Croton Plant Care
Common Name: Croton
Scientific Name: Codieaum species
Lighting: Bright Light
Watering: Heavy
Croton plants are known for their bright tropical foliage, which is multi-colored and exotic in appearance. The foliage contains stiff leaves pointing upward and has a wax-like feel to them. The Croton plant requires moderate to bright light, so keep the plant within 3 - 5 feet of a window receiving sunlight.
Croton plant varieties require heavy watering as well as high humidity. Misting the plant once or twice a week appears to be sufficient for accommodating the Croton's humidity needs if you live in an area with low humidity levels. Keep the plants soil moist at all times. If leaves begin to fall off or slope downward, you are probably not providing the plant with enough water. If the leaves edges become wilted, this may be an indication that you are over watering the plant. Try cutting down on how often you water and see if that improves the leaves appearance. The Croton also prefers warm temperatures up to 80 degrees F.
Overall, I have found that Croton's are a medium to high maintenance house plant. They are extremely touchy in terms of how much water they are given or not given.
Crotons are one of the many poisonous houseplants. Please keep these houseplants up and away from pets and children.
Popular Croton plant varieties include: Codieaum petra and Codieaum variegatum.
Labels: poisonous houseplants
posted by drayas @ 1:47 PM
85 Comments:
My indoor croton has grown long and spindly and lost leaves on the lower part. Can I cut the stalk below the leaf line and have it survive, grow, and possibly create new shoots?
Hello,
Typically when a plant becomes long and spindly it is not receiving enough light.
Are you asking if you cut the entire plant pretty much off so all that left is a stalk? If yes, I can't say for sure. I have never tried that.
Thank you,
drayas
I cut the plant below the leaf line and it looks like new sprouts are starting to bud out. I keep it in a sunny window & keep it watered! so we'll see what happens1
I am caring for two crotons in a business. They have flouresent light all day but no way to get direct light.
anonymous
Hello,
How long have the Croton's been without direct light? Do they look healthy?? If everything seems to be fine I wouldn't worry, however if they have only been there a short while and are degrading in health I would move them to a spot where they can receive some bright sunlight.
Thanks,
drayas
My leaves on my croton are starting
to drop off.
The crotons have been in this business about three weeks. The place is all windows and flourescent light from 6am to 11pm.
Also, how and when do I fertilize
Anonymous
Hello,
Usually when the leaves begin to drop the plant is not receiving enough water. Water the plant more often and it should improve.
Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
If the office is all windows, the plants are receiving some indirect sunlight correct?
I usually fertilize once a month with a general houseplant food.
Thanks,
drayas
Thanks drayas I now have all the info I need
I water my croton often and the window that i use have nothin but direct light, but my leaves are still falling. What am I doing wrong?
Hello,
Are the leaves on your Croton yellowing or browning before falling off? Are there any signs of pests on the plant? You may be overwatering the plant. Give me a few more details and I will try and help more.
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
I have done a boo boo withe my Croton Petra and left it outside for a day on a cold windy day. All the leaves have fallen off save few new leaves. They have not browned or drooped before falling and all of them just dropped in one day. All that is left of my poor plant is stalk and few new leaves on the tp. Is there any way I can revive it. Please help
-Distressed Mom
When I bought my plant, it had brightly colored leaves - reds, oranges, and yellows. Now all the leaves are simply green. Still healthy looking. Any idea how to get the colors back?
Don't fret, distressed mom,
Croton plants are pretty hardy. Croton plants can also be very tempermental. Keep providing it with the basic care needs, bright light, water and even a little houseplant food.
Typically new leaves will start forming again. The plant probably just went into shock.
Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Marie,
Typically when the leaves begin to lose their multi-colors it means the plant is not receiving enough light. Try moving it closer to a bright light source.
Let me know how things work out.
Thanks,
drayas
My crotons seem healthy, but no new growth what so ever. I am caring for two mature crotons at work. They get plenty of good sunlight, I water frequently but I don't think I water too much. I have had the plants for roughly two months. A week after I got them, I put them in bigger pots, the ones they were in were tiney and made of wicker. I have fertilized twice. They look great, but no new growth. What am I doing wrong.
