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Gardening

Crotons brighten holidays

By MARY COLLISTER
Published December 2, 2005

Now that Thanksgiving is past I guess we must begin seriously thinking about the holiday season. I spent the day after Thanksgiving quietly working in my yard - no Black Friday shopping for me!

I did very few chores, just mainly enjoyed being outside. I felt like that might be the last "down" time I get until the end of the year.

I've decided that the croton (Codiaeum variegatum) will be my gift plant of choice this season. The colors of the foliage are spectacular and it seems like the specimens I have seen in the garden centers are just more beautiful than usual.

The plant can be used as a houseplant for a few weeks and then planted in the garden if so desired. If you decide to give the croton as a gift, take a few minutes to write care instructions to go with it. This will help the recipient enjoy the plant for weeks or perhaps years to come.

I have seen croton in pots as small as 6 inches up to the three-gallon size, so you have many choices. You will also see a variety of leaf shapes and sizes, and different color variations and patterns. Once you get your plant home, you can take colored foil and wrap around the pot, or purchase a decorative pot for gift giving.

As a houseplant the croton will be unrivaled in attractiveness because of its showy foliage colors. Place your croton in either direct filtered light or early morning or late day sunshine to maintain its bright coloration.

Allow the soil surface to dry to the touch before watering. It's helpful to feed every other month with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Spider mites can be attracted to this brightly colored plant so watch for them. If not caught early, these pests usually lead to the demise of this plant.

Add to your instructions outdoor care, as these plants are a fantastic addition to the garden, adding year-round color with not much effort. Crotons with their colorful, glossy foliage and variation of leaf types are one of the most popular plants in South Florida.

They can also be successfully grown in the Tampa area with perhaps a little special care when frosts or freezes are predicted. Cold injury normally shows as the leaves dropping soon after cold weather.

Crotons may be pruned heavily during spring or other mild periods of the year. Attaining a height of 8-10 feet, they tend to produce the heaviest foliage at the top of the plant.

It is wise to cut back rather heavily to force new foliage lower on the stem. It is best to prune about one-third of the branches at a time. Wait until new growth starts before pruning again.

Crotons develop their best leaf colors when planted in full sun. Plants placed in shade or semishade tend to develop a large amount of green color.

Soil should be enriched with compost, muck or peat moss, and the plants fertilized regularly with a general purpose fertilizer such as 6-6-6 or 6-4-8 three times per year. Once established in the garden, the soil can dry between watering and will even survive a bit of drought.

Outdoors pests may include scale, mites, thrips and root rot diseases. Keep a close eye for trouble. If noticed early, a mild insecticide will be helpful.

If you are traditional and want that real tree each Christmas, here are a few hints to keep it looking good until the New Year. Every year about this time, Christmas tree lots spring up. You may also decide to purchase your tree at a local tree farm.

While most farms specialize in only one or two species of tree, the many different shapes and sizes available mean that trees are available to suit almost every taste. Finally, a visit to a tree farm can be a real outing both for you and your family.

If you do decide to purchase a Christmas tree from a commercial tree lot, the most important consideration is freshness. Many Christmas trees are trucked a considerable distance, sometimes across the nation, and days or even weeks may pass between the time the trees are cut and when they arrive for sale.

Always ask the vendor where the tree has come from and how long ago it was cut.

Carefully inspect your prospective purchase. Does it appear green and healthy with a fragrant smell and moist flexible needles or is there evidence of drying or browning?

Avoid any trees with broken branches or damaged bark. Bounce the tree lightly on its cut end if you can or shake it. Does this result in an inevitable little sprinkling or does it produce a shower or needles? If needles rain down, you might be wise to look around a little more.

The next consideration after freshness is size. Make sure the tree you buy will fit comfortably in the room and location you have chosen. Use a tape measure if necessary.

Check the bottom of the tree. Is there enough space between the end and the lowest branches to make a slightly diagonal fresh cut? At some tree lots they will do this for you.

Cutting an extra inch off the bottom before mounting your tree will greatly help water absorption and ensure your tree lasts as long as possible.

Be sure to make this final cut just before placing it in water. If it is exposed to the air for too long, the vessels will become blocked.

Once you get your tree home, make sure to place it in a bucket of water. Get it into the stand as quickly as possible. A Christmas tree should never be mounted dry, but rather in a container of water that is replenished on a regular basis.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, "Do not use additives in the water, including floral preservatives, commercial tree preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey, and other concoctions. Clean water is all that is needed to maintain freshness."

If you did not have the bottom of the tree cut at the lot, use a small handsaw and cut about an inch off the bottom at a slight angle to aid water absorption.

Make sure the tree is mounted securely in its stand and that the tree itself is positioned away from open flames or heat sources, which may dry it out prematurely.

After your tree has been mounted, the decorating begins. A properly maintained Christmas tree is not a particular fire hazard, but common sense is important too. Candles or open-flame ornaments of any kind should not be used.

Check strings of lights to ensure that the bulbs are working properly, that the cords are not frayed and that the connections are secure. Discard any that look questionable and replace with new strings. Never leave lights on when no one is at home. Now take the time to enjoy your tree before returning to the holiday frenzy!

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 09:34:11]