Croton Codiaeum 'Tamara'

Upon receipt of your Croton (Codiaeum variegatum 'Tamara') you have several options:

• Stand it in an attractive planter with holes in the base. Cover the holes with a layer of gravel or potsherds and stand the plant, complete with nursery pot on top. The planter will need to be stood in a dish to collect drained off water.
• Pot it up into an attractive planter with holes in the base. Cover the holes with a layer of gravel or potsherds and add potting compost. Stand the root ball at the correct depth and fill the pot with compost around the roots. Press firmly down - leave a space of about 3 cm from the top edge of the pot. Stand the planter in a dish to collect drained off water.
• Stand it in an attractive planter without holes but do layer the bottom of the pot with gravel so the plant's pot is off the bottom. A wide planter is best as then you can see whether or not the bottom of the pot is standing in water or not.
• Or just stand the plant, nursery pot and all, on a dish - on a layer of gravel, or just directly on the dish.

The best spot for your croton The most perfect spot for your plant is:

1. One with lots of light but that is sheltered from the hottest mid-day sunlight - early mornings or evenings are not a problem (in fact it will appreciate it!). Usually somewhere around 3 metres from a window is ideal.
2. Somewhere warm - 18-23 degrees centigrade - wonderful if you happen to have under floor heating. Immediately next to or above a radiator will not be appreciated (it will dry the potting compost out too quickly, giving more chance of leaf drop).
3. Somewhere with high humidity (60-70%). Spraying the plant regularly will help - 2 or 3 times a day even!

Keep your Croton growing well with a weekly watering. Feed every two weeks using a plant food for green houseplants added to the water. During the summer you can water twice a week but only when the potting compost feels dry to the touch. Codiaeum variegatum 'Tamara' has a natural dormant period in November and December and will then require less watering and no feed. Continue as before after the dormant period is past.

In living rooms with a low humidity (< 50%) the plant will appreciate being sprayed once or twice a day. A chalky residue will show on leaves in areas with hard water so we advise using rainwater or cool boiled water to spray.

As the plant generally grows towards the light, it is a good idea to give it a quarter turn every month - standing it, pot and all, on a wheeled base makes this easier of course. Extra tips Although a fairly large houseplant, the Croton will appreciate being stood outdoors on a warm but rainy day. It will really perk up after a shower.

As in its natural habitat, it will regularly lose its lower leaves - do not worry if they turn yellow and drop off, as long as it continues to make new ones.

Remember all of the above and you can keep your Croton healthy and looking fresh for a long time.

Codiaeum variegatum is a robust and easy to grow houseplant. Perhaps more widely known under the old Latin name of Croton variegatum. In many countries, Croton has become the name in the local language.

This Croton is originally from the edges of the tropical rain forests and open forests of Asia such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Polynesian islands. It is used as decorative outdoor plant in (sub-) tropical regions of the world and can reach a height of 2 metres in those areas.

In temperate climes, the Codiaeum variegatum makes a wonderful and popular houseplant. The male flowers are white, the female more creamy coloured but flowers are more to be expected in tropical regions.

Codiaeum belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and as all members of this family; the croton (Codiaeum variegatum) has a toxic milky sap. There is however, under normal circumstances, no danger to anyone.