Hello,
If they look healthy, you aren't doing anything wrong. The plant just isn't ready for new growth.
Keep the same schedule you are on and you will begin to see new growth. Be patient!
Thanks,
drayas
Update after boo boo:
My plant fought it through... Thanks for the solace drayas. New leaf buds started popping up even below the leaf line. not distressed anymore
-Distressed Mom
I have a croton that is pretty healthy, except for a problem with it's leaves. They are drying up and turning brown at the ends.
Natalie,
Could you be overwatering the plant? Sometimes that is a sign of overwatering.
Thanks,
drayas
Maybe. I'll try watering it less and let you know.
I've been watering it less often, and it seems to be improving a little bit. I have an additional problem, though - there is some white, fluffy mold growing on the dirt in the plant. I've been removing the mold itself and sat the plant outside in the sun (it's in the high 70s here) to dry it out a bit and perhaps kill some of the mold. Should I get some sort of anti-mold treatment for it and, if so, what kind? I'm hesitant to just repot it because it's not doing so well right now.
Natalie,
Is the mold just on the dirt or the plant as well? Continue to remove the molded dirt. Also spray the plant and soil with a soapy dishwater mixture just in case it is a pest.
My assumption is the mold is from the overwatering previously done to the plant.
Keep me posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Well, some of the plants roots poke through the surface of the dirt (this is how I bought it at a conservatory, so I hope it's okay like that). There is a little bit of mold on top of those roots, but it isn't on the leaves or trunk or anything. Mostly, it's on the dirt. Setting it in the sun seemed to help a lot, mold-wise, and also dried the dirt out a good bit. I'll let you know how it does.
Thanks for your help!
I live in Missouri and we have hot and humid summers. Can I leave my croton in the mornig sun if it has afternoon shade?
Hello,
I have just been growing plants in my new house for a few months so I'm still a bit green on certain plants. I leave my croton outside in the shade- now it has just grew 2 stems with very small balls on them from the middle. Can u pls tell me what they are and if i should cut them? Thank u very much
Hello,
I can't say for sure how your Croton will handle the outdoors. I would think it is fine, but I have never tried it.
Any other readers able to chime in?
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
I think your Croton may be flowering!!! Go to Google Images and search "Croton flower". Does it look like those photos?
Let me know. If yes, I'd love some pictures if you'd be willing to email them.
Thanks,
drayas
Hi All,
I have a croton potted plant in the house. I have
had this plant for 10 years. When I have gone away on vacation for 8-10 days in the past, it is sometimes wilted when I get back; but when I water it and give it sunlight, it perks right up again the next morning.
However, this past week I was away for 8 days while it was over 100 degrees here in California. The plant was all wilted when I came back. However, I have been
watering it and giving it plant food (and talking lovingly to it) for the past
3 days and it is still wilted. The leaves are not
responding to sunlight, though they are still green.
Some leaves did drop off but the the top ones are still there.
Can you help ? What has happened ? Has the root system dried out too much to recover from the heat ? How can I save my plant ?
I appreciate all your good advice. Thanks !
- Mo
Mo,
All I can say is keep doing as you have been. It should spring back.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
I have noticed my indoor croton has mealybugs. Can I use a systemic houseplant insecticide on it? I have some by Bonide and wanted to give it a try. There are too many mealybugs to handwipe them all off and I am not sure what I can use to kill them on a crotons plant.
catb,
Try a soapy dishwater mixture first. Spray it on the plant twice a day. If after a few days, you don't see any results, try the insecticide as long as it's safe for your environment (kids, pets, etc.)
Thanks,
drayas
My corkscrew crotons are outside under an overhang. They keep getting a white scale on the leaves and I've tried insecticides and soap and water, it just keeps returning. Any ideas?
They are 4-1/2 feet high and I would like to reduce the their height to 2-1/2 feet, any idea how I can trim them without hurting them?
