Codiaeum variegatum or Fire croton

Care of the indoor plant Codiaeum variegatum or Fire croton

The genus Codiaeum, family Euphorbiaceae, comprises 17 species of plants native to insular Southeast Asia, northern Australia and Papuasia. Some species are: Codiaeum variegatum, Codiaeum megalanthum, Codiaeum ciliatum, Codiaeum peltatum.

Common names: Variegated croton, Garden croton, Fire croton. This species is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and the western Pacific Ocean islands.

They are evergreen shrubs that reach 3 meters (9.84 feet) in height. The leaves are alternate, petiolate and of diverse forms: lobed, oval, trilobular, lanceolate; They can be various shades of green, white, pink, red, yellow, and brown. The flowers are tiny and of no decorative interest.

They are not easy to grow plants indoors. In hot climates they can be grown outdoors (in the shade and sheltered from the wind). The temperature should not be lower than 16ºC and not higher than 25 ºC (77 ºF). They need a lot of light, but without direct sun; do not locate too close to windows. Avoid drafts.

They should not be transplanted until 2 years after their purchase. Transplant into a pot one or two sizes larger.

The soil can be a mixture of equal parts of garden substrate, peat and coarse sand.

In spring and summer fertilize with mineral fertilizer every 15 days.

Water regularly to keep the substrate moist, but without waterlogging. It's an ideal plant to grow in pots with a water reserve. Water with water without lime and slightly warm.

They can be attacked by mites and mealybugs.

If it loses the leaves, the upper stem can be pruned in spring to achieve the birth of new shoots from the base. If this operation is carried out, it must be borne in mind that it needs all the heat and humidity possible to grow.

They propagate by cuttings, but it's a complicated process.