Wal-Mart Sale! New To Crotons

I know their general growing conditions. Any hints?

I would like to get more flowering plants but I just couldn't pass up the $1.75 price!

Even DH commented on how colorful the leaves were & that it didn't look like other plants I have.

here' some url
http://www.hortpix.com/pc1163.htm
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Euphorbiaceae/Codiaeum_variegatum.html
http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/codi_var.cfm

Well, I had one I put out on the deck this summer....it did great, but when the temps dropped in the fall I did not get it in soon enough, and I killed it :( I did not let it get frosted, but the nights were down around forty.

so, keep it warm!

Thanks MaVie! The sites were useful. I marked them as favorites & will fully explore them later!

u're very welcome ;). it is always a pleasure to help.

When I lived in the Philippines, my yardboy use to top them & just stick them in the ground, by the time (almost 2 yrs) we moved on base, my entire yard was solid around, with them covering the fence that went around my house. Was a cool sight if you can imagine a "croton" fence about 5' tall in all those beautiful colors.
MVR, hope that doesn't make you homesick or do you remember how easily EVERYTHING grows over there.

no Smokette, i am already aclimated to my life here in Ca. unfortunately, it is never easy for me to visit cause i always find myself leaving w/heavy heart each time i visit.

i know what u mean. everything grows nicely back there. do u remember the gardenia to grow like big bushes, we call them Rosal instead of gardenia. used to grow all kinds of orchids & hosta too.

one thing nice about gardening in the Philippines, friends and neighbors shares their plants with everyone. i am homesick for all the lovely fragrant flowers and plants we use to grow.

are u intending to visit the Phil. anytime soon?

I can verify MVR stmt about the gardenia. In the PI, I had one that got to be 6' by 5'. I know I am a Texan but that is no bull. Also, the more you picked the blooms, the more it bloomed. It was awesome with such rich green, glossy leaves & beautiful, fragrant blooms. I believe that old wives tale about watering it with vinegar & water.

This message was edited Thursday, Jan 31st 10:36 AM