Thank you.
Hello, I recently aquired two Croton plants. A week after I got them I repotted them in bigger pots. I've had them for about 3 weeks. I have them inside my apt near a window where they receive sufficient sunlight. Since I am not at home all day I leave the A/C off and turn it on in the evening when I get home. What is a good watering frequency for them? I ask this because I watered them when I repotted them about two weeks ago and the soild was some what still damp. I sprayed the leaves down a week ago as I did not want it to develop root rot because the soil is not drying out etirely. I figure it would take a longer time for the soil to dry as it is in the apartment. I have not fertilized yet. The tips of a few of the leaves are browning. Do I have to fertilize and if so what is a good fertilizer to use? I have some plant food called Colorburst Flowering Plant Food 15-30-15 is that good? I appreciate your feedback.
Thanks
Ced
I realize this is a very old post, but perhaps you could help me?
I left my very healthy croton in the care of a friend of mine while I was studying abroad for five weeks. When I asked about its status she said it was a little "crunchy" but it turns out crunchy means mostly dry. All of the leaves are pale and dry though still hanging on to the stem. Is there any possible way to save it, or should I kiss "goodbye" to my late mother's plant?
Ced,
Usually Croton plants need a lot of water. Does the pot they are in, not allow the water to drain out?
In terms of fertilizer, I simply use a general Miracle Gro houseplant food.
Thanks,
drayas
agent-honeywell,
Never say never. Get your Croton back on its normal watering schedule. Give it a service of houseplant food as well.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Drayas
Thank you for responding. I thought maybe this was an outdated post. The pots that the Crotons are in have a few holes at the bottom and also has a bottom cover that the pot sits on. So it like a little compartment. When I feel the soil, it is damp/moist. So I am just afraid to keep watering them if the soild is moist. I am not sure what to do. I have never grew crotons before and I am afraid that I am doing a terrible job at it. Any suggestions? I have them in my apt 100% of the time in an area with lots of sun. And in the afternoons they get direct sun through that window. The soil is moist so I would think that it has enough water but I am not sure. For now my watering frequency is once a week. Is that too little?
Travelers, when going away, poke a few holes in the bottom of an empty water bottle(.5L should be sufficient). Fill bottle leaving a small amount of space for expansion. Turn bottle upside down in freezer. The next morning, put bottle right side up in plant for watering purposes while away.
About Crotons outdoors in Missouri... Never been, but I'm living in Hong Kong, where there's 10 months of temperature in the 30's (deg C)/90's (deg F) with about 90% humidity; winter stays humid, but temp varies 15->20 deg C or 55->70 (night->day). The native soil is POOR. There are ornamental crotons outside our housing complex that get pounded by near-equatorial sun all day and they're fine... maybe lost some bottom leaves when it was a little dry. But there's no doubt: this plant is tough.
i got a curly boy croton about 6 weeks ago, 3 weeks ago the leaves started dropping off so i moved the plant to get more light, well about 7 days ago i notice webs in the plant so i took it out side and washed it good with soap and water to get the red spider mites off of it well the leaves still are dropping and i have only 1 leaf left on the plant now i have sticks the branches are still green on the tips will the leaves come back? or should i toss the plant?
Hi all,
I recently purchased a croton plant. It has three stalks; two of these are growing very well and look healthy but the other has leaves which are half normal but the tip half is brown and dried up. What should I do? Am I not watering enough? Or perhaps since this stalk is closest to the window, maybe it's too cold? Should I pull these half dried leaves off or leave them on? Please help!
Thanks,
Jane
Hello,
Glad you got rid of the spider mites. Typically on Croton's when the leaves drop it means the plant is not receiving enough water. How often are you watering the plant?
Thanks,
drayas
Jane,
Seeing as it is only the one stalk with the wilted ends, I wouldn't say it's a watering issue. I would think if you weren't watering it enough, all the foliage would be doing the same thing. Try turning the plant slightly. See if the leaves on another stalk start doing the same, if so, it's a lighting issue.
