What is a codiaum flower? Varieties of indoor flower codiaum with photos, care and reproduction at home.

This plant is one of the favorite among flower growers. Luxurious, exotic copy decorates the room and pleases with its variegated colors, harmonious combination yellow, red, purple, pink and greenish leaves. It has several names - Croton, Mammy, Excelent - all are representatives of the same species. Meet, in the photo, the flowers of the Codiaum Petra at home. What conditions does the flower like? Is it difficult to grow it? This will be discussed further in the article on this page "Popular about health."

Peculiarities home care for Kodiaum Petra

This flower is really very impressive. It is characterized by a yellow-green color with red veins. But at the same time, despite the dense and thick leaves, he is very capricious and picky. He is afraid of drafts, watering cold water, bright sun and dry air. Therefore, care for him should be careful and very attentive.

Be sure to wipe the foliage often with a damp cloth. Florists also have their own secret: add a few drops of vodka or beer to a glass of cool water. If the crown is treated with this solution, then the leaves will shine and have a glossy surface. In addition, you need regular spraying, bathing in the shower (close the soil before this with polyethylene).

Watering a plant is a very sensitive issue. At the slightest drying, it instantly fades, dropping leaf after leaf. It is rarely possible to restore it. In summer, you can even moisten the soil a little every day, in winter - depending on how the soil in the pot dries up. Use only water that has been settled for 2-3 days, do not allow liquid to accumulate in the pan.

At home, Codiaum Petra prefers bright lighting, but you can not place the plant in direct sunlight. The best place- east windows, southeast, where the sun only in the morning illuminates the plant with not yet scorching rays. On the northern or western window sills, the Codiaum dies from a lack of light, before which it loses its decorative color.

In winter, the flower needs a temperature of at least +19 degrees. Nevertheless, its tropical origin affects. In summer, it will tolerate the heat well, but subject to frequent spraying.

It is strictly forbidden to take it out to the balcony. Even the slightest breath of breeze can destroy luxurious leaves.

Top dressing of the plant is carried out throughout the spring and summer - once a week. In winter - once a month. Suitable mineral or organic fertilizers, which can be found in the gardening store. You can use fertilizers with nitrogen, since the plant is unlikely to bloom. It releases buds extremely rarely, these are yellowish or white leaves on a long shoot. Such an ovary greatly weakens the plant, so it is better to carefully cut it.

If you start growing Codiaum with young age, then you need to do an early pinch - when it reaches a height of 10-12 cm. And to form a beautiful and dense crown, you need regular pruning. There is no need to be afraid of this procedure, the plant will release many new leaves with renewed vigor in a few weeks.

Pictured is Codiaum Petra

Having brought this beauty from the store, you need to give the plant a place in a separate pot, without leaving it in the shipping container. It is good to clean the roots from the previous substrate, choose a pot 2-3 centimeters wider than the girth of the roots.

At the bottom of the tank there should be a drainage layer of expanded clay, pour a layer of soil on top of it. For Kodiaum Petra, a universal substrate is suitable, with neutral acidity and with the addition of humus. In order not to buy a store composition, you can make it yourself. Mix in equal proportions the earth sheet and sod, peat and sand, add a little humus. Uncrushed charcoal, in large pieces, should be present in the soil.

Plant transplantation is carried out no more than 1 time per year. You need to look at the roots: as soon as they wrapped around an earthen lump, immediately pick up a larger pot.

How to propagate Codiaum Petra

Naturally, I want to propagate such beauty and have several independent plants at once. There are two ways to do this: seed or cuttings. In January, February or March, you can find a suitable cutting with a semi-lignified trunk. Carefully cut this part with a few leaves, rinse warm water and roll well in crushed charcoal. The cutting is immediately placed in a substrate of peat soil and sand. Place the whole pot in plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions. Every day, remove the film for 10-15 minutes to ensure the flow fresh air. Cuttings must be sprayed.

At right action after one and a half to two months, the cutting will take root, it can be sent to a separate pot.

