Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing the right place
• Part 2 of 3: Growing a healthy croton
• Part 3 of 3: Solving common problems
• Tips
• Warnings

Crotons (also known as codiaeum) are tropical plants with bright, vibrant, multi-colored leaves. They can be grown outdoors in warm, humid climates. In other climates, keep them as a houseplant or use them as a seasonal addition to your landscape. Crotons may be difficult to grow because they have very specific requirements when it comes to light, water, temperature and humidity, and because they do not like to be moved. The trick to growing these plants is to find a place where the plant will thrive and to avoid displacement.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing the right place

1. Choose a pot with good drainage. Crotons like a lot of water, but don't thrive in muddy or wet soil. To make sure the pot provides good drainage, look for a container with drainage holes in the bottom. When choosing a pot size, choose a pot that is about 1/3 larger than the root ball of the plant.
   • If you live in temperature zone 10 or 11, for example, forgotten in the south of Florida, just set the pot and put the croton directly in your garden, if you want.
   • Search the internet for temperature zones to find out your temperature zone.
2. Choose an area that receives six to eight hours of bright sunlight. Crotons need much sunlight to maintain their colorful leaves, but they can burn overheats light when there all day are exposed to. The ideal location is near an east- or west-facing window, which receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
   • Crotons that receive too much direct sunlight can develop burnt leaves.
3. Keep the plant away from drafts. Crotons do not tolerate drafts, especially when the air is cold. Choose a spot away from drafty doors and windows, ventilation ducts, ceiling fans and all the other things that make for airflow.
4. Move the plant as little as possible. Once you find a spot where your croton is happy, avoid moving it at all costs. Crotons don't respond well to shock, which is what causes movement. Don't be surprised if your croton loses multiple leaves after moving it.
5. Transplant the croton to an outdoor area in the spring. Crotons can be planted outside in temperature zones 10 and 11, which are locations such as southern Florida. To plant it outdoors, choose a spot with plenty of indirect sunlight, such as under a tree that provides partial shade. Aim to put the plant outside in mid to late spring to minimize shock to the plant.
   • A croton is unlikely to survive in cooler climates where temperatures drop below 4.5 ° C. If the winter temperature in your area falls below this temperature, you can transplant the croton back to a pot and put it indoors during the winter, or consider it a yearling and let it die in the winter.
   • If you do move the croton indoors and out depending on the season, be prepared for leaf loss.
   • The ideal soil for crotons is a rich, well-draining soil that is full of nutrients. To enrich your soil and improve drainage, you can add aged compost before planting.

