Adding Color To Your Garden With Crotons
By Gardening Editor
Crotons are unlike any other plants and you'll earn comments from your friends and neighbors if you care for them properly and allow their colors to develop fully ...
If you want to add outdoor garden color, crotons are a great selection if you live in moderate climates. These beautiful, colorful plants can be grown in containers everywhere but will reach their optimal beauty when planted outdoors in full sunshine.
Crotons are members of the Euphorbiaceae family and the scientific name of the most common species is codiaeum variegatum. Planted outdoors, they are tolerate of sandy soil and even will tolerate salt air near the beach. Only in direct sunlight do their leaves take on the fullest color variations; in partial sun the leaves are colorful but not as brightly variegated. These plants originated in Bolivia and Ecuador. They tolerate heat extremely well but are not very tolerant of hard frosts. If you live in a southern area that has frosts, you can protect the plants by covering them with sheets if frost is predicted. In colder climates, growing crotons in containers is the only way they will survive the winter season of repeated hard frost and snow.
The 'gold dust plant' is a commonly seen croton. This shrub has bright green leaves with flecks of gold all over the leaves, hence the name. But the common croton is very pretty as well. The leaves range in shades from deepest reds and purples to bright greens, gold, and everything in between. Other variations include a mutation that has long, thin, twisted leaves.
These plants can be used to create a hedge when planted close together and allowed to grow to their full height which is usually four to six feet. You may also see these plants with three planted together and their stems braided. These make attractive specimens.
Indoors, crotons need to be given the most sun exposure possible to allow their colors to develop as much as possible. They prefer high humidity and do well when misted on a daily basis. These beautiful plants are well worth the trouble to keep them misted and happy because of their exceptional beauty.
In most areas, crotons are rather inexpensive plants if purchased as small specimens. They grow fairly quickly, so it is not a problem to purchase small plants and allow them to develop. Over a period of a few years, they will reach their full height.
Overall, you can add garden color with crotons indoors if you are too far north to enjoy outdoor crotons. These evergreen shrubs are unlike any other plants and you'll earn comments from your friends and neighbors if you care for them properly and allow their colors to develop fully.
Next article: About Composting For Your Garden
Featured Gardening Product:
|

|
The Gardener's Handbook - Learn How To Create Your Dream Garden |
| Get A Beautiful Garden - Learn how to create your dream garden. with easy, inexpensive, and rewarding simple steps that any gardening beginner or garden enthusiast can follow! The Real Gardener's Handbook includes book and audio mp3 book! Click here for more details ... |
More Articles About Gardening ...
Landscape Gardening Tips
Landscape gardening has often been likened to the painting of a picture. Your art-work teacher has doubtless told you that a good picture should have a point of chief interest, and the rest of the points...
5 Great Tips For Building A Compost Pile
Building a compost pile is easy; but composting efficiently (and safely) will require a little more effort. Following are some helpful hints for building a compost pile that is trouble-free.
1. EDIBLE...
The Composting Process - A Brief Overview
There is a great deal of organic waste that can be used to make compost. Small twigs, leaves, hedge and grass clippings and other organic materials, including some kitchen waste, can all be used in composting,...
Recommended Gardening Resources
Yardiac.com - The Ultimate Garden Center


For more information about Gardening-related resources, see our Gardening resources section, subscribe to our Gardening Newsletter containing news, updates and insider tips, or go to more articles about Crotons.
Related Topics ...
Search for more information on "crotons" below:
You are here: Home » gardening » Adding Color To Your Garden With Crotons |
|
|
|
Get Regular Gardening News And Insider Tips

Receive free practical Gardening tips delivered to your email box with contributions from gardening product reviewers, home and garden feature writers, gardening experts and gardening and landscaping professionals. Also receive access to valuable free resources as our gift to you.
Email Instructions:
Fill-in your First Name and primary Email below to claim your FREE gifts and stay up-to-date with the latest exciting news and information on Gardening!
Your privacy always comes first and your email address is never shared with anyone ever.
|
|
Gardening Facts & Tips
Using the water culture method provides the perfect amount of nutrients, water, and oxygen to your hydroponics grow system. This popular raised gardening method uses plants floating on top of a sheet of Styrofoam while a pump adds oxygen and nutrient filled water to the root systems of the plants. Lettuce and other water-based plants are ideal for this hydroponics grow system and other plants should be grown using other methods that are more suitable for them. Teachers also use the water culture method in their classroom as a teaching tool for their students.
|
|

Gardening Resources:
Magic Of Orchids - The Lost Secrets Of Growing Magical Orchids
Hydroponics Recommended Gardening Resource: Orchid Care - The Definitive Guide to Growing Orchids
The Magic Of Orchids - The Lost Secrets Of Growing Magical Orchids
According to fellow Orchid growers... DIY Worm Farm - Start Your Own Wormery At Home
Recommended Resource - Start Your Own Worm Farm
"Start Your Own Worm Farm - A Guide To DIY Backyard Worm Farming"
One of the best things you can do to help the environment is to reduce...
|
| Gardening Directory
Gardening Videos
Gardening (Home)
Gardening Tips
Garden Design
Gardening Resources
Related Topics
Garden Fountains



More Links
vegetable gardening garden island landscaping landscaping photos greenhouse
|
|