Growing problems

It's a pity to look at the fading favorite plant. But sometimes it happens due to the following problems:

The leaves lose their bright color, whitish spots and plaque appear on them - this is a sign of an attack by a spider mite, which is very fond of Codiaum Peter. You should increase the humidity of the air and treat the plant with insecticides.

The leaves are covered with brown plaques, gradually fall off. This is a sign of a scab. Processing required soapy water with the addition of a few drops of kerosene (wipe the leaves with a sponge). You can apply Aktellik - 1 ml of solution per liter of water, spray the entire crown.

Proper care is the key to lush growth and decorative coloring. all year round.

Young - annually, adults - when measles fill the pot 22-25 Maintain a moist earthen ball Often Bright scattered light The juice is poisonous

Lighting

The plant needs bright diffused light. Croton is able to withstand even direct sunlight.

Moreover, the brightness of the color of the leaves depends on the intensity.

Sufficient lighting is especially important in winter., because it is this factor that leads to leaf fall.

So that the plant does not lose its decorative appearance, it is necessary to rearrange it on the most illuminated southern window sill. In winter, you should also increase the daylight hours for this flower. Good results are obtained by illuminating the croton with special electric lamps.

Temperature

Codiaum is thermophilic and does not like sudden changes in temperature. The flower reacts to such drops by dropping leaves.

The optimum temperature for the content of codiaum is considered to be 22-25 ° C. The flower does not survive well when the temperature drops below 18 ° C.

The flower requires a stable temperature throughout the year. In winter, it cannot be reduced, as this can lead to a loss of leaf mass, which is very difficult to restore.

Even if the apartment is cold in winter, you can not install a pot with a plant near the radiators. The radiator will create uneven heat, which can lead to yellowing and leaf fall. Place the flower in the part of the room where the temperature will be the most stable. You should also beware of cold drafts.

Watering

Regular watering is a prerequisite for successful plant growth. Croton does not like drying out or waterlogging of the substrate.

It is necessary to keep the earthen ball moist, but not wet. At low temperatures, watering should be significantly reduced to avoid root rot.

Codiaum loves high humidity. It is especially important to monitor this indicator in winter, when batteries central heating strongly dry up the air, and in summer, when the temperature is much higher than the optimum.

Codiaum responds well to frequent spraying and warm showers.

In order not to overmoisten the soil in which the flower grows, it should be watered only after the surface of the earth in the pot has dried. Croton is a capricious plant. Wrong mode watering can lead not only to the disease, but also to its death.

Water for irrigation should be soft. It is good to use rainwater for this, and in winter - snow water. Watering with hard water will immediately affect appearance plants. Its leaves may begin to turn yellow, spot or fall off.

For irrigation use only warm water. It should be 2-3ºС warmer than the surrounding air. Watering with cold water is very harmful and promotes the development of root rot. It is necessary to defend the water before watering for 2-3 days.

The soil

For planting, you can buy a ready-made soil mixture for decorative leafy plants or make it yourself from equal parts:

• Leaf ground:
• sod land;
• Peat;
• Sand.

Top dressing of codiaum is carried out during the period of active growth 2 times a week. To do this, you can use fertilizers for decorative leafy plants.

The soil for the codiaum should be fertile, but easily permeable to water. To do this, coarse sand is used as a baking powder. You can replace it with other components: perlite or vermiculite.

The plant grows best on slightly acidic soils. Peat is needed to acidify the substrate. When using purchased soil mixtures, you need to make sure that peat is included in their composition.

Trimming / Support / Garter

Best during the year.

Codiaum tends to grow a central stem, so to get a compact spherical bush, you should periodically pinch the apical bud.

Single-barrel codiaums can be cut at a height of 15 cm to make them branch.

Pruning of adult plants is carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation, or to obtain planting material.

During spring pruning an adult branched bush must be removed dry and weak branches. Also, with a lack of light in winter, the shoots of the plant can stretch. All stretched ugly branches are cut by 2/3. Strong and very long shoots should also be cut in half or 1/3.

