Croton Mammy Care and Growing Guide are easy and simple! Read on to learn how to grow it in the best possible way!
Croton Mammy is a darling houseplant to add to your collection with complete leaf forms and colorful variegated foliage. From hundreds of varieties to choose from, you can enhance the charm of your home decor with any of them. Follow our article to learn more about Croton Mammy Care and Growing Guide here.
Botanical Name: Codiaeum variegatum
USDA Zones: 11-12
Croton Mammy Plant Characteristics
Croton Mammy can work best outdoors in hot and humid climates. The plant loves to grow in full-dappled sunlight and lots of water. It can be challenging to mimic the same ideal growing conditions indoors.
This plant can grow up to 6-8 feet tall when grown outdoors or 3-5 feet indoors and thus make for an excellent indoor container plant. This variety is a slow-grower that gains less than a foot every growing season.
The foliage is an explosion of colors and can look fantastic in any space. It is essential to maintain warm and humid conditions for the plant, or it starts to lose its leaves. Croton Mammy is also an air-purifying plant that adds humidity to the environment and improves productivity and mood.
However, make sure to grow it in a spot that is out of reach of children and animals, as this plant is toxic.
Croton Mammy Plant Propagation
Croton Mammy plant propagation can be done via division. The best time to propagate is when the temperature is around 70-80°F or 21-26°C. Make sure to cover the container using a plastic bag for higher success. You can remove the bag after 7-8 days, and remember to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Place it in a location where it receives ample bright, indirect sunlight. Gently tug at the plant to know if the roots feel taut; then, you can transplant it into a bigger container or on the ground. New roots should grow in 3-4 weeks.
Requirements for Growing Croton Mammy
Location
Croton plants require a fair amount of sunlight to grow best, and you should place it near one of the brightest windows indoors. Any place that receives bright but indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours is the ideal spot for this plant. Insufficient sunlight can make its leaves turn green.
Soil
Croton needs evenly moist, well-draining soil that is loaded with compost. It loves acidic, humus-rich soil.
Watering
Keep the plant happy growing in evenly and consistently moist soil in Summer. The plant needs about 1-1.5 inches of water every week. You can reduce the water in winter to once in 15-20 days. Always poke your finger to check the soil’s moisture level before watering. It is best to wait for the top 2-4 inches of the soil to dry out. You can mist the plant once every 4-7 days during the active season.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep the room temperature above 60°F or 15°C when growing the Croton plant indoors, and do not expose it to any cold windows, vents, or drafts. The humidity level should be maintained between 50-80 percent, depending on your living zone. If it is less humid, place a humidifier near the plant to increase the level. You can even try to grow the plant in groups with similar growing needs.
Croton Mammy Care
Fertilizer
Use an acidifying fertilizer that contains sulfur-coated urea, ammonium sulfate, or ammonium nitrate in the ideal NPK ratio of 3-1-2 or 8-2-10. Feeding this plant in spring, summer, and early fall is best with a liquid fertilizer at half-strength.
Pruning
It works well with regular trimming and if you notice it becoming leggy, prune it back hard at the start of the growing period. Get rid of unhealthy leaves and branches and maintain them at a desired shape and height.
You should cut above a leaf set or node and not remove more than 1/3 of the stem at once.
Pests and Diseases
Croton Mammy is prone to common diseases like crown gall and anthracnose. Some common pests attacking this plant are mealybugs, thrips, aphids, scales, and spider mites. You can use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to treat the infestation. Do not leave the plant untreated for any disease or infestation, as it can destroy the foliage and even kill the plant.