Thanks,
drayas
Jane, I had the same problem, and the leaves that were drying up fell off, but the new leaves are fine. I'm not sure if it was stressed or sick or what, but keeping it on a regular watering schedule and misting the leaves seemed to fix the problem. I just recently set up a humidity tray for it (just rocks in a plate, with the pot on the top of the rocks) and it seems happy.
My question is about the flowers. My boyfriend thinks he might be allergic to them, so I'm wondering if I can cut them off without hurting the plant.
Natalie,
Mine has never flowered, but I think you should be fine cutting the flowers off the plant. It shouldn't hurt it.
Thanks,
drayas
Hi, I have a Croton plant that I've had for years. I recently moved into a basement apartment and the plant does not get much light. I have it in the optimal place for sunlight, but not directly in the window because it gets quite cold here in Canada. Unfortunately since I moved, the plant has begun dropping leaves. Should I invest in a UV lamp? Thanks
Kalynn
Kaylnn,
Yes, I would invest in a UV lamp. Croton's require high light levels. It will probably keep dropping leaves until you do.
Keep us posted on what kind of lamp you get and if that works.
Thanks,
drayas
Hey..my corotn plant is all bare at the bottom..how do i get leaves to grow down there..??
ive tried pinching the plant on the top..but just new branches came out from there..please help!
Any advice for the best way to deal with a serious spider mite infestation on my otherwise healthy office croton?
I've already washed it 3 times with water. But the bugs remain.
Thanks,
Margaret
Do many people seem to allergic to these? I just got one and I am having severe allergies ;however, I am not sure if it is the plant or hot weather we are experiencing.
Margaret,
Did you just use water or a soapy dishwater mixture? If the latter than I would go to your local garden store and purchase an insecticide. That should do the trick.
Thanks,
drayas
I've never heard of any allergic reactions to Crotons. Has any of my other readers??
--drayas
my crotons are shedding their leaves..one of them is a bare stem now and the other one has drooping leaves. It seems that this one would also shed all its leaves eventually- both these plants were re-potted after i got them from the nursery.
Both these plants are receive enough sunlight.
My question is that will they recover gradually once they adjust to this new location??:-(
I am new to crotons but we are getting acquainted. Had to leave the two when I was away for 3 weeks. On advice from friend, put them, after watering, in a transparent dry cleaner's bag, tied a knot in the top, and left them. They didn't miss me at all and had a lot of new growth when I returned. What's with the new little things like flower buds that just appeared?
we live in northern florida we have a outdoor croton during the freeze we put it under cover but the leaves fell off will it come back or is it a lost
I think my 8 year old sister has one but I'm not sure. Can I have a detailed description or a pic?
I have a small broad leafed croton that I've had for about four years. It has only gotten about two or three new leaves during that time, but has not really lost any leaves.
It has been placed in an eastern facing window in my house during the winters, and moved to my western facing porch during the summers.
This past winter I brought it into my office, where it sits in a northern facing window.
Earlier this week I was watering it and found that it is blooming. It has a small shoot coming out from the tip of the plant with about eight little pink buds on it, and one of the buds has opened into a delicate little waxy flower.
I didn't even know these plants bloomed, but I guess the have to procreate somehow. =)
plant loving kid,
I don't have a pic of mine but click the below link to see pics.
Croton Images from Google.
Thanks,
drayas
Welton and others,
That is great that your Croton is blooming!! This is something mine never did. It'd be great it anyone could send me some pics of theirs blooming to post on the site.
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
It's hard to say how much the freeze hurt your Croton. Anyone have experience with outdoor Crotons that could help us out??
Thanks,
drayas
I've had an indoor croton for 3 years. Within the last 3 weeks have seen little bumps on some of highest leaves. It looks like a salt granule, and will brown the leaf right around the bump. Could this be a pest or possibly something in my tap water (I spritz the plant 2x a week)?
Also, is it normal for the oldest stalk to lean to the side while new stalks start to grow from the base? And do you know how long the plant will continue to flower, or if there is any way to make it stop? I've tried cutting it off, but new ones will grow in it's place.