A properly formed codiaum bush looks like a small lush tree. He does not need support and a garter.

Diseases

Poisonous milky juice scares away not everyone. Plants are often damaged spider mite, thrips, scale insect and mealybug.

Leaf color makes it difficult to detect pests, and notice them only when yellow spots appear on the leaves.

A good prevention of the appearance of pests can be regular leaf care, spraying, maintaining high humidity air and periodic inspection of plants.

Diseases, as a rule, are caused by a violation in care.

Problems

Any care mistake, first of all, is reflected in the condition of the leaves, which begin to dry out and fall off.

Periodic loss of codiaum leaves should not cause concern, especially if the number of new leaves exceeds the number of fallen ones.

With active leaf fall and bare stems, you need to pay attention to one of the possible errors:

• The earthen lump is overdried;
• The earth is wet and does not have time to dry a little between waterings;
• Draft;
• Temperature difference;
• Too dry air.

reproduction

Consider how the codiaum reproduces. can be carried out by seeds and cuttings. The seed method is suitable for adult flowering specimens on which seeds are tied and ripen.

Seed germination drops very quickly, so seedlings can only be obtained from freshly harvested seeds. They should be sown superficially, as they need light to germinate.

With this method of propagation, it is impossible to predict what young plants will look like, but among them there may be very unusual specimens.

by the most in a simple way propagation of codiaum is the rooting of apical cuttings.

To do this, cut off the top 10-15 cm long, shorten the leaves or fold the tube and place the cutting in a greenhouse for rooting.

Roots form best when high humidity and soil temperature of 25-30 ° C, after treatment with rooting stimulants. Rooting in water is also possible.

Codium is a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. The homeland of this plant is East India, but this does not interfere with growing this flower when caring for at home.

General information

The leaves of the codiaum are fleshy with veins. Leaf shape different types there is a variety: an oblong oval, lobed with a pointed or blunt tip, and an asymmetrical shape.

The shade of the leaves can also be different, it can be green with yellow veins along the leaf, light olive, rich chocolate with yellowish accents, and also an orange tint. In young plants, the foliage has a light shade, and over time it turns into darker shades. Basically, each plant has two leaf colors. Flowering occurs in unsightly yellowish with a white tint inflorescences.

The codiaum plant is often confused and called croton due to the similarity of the leaves. But it's completely different plants, well, resembling one of the Euphorbia family. The codiaum flower is grown as home plant. And croton is more used as a spicy plant in medicine, as well as in the manufacture of lacquer products.

Species and varieties

Or variegated as a synonym. IN vivo this species can reach over two meters in height, and some up to six meters. Such tall species, more like trees, with bare stems of about 70 cm.

The length of the sheet is about 30 cm, arranged alternately. The shade of the leaves is variegated with bright sunny, scarlet or green veins. This species has a different shape of the leaf plate. It can be wide linear, oval oblong, like a blade and similar in shape to a guitar. The edging of the leaves can be in the form of a wave, twisted, spiral.

This plant is dioecious. Female and male features in inflorescences have a difference. The females do not have petals, while the males have a corolla and calyx.

Codiaum "Petra" species with even branched shoots and large sinewy leaves that grow alternately. The shade of the leaves is contrasting dark - olive, then with a variegated yellow edging along the leaves and veins, of this shade.

Codiaum "Excellent" this species has lobed leaves. The shade of the leaves on the surface is greenish with yellow veins along the leaf, and with inside red with brown veins.

Codiaum "Mammy" in this variety, the leaves are narrowed and elongated with a slight curling, spirally. The shade of the leaves is very catchy, scarlet with pink and yellow veins in sequence with red.

Codiaum "Sunny Star"

In this species, the shade of the leaves is mostly painted in sunny tones, but the top and edges of the leaves olive shade. Young leaves have beige tones, and over time they turn into scarlet, sunny shades and pink blotches.

Codiaum "Mix" it is a variety that has many varieties. View with sharp edges on the tops of the leaves. The leaf length of this species is about 20 cm. There may be extended linear lengths of such leaves of about 30 cm.

