Codiaeum Common name: Croton	Indicates sun requirement      Full sun      Half sun      Semi-shade      Shade   Indicates Water requirement         High water requirement.     Water every 1-2 days.          Medium water requirement.     Water every 3-7 days.          Low water requirement.     Water every 7-14 days.
Description About 15 species of evergreen perennials, shrubs and small trees. All are native to tropical Asia, far northern Australia and the western Pacific Islands. The plants have magnificent foliage with showy, leathery, often variegated leaves. The small insignificant flowers are star-shaped, usually yellow and appear in spring. They are popular garden plants in tropical and subtropical regions where they do well in borders or as specimen plants and the larger-growing cultivars make good hedging plants. In temperate climates they make good indoor or greenhouse plants. One species, Codiaeum variegatum, has given rise to a large number of cultivars with highly colored and sometimes bizarrely shaped leaves.
Growing They will not withstand prolonged cold or dry conditions and require a very warm climate and well-drained, moist, humus-rich soil. Grow in sun or dappled shade. In tropical areas they can be grown in shade. In cool climates or where they are grown under cover or as indoor plants, they need maximum light but can scorch in direct sunlight. Outside the tropics Codiaeums can also be grown indoors for the winter and placed outside for the summer, but they must be tended carefully; they are demanding hothouse types. Water regularly. Feed and moist regularly during the summer growing season. Alternatively use a slow release fertiliser twice a year. To maintain their foliage color, cultivars must be propagated vegetatively, usually by cuttings. Propagate from tip cuttings or by layering in spring or by taking softwood cuttings in summer. SPECIAL PROBLEMS: Pests:   Watch out for mealybugs. Other : Contact dermatitis may occur as a result of handling these plants.            (It’s a good idea to wear gloves, just in case ...)