My Croton collection up north

[RonDEZone7a]

I seem to be one of the only ones posting here that doesn't live in "croton country". I live in Delaware but I've managed to have a decent croton collection in pots. This is my back patio where most of my collection lives during the summer. I also grow other tropicals and sub-tropicals, like palms, citrus, bananas, etc.

Here are my oldest crotons. The one on the left is a "Petra" I think, purchased at my local Acme in 1982. The one on the right is an "Andreanum" I think, which I got as a cutting from my aunt's house in Hollywood. Florida in 1969 when I was 11 years old!

Here is the "Petra" up close. It's foliage is quite variable - if it is a "Petra" it's not like the perfect ones they seem to sell today.

Here is the "Andreanum" up close.

I will post more photos after this (I got a message that there's a 4 photo limit?!?!?).... please feel free to correct me if you think I have any of the cultivar names wrong!

 

[Jeff Searle]

Ron,

Thanks for the great pictures and your collection of other tropicals as well. Glad to have you here, especially from a different part of the country. Your names are correct.

BTW....I grew up in Hallandale and went to South Broward High, home of the Bulldogs. Class of "76" !!! A small world......


Jeff

 

[RonDEZone7a]

Here is more of my collection. These are some of my smaller plants. Back row (from left to right) is "Rainbow", "Mammey", and "Mrs Iceton". Front row are all "Bananas".

Here are some "Red Batiks" I got off eBay. This variety is growing on me...

My "Franklin Roosevelt", one of varieties I really wanted to acquire - thanks Lee!

This one someone gave me as a "Banana" but the leaves are narrow and not curly. Lee from Tampa suggested it might be "Sunny Star". Jeff / anyone, can you confirm?

 

[RonDEZone7a]

Here is some of my future croton collection. These are cuttings that Lee from Tampa sent me earlier this summer. I can't remember all the varieties (without looking at the tags - don't worry Lee, I didn't mix them up!) but I know they include "Stoplight", "Pride of Winterhaven", and "Disraeli". I tried rooting most of them in this terrarium, over which I put some celophane.

The taller ones I rooted in this giant bag Lee sent them in.

As I mentioned earlier, we've had a cool summer up here so rooting has been slow. To speed things up and get some new growth going before winter, I've had this grow light over the terrarium for a few weeks now - and rooting progress has been pretty good.

I think it's important that I have well-rooted plants before I subject them to cooler / dryer conditions inside for the winter. Luckilly, I put this sunroom on the back of my house a few years ago so my crotons (and I) have a nice winter "habitat". I keep the heat on low side in here because it helps keep the humidity up - mid-winter temps in here are 60s by day / 50s by night - my tropicals all do fine like that.

 

[Moose]

Ron - I am more than impressed. Your dedication qualifies you to be annoited as a super crotonhead! Visitors to your garden in the summer must be in awe.

Best regards,

Ron.

 

[RonDEZone7a]

Ron / Jeff,

Thanks for the compliments! I do my best to promote crotons up north. Unfortunately, the closest thing we can grow up here in Delaware is Aucuba japonica. Not a bad immitation croton really... especially if they could ever splice some red croton genes into them.

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

Ron, the plant looks fabulous! I keep wondering what some of the locals up there say when they see these tropical beauties. Some folks up there have probably never been exposed or noticed these plants before seeing them around your place.