Croton occupies one of the places of honor among decorative indoor plants. And he has earned this right thanks to his tough leaves, which constantly delight the eye with bright colors. Just imagine, golden autumn in the house all year round - it’s amazing.
The indoor croton flower is also called codiaum and these names are considered to be synonyms, but from the scientific side, the second would be more correct.
Croton is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and there are only seventeen species of evergreen plants. And only one of them, codiaum variegatum, is most adapted to home conditions. This is what they used to call croton.
Popular beliefs
If you believe the signs, codiaum with red veins has gained notoriety - it can cause a fire in the house of its owner. However, it is this type that most strongly influences intersexual relations, giving them passion and fire.
As for magical properties, croton has powerful energy. It redistributes the energy flows in the house, repelling ill-wishers who have the goal of strengthening the owner’s spiritual strength.
The plant is capable of:
- Establish order in the house.
- Add determination and healthy self-confidence to your owner.
- Croton is a good assistant in business.
- It also perfectly smooths out rough edges in relationships between household members, absorbing the negative charge that they bring from the outside. As a result, fewer breakdowns occur, nervous tension is relieved, scandals and mutual discontent disappear.
As our ancestors said, croton heals diseases of the body and soul.
Why did the codeium bloom?
Croton blooms rarely, inconspicuously, and this is considered an unkind sign. Superstitious people claim that this is how the flower reacts to the release of negative energy and warns its owners of approaching danger . According to signs, the inflorescences that appear should be cut off, and warned people should be vigilant. In addition, a blooming croton will direct all its forces into the arrow and may lose its decorative effect.
Why do you dream?
According to astrologers, the power of Saturn lies dormant in the croton stem, and the warmth of the Sun circulates in the spotted leaves. If it blooms in a dream, then family life will bring many small joys, and if its leaves have withered, be prepared for difficulties in relationships.
Companion to creative people
For people who are creative, this indoor plant is a real find. It can give its positive energy to musicians, artists, designers, writers, journalists, embroiderers and other representatives of professions related to creativity.
The plant embodies the following energy flows:
Only together will these components have a beneficial effect on a person, giving him inspiration and new, vital healing sources of energy.
A green friend can also be kept by people who suffer from isolation, loneliness, and who do not know how to communicate and find a common language with other people. This plant cannot teach a person to speak, but it can help improve diction, add confidence in one’s words, and improve pronunciation. If you train your speech in a room where there is croton, then rehearsals will give positive results faster and will be much more productive.
Croton will help closed people open up
Is it possible to keep the plant at home?
From afar, the flower senses energy vampires who can cause harm to the owners, therefore, while in the house, it will make sure that people with bad intentions do not enter the home. The plant, according to signs, has a beneficial effect on the home environment, at the same time clearing the space of negative energy, bringing order to it and making the life of household members measured. Therefore, croton is not only possible, but also necessary to keep in the house.
However, there is a nuance - codiaum is poisonous . Its juice can cause a burn on the skin, as well as provoke vomiting, diarrhea, and contact dermatitis, but this is not the worst thing that can happen. If the juice gets into the bloodstream, then the person may not be saved - the poison of the plant is fatal.
Signs and superstitions about croton
Croton was also not spared by signs and superstitions. There is an opinion that this flower will perfectly take root in the home of creative individuals, because it is able to give inspiration and set people up to achieve new goals and create new creations.
It is also good to have it for those who often conflict with people around them, as this plant has a calming effect. If the owner of the flower is indecisive and constantly rushes between several options for solving a problem, then croton helps to become more decisive and self-confident. The plant helps to avoid rash actions and mistakes, as it rewards the owner with wisdom and foresight.
It is also useful to place this plant in offices of office buildings. It helps avoid work conflicts and improves work mood. Croton also helps develop eloquence. This is especially useful for people who cannot express themselves clearly.
Benefits of the flower
Croton releases special substances that improve the composition of indoor air. Where this indoor flower grows, one breathes easier, headaches disappear or are significantly weakened, and the condition of people with bronchopulmonary diseases improves.
The beneficial properties of codiaum are due to the presence of acids:
- crotonova – has antioxidant properties;
- vinegar - helps fight allergic reactions and harmful microorganisms;
- linoleic and oleic - fat-soluble acids - normalize metabolic processes and improve digestion.