Any help would be much appreciated!
animal support,
The bumps sound like some sort of pest. I don't have much experience with pests as I've been very fortunate not to get many. Spray the plant twice a day with a soapy dishwater mixture.
In terms of your water. You want to use distilled or non-treated water. So no water softener or city water.
Mine has never flowered so I'm not much help in that department. Any of my readers give us hand?
Thanks,
drayas
k, so my croton is sick and good thing you told me it's harmful to pets and it's standing away from my dog's bed! The second thing is mites are surrounding the thing. I've watered it, i've given it food it's got sufficient sunlight. It's not direct and my room temperature is just right, nor cold nor hot! I have the door open and it's about 74 degrees. What now?
I bought a croton plant a few months ago. It sits next to a window in my living room and gets plenty of direct sunlight, and I water it twice a week. It seemed to be healthy, however lately I have noticed that its newest leaves have been turning a deep maroon color on the underside of the leaf and some of them have fallen off. They don't look very healthy. Is there something that I should do to prevent this? Why is it only happening to the newly grown leaves?
I just got a croton for mothers day. I live in South Florida and it is now summer, at what temperature is too hot for them? I like to put my plants on my balcony, but I have to take them inside midday because I don't want to scorch them. Is croton more resilient?
i am new to gardening and was buying flowers to go in my 1st flower bed. i bought a croton and planted it outside w/ my marigolds and liriope and have had it out there for a lil over a month. it is almost june in southern georgia and very very humid and warm. i just realized about a week ago that it was a houseplant. so i am probably going to attempt to transplant it to a pot and bring it inside. my question is, since it is still got it's color and size and still looks healty, should i just leave it where it is outside or should i bring it in? it hasn't grown like the other plants around it which is what initially flagged me to do some more research on the plant. i know that sounds very very ignorant on my part, but i have learned so much in the 2 months i have been gardening and now have done 5 flower beds, and 2 veggie/ fruit gardens and 2 tomato plants which already in 2 months have 19 tomatoes. thank you for any info!
I have had a Croton large wonderful plant for about 3 years! I take very good care of it and if the leaves ever get droopy I water it and they spring back up within hours. Recently one stalk on the plant (there are three) has remained droopy and won't come back to life, I've never overwatered a plant before but I think I might have...what should I do? Wait it out?
I have a croton with small brown bumps on the stalks and a sticky ooze on the leaves. I've had it for well over a year, and this just started. It looks otherwise very healthy. I have it segregated from my other houseplants, and I'm wondering if this is a common problem, and whether there is a cure. Any info, please e-mail. Marisa.lynn @ gmail.com. Thanks so mucH!
Hi,
Just wanted to say thank you very much for this post! Drayas, your troubleshooting help has been very helpful. My croton has been doing poorly lately and your tips showed me what I've been doing wrong. Thanks once more!
Hiba A.
I have a Croton purchased last fall in a 2 gallon black nursery pot. We managed to keep it fairly healthy (loss of only a few lower leaves) during the winter with daylight light bulbs and plenty of water in the original pot.
In spring it was moved onto a NNE facing balcony. Since then it is growing very well with lots of new leaves at the crown and some branching buds forming on the lower stems that lost leaves during the winter.
My questions are:
This plant should be repotted into a permanent pot that can be moved inside during winter and placed on the balcony during warm months. Since it seems to NEED lots of fast draining water . . . .
Will it be healthiest if re-potted into a plastic or ceramic glazed pot as opposed to a clay pot?
What type of potting soil will support the plant best?
Does it need acid or alkaline conditions?
Should I add moisture retention crystals to the mix?
To retain moisture in a fast draining pot will the Croton benefit from a ground cover of transplanted mature sheets of moss. I have harvested two types of moss from western North Carolina in hopes of establishing it as a ground cover and moisture retainer for the Croton. It seems they may have similar requirements in moisture and light. Is this a good supposition or a poor match?
