Indoor Plants - Maintain Croton Plants

How to Grow and Maintain Croton Plants

Croton is an easy-to-grow houseplant, known for its colorful leaves covered with green, crimson, orange, and yellow particles. Here's how to maintain croton in your home or garden

About Croton

Croton, also known as "Garden Croton", belongs to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Oceania. In the wild, they grow into large shrubs and reach a height of 10 feet (in the house or garden, they can be very small).

Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous - especially seeds - so it is not recommended for use in homes with interesting pets or children. When damaged, croton produces a milky extract, which irritates the skin.

Planting Croton

When choosing a container for your croton, keep in mind that the plant will grow upright and eventually become heavier. Select a container that does not enter easily when the croton is enlarged. Or, plan to place them in larger pots over time.

Use a well-drained pot mixture. Croton prefers to be moist, but not wet.

During hot, humid summers, croton can be grown outdoors as a unique and colorful natural plant. They work well in tropical-themed containers or with ground annuities. When the night temperature drops to about 50 F (10 C), croton should be taken home.

How to maintain a croton

Place the croton in a sunny place like east, south, or west window. If croton is low in light, its new leaves will be less colorful.

Keep the soil evenly moist, but let it dry between irrigations.

If your home is low in humidity, once a week places a tray of wet gravel around the leaves in the water or near the plant.

Croton leaves are dust magnets. Gently wipe the leaves twice a month with a damp cloth to keep them clean and free of dust.

When the plant is actively growing, fertilize the plant in spring and summer. In the fall and winter, avoid composting too sparingly or completely.

New croton plants can be started with 4- to 6-inch stem cuttings. Remove the bottom leaves and chop in a glass of water. After the roots have formed, plant in a small pot.

Plant the plant again in the spring if it has grown larger than the existing pot.

Pests / Diseases

Croton is generally insect-free and disease-free, although they are susceptible to common houseplant pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

Wit & Wisdom

Croton is a member of the plant family Euphorbiaceae, which makes them relatives to the Poinsettia and the cast iron plant.

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