Codiaum "Gold Sun" decorative look with yellow veins and the main color green tint, the height of the species is about 30 cm. It is demanding on lighting.

Codiaum "Tamara" named after a girl from England, with whom the emperor once fell in love. By his order, gardeners brought out a varietal type of flower and named it Tamara.

The leaves of this species are elongated and with spiral tips. Inflorescences have a light shade. But in indoor cultivation this variety refuses to bloom. The height of the plant is about 150 cm. The leaves are sinewy with a light green tint and white veins. There are also yellow blotches or scarlet.

Codiaum home care

Lighting for the plant requires bright, but diffused, when exposed to direct sunlight, burns appear on it. It is better to place indoors on the east or west side of the room. On the north side of the codiaum, there may not be enough lighting, for this it is necessary to provide the plant with an additional source of lighting, a daylight incandescent lamp.

With insufficient lighting, the plant begins to stretch and loses its colorful saturated shades, because of which it is very valuable and attractive.

The plant is quite thermophilic, so the air temperature in the room and in the ground should be without fluctuations. In summer warm time, the temperature should be in the range of 19-24 degrees. And in winter, not lower than 18 degrees. IN heating season it is better to keep the plant near the battery so that there are no temperature drops. But for this it is necessary to provide sufficient air humidity.

The plant is difficult to tolerate drafts, and does not need airing in summer time on the balcony and in the garden.

Watering and humidity

Soil moisture plant requires constant and plentiful. Stagnation of moisture and soil oxidation lead to the death of the root system. Watering should be done with settled, soft water, at room temperature.

To avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, it is better to plant the codiaum in a cramped container. This is necessary so that the rhizome fills the soil faster. Good drainage to the bottom of the tank is also required. Watering should be done constantly, allowing to dry out only slightly on the surface of the soil.

The air humidity in the room where the codiaum is contained must be at least 70%. The plant needs daily spraying from the sprayer. Once in 30, a warm shower is useful for the plant, as well as periodic wiping of dust from the leaves with a damp cloth. For additional moisture, it is better to pour water into the pan and cover it with pebbles or moss, this is necessary on hot summer days.

Fertilizer for codiaum

The plant always needs top dressing. The plant should be fed in the summer every seven days, and in cold period once every 30 days, half the dose of fertilizer indicated in the instructions. Mineral and organic supplements are suitable for top dressing.

Cut off the codiaum should be to form a bush. This should be done for the first time after the plant reaches a height of about 15 cm. It is necessary to pinch the upper buds. The next pinching is done after the plant has grown another 20 centimeters. Accordingly, the apical buds are pinched from each necessary shoot.

Codiaum transplant

Young plants need a transplant every year in the spring. Adult overgrown individuals must be transplanted as the container is filled with the root system.

During transplantation, the plant is transferred to another container along with the main soil, and the gaps are filled with new soil.

Soil for codiaum

The soil for the plant needs nutritious, loose and slightly acidic. You can purchase ready-made soil for indoor deciduous plants or prepare the soil yourself.

The composition of the soil for codiaum includes soddy soil, sheet soil, coarse sand, peat soil, humus and crushed charcoal. Everything is mixed in equal proportions. Good drainage is established at the bottom of the tank.

How to propagate codiaum at home

Propagation by cuttings can be done almost all year round. To do this, it is better to cut off the apical stalk or a stiff piece of the stem about 10 cm long. At the cut, it is necessary to wash off the milk juice and process it with charcoal crushed into flour. Then the plants are treated with a root growth stimulator and planted in the ground.

The rooting soil consists of coarse sand or sand in equal proportions with peat soil. Caring for the cuttings consists in periodically spraying the plants and moistening the soil. The temperature for rapid rooting is required within 24 degrees. You can also root cuttings in water.

The root system of the plant appears after about 45 days. After rooting, the plants must be planted in separate containers.