Part 2 of 3: Growing a healthy croton

1. Water regularly with lukewarm water to keep the soil moist. Use lukewarm water to avoid shock to the roots and do not water until the top 1/2 inch of soil has dried out. Put your finger in the soil. When the top layer feels dry, it is time to water. Water until excess water flows from the holes at the bottom of the pot.
   • These tropical plants like a lot of water, but it is important to create moist soil instead of muddy or wet soil.
   • During the dormancy period in late fall and winter, you can water less and let the soil dry out to a depth of 1 inch.
2. Keep the plant at about 24 ° C. Crotons are native to tropical regions and do not thrive in areas with temperatures below 15.5 ° C. The ideal temperature for this plant is between 21 and 26.6 ° C during the day and around 18 ° C at night.
   • It is possible to grow crotons outside, but only in a warm climate with high humidity. If you live in a cooler or drier climate, grow your croton indoors where you can control the environment.
3. Maintain higher humidity around the plant. The ideal humidity for crotons is between 40 and 80%, with the optimum value being 70%. You can do this by spraying the leaves every one to two days or by placing the plant in a bathroom that is often used for a shower or bath.
   • Another way to generate moisture for the plant is to place the pot on a tray of pebbles covered with water. Top up the water as needed to keep the pebbles wet.
   • You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity around the croton. These devices can be purchased in a home or garden store, or in a department store.
4. Fertilize the plant monthly during the active growth period. Crotons need a lot of nutrients to develop their colorful leaves. During the active growth period in the spring, summer and early fall, feed the plant monthly with a liquid or powdered fertilizer. Add the fertilizer to the water before watering.
   • The best fertilizer for crotons is one that contains a lot of nitrogen and potassium, for example a mixture of 8-2-10. These chemicals help the plant to produce strong stems and leaves. The numbers refer to the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer.
   • Do not feed the plant during its dormancy period in the late fall and winter months.
5. Repot the plant in the spring when it has grown out of its current pot. Choose a pot that is 2.5-5 cm larger than the current pot. Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes. Fill the pot halfway with rich potting compost. Carefully remove the croton from its original pot and place it gently in the new pot. Cover the roots with supplemental potting compost and water the plant to hold the soil in place.
   • Repotting a croton can result in shedding leaves, but you can minimize shock to the plant by repotting only in the middle or late spring.
   • Instead of potting compost, you can also use a half and half mixture of peat moss and matured compost.
6. Stop the growth by repotting to a pot of the same size. Some croton varieties can grow up to 180 cm high. You can limit their growth by keeping the size of the pot constant. When you want the plant to stop growing, repot it in the spring to a pot of the same size.
   • Instead of repotting the plant, you can also refresh the surface to keep it healthy. Every spring, remove the top three inches of soil from the pot and return fresh potting compost to the pot.

Part 3 of 3: Solving common problems

1. Water the plant more when the tips of the leaves turn brown. Underwatering is a common problem with crotons. The plant will shed leaves if it is not getting enough water. Inspect the fallen leaves for brown tips and overall dryness. Water the plant more and start spraying the leaves to fix the problem.
2. Water less if the leaves wither. Although crotons like moist soil, it is possible to overwater them. Wilting leaves are a sign of too much water. You can solve this problem by giving less water. Only water when the top 13 mm of the soil is dry and never leave the plant in muddy soil.
   • Always choose a pot with good drainage holes to avoid overwatering.
3. Move the plant if the edges of the leaves turn brown. If the plant is shedding leaves and that is not due to too little watering, inspect the edges of the leaves for browning. This indicates that the plant is exposed to cold temperatures or cold drafts. Move the plant to a warmer area or away from fans, ventilation shafts and other sources of draft.
4. Provides more light when the color starts to fade. The most distinctive feature of crotons is their vibrant foliage. The plant needs a lot of sunlight to produce these bright colors. If the leaves are starting to lose their color, or if new leaves are dull green, move the plant to a sunnier spot.
   • Crotons need six to eight hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily to stay healthy and maintain their color.
5. Provide more shade if the leaves develop gray spots. Gray spots on the leaves indicate that the plant is getting too much hot, direct sunlight. You can move the plant to a window with less direct sunlight, or install a shade cloth to protect it from the worst UV rays.
6. Wash the leaves with soapy water to get rid of spider mites. Signs of a spider mite infestation include yellow or brown spots on the leaves, pale or dull colors, and whitish webs. Fill a small bowl with warm water and stir in a teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid dish soap or hand soap. Use a clean cloth to gently wash the top and bottom of the leaves with the solution. Leave the plant alone for about 10 minutes, then wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.
   • Repeat as needed every few days until the mites are gone.
   • You can also spray the plant once a week with a strong water stream to get rid of the contamination.

Tips

• While the care instructions for different croton species are similar, it can be helpful to look up specific care needs for the specific species. For example, if you have the very popular croton petra, you can look up the specific croton petra plant care instructions.

Warnings

• Some croton species can be toxic to humans and pets, especially the sap. Keep children and pets away from these plants.
• Crotons do not usually require pruning, except to remove dead leaves and branches. Wear gloves while pruning to protect your hands from irritation caused by the sap.
• If your plant gets too burly or spindly, cut back a third of the branches. When new growth begins the following year, prune another third of the branches until you reach the desired growth habit.