Kodiyum, or croton, is an attractive shrub that home plant lovers often decorate their homes with. And all thanks to the unpretentious nature and decorative appearance of the tropical guest. As a rule, those who start this flower fall in love with it so much that they start to reproduce codium at home. You will learn about how this event is held from our material.
Breeding methods
Kodiyum at home can be propagated in the following ways:
- cuttings;
- by seeds;
- by sheet.
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. But no matter which one you choose, remember that codium is a poisonous plant, so carry out all the procedures and activities for caring for the flower with gloves. And also be sure to wash your hands with soap after contact with the plant. Otherwise, communication with the codium will bring you a lot of dubious pleasures, such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea.
We grow a flower from the cuttings
This is the simplest method of propagation of codium (croton), and it can be carried out at any time of the year. But it is still advisable to start this event at the end of winter - the beginning of spring. At this time, the plant begins active vegetation, which has a beneficial effect on the survival of new specimens. In addition, at this time there is already enough light, and you do not have to arrange the plants with additional illumination with a lamp. And in the winter, for example, this event is indispensable.
To propagate the codium, select strong branches from the main or side stalk, and cut them with 8-15 cm long cuttings. Immediately after that, remove the lower leaves and rinse the blanks under running water to rinse the milky juice. Then, sprinkle the places of cuts with crushed charcoal and let the cuttings dry for two hours.
Next, fold the top leaves with a tube and fix them with a thread, and then plant the cuttings in containers or pots filled with a mixture of sand and peat. Be sure to sanitize the substrate before planting to destroy pathogens and pests that live in the soil.
How to care for cuttings
After planting, spray the soil with warm water from the spray bottle, and cover the plants with plastic wrap or glass. If desired, cut plastic bottles can be used. Put an impromptu greenhouse in a bright place where direct sunlight does not fall. In order for the cuttings to take root, maintain the temperature in the room within + 19 ... + 22 ° C. Ventilate the greenhouse daily and wipe off condensation. And also do not forget to periodically spray the landing with warm water from the spray gun, preventing the soil from drying out.
When the branches take root and begin to produce new leaves, transplant them into individual pots. At the same time, try not to damage the delicate roots of the flowers. To avoid this, transplant using the transshipment method.
Growing cuttings in water
A similar method of breeding codium produces good results, and at the same time saves you from having to equip a greenhouse. But this method has its own nuances, for example, you have to constantly keep the water warm. If there is such an opportunity, then, of course, it is better to choose this method of reproduction.
As in the previous method, for cuttings, choose strong branches with several buds and leaves. The length of the twigs should reach 10-15 cm. After cutting, rinse the workpieces and let them dry for a couple of hours so that all the milky juice flows out.
Dilute any growth stimulator in water, and heat this composition to a temperature of 25-30 degrees. Put the cuttings in the resulting liquid. To let the plants take root, keep the water warm. And periodically add new fluid. Keep the flowers in a well-lit place, but make sure that they are not exposed to sunlight.
As a rule, rooting takes 1-2 months. When the roots grow to a length of 2-3 cm, transplant young specimens into individual pots. In the future, provide them with the same care as adult plants.
Seed cultivation
This method of propagation of codium cannot be called simple, but it is suitable if there are no cuttings of the variety that you want to grow. But get ready that the seed method will take you a lot of time.
Croton seeds should be sown in the middle of winter, at which time the plants take root better. To make the Sentsi appear faster, be sure to prepare the seed. To do this, place it in water with a temperature of 60 degrees for 30 minutes, and then soak in a solution of growth stimulant for 24 hours.
For seed germination, use a universal mixture. Before sowing, warm it to 22 degrees, then evenly distribute the seeds, and sprinkle them with a layer of soil 0.5-1 cm thick. Cover the planting with a film or glass.
We are waiting for shoots
Keep the temperature in the greenhouse at + 25 ... + 27 ° C. Moreover, it is desirable to equip the bottom heating, or at least keep the container directly on the battery.
Do not forget about watering, but note that it is not recommended to spray the seeds with water, and it is better to moisten the soil by immersion. To do this, put the greenhouse in a basin with warm water, and keep it there until the substrate is saturated with moisture through the drainage hole. And after the event, do not forget to drain the excess water from the pan. And also remove the condensation that appears at the shelter.
Under such conditions, the first shoots will appear in a month. Once this happens, move the greenhouse to a brighter place, and gradually accustom the flowers to normal conditions. To do this, remove the shelter first for an hour, then for two, etc.
Regularly spray young plants with warm spray water. And when 2-3 real, not cotyledon leaflets appear on them, transplant them into individual pots.
Leaf propagation
Kodiyum can also be grown from a short stem stem with one leaf. But it is important that at least one sleeping kidney is present on such a blank. Otherwise, the plant, although it will release its roots, will not grow into a strong bush, because the leaf cannot shoot. Therefore, select sites with internodes, and cut them with a sharp knife.
As in the case of propagation of the codium by cuttings, it is necessary to rinse a piece of the stem with the leaf and let it dry for a couple of hours. Next, treat the slices with a growth stimulator and plant leafy cuttings in the prepared soil (a mixture of sand and peat).
It is not necessary to deeply dig the workpieces into the substrate; just slightly press them to the ground. Spray the landing with warm, settled water from the spray gun. Next, cover the makeshift greenhouse with plastic wrap or glass. That's all the simple rules of leaf reproduction of codium.
Home care for planting consists of regular spraying of the planting with warm water from the spray bottle, as well as periodic ventilation of the greenhouse. When the leaf stalk grows roots, and releases new shoots, transplant it into a separate flowerpot.
Soil for plants
Whatever method of breeding codium you choose, you still have to transplant young specimens into individual pots. And it is important that they are filled with a suitable substrate, because if you plant flowers in the wrong soil, then they are unlikely to take root.
A universal store mix intended for decorative and deciduous crops is suitable for codium. But also you can create a substrate yourself. To do this, mix the following components in equal proportions:
- peat;
- humus;
- sand;
- turfy soil.
If you create a mixture with your own hands, then do not forget to disinfect it first. So you destroy all the pathogenic microbes and pests that live in the earth. To do this, pour the substrate with a 5-centimeter layer on a baking sheet, add some water, and warm the soil in the oven at a temperature of 60 degrees for an hour. After disinfection, add some charcoal to the mixture.
As you can see, the reproduction of codium and care for the plant at home does not take much time and effort. Therefore, if you wish, you can grow a truly large collection of these attractive tropical flowers.