If this is a good idea can you recommend a link to information on the best way to prepare the soil surface for the transplants of moss?
One genus of moss that I have appears to be Haircap Moss (genus Polytrichum) if I am correct.
I live in Denton, Texas which is on the far north edge of Dallas. This is not an area where mosses grow naturally but I am in hopes that my NNE facing balcony, frequent watering and misting can create a healthy place for the moss especially if the moss can help keep the Croton happy and healthy.
Thanks for any input!
Ren
Hi,
Alright so I've read through all 75 comments and most people have had whats happening to me, happen to them. I got my croton last summer and I have an attachment to this plant. One day, it was completely fine. Then the next all the leaves were falling off. So now I've cut back the dead leaf stalks and just have the main stem (which is still green on the inside). I need very very very percise instructions on what to do to keep it going.
Help!
I originally purchased my croton way back in 1981. That puts it now right at 28 years. It has been through 2 hurricanes, leaf ripping dogs, and the occasional mismanaged watering schedule, and it continues to thrive year after year. Can anybody tell me how long I can expect this plant to live? Maybe I need to include it in my will.
Thanks,
David
Today I picked up a Corton. I have read all the threads and am excited to embark on a long journey of fun foliage friendship.
Hi all-
i have two questions about my croton plant(s).
first, i have two plants in one pot and the roots have out grown the pot. can i either seperate the plants or should i simply repot them together in a deeper pot.
second, i've noticed that two of the leaves have sprouted a mini leaf at the end of a string...what does that mean????
thnx
Jen
The Croton was too high-maintenance for me and it died, died down to three black sticks. I put it outside awaiting the time I could pitch it. Well, that was in the cool spring here in Indiana. As the weather warmed, and we had so much rain, the plant came back to life, loving the soaking rain, bright sun. Nights are down to 50 now and it has to come in. What kind of mix do I use to keep the soil rich enough yet lets water drain? I think that was my problem, drainage, earlier this year.
Crotons are very forgiving plants! I have 3 in a pot & all of them had leaves only at the crown. I moved them out on the balcony during summer, & with plenty of rain, they've all sprouted new growth along their stems. I've also read that pinching the little growth in the centre of the crown, results in new offshoots. & it works! Hope that works for you as well, seeing my plants are about 4yrs old & thriving indoors during winter!
I have had my croton plant for over 3 months. Recently, I gave it some Miracle Gro plant food and the leaves drooped and never stood strond and pretty again. Now all the leaves are falling off. I love this plant really don't want to see it die but I think it already has. Is there anything I can do to revive it?
How do you propagate indoor crotons? I have a Codiaeum Variegatum 'Petra' and one with skinny 6" leaves, and the one that has green leaves with many small cream-colored spots on them. No luck finding their names.
My croton plant leaves were multi color now the leaves are turning yellow. Please advise
my croton plant has white powdery fluff on it. what can it be?
The leaves of my indoor croton are wilted, tilting downward, and falling off. They do not appear to be browning. The last time this happened I put it in the window on the north side of my apartment for a couple days and it perked right back up, but it's now been 9 days and it doesn't look to be getting any better. I don't think I'm over or under-watering it. Is there anything I can do to bring it back?
I have a croton some leaves are doing excellant. i live in Niagara Falls, days are getting shorter. i have the plant near a window that gets light, not enough. So i put a floor lamp over it. Water it enough. some leaves on one branch is doing well. the others are growing new leaves, but, some are not responding. At times healthy leaves fall. Some are wilted. I don't know what to do. I don't want to keep watering and get root rot.I have been using the water globe, and it keeps going through the water in 2 days. Does this meean it's not getting enough water?Help
Hi
I have a Croton It is not doing that well. At least one stalk there are two in the pot. Watered it evenly moist. let it dry. My problem is one plant is healthy the other has green droopy new leaves. underneath the leaves, the stalk is still a little green but seems like it is shriking inward Just bought a new plant light. Should i cut the top of the crown or will the plant come back after it dries a little more, with new light? Help
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