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Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
About Picasso's Paintbrush
This plant is one of the many stunning cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum, which is native to the Pacific Islands where it can grow to over 10ft/3m tall! All parts of this plant are toxic, so keep them well out of reach of pets and children.
Taxonomy
Codiaeum variegatum 'Picasso's Paintbrush'
Codiaeum
Euphorbiaceae
Malpighiales

How to care for Picasso's Paintbrush
How often to water your Picasso's Paintbrush

every 9
Picasso's Paintbrush needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Picasso's Paintbrush in your home

a window
Picasso's Paintbrush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Picasso's Paintbrush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Picasso's Paintbrush in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Picasso's Paintbrush

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Picasso's Paintbrush after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Seems to be losing lots of leaves since we’ve brought her home. We water it about it every 8-12 days. Initially when we brought it home it was much fuller. The little leaves have been falling off at a fast rate. #Croton
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Paintbrush is dropping leaves My paintbrush plant has dropped a lot of leaves in the last 3-4 days. It has been getting the same amount of sunlight and water as usual. What could be wrong?
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Leaves dropping Hey everyone! I'm really struggling with this croton (I knew it'd happen when I bought it but I couldn't just walk past it 🤦♀️). Don't be fooled by the profile picture of it, that was when we were getting along, though you can see how many leaves have dropped. The leaves are dropping A LOT. At first I wasn't too worried, thought maybe it was just switching to less light with winter. But it's now under a plant light in a warm spot with some humidity (40-50%, as good as it's getting inside) and I'm still having problems. As they die, the leaves start to get shriveled and greyish at the tips, then the leaf curls up, then eventually falls off. When they fall off, they're on the crispy side. This is mostly happening bottom up - the leaves closest to the tips of the stems are new and green and grow well, but eventually they drop off too. There are some new leaves forming, too. I'd immediately think it was under watered, but it keeps happening even when the soil is recently watered. Then I thought maybe over watered, but it also happens when I let it dry out. I am at a loss. Help?? I've googled it but haven't had any luck there either. #croton #plantsmakepeoplehappy
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Picasso paintbrush plant… he’s looking so sad. All of his pretty leaves fell off. The “braches” that remain are still green on the inside. Any advice to bring him back to life?
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My croton mammy keeps losing its leaves. What can I do? #Codiaeum
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My leafs are dried to a crisp! I think it’s dying but it’s still green and colorful! I’m not sure what to do to save this plant #Codiaeum
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My gold dust Croton is beautiful she is growing new leaves every week, however, she drops leaves frequently and she has become very one sided. Is this normal? #Codiaeum
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My leaves are all sagging. What’s wrong? #Codiaeum
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What’s wrong? He’s looking very sad :( #Codiaeum
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Losing leaves #Codiaeum
Picasso's Paintbrush prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
☀️ Sunlight Needs
Picasso's Paintbrush requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity
Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.
If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.
💨 Humidity
Picasso's Paintbrush doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
🪴 Soil
Picasso's Paintbrush does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
💩 Fertilizer
Picasso's Paintbrush should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
❄️ Dormancy
It’s common for Picasso's Paintbrush to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
🌎 Native Region
Picasso's Paintbrush is native to Southeast Asia, Northern Australia and the Pacific Islands.
🧐 Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
Care Summary for Picasso's Paintbrush
Picasso's Paintbrush
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.