Caring for the Codium indoor plant at home (+26 photos)

Codiaeum is a very beautiful ornamental foliage plant. Although it can flower, its aesthetic value lies in its extraordinary leaves. The flower is also known as croton and codium.

The first name is a misnomer, as croton and codiaeum are completely different plants. "Codium" is a common name for "codiaeum." There are several varieties of this flower, and you can choose your "right" codiaeum simply by looking at a photo. Since home care for different species is virtually identical, you can purchase several plants at once without worrying about creating complications.

Characteristics of the Codium variety and species diversity

Codiaeum is a shrubby, herbaceous, or woody perennial plant. Indoors, it grows up to 1.5 meters. Its leaves are the plant's ornamental value. Depending on the species, the leaf blade can be oval or lobed.

All codiaeums have firm, succulent leaves. The leaf surface is smooth and glossy, with distinct veins. Leaf coloration is varied, featuring a combination of several colors. Many species have leaves with wavy, often curled, edges.

Main types of flower:

1. Codium variegatum is the species from which all other hybrids used in indoor gardening originated. Representatives of this species are distinguished by their variegated leaves. The outer surface of the leaf is dark green with bright yellow veins. The underside of the leaf can be green or dark red with honey-colored veins.

   

   

   

2. Codium petra is characterized by dark green oval leaves with light yellow wide veins. With age, the underside of the leaf takes on a reddish hue. A border of the same color appears on the outer surface of the leaf.

   

   

3. Codium Excellent has lobed leaves, the color of which depends on the age of the blade. Young leaves are light green with prominent lemon veins. Older leaves have a dual color: an olive-toned outer surface with honey veins and a burgundy inner surface with prominent light veins.

   

   

4. Codiaeum Mummy is an indescribably beautiful flower with spiral-shaped leaves. Fresh leaves are bright green. Over time, the leaflets turn scarlet. The oldest leaves are dark burgundy.

   

   

5. Codium Sunny Star features elongated leaves with a striking coloring, featuring a sharp transition between lemon and rich green. Some leaves have equal amounts of green and yellow, while others are only speckled or veined in a specific color.

   

6. Codium Mix boasts an indescribable color palette. Its medium-sized oval leaves come in a myriad of colors. These include combinations of lemon and bright green, pale lilac and burgundy, light green and dark green, olive brown and pale pink.

   

   

7. Codium Gold Sun has oval leaves. The outer side of the leaves is a rich shade of green. The entire surface is densely speckled with yellow. The underside is paler in color.

   

8. Codium Tamara features elongated leaves with a corrugated edge. The leaves are variegated with sharp shades of white and dark green. Looking at the flower, it looks as if milk has been spilled on it.

   

The secrets and challenges of caring for codiaeum at home

Codiaeum is a very capricious and demanding plant. It must be grown strictly according to established guidelines. Otherwise, the flower begins to lose its decorative and aesthetic value.

Basic rules of care

The basic rules for caring for codiaeum are presented in the table.

Diseases and pests

Crotons are susceptible to attacks by scale insects, aphids, and spider mites. Infested plants should be treated with a solution of any insecticide, such as "Thunder," "Grizzly," or "Mukhoed." For heavily infested plants, repeat the treatment several times.

This plant signals problems through its leaves. Withering tips indicate low humidity or low room temperature. Drooping leaves indicate overwatering. If the air in the room is too dry, as often happens during the heating season, the plant may even drop all its leaves.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home

Young plants require annual repotting. Mature codiaeums are repotted as the roots fill the pot, but at least once every three years. Repotting is done by transshipment. Any remaining voids in the pot are filled with fresh soil.

At home, the flower can be propagated in three ways:

• cuttings;
• seeds;
• layering.

Apical cuttings

You can get codiaeum from a cutting in the following way:

1. A large leaf is cut from the mother bush and placed in water for 1-2 hours (to drain the juice).
2. Then the leaf is rooted in a peat-sand mixture (1:1), the soil is abundantly moistened.
3. A cap is placed over the cutting (a cut-off bottle made of transparent plastic is suitable for this).

The cutting is moistened and aired daily for about half an hour. Rooting occurs within 1.5-2 months. As soon as the cutting produces a couple of new leaves, it is repotted like an adult plant.

By layering and seeds

Some hybrids of this flower branch. These species can be propagated by layering. To do this, the woody vine is pinned to the soil with a staple. The top of the vine should remain exposed to the air. The top of the vine containing the staple is covered with soil. When replanting, the rooted vine is cut from the mother plant and planted in the soil like a mature plant.

To grow codiaeum from seeds, you need to do the following:

1. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator for 24 hours.
2. Then they are sown in a sand-peat mixture (1:1). There is no need to bury the seeds; simply tamp them down with your fingers.
3. The soil containing the seeds is watered using a spray bottle. The container is covered with plastic wrap.

Care for seedlings is similar to the care described above for cuttings during the rooting period. The first shoots appear three weeks after sowing.

What is the danger of codiaeum for humans?

Ignoring the superstition about blooming codiaeums bringing misfortune, the plant's only danger lies in its toxicity. All parts of the flower are toxic. The plant's sap is especially dangerous to human health and life.

When damaged, the plant releases a toxic sap. Contact with skin causes burns and contact dermatitis. Ingestion of the sap can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms of food poisoning.

Handling codiaeum should only be done with gloves. Never allow codiaeum sap to come into contact with damaged skin (cuts, hangnails, open wounds, trophic ulcers, etc.). Sap that enters the bloodstream causes severe intoxication. If the victim is not taken to a hospital promptly, they may die.

From the above, it can be concluded that keeping codiaeum at home is possible, but it must be done wisely. Families with small children or pets should avoid growing this plant.

History of flower cultivation and signs

Codiaeum is an ornamental foliage plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. In the wild, it grows on the Pacific islands. Of the 17 existing species, only the Variegated Codiaeum and its hybrids are used in indoor gardening. The other species are very demanding, and creating suitable conditions for their normal growth is virtually impossible.

There are many superstitions associated with the codiaeum. Most of them portray the flower in a positive light:

1. The codiaeum is a kind of guardian of its home. The flower protects the home from the influence of negative energy, thwarting any attempts by ill-wishers to bring evil into the home.
2. The flower helps overcome indecision. It has a beneficial effect on its owner, giving them determination and the strength to make difficult decisions. The plant also restores self-confidence.
3. Codiaeum helps creative individuals find the right mood. It also helps them realize their full artistic potential.

   

4. The plant brings common sense, protecting its inhabitants from rash and frivolous actions.
5. The flower is able to improve relationships in the family and harmonize communication.
6. The plant forms a kind of shell around its host. This shell protects the host from disease and wards off danger.
7. Codiaeum promotes the development of eloquence in its owner. It becomes easier for a person to communicate with others and establish connections.

But a blooming codiaeum is considered a bad omen. It promises trouble and disappointment.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Codium is a very beautiful, yet difficult-to-care-for, ornamental foliage plant. Its toxic sap makes it dangerous to eat.

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