Bright colours in my garden

Crotons are easy maintenance plants

Every garden in our old Bengaluru had at least a dozen Crotons (Codiaeum variegatum). They were grown as tall shrubs, usually in drive ways to a bungalow and were chosen, simply because they were easy to grow and did not require much maintenance. In fact, we have a Croton which has grown in our garden for two generations, which makes it 150-years-old and it is still in fine fettle.

The Croton appears to have it all — colourful foliage, nearly limitless leaf forms and an old Bengaluru, cultish following. But these plants cannot be grown indoors. However, you can grow them on the slimmest of balconies.

Looking into the history of the plant, a website says, the generic name comes from the Greek word (krótos), which means ‘tick’ and refers to the shape of the seeds of certain species. Sonali Menezes Sequeira, an old Bengalurean, living in British Columbia says, “I saw them in Hawaii and was so thrilled because they reminded me of home.”

For first time growers, we list a few of the best growing conditions for Crotons. They need bright, indirect light. They do not like unfiltered, direct sunlight, but thrive in dappled sunlight. If you want vibrant colours, put them in bright light. Keep the plant evenly moist in hot summer and reduce watering in the winter to bi-weekly.

A well-drained soil with compost added is perfect for them to thrive in. Repotting is important. Use a container, only one size larger than the plant’s current container. Put one to two inches of damp compost-based mixed soil into it and replace the plant in it. A well-grown dwarf Croton keeps its leaves all the way to the soil level. These plants respond well to trimming, so if a Croton becomes scraggly, prune it back hard. The plant will regrow from the cut portion. And, remember if you want vibrant leaf colours, that depends on lots of bright, shifting sunlight.