How to Care for Croton?

Croton belongs to Oceania and has colorful wild leaves. Croton is really beautiful and its leaves are green, yellow and red. Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to grow and care for Croton.

Introduction of Croton (Codiaeum Variegatum)

Before addressing how to care for Croton, please allow us to give you a brief introduction about this houseplant.

Croton is a very straightforward plant! So if you do something that does not want, he will quickly retaliate by frowning and being immoral! It is not without reason that it is known for being sensitive. If you can take good care of it, then you are really professional.

In this article, we want to provide you with information about how to care for Croton, so stay tuned with Tooplant.

Care for Croton Plants

In this part, we will focus on the most important aspects which you need to take into consideration while treating this houseplant. The best methods of how to care for Croton include as follows:

Croton Light Requirements: What light is best for Croton?

Light is among the first important issues to care for Croton. Croton prefers full sun, but if the sun is very hot, do not expose the plant to it, as it will burn the plant. But there are some varieties that can grow well in relative shade. The amount of light received directly affects the quality and color density of the plant leaves. So if you want the plant to have vibrant and strong colors, you have to put it in good light conditions.

Do not worry if you change the place and it starts to shed its leaves. This is the plant’s natural response to displacement. The plant does not like to move from its original place at all, so consider a fixed place for it. We said it is sensitive!

So, as shown above, light plays a significant role to care for Croton.

Croton Watering: How often should you water a Croton?

In the rest, concerning the tips of caring for a Croton, it is better to know that Croton is a tropical plant, so warm, humid climates are ideal. The soil in which Crotons are grown should be able to retain moisture well in spring and summer (plant growing seasons) and not be wet at the same time. Touch a few centimeters of soil to determine the correct watering time. If the soil was dry, you should water the plant. If the room air is dry, it is necessary to moisten the plant with a water spray from time to time. This helps keep the leaves healthy. Therefore, watering is another important aspect in order to care for Croton.

Like most plants, Croton watering requires great care. This plant needs constant watering, but you have to be careful not to overwhelm it.

Overwatering will cause root rot, while underwatering will dry out this moisture-loving plant. You can consider the newer leaves of the plant as an indicator to determine the plant’s need for water, so that if the leaf begins to wither, it means it is dehydrated and should be watered immediately.

In this way, to care for Croton, watering is considered to be of great significance.

Croton Soil: What is the best soil for a Croton?

Intending to care for Croton, the other crucial matter is soil. The best growth of Codiaeum Variegatum is in the soil, which, while having good drainage to pass excess water, can still retain some moisture. As mentioned above, moisture is essential for Croton (as a tropical plant). If the soil retains too much water, it will provide the basic grounds for root rot for the plant. Thus, it can be said that, soil is another basic and important issue so as to care for Croton.

Croton Humidity: Does Croton like humidity?

Now, we come to temperature and humidity which are assumed to be principal to care for Croton in addition to light, watering and soil that are mentioned above. Place this plant in a humid place or provide humidity around the plant with artificial methods. The best way is to put Croton in the bathroom or kitchen.

Croton Temperature Tolerance

A good way to keep Codiaeum Variegatum houseplants fresh is to put them in a cool place. As a tropical plant, Croton enjoy being in warm weather. If exposed to temperatures below 12 °C, the leaves turn brown. The best temperature for Croton is close to or below 26 °C. Croton can’t survive at temperatures higher than this.

So, temperature and humidity are other important issues to care for Croton.

Croton Fertilizer: What is the best fertilizer for a Croton?

When you want to care for Croton, one of the important questions that may come to your mind is “what is the best fertilizer?” In what follows, we will address how to fertilize this plant:

This plant really needs fertilizer, because it is mostly hungry! Choose a fertilizer with high potassium and nitrogen for the plant and add it once a month during the growing season and once every two months in winter.

As a result, we could say that fertilizer is regarded as one of the fundamental issues when someone wants to care for Croton.

Croton Toxicity: Is Croton poisonous to humans and pets?

In order to care for Croton, toxicity is considered to be a major issue because it directly relates to your health especially children. Although Croton houseplants are not dangerous poisonous plants, they should not be eaten by humans or animals.

If eaten in large quantities, it can cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and other similar side effects. In addition, the sap in this plant can cause inflammation and skin allergies.

So keep Croton out of the reach of children and animals due to its colorful and attractive appearance. If your pet feels weak, lethargic or nauseous after eating crouton leaves, take him to a veterinarian immediately.

How Do You Encourage Crotons To Grow?

Pruning: Another way to care for Croton houseplants is pruning them. Croton only needs to be pruned to remove unhealthy parts and make them look tidy. Dead leaves and twigs should be removed from their original origin, but overgrown leaves should be cut off at the top of the stem. Never cut more than a third of the stem height in one pruning step. Allow the plant to grow again before pruning.

Infographic Of How To Care For Croton

In this article, we tried to explain to you in an infographic the essential tips in the care of Croton Plants, so that you can briefly and usefully learn the methods of caring for this plant.

In The End

In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of caring for a Croton.

However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.