Croton care guide

Crotons have thick, glossy leaves splashed with red, orange, yellow, pink, and green. No other houseplant has colors quite like it. The colors come from light, and the plant dislikes change, so it rewards a bright spot it can keep.

Light

Give it your brightest window. A few hours of direct sun, from an east or west window, keeps the colors bold. Bright, filtered light all day works too.

In low light, new leaves come in green and the plant drops its lower leaves.

Water

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

Crotons droop when thirsty and drop leaves if they dry out often. Soggy soil rots the roots. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a rich, well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite.

Repot every two years in spring, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Crotons like humid air. Dry winter air browns the leaf edges and brings spider mites. A humidifier or a group of plants helps.

Keep it between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F). Cold drafts below 15°C (60°F) make it drop leaves.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Cut leggy stems back in spring, just above a leaf. New branches grow from below. Wear gloves. The milky sap irritates skin.

Moving it

Crotons are famous for dropping leaves when they come home from the store or move to a new spot. Each leaf grows to suit the light it grew in, so a big change in light makes the plant shed leaves and grow new ones. Give it a bright spot and leave it there. It recovers in a few weeks.

Propagation

Cut a stem tip 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long. Let the sap stop running. Set it in water or damp mix in a warm, bright spot. Roots grow in four to six weeks.

Air layering works well on tall plants.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Leaves drop after a move	Change in light. Leave it in one spot.
New leaves are green	Not enough light
Brown, crispy edges	Dry air or dry soil
Drooping leaves	Too dry, or cold
Speckled leaves with fine webbing	Spider mites
Lower leaves drop in winter	Cold drafts or low light

Pests

Spider mites are the main pest, above all in winter. Wipe both sides of the leaves every week or two and raise the humidity. Mealybugs and scale can also show up.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists croton as toxic to cats and dogs. The sap irritates the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can also irritate skin. Keep it out of reach.

Varieties

• ‘Petra’ has wide leaves veined in yellow, orange, and red. It is the most common.
• ‘Mammy’ has curled, twisted leaves in red and dark green.
• ‘Gold Dust’ has green leaves speckled with yellow dots.
• ‘Zanzibar’ has long, thin leaves in many colors.
• Oakleaf croton has leaves lobed like an oak leaf.