The surviving croto

Hello friends of Hive Garden, I hope you are all doing well.
Although I have made several posts with photos taken in my garden, I had not had the pleasure of doing so in this community.

We had several croto plants (Codiaeum variegatum) at home. The first one we planted, from which the other three grew, is in the patio. It had grown a lot and was healthy, but it was invaded by a parasitic vine of the genus Phthirusa.

This plant is commonly called "guate pajarito" (little bird's guate), it is epiphytic and, in this photo, you can see how it has invaded a fruit bush belonging to the neighboring house.

The other three were born by planting cuttings from the first one. The one that was planted in front of the house and received full sunlight in the afternoon was attacked first but did not survive, it dried up and Mom had to cut it down.

Another one is planted next to the house and has remained healthy, but without growing much, perhaps because the soil there does not have as many nutrients, due to the sun 🌞 or the current drought.

When the first crotus plant was also about to dry out, I decided to try to save it.

One morning I pulled out the branches and roots of the parasitic plant one by one, practically using only my hands.

Some branches were already dry and came out on their own when the vine was pulled, and other weak ones also came off.

After several minutes of pulling and cutting, with the help of a rake, a small saw and an aluminum ladder, I managed to remove the entire invasive plant....,

but the croto continued to look wilted. Mom had tried to persuade me by saying that plants affected by the guatepajarito become sick and, if they survive, they do so very weakened.

I insisted, watered it with plenty of water and noticed that as the days went by its leaves were regaining vitality.

Lately I have also observed many inflorescences and shoots.

These are a sign that the plant is still viable. The inflorescences and fruits, being so small, have little ornamental interest and the crotus is appreciated above all for the size and colour of its leaves.

It's the first time I've seen so many flowers come out. I suppose it's a defense mechanism against the invasion or maybe it was stimulated by the shaking and cleaning done.

I also don't know why that vine preferred the croto, being a producer of toxic sap.

It is doing much better today and I hope it continues to recover and doesn't have to be put down like the first one.

I hope this article dedicated to how this beautiful plant, native to Asia, managed to overcome the real threat of being consumed by another, native but also harmful plant, is useful.