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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Wednesday Vignette

Wednesday vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.  Make sure to click over to her blog to enjoy more of the midweek fun!

Thank  you, Veterans and families,  for your sacrifices and service!

With all of the glorious colors outside at this time of year, it's nice to think of having this kind of color inside all year long.  This carnival in a single pot, a croton, was seen over the weekend at Molbak's Nursery.  How beautiful is that?  Can you imagine living in a tropical climate where these grow outside?  Crotons hate being moved and it's normal for them to drop some or all of their leaves when moving them is necessary, like when you bring one home.  I've seen these grown beautifully but also have seen a lot of sad leggy specimens with just a few leaves at the top but have never grown one myself.

Molbaks had a nice big display of a wide variety of these beauties and while all were beautiful this red, orange, chartreuse, green, fuchsia and purple marvel was my favorite.  Not wanting to live in my cold and drafty old house, it asked to be left at the nursery for more skilled hands to nurture.

Have you grown these?  If so, what was your experience?


Just for fun.


10 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful specimen! I have grown these. The first few that I bought died pretty quickly, but I bought a larger one last winter, and it did well all summer out on the front porch. It's now doing just as well out in the greenhouse, although it's perhaps not quite as colorful as it was when I first bought it.

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  2. Like the OC&K I've just started to love the Crotons (still don't like croutons though). I bought one at IKEA a few months ago, it's doing great...nothing as lovely as the one you've pictured.

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  3. I think about picking one of these up whenever I see them, but worry about the amount of light they need so never do. If I ever have a conservatory I'll get one I guess, or just treat it as an outdoor annual. That seems mean though. Also: how can you think about buying something new at this time of year? Did you forget that you have a jam-packed, wonderful greenhouse right out back?

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  4. I'd love to have a vacation house in the places where crotons grow outside :-)

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  5. What a beautiful croton! I haven't tried growing them in years - maintaining their moisture requirements was always a problem.

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  6. They have such fabulous color, those Crotons. I've never tried growing one, but as luck would have it, there is one available for rescue at work. I think I'm going to give it a try, if for no other reason than being able to put it outside in the garden in summer. Such tropical sass!

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  7. What a beautiful plant, so colourful, it would brighten up any dull day.

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  8. That croton just glows! I've tried them in the past and ended up with the weedy, leafless stem you described. But mine never had this incredible color...maybe I'll try again.

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  9. That Croton is so bright it's like neon.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.