Codiaum leaf reproduction

A leaf is taken from a large mother plant, lowered into the water until all the juice has drained, and then treated with fine charcoal. Then it takes root in a substrate of sand and peat, and forms a greenhouse, covered with a film.

Open to ventilate and humidify. After rooting the plant and the appearance of several new stems, the plants should be transplanted into separate containers.

The leaves of the codiaum of various shapes (lobed, ribbon-like, twisting, laurel-shaped) amaze with their colors. Codiaum will perfectly decorate both your home and office. Flower growers appreciate this plant for the variety of shapes and coloring of the leaves.

Lighting and temperature conditions

Direct sunlight can burn the leaves of the plant, so it would be better to place the flowerpot on an east or west window. It must be taken into account that this is not shade-loving flower, it loves diffused light.

Codiaum does not like drafts. The temperature regime is 20-26 degrees in summer, above 18 degrees in winter. At low temperatures codiaum leaves may darken and curl.

The plant loves humidity (70-80%). Spray regularly and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. For constant humidity, you can put a flower pot in another wider pot (fill it with peat with water or expanded clay with water. Above is a stand on which the flower pot is placed).

Fertilizer and watering the codiaum

There must be drainage at the bottom of the flower pot (water does not stagnate and the roots do not rot). It is necessary to water with separated warm water. Water when the soil is dry, but do not overdry.

For good vegetation, the plant is fertilized in the spring-summer period, for this, use regular fertilizers for home flowers. Top dressing lasts 2 weeks.

How to transplant codiaum?

Once a year, a young codiaum is transplanted, and mature plant transplanted as needed. Choose to transplant big pot, drainage is placed at the bottom (gravel, expanded clay, broken brick). Gently place the plant in a pot without damaging the roots, sprinkle with earth and lightly press the soil around the flower. Watering is required. Let the flower "rest" for a few days. Take the composition of the soil for transplanting - sand (1 part), peat (1 part), soddy land (1 part), humus (1 part), leafy ground (1 part). You can take the finished substrate in the store (deciduous plants).

Reproduction of codiaum

At home, codiaums do not bloom, so they do not propagate by seeds at home. It remains to propagate by cuttings.

The tops of the shoots or cuttings after pruning can be used to propagate codiaum (croton). Rinse the cuttings with water, and treat the cut with crushed coal (or a root stimulator). After 1.5 months, the cuttings take root. Monitor humidity (spray) and temperature (24°C and above). After the roots of the plant grow, it should be transplanted into a larger pot.

Codiaum presented big amount varieties, hybrids and varieties that differ in shoot height, unusual shape and variegated bright foliage.

The plant can be grown from stem or leaf cuttings. Most of the decorative varietal forms of the codiaum are quite finicky and need special conditions and careful care, otherwise the flower will shed its foliage. Also, pests, such as mealybugs, scale insects, etc., can settle on the plant.

Show all

What is Codiaum

Codeum is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and unites about 17 plant species, which are considered to be native to the lands of eastern India, Malaysia, Sunda and Moluccas.

Under natural conditions, codiaums are represented by:

• powerful (up to 5 m in height) trees with bare branches and bright foliage at the top;
• high and low shrubs;
• herbaceous forms.

With all the diversity of life forms, they have a number of common features:

1. 1. Shoots rich in milky juice.
2. 2. Petiolate leathery leaves are diverse different forms and variegated colors.
3. 3. Codiaums are dioecious plants: male flowers develop on one specimen, female flowers on the other. They are characterized by rare flowering, accompanied by the formation of small light flowers.

Codiaums (Codiaeum) are often called Crotons (Croton), believing that these are the names of one genus or plant. But this opinion is wrong.

Codeum and Croton - two different kinds that are part of the same family (Euphoriaceae). Of all the existing variety of types of codiaums, only one is cultivated - motley, or variegatum.

Codium motley

Codium variegated in European countries is widely known under the name "croton" (Plant).

This is a rather tall (from 50 to 150 cm) plant with lignified shoots and large (up to 30 cm) dense leaves of various shapes with well-defined and bright veins.

