Croton Iceton Iceton

Croton Iceton

Origin

The origin of the Croton comes from Asian countries such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia. The Croton still grows in the wild there. The croton comes from the Crotoneae family. Known in the Netherlands as the Euphorbia family. There are many varieties that are mainly distinguished by the different colors and shapes of the leaves.

Watering

Because it is a tropical plant, it is important to always keep the soil slightly moist. You can let the plant dry slightly before watering again, make sure that the roots do not remain in the water because of the root rot that occurs. in the growing period that runs from March to August a little more water than in winter.

Substrate

If the pot is provided (or you provide it yourself) with a substrate and a water meter, watering is easy! On arrival there is little water in it, fill the pot slowly with water (sometimes wait) and you will see that the meter will rise by itself. All you have to do is keep an eye on this meter. If you go on holiday, you can fill the jar almost half full (you can see this from the meter that is well above its maximum) and you can safely leave for 3 weeks. In addition, it is also not a problem if the plants are not watered too much and too quickly. The substrate absorbs the water, so when the water meter is at the bottom, the substrate is still moist, but there is no more water at the bottom of the pot. The plant then still has enough space for 4 summer days.

Spraying

Spray the Croton regularly to remove dust from the leaves and prevent pests. Preferably once a week. If you heat the room, it is even recommended twice. Spraying also improves the quality and ornamental value of the houseplant.

Location

The Croton does well in a lot of light. This beautiful variegated plant prefers to be placed on a window facing north, east or west. The croton needs at least 5 hours of sun per day. If you place the plant near a south-facing window, then place +- 2 to 3 meters away from the window, otherwise the plant will get too much direct sunlight. If this houseplant is lighter, the leaves will color more. If the leaves are dark, give more light.

Minimum temperature
During the day 18 ° C

At night 12 ° C

Nutrition

Only feed the Croton in spring and summer. In winter it is rest period for most plants, then do not feed. Never give too much as this can lead to burning of the roots. Look on the packaging for the correct dosage.

Replanting

It is best to transplant a Croton into a larger pot once every two years. The best period for transplanting is spring or immediately after purchasing the plant. A larger pot will stimulate growth and the advantage is a larger buffer soil so that the water is more spread and there is less chance of root rot. Always take a pot that is 20 to 25% larger and do not use Hydro granules on the bottom of the pot. It is best to use a plastic insert sleeve for large pots.

Leaf damage

If a Croton is in the ideal place with regard to light intensity, the leaves will be more colorful. If the leaves of the miracle bush become dark, it is better to place the croton closer to a window. If the codiaeum gets dark edges, the cause is often too much water. With constant leaf drop, the plant will likely have too much water or too little light.

Pruning

It is best to prune a Croton in the autumn. You do this by sawing off the trunk at the desired height. The trunk will start bleeding after cutting. You can stop this bleeding with wax or cigarette ash. The advantage of cutting is that the plant receives more light and remains more compact. The Croton will branch at every branch where it is pruned. This gives you a nice full room or office plant.

Toxic

The juice of the croton that is released after cutting can irritate, and the juice also stains when it comes into contact with clothing.

Diseases

With the thicker and full plants, check the leaves and trunks now and then to see if there are any pests there. Common diseases are Spider mites and mealy bugs. Mealy bugs can be caused by drafts on the plant. Spider mites through dry air (think of a floor trench. Use a biological or if desired a chemical pesticide to treat the plants.

The Croton Iceton or also called miracle bush is a versatile plant that occurs in many variations.