As part of complex therapy, plant components help get rid of bad cholesterol and prevent the development of atherosclerosis.
However, scientific research has shown that the toxic resinous substances contained in croton have a pronounced carcinogenic effect. Therefore, official medicine cannot recognize it as a medicine.
How can it be dangerous?
We have already said that the flowering of croton is considered a bad omen. In addition, poisonous plants have always been treated with caution.
Who should not keep codiaum at home?
- First of all, hot-tempered and hysterical people . Croton increases energy levels, and it will be difficult to calm down in the same room with it.
- People who are too talkative . Do not start a croton if your household chats too much: you will have to completely forget about silence.
- Workaholics . Croton supports business activity at a high level, and if there is a workaholic in your family, there is a risk that he will completely disappear at work, forgetting about his family.
- Persons who make quick decisions . Croton will only enhance this quality, but speed is not important in every matter - often the problem requires a balanced approach to solution.
Feng Shui meaning
Codiaum protects the hearth and is the leader among indoor plants that can absorb negative energy. The flower has a positive effect on people's emotional state.
- If it is depression, croton will increase self-esteem and give a person inner strength.
- Outbreaks of aggression are neutralized by the wide leathery leaves of the plant.
- For people who have decided to radically change their lives, croton will become a faithful assistant in this difficult task.
According to Feng Shui, this flower creates a comfortable atmosphere, filling the space with active energy. However, given the properties of the plant, you should not place it too close to the bed .
Photo gallery
The ancestors of the indoor croton arrived on the European continent from the tropical jungles of India, Southeast Asia and Australia. To grow a variegated plant at home, you need to maintain a certain temperature and humidity in the room.
To achieve the greatest decorative effect of croton leaves, you need to follow certain care rules.
If you do not adhere to them, the plant will develop, but will not stand out among the green mass of flowers with bright colors.
Croton or codiaeum translated from Greek means “head”. For the bright colors of the foliage, this evergreen guest from the tropical forests received other interesting names:
- Joseph's cloak;
- colorful fireworks;
- solar star;
- home traffic light.
All names confirm the beauty of the plant and encourage you to get a pet in order to take care of it and enjoy the results of your efforts.
Croton belongs to the large Euphorbiaceae family, which has more than 1,200 species; most of them grow in tropical and subtropical climate zones. Codiaeums living in natural conditions occupy the middle layer of tropical forests, and some specimens reach a height of 3 m. Large variegated leaves correspond to the colorful flora of the tropics.
Codiaum is a perennial. Being in comfortable conditions, the shrub can reach 10 years of age. The older a flower becomes, the more capricious it is, so for beginner gardeners the lifespan of a plant is 3-5 years.
Indoor varieties of croton have a positive effect on the atmosphere of the room. Wide leaves clear the air of dust that settles on their surface. The flower needs regular watering, which helps maintain the humidity level in the room. The chemical compounds that codiaum releases into the environment have a beneficial effect on the nervous system of people.
Due to their large size, some species are best bred in greenhouses or winter gardens. Instances that grow no more than 1 m in height can be placed in apartments. It should be remembered that all representatives of the Euphorbiaceae family contain intercellular fluid consisting of toxic substances, and croton is no exception. In case of contact with skin or mucous membranes, the plant juice causes severe irritation; If swallowed, toxic substances cause poisoning.
When caring for a flower, you need to follow safety precautions and prevent juice from getting on open areas of the body, protecting them with clothing and gloves. The plant should be placed in a place inaccessible to children and pets.
Where is the best place to put it?
When placing croton in the house, it is worth considering several factors:
- The flower feels great in a well-lit room, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, which in spring and summer can burn its beautiful leaves.
- But in winter it is better to place the plant on a south window; during this period, direct sunlight will only benefit it. With a lack of light, the magnificent croton foliage will turn green, without yellow-red spots or veins.
- Croton does not like the proximity of heating devices and drafts. If the leaves of a flower become limp, change color and begin to fall off, try to find another place for it.
Croton feels good at a temperature of +20º...+22ºС, but it should not fall below 16ºС, otherwise the roots of the plant will begin to rot and the leaves will fall off. To help the plant in extreme heat, increase the humidity in the room.