Depending on the conditions of existence (lighting, air temperature, soil composition) and the age of the plants, the leaves may have a different color. The palette includes all shades of green, yellow, orange, red and maroon, up to black, there are also patterns of stripes, strokes, spots and veins.



Examples of different shapes and colors of codiaum leaves




Seed setting is possible only in the case of artificial pollination, for this you need to have two plants of different sexes.

There is an opinion that after flowering, the codiaum dies off. This is not true. In the case of a healthy and strong plant, flowering is a natural process, indicating that it is comfortable.



Varieties

In nature, the motley codeum is represented various forms and varieties. Their description:

1. 1. Genuine variety combines plants with flat, lanceolate or elliptical leaves with a pointed tip and base. Top part the leaf is covered with a golden or silvery pattern of veins.
2. 2. Codiaums with flat, entire and oblong-oval leaves with rounded blunt apex and base are assigned to the oval-leaved variety. Their leaf blades are colored with bright golden yellow hues.
3. 3. Decorated include codiaums with flat, entire and oblong-oval upper leaves. The lower, or "second", leaves are narrow and elongated. Their veins are shaded with golden hues.
4. 4. The lapel-leaved variety got its name for the unusual shape of the leaf blades. They are flat, wide, almost oval, with outwardly curved edges.
5. 5. Codiaums with deltoid or heart-shaped foliage at the base, an elongated or linear and slightly pointed apex and slight spiralization are a tortoiseshell species. Their foliage is distinguished by pronounced variegation: a reddish central vein runs along an olive-green background, along it is a golden stripe. The entire surface of the leaf blade is strewn with irregularly shaped spots of yellow hues. On the same plant, golden and reddish leaves can be present at the same time.
6. 6. Three-lobed codiaums with a tripartite, wedge-shaped or deltoid base with leaves of various colors are ranked. The central and lateral golden veins are crossed out with spots of the same color or golden stripes.
7. 7. Wrapped variety combines plants with variegated broadly lanceolate, elongated and wrapped inwards, towards the stem, foliage. With this structure of the leaves, the crown takes on a spherical shape.



Representatives of some varieties of motley codiaum



Forms

In addition to varieties, scientists have identified several forms of codiaums.

The group of narrow-leaved codiaums combines plants with narrow (width 0.5-1.0 cm) long (15-20 cm) linear leaves, painted in green tones with a scattering of golden spots and stripes along the central vein.




The adnexal form combines plants with original leaves. Broadly ovate or lanceolate-ovate leaf blades narrowed towards the apex to a constriction resembling a leaf petiole. After narrowing, they again expand into a lobe of somewhat smaller dimensions in comparison with the lower one. The foliage is colored in shades of green, but there are also variegated forms.




Interesting representatives of the curly form (cultivar Spirale), which got its name because of the spirally twisted long and narrow leaves. They are divided into:

• linear-lanceolate leaves with a mesh pattern of golden veins on a green background;
• spiral curly with a golden midrib;
• lanceolate, arising from the stem at an acute (30-45°) angle with a rounded apex and an indefinite golden stripe along the central vein;
• longitudinally lanceolate, spirally twisted leaves with a scattering of golden spots on a green background.



Lobe-shaped codiaums are very popular with flower growers. They have green, with yellow stripes, large (length up to 22 cm, width - 7-10 cm) three-lobed leaves with an elongated central part and short side, separated by a deep notch.




Varieties

Each variety or form of the codiaum is represented by numerous varieties that differ in the height of the shoots, the color of the leaf blades and some features of the growing season.

The following are especially popular with flower growers:

• Peter;
• Excelent;
• Mrs Aiston;
• Mammy;
• Sunny Star.

Codiaum Petra

Petra's codiaum - high (in room conditions- 1-1.5 m) a plant with branched shoots and large petiolate, dense and smooth leaves with smooth edges.

Leaf blades are diverse in shape and color:

• can be oval and roundly elongated, pointed and with a blunt apex;
• painted in shades of green with a yellowish edging, a scattering of specks, spots and veins of golden yellow tones.

