Care of the indoor plant Jatropha podagrica or Coral Plant |
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The genus Jatropha, family Euphorbiaceae, includes 175 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees native to Central America and Africa. Some species are: Jatropha podagrica, Jatropha integerrima, Jatropha multifida, Jatropha gossypiifolia, Jatropha macrantha. Common names: White Rhubarb, Bottle Plant Shrub, Gouty Foot, Petit Baobab, Tartogo nut, Bali Gout Plant, Podagrica, Physicnut, Goutystalk Nettlespurge, Guatemalan Rhubarb, Purging-nut, Gout plant, Gouty-stalked Jatropha, Australian Bottle Plant, Coral Plant, Gout Plant, Gout Stalk, Gout Stick, Bottleplant shrub, Buddha Belly Plant. This species is native to the tropical Americas. They are shrubs with a succulent trunk thickened at the base that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height in a pot. The large palmate leaves reach 30 cm (11.8") in diameter and have long petioles. The showy deep red flowers are fleshy and appear in groups of 3. They bloom during the summer. They are used as indoor and greenhouse plants. They are tropical plants that do not resist temperatures below 10 ºC (50 ºF). Jatropha podagrica needs intense light exposure avoiding direct sun. The average annual temperature should be 18-22 ºC (64-71 ºF); in the rest period the temperature should be 12 ºC (53.6 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of 2 parts of coarse sand, 1 of leaf mulch and 1 of peat. Transplant every 2 years to a deep pot because the roots are thick and fleshy. Water moderately at the rate of once every 10 days in spring and summer, once a month in autumn and do not water in winter. Fertilize monthly with cactus fertilizer during spring and summer. They can lose leaves if they do not receive enough light or the humidity is low. They are attacked by mealybugs or fungi if there is excess watering. They propagate from seeds sown in spring in a seedbed at 24 ºC (75.2 ºF) or by apical cuttings in mid-spring bearing. Be careful with irritating latex; immerse the cuttings in water and dry a couple of days before planting them in an equal parts mixture of peat and sand. |
Images of the indoor plant Jatropha podagrica or Coral Plant |
 Jatropha podagrica  Jatropha podagrica  Jatropha podagrica  Jatropha podagrica |