A red and green plant that isn't a poinsettia

[Schlyne]

It's a mammy! A Croton mammy.



As it gets brighter light, the leaves turn redder. The Plant House had one other that was more red, but I liked this one more. The leaves are also a little dirty from when I bought the plant, I haven't had a chance to clean them off.

[maiseymoo]

Looks interesting! Never seen one before, may have to have a look when i am next at the garden centre.

[patticake]

I love crotons, but they need a lot of humidity. We don't have any this time of year!

[krpot]

I have 2 of these. They're great at first but the leaves fall off easily if enough water/humidity isn't provided.

[Phalcycle]

Yeah, these guys require lots of humidity.
I'm not going to listen to the home depot "experts" anymore.
I asked them specifially if the Croton plants needed humidity (something my home has little of) and they blatenly said no, just so I would buy it.

My brother grows these, and during Halloween or Fall season, my garden centers start displaying these.

They need lots of humidity and water as stated

[lmartiny]

Crotons are very common down here. They are poisonious. Look them up so you will understand the potentials to you and your pets and kids.

[Tarad]

I think I have killed a couple of those myself.

[Purest_heart]

Those are every where around me! I've always been a color freak though!

[Schlyne]

Oh man, I was looking through some old threads to enter some orchids into my database when I ran across this picture. I wish my croton still looked like this. I neglected it a while back and it dumped a ton of leaves. Just as it was starting to recover and I put it outside for the summer, it picked up powdery mildew from my stupid tomato plant So it's recovering slowly

I've been really busy with school and stuff so I haven't been around much. I also finally gave in last week and finally bought Alcra. Pacific Nova 'Butter Buds' so I could have something in bloom. After the surgery I've had one plant bloom and other than that it's been one looooooong summer of green.

So hi, briefly

[tansyflower]

These a pretty common here too, I have four in the garden, two green ones with yellow spots, and two like the above one.

They root easily from cuttings.

However, I didn't know they were poisonous!! These are always being featured in garden mags, and never once have I seen a warning. Luckily, where they're planted, it is unlikely anything will eat one.

[katsrevenge]

I've had one of these for two years. I consider it a mark of pride I've managed to not kill it.

I just love the colors on them.

[orchids4me]

That's really cool looking, I've never seen one before.
Thanks for sharing it
Emmaye

[lmartiny]

I have picked up a number of these lately to use in some bed areas I'm either re-doing, or creating anew. There are a number of varieties. It is a good option for me as I can add color in shadier areas. But they do freeze. After last year's bad freeze, I swore I would not plant sensitive plants. But there I go....
I can see how these would be hard to maintain in a pot in inside conditions.

[Ray]

Without high humidity, crotons can be mite magnets! A quick google search turned up the following: Allergic dermatitis with skin rash developing after repeated contact. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea when ingested.

[Schlyne]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

There are a number of varieties. But they do freeze. After last year's bad freeze, I swore I would not plant sensitive plants. But there I go....
I can see how these would be hard to maintain in a pot in inside conditions.

Frankly, I forgot to water it and just didn't catch it in time before it dropped the old ones. Now it looks like it has helicopter fans, since it has no lower leaves, but it's producing new leaves.

If I kill plants, it's generally becuase I didn't get them enough water in time, not too much water. Or, I've drastically underwatered and then overdid the water "catching" it up

I think my kitten (pictured in the avatar, although she's over a year old now) attempted to nibble on it at first and play in it, but it got sprayed with bitter yuck and she got hit with the water bottle spray for a while until she learned to stay out of it.

I've got a Dreadlocks variety on order from The Plant House. She's got a nice one in right now, but I wanted something smaller than the one she's got in the shop.

[lmartiny]

You could try cutting it back some. It may promote it to bush out and fill in those areas.

[NancyG]

You can trim back. I've got them in my yard and that is what I do to keep them bushy.

[meanie]

That's something new for me - thanks for sharing.

I had to chuckle at Imartiny - I keep saying no more tender plants, the condervatory is full over the winter. So this summer I've added two Sollya heterophyla's, a Tibouchina, a tender Abutilon, a Clerodendrum thomsoniae and a Polygala myrtifolia!