In young (upper) leaves, yellow and yellow dominate in color. green color. As they grow, reddish blotches appear.



For the picturesque view of the crown and unpretentiousness, this variety is popular among indoor flower growers.

Excelent

Codiaum Excelent, or Magnificent. His lush crown formed by densely arranged large petiolate leaves, shaped like oak leaves.




Young leaves of the exelent are painted in shades of green and golden yellow with pronounced veins. As they grow, they gradually change color to reddish, yellow and orange. The plant looks very impressive.

This variety of codiaum is distinguished by high demands on the conditions of detention.

Mrs. Aiston

The variety is distinguished by wide oval or oval-lanceolate, slightly shortened leaves with a clearly defined central vein, a smooth edge and a somewhat pointed tip.




Juveniles have a cream pattern. Growing up, they acquire pink and reddish hues. There are two varieties of Mrs. Aiston: with dark red, almost black and yellow leaves.

Mammy

Kodiaum Mammi is a low (35-50 cm) variety with smaller and narrower, in comparison with other hybrids, foliage of an unusual shape. Leaf blades have a slightly wavy appearance due to the fold along the central vein.




Mammy has a picturesque coloring. On one plant, speckled leaves of green, yellow and red shades can be present at the same time. The lower ones are painted, as a rule, in other tones.

Sunny Star

Sunny Star ( solar star) are easily recognizable by the special lemon-yellow color of elongated, oval-lanceolate leaves with a pronounced yellow central vein. Lemon-yellow shades towards the base and top gradually change to green. This color gives the plant a special charm.




A feature of the growing season of Sunny Star is a rare (not every year) and short (1 week) flowering.

Mix

When sold in flower shops, groups of unsold plants often remain. In this case, the entire batch is sold as a mix or mixture, which includes the flowers of the most different varieties, forms and varieties.




The concept of "mix" also refers to a mixture of various colors of plants within a variety, which is very typical for codiaums.

Reproduction of codiaum

Codiaums reproduce by seeds and vegetatively. The first method is practiced very rarely due to:

• difficulties in obtaining seeds: the plant rarely bears fruit at home, and the sale of codiaum seeds is a rarity;
• long and laborious process of growing a plant.

Vegetative propagation of codiaum is carried out using stem or leaf cuttings.

cuttings

Codiaums can be cut at any time of the year, but this process is more effective in the spring (April).

As cuttings use:

• semi-lignified tops of shoots about 10 cm long with a few (minimum 1-2) leaves;
• leaves cut from mature specimens.

After taking the cuttings, the sections on the mother plant are sprinkled with crushed coal. Cuttings before rooting process:

• put in a container with warm water or washed under its stream until the milky juice is completely stopped;
• dry;
• sections are treated with a root former (heteroauxin) or phytohormones, leaf blades are tied, forming a tube out of them.

Rooting methods

Rooting of cuttings is carried out in water or in a moist substrate. For the successful formation of roots, cuttings create greenhouse conditions:

• air temperature around 25 °C;
• high (from 70%) humidity;
• good lighting, excluding direct sunlight.

Water and soil used for rooting should also be warm. Liquid - 2-3 degrees warmer than air, soil - about 30 ° C.

Rooting in water

Distilled water at room temperature is poured into a small glass container and an activated charcoal tablet is placed. The lower part of the cuttings is immersed in a liquid, which is added as it is spent.

Wash the container once a week. The base of the cutting is wrapped in a damp cloth or cloth for this time. IN favorable conditions roots will appear in 1.5-2 months.



It looks like a codiaum petiole rooted in water

Rooting in the substrate

A light soil is used as a substrate, consisting of a mixture of:

• sand and peat, taken in equal quantities;
• sphagnum, sand, leaf earth (1:0.5:2).

The soil is placed in small containers, the size of which is selected taking into account the number of rooted cuttings. Moisten the soil before rooting.

The tips of the cuttings are placed in small depressions, compacting the soil around them. The container is covered with a transparent "cap" to create greenhouse conditions. Too large leaves are cut off by 1/3.



