Growing Croton Mammy Plant And Care
Codiaeum Mammy (Koh-Dih-EE-Um) is likewise known as Croton Mammy (KROH-tun).
Other common names you could listen to are:
- Mammy Croton
- Mammy Croton
- Croton Mammy
- Codiaeum variegatum
This broadleaf evergreen is a family member Euphorbiaceae. Tropical croton flora is perennials. However, in most USDA hardiness zones they have to be kept as annuals or stored interior all through the wintry weather months. Codiaeum is a fairly small genus containing approximately seventeen species of small evergreen trees and shrubs. It can be found in Northwestern Oceana and Southeast South East Asia.
There are many different croton sorts available to be used inside the landscape and as indoor plants which include petra croton.
They’re very popular because of their bright, brilliant, colorful foliage.
Croton Types:
Some of the opposite common croton sorts consist of:
- Croton Gold Dust
- Red Iceton
- Magnificent Croton
- Oakleaf
- Zanzibar Croton
- Mother & Daughter
- Eleanor Roosevelt
- Croton Petra
The genus name Codiaeum is derived from a Latinized version of the plant’s name within the Ternate vernacular. In which it’s miles referred to as Codigo.
Croton Mammy Plant Care Tips
Size & Growth
Mammy Crotons stand approximately 41” inches tall. Making the smallest cultivars in the Codiaeum genus.
Typically, the plant has an expansion of about 2.5’ feet.
Mammy has very distinct vivid, leathery, large, thick leaves.
Individual leaves are about 8.5” inches lengthy and an inch wide with an upright. Twisting, curling, corkscrew growth dependency.
The inexperienced leaves show a wide style of vivid colorings such as yellow, crimson, sun shades of crimson orange.
Colors are maximum extreme if you grow croton vegetation exterior in full sun.
Also Read: Dragon’s Tongue Plant Care
Flowering & Fragrance
Mammy crotons as with every croton produce small. Insignificant blooms all through its growing season.
Light & Temperature
Mammy does nicely in partial color to complete sun. For the first-rate leaf shade. A few direct sun and vivid light are important.
An immoderate amount of color reasons the leaves to drop at the lower quantities of the plant.
When kept as a houseplant. Be sure to offer a few protection from the direct rays of the solar magnified thru the glass as an excessive amount of sun can motive leaf scorch.
Protect your Croton plant from temperature extremes. This plant is not frost resistant.
Excessive warmth and sun can reason leaf scorch, and a surprising cold snap will cause leaf loss or loss of life.
Croton Mammy is simple to develop indoors or outside in a warm, tropical putting.
This plant is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones eleven thru 13.
Water Needs & Feeding
As tropical flora, Croton Mammy prefers a high humidity placing so don’t allow the plant to dry out.
Growing as a houseplant. set the pot on a pebble tray full of water to improve humidity levels at once around the plant.
- The perfect humidity degree is between 41% and 81%.
- Regular watering is vital, do not overwater.
- The soil must be kept wet, in no way soggy.
- Water Mammy Croton often and never permit the soil to dry out absolutely.
If you note the leaves browning alongside the edges. You’re the use of too much water. Cut returned on watering.
This tropical plant does now not go into dormancy, but it does reveal a natural resting duration all through the chillier months.
During this time, reduce watering and keep away from fertilizing.
Fertilize seasonally in the spring, summer, and autumn. Do no longer fertilize in the iciness.
Use an amazing high-quality granular fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer.
Soil & Transplanting
A Croton plant does nicely inside the soil of any pH degree but needs to have properly draining soil with plenty of humus to preserve the proper amount of moisture across the roots.
Grooming & Maintenance
Prune Mammy to hold an appealing shape and preserve its length underneath control.
Cut the stems lower back at the bottom.
But normal it’s miles low preservation.
How To Propagate Codiaeum Variegatum
Propagate plants from stem cuttings and dipped them in a plant rooting hormone.
- Place the cuttings in a moist, properly-draining combination of potting soil and sand.
- Cover with a plastic bag over the box and set it in a heat, humid region.
- Check daily to make sure the soil is slightly wet. You have to see new growth within a month.
- Once the slicing has evolved a root machine. Takes off the plastic cowl and puts the plant in a heat, humid, shady area for any other couple of months.
To propagate Croton in water:
- Take a slicing approximately 6.5” inches to a foot long and get rid of all of the bottom leaves.
- Place the leaf in a vase or jar of water and preserve it in a shady vicinity with a consistent temperature of 69° – 79° levels. Fahrenheit (21° C – 26° C) until you start to see roots forming.
- Plant the slicing in its personal pot and care.
No, remember what method you select to use, as soon as roots expand. Repot the reducing into the precise pot full of the light ethereal potting blend.
Mammy Croton Pests or Diseases:
Outdoors Mammy Croton reviews disorder and insect problems. The predominant pests encompass Mealybugs on Croton, Red Spider Mites, Scales, thrips.
Overwatering can purpose rot as with all indoor plant – outdoor flowers suffer as nicely.
Additionally, plant life interior may be a problem to infestation by way of mealybugs. Spider mites, and plant scale. Neem oil sprays are the top treatment answer.
Details on:
Croton Plant Diseases
Croton Pests
Is Mammy Plant Considered Toxic or Poisonous?
Croton flowers are not encouraged for homes or agencies wherein kids and animals are present.
Every part of this Croton plant is fairly poisonous, and the seeds probably deadly.
Ingestion of another part of the plant can cause gastric distress. Which includes vomiting, diarrhea, and a disillusioned belly.
Contact with the sap of Croton plant life can motive hypersensitive reactions and even eczema in a few people.
Be sure to shield your hands with gloves and put on long sleeves and eye protection while pruning or handling this plant.
Is Mammy Considered Invasive?
This shiny, compact, quiet plant is often used within the panorama in semitropical regions inclusive of Florida and California. And it has naturalized in those states.
Croton vegetation is located developing obviously in the Pacific islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia.
Suggested Uses For Mammy Crotons
Crotons are quiet with colorful leaves, easy to grow, and irrespective of if used indoors as a residence plant. Outdoors as a box plant, or as landscape plants, make an exquisite declaration.
These shiny, colorful flora with multicolored leaves make lovely additions, and focal factors adding a tropical contact to frame gardens. Field flora, or as a specimen, foliage plant to convey a tropical accent for your lawn.
They are quite pretty whilst used as a poolside potted plant, but keep in mind direct touch with the sap will cause skin inflammation.
Take care to maintain them off the overwhelmed track.
In areas wherein Croton plant life isn’t wintry weather hardy, use it as an annual.
Alternately, convey Croton indoors for wintry weather to use as a houseplant.
You may additionally desire to hold your Croton Mammy as a houseplant all yr spherical.
To get the excellent color and keep your plant at its healthiest. Make certain to provide it a vivid spot with lots of mild and the right amount of moisture.
