
Codiaeum variegatum pictum prefers fertile, moist and well drained soils. Since it is tropical, the planting will benefit from regular misting. A climate that is too dry can result in the leaves falling off.
l have noted that the worst enemies for crotons are mealy bugs. These appear as a white powdery mass on branches or leaves. You can wash them off with soap but for a lasting effect, use a systemic insecticide such as dimethoate.
Even though this plant is the aesthetic guru, it contains some poisonous oils. All the plant’s parts are poisonous, even its dry portions remain toxic.
However, poisoning cases are rare since its parts are unpalatable. Signs of poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Just refrain from eating this plant and enjoy its beauty.
Crotons are indeed a wonder of the tropics. They will reward your efforts and raise the status of your garden to that of the rich and famous.
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