Rooted leaf cutting of codiaum

Caring for the cuttings consists in regular spraying of the leaves and moistening the soil. After 1-1.5 months, new leaves will appear. This indicates successful rooting. Young plants are planted in small (7-9 cm) individual containers.

Home care

Codiaum is a capricious plant. At the slightest error in the content, it “lowers”, and then drops, the leaves. But with a quick resumption of care, the leaves will rise or grow. Therefore, it is especially important to properly care for this plant.

This applies primarily to young, actively growing flower forms. Adult codiaums are "calmer", they have enough traditional care: watering and top dressing.

When caring for a plant, it should be remembered that its juice is poisonous, so it is better to carry out all care work with gloves, and at the end of them, wash your hands thoroughly.

Conditions for keeping the codiaum

For good growth and the development of the codiaum, it is important to observe the rules of illumination, temperature regime and air humidity.

Codiaum, unlike most tropical plants, does not need to organize mandatory winter dormancy in coolness.

• sudden temperature changes.

If the plant is kept cool for a long time (13-18 ° C):

• leaves fade and lose color brightness;
• the edges of the leaf blades turn brown;
• the lower leaves fall off.

The plant does not tolerate hypothermia of the soil, so in winter it is removed from the windowsills and placed closer to the heat source.

Air humidity

For codiaum, high (70-80%) air humidity is important. First of all, daily, and in winter and hot summers, repeated spraying of leaves or a warm shower once a month is necessary. This procedure is also good for the purpose of hygiene.

The lack of air humidity is diagnosed by the drying of the tips of the leaves and their shedding.

Watering

Codiaum requires regular watering. Its frequency is determined by the drying of the upper (1-1.5 cm) soil layer and is adjusted depending on the conditions of detention in a particular season:

• During the period of active growth, in spring and summer, water often and plentifully, avoiding stagnation of water in the pot and pan.
• IN winter time, at temperatures of 18-20 ° C and without illumination, watering is reduced, preventing the earthen clod from completely drying out.

Humidification is carried out with settled water at room temperature during the day.

top dressing

Codiaum develops well only in fertile soil, so it needs top dressing.

In spring and autumn, fertilizers are applied weekly, in winter - once a month, alternating the use of mineral and organic additives at a concentration reduced by two from that recommended in the instructions.

pruning

The beauty of the codiaum is in its crown, which must be shaped: regularly and correctly pinch or cut. The first pruning is carried out when the plant reaches a height of 15 cm, removing the top of the shoot, on which the growth points are located. In the future, the shoots are cut as they grow, every 20 cm.

In the absence of pruning, they stretch and gradually become bare, freeing themselves from the lower leaves. Only the top remains leafy.

Some flower growers cut the codiaum inflorescences, believing that they weaken the plant. But this is only true for already weakened specimens.

Transfer

The codiaum grows quite quickly, so young plants are transplanted annually. Adult forms - every 2 or 3 years, each time choosing a larger pot.

The transplant is carried out by the transshipment method, trying to save the entire earthen room:

1. 1. Place at the bottom of the new container good layer drainage.
2. 2. Soil is poured onto the drainage (a mixture of leafy and soddy soil with humus, peat and sand, taken in equal amounts), adding a few pieces of charcoal or activated tablets.
3. 3. An earthen clod is placed in the container, filling the remaining voids with the substrate.
4. 4. After transplantation, the plant is watered abundantly and placed in the shade for 2-3 days.

Caring for the codiaum is simple, but mandatory. Any violations in its observance lead to a general weakening of the plant and, as a result, the risk of damage by pests and the occurrence of diseases.

Pests and diseases

Diseases are not characteristic of codiaum, however, if the conditions of detention are not observed, the plant may look bad. This is expressed in a slowdown in growth, the appearance of dark spots on the leaves, the drying of their tips, the lowering and falling of the leaves.

Juicy shoots and large leaves of the plant attract pests - sucking insects that can cause significant harm to the plant: