Nine years ago I wrote about the coloured leaves of this houseplant. Now I have got interested in oil painting and this plant makes a dream of a subject for this week. This is what was published at the time and I recommend a later more detailed post. Read also about Croton the other name for Codiaeum,and related houseplants

‘You do not need flowers to produce colour in your houseplants. In addition to Begonia Rex and its relatives why not try growing some Codiaeum, an easy to maintain leafy plant.

Codiaeums are interesting foliage house plants also called Joseph’s Coat.

Codiaeum Cultivation Tips

• This variety is called ‘Petra’ but you may also find ‘Eugene Drapps’ with long lance shaped leaves almost entirely yellow.
• Keep plants moist and in good light with a temperature of at least 60-70° F.
• Root 6 inch cuttings taken from the top of the plant at 70° with a bit of bottom heat.
• Plants can be encouraged to branch by pinching out the growing tip.
• Frequent feeding is needed except in winter when growth slows.
• Large plants will have lots of roots so it may be worth potting up a size using loam based compost.
• Red spider mite can be a problem with Codiaeums
• Without good light but not full scorching sun the colouring will not be as strong and bottom leaves may be shed.’