Alba Variegata Caricature Plant (graptophyllum pictum)

You will love your new crotons! ABOUT THIS CROTON PLANT Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllum Plant (Jamaican Croton) – Beautiful tri-color green and cream on rigid stems. Graptophyllum make an amazing accent plant for the patio or garden. Delicate flowers emerge from the stem tops once a year much to the enjoyment of the butterflies. Easy to grow and care for and a unique addition to any plant collection. This plant is never out of style. (Graptophyllum are easy to share, cuttings root quickly in water) Potted in front of a sunny window or added to the landscape Graptophyllums are a great way to quickly create a tropical space. We offer over 35 varieties to choose from, that come in a multitude of colors and patterns with leaves that range from small to huge and smooth to twisted. The growth rate of Alba Variegata Caricature will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. A few leaves are often trimmed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress. QUICK SPECS OUTDOOR Zone 10-11 PATIO Zone 4a-11 SOIL TYPE Rich Moist % SUN 80-100% POT SIZE 2x2x7″ Deep INCLUDES One Plant GRAPTOPHYLLUM PLANT CARE Graptophyllum are colorful, easy to grow plants that are indoor hardy and require very little attention. Graptophyllum are excellent houseplants that withstand more neglect than almost any other plant. In the landscape Graptophyllum grow happily in a pot or when planted directly in the ground. They add a colorful accent to any outdoor space, garden or patio. In cooler zones a containerized Graptophyllum can be relocated indoors for the winter months. When you receive your new Graptophyllum, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water and moving it to a shady location, simply water when dry. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new Graptophyllum. CONTAINER SIZE All Graptophyllum varieties grow very well in containers, indoors or on the patio. Smaller varieties grow best indoors in 8″ to 10″ diameter pots while larger varieties need enough room for growth, generally a 10″ to a 20″ diameter, 18″ deep container will suffice. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your Graptophyllum will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow, at that point it is time for a larger pot. SOIL Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllums enjoy a well drained, general purpose potting mix easily found at your local box store. Remember try to stay away from arid or wet, mucky soils. FERTILIZER To help establish your new Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllum, fertilize sparingly a few inches away from the base, tri-annually with a slow time released product. Unfertilized they will tend to grow at a slower pace. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant. Its best to use a brand you know and trust. GROW ZONE & LIGHT Best outdoors if grown in zone 10-11, find your zone here. This Graptophyllum requires 80-100% sunlight. Depending on your location partial sun is often best. In the northern end of their grow zone Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllums should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 4b-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before winter. BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS At the nursery these Graptophyllums are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant this Graptophyllum in a brightly lit area you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting. WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE All Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllums for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, -6 or -8 will arrive in a standard 4 inch, 6 inch or 8 inch round growers pot respectively. Our new, reusable, recyclable deep plugs are 7 or 9 inches deep and 2 or 2.5 inches in width. Products growing in these pots are easy to transplant and allow for deeper roots and faster growth, they are designated with a sku ending in -7 or -9. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge. For more information, click the “best packaging” link at the bottom of this page. Note: Before leaving, Graptophyllum plants are inspected, watered, and pruned. Larger plants, generally those that ship in 8″ pots, will be topped to 36″ or 48″ overall, depending on the variety, if necessary, to facilitate shipping. Your new plants’ pot is then bagged to ensure that the soil stays in the pot and not loose in the box. Plants are tissue or kraft paper wrapped and generally secured in place with natural biodegradable peanuts. You may want to order your Alba Variegata Caricature Graptophyllum Plant (codiaeum variegatum) online now while they are in stock, supplies are limited. Zone.10a Zone.10b Zone